CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- Harlequin helps readers discover romance stories with Black characters all through the year on its Black-Led Romance page on Harlequin.com. Promotions continued during Black History Month with new books added to the web page from a variety of Harlequin romance lines. The promotional banner shown above ran on Harlequin.com to draw readers to the page. We’re proud to offer a broad range of stories to romance readers.
PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN PUBLISHING
- Canada’s Festival of Literary Diversity is celebrating “A Decade of Change” at the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2025. Harlequin is proud to support The FOLD and excited to continue its participation in this milestone year. From April 28 to May 4, Harlequin will offer a virtual booth about our publishing programs for aspiring authors and give editorial feedback through the Pitch Perfect program. We’re thrilled that Toronto-area Harlequin Intrigue author K.D. Richards is invited as a featured speaker.
- Harlequin supports Romance Slam Jam’s Virtual Romance Book Con with involvement in programming, pitch sessions and sponsorship. A fully virtual event running July 10-12, writers can access learning sessions on romance-writing craft, meet publishing professionals and connect with other romance writers.
ROMANCE INCLUDES YOU MENTORSHIP
- Since 2020, Harlequin’s Romance Includes You Mentorship has kickstarted the careers of romance writers by offering a one-year mentorship with an experienced romance editor and a publishing contract for a new author’s debut. We reach out to aspiring romance writers in underrepresented communities to request submissions each spring for this program. We’re proud that the talented writers who have participated over the years have continued their publishing careers with Harlequin.
Sera Taino was the first writer to be selected for the mentorship in 2020 and her fourth Harlequin novel, A SUMMER TO START OVER, will arrive in May 2025 from Harlequin Special Edition. We’re looking forward to Sera’s upcoming book!
Faye Acheampong’s second book, PRINCE’S REUNION IN PARADISE, was published by Harlequin Romance in January 2025. Congratulations, Faye! Her debut was a holiday romance called THE CHRISTMAS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Emma Claire Sunday will follow-up her Harlequin debut, THE DUKE’S SISTER AND I, with a new release this August for Harlequin Historical Romance – A FORTUNE HUNTER’S GUIDE TO LOVE. We can’t wait for your new book to arrive, Emma-Claire!
- Author Simone Sims was awarded the 2024 mentorship last fall and is now working on her debut novel with editor Emma Cole for Harlequin Intrigue. We’re so glad to have you onboard, Simone!
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
- IGNITE Pre-Conference at Winter Institute 2025: The American Bookseller’s Association annual Winter Institute (the largest gathering of independent booksellers) is hosting for the first time a pre-conference for BIPOC booksellers. HTP Books, Harlequin’s trade publishing program, has been invited to present diverse books to 110 registered attendees.
- The HTP Books Rainbow Round Table Travel Grant: HTP Books has sponsored the Rainbow Round Table (RRT) Travel grant that allows a librarian from the LGBTQ+ community to attend ALA Annual, the largest librarian conference in the US. This grant is in place for three years.
- National Book Club Conference: HTP Books is working with HarperCollins imprint Amistad Books on a custom sponsorship for the 2025 National Book Club Conference, a festival featuring Black authors and readers from across the US. The sponsorship includes guaranteed placement of authors published by HTP Books on panel events, and a Book Buzz presentation featuring recently published books.
