Do you love Hallmark movies but wish they had more to them? A more complex and emotional story, a more absorbing and complex plot, characters that you can really root for without knowing exactly what’s going to happen to them? Then welcome to Harlequin Heartwarming!
We are always looking for new authors to write contemporary romances with a focus on family and community. Here’s some more about us:
Heartwarming is:
- Wholesome romances—no sex and no swearing. We’re looking for emotional attraction only. That still means intensity and lots of feelings but keep any physical interaction to hugging and kissing only. That goes for off the page as well.
- Set in small towns in the United States and Canada.
- A romance! But that romance is supported by family, friends and community. And pets, of course. They are family, too!
- 70,000 words, which means there is room for complex stories and subplots.
- Full of popular tropes, like friends to more than friends (Remember, these are wholesome romances), first love reunion, best friend’s brother, man/woman next door, city vs. country, opposites attract, etc.
Heartwarming is not:
- Suspense, mystery or paranormal.
- Very young characters. Our main characters are usually late 20s to early 40s.
- About families going on vacation (especially to places outside of North America.)
Here are the types of stories and characters we are currently looking for:
- Stories set in western locales, with characters with western professions such as cowboy, rancher, rodeo rider.
- Small-town law enforcement characters—but still keeping the stories on the sweeter side.
- Single parents with young children.
- Stories with complex family conflicts. Can be inter-generational, or conflicts with friends or others in the community.
- Stories set around certain holidays, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Mother’s Day.
As always, you can find the full submission guidelines on the Harlequin Heartwarming Submittable page. Please check out what we are currently publishing to get more ideas of what we are looking for. We look forward to reading your submissions!
Kathleen Scheibling
Executive Editor, Harlequin Heartwarming
