We welcome all authors to the Harlequin community. The romance reading and writing community includes people of all backgrounds, communities and cultures who enjoy stories that celebrate love and happiness. Harlequin is committed to publishing a wide range of diverse and inclusive authors and stories so that readers see themselves reflected in the books we publish.
We are actively looking for more story submissions from writers in underrepresented communities for all Harlequin romance lines and Carina Press. We welcome you to submit to your preferred romance line. Check out the writing guidelines for each series or submit your story here. Authors in underrepresented communities are welcome to include the #RomanceIncludesYou hashtag with the title of their manuscript so that editors can easily see it for review.
We view diversity broadly and welcome underrepresented voices, including, but not limited to, authors who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color, members of LGBTQ+ communities, marginalized ethnic and religious cultures, and people living with disabilities and neurodiversity.
We reach out to writers in various ways:
- Participation in writers’ conferences that promote diversity in publishing, such as Romance Slam Jam and The Festival of Literary Diversity. See where we’re going to be this year.
- Direct outreach to authors and agents we are interested in working with to bring more diverse voices and stories to Harlequin readers.
- Outreach initiatives such as Romance Includes You Mentorship that calls for story submissions by debut romance writers in underrepresented communities and offers a one-year mentorship and publishing contract to the winner. One recipient is selected annually.
- Support through the Harlequin Diverse Voices Scholarship for students in writing programs in Canada and the U.S. Find out more about the scholarship.
- Taking part in online story pitch events that connect editors with authors in underrepresented communities.
- Making diversity integral to the development of new romance imprints. Launched in 2020, Carina Adores offers trope-driven romance featuring LGBTQ+ protagonists finding their happily ever afters. Afterglow Books, launched in 2024, features characters from all walks of life and identities pursuing their dreams and finding sizzling love along the way. Both lines have attracted a talented and diverse group of authors.
Along with publishing more stories by authors in all underrepresented communities, we work to raise awareness of their books through in-house promotions, and in partnership with festivals and retailers.
We welcome romance authors to submit unagented manuscripts for Harlequin’s romance lines through Harlequin.Submittable.com any time.