It’s finally spring in Toronto so I have to stop to smell
the roses (no, way too early for that!)…celebrate the successes. Huge congratulations to you, Karen Rock! Karen's Heartwarming debut book Wish Me Tomorrow (September 2013) won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for Contemporary Series!!! We’re so happy for you and your editor, Laura Barth. But we’re also really, really
happy for all of us, since this marks the first award recognition for Harlequin
Heartwarming since the launch of original stories in June/July 2013.
I suspect the authors will agree that reader recognition is
our number one goal, and I keep seeing the glowing reviews on Amazon and
Goodreads for the Heartwarming books, which—not to belittle Karen’s tremendous
achievement in any way—is right up there with industry awards from our peers.
And I don’t want to miss this opportunity to also congratulate everyone for
doing such a great job of building rapport directly with our readers online. I only wish I could remember how to log back
into Goodreads (watch out: old lady using high tech).
The April books
arrived in our Toronto office from the Buffalo warehouse yesterday, which is
always pretty exciting for us. I like to spread them out on the shelf so I can
see the month as a whole and consider the variety that the packaging and the authors’
vision bring to Heartwarming each time. I guess I like to figure out what we
could do better…and revel in what we do very right. Like the covers, which once
again, are so lovely. I keep thinking I have a favourite, but really, I love
them all.
Successes come in all shapes and sizes, and this month we introduce
two Heartwarming debut books along with Kristine’s third book in her Willing to
Wed series and Muriel’s second book for us (I think I’ve got that right,
Muriel?).
Welcome to Heartwarming, Catherine Lanigan and Linda Hope
Lee!
Catherine was one of the first authors in Harlequin’s Mira
program, when we were just launching single title books back in the day…I
believe in the early 90s. (If you’re reading, Catherine, jump in with
specifics?) And Linda Hope Lee, who belongs to several writing groups and is
the author of How to Write and Sell
Romance Novels (which I confess I just read on her blog and now want to get
my hands on a copy!), also brings a wealth of publishing experience to the
table.
For some crazy drive-an-editor-insane reason, all the books
this month were ones I’d acquired. The frustrating reality is that I can’t edit
four books a month, so I needed help from Editorial Assistant Claire Caldwell
and from trusted freelance editors, one who used to be a colleague on
Superromance and Harlequin American.
Oh, and please excuse us for the doubling up on “love” in our
titles this month. We brainstormed other titles, but nothing seemed quite as perfect
as the four you see now. (FYI: “love”, “heart” and “forever” are the most
popular words authors seem to want on their Heartwarming books: warning, we’re
trying not to use them so much…at least not every
month!)
Let’s celebrate the success of four wonderful new books!
Proud to call them Heartwarming.
Victoria
I agree, Victoria :) It is - for want of another word- heartwarming :)- to see the wonderful reviews of the wonderful books being written for Heartwarming! They are well-deserved. Thank you so much for your kind comments about the Gayle Wilson Award. It was such a surprise and a testimony to romance readers' hunger and appreciation for clean romance like ours :) I'm looking forward to reading this month's selections. They all sound terrific. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've just posted twice but they both disappeared! If you get three identical responses, Karen, the old lady is totally screwing up the tech. All I was going to say, repeatedly, is that I'm giving myself little pats on the back for having been the one to buy your winning book after reaching out to your agent, Barbara! (I thought that was too crass to say in the blog, but all gloves are off in the comment section.) Congrats again.
ReplyDeleteAw! Thank you, Victoria! I thank my lucky stars that you believed in the story and gave me such a wonderful opportunity! I'll go further than the pat on the back and give you a hug instead :)
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ReplyDeleteMajor congrats, Karen! I'll do something on the sidebar.
Victoria, you must be doing something right. All the books sound wonderful. I cannot decide which one to read first.
I really think we've got a dynamite team of editors at Heartwarming who really care about the books--coupled with authors with strong vision and passion--a winning formula. Thanks for being part of the team, Pamela.
DeleteThank you very much Pam!!
DeleteHi, All! Congratulations again, Karen! I've been congratulation her all over the place, but it warrants being done again and again. LOVE ME FOREVER is my second Heartwarming - you're right. And I am happy to be a part of the line and our wonderful group.
ReplyDeleteMake that 'congratulatING' her all over the place. Why didn't you catch that, Victoria?
DeleteWait! You're too fast for me, Muriel. You know what a slow editor I am...! (Heard back from me on that partial yet? Yikes.)
DeleteYou are such a wonderful author and exactly the writer I aspire to be, Muriel!
DeleteHigh praise, Karen. Thank you.
DeleteCongratulations on you award, Karen, and thank you for all that you are doing for the group on Goodreads, too. And while I'm thanking, I must include Victoria and her staff for their work on Eva's Deadline. I'm very pleased to be a Heartwarming author.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Linda! We are lucky to have such a great group that includes you :)
DeleteSorry for the late reply-but BIG HUGS AND CONGRATS KAREN! Your last name suits you well-you really do rock!!:)
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