Harlequin Blog » Podcasts

Harlequin Podcast Debut: Book Chat!

Malle — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:00:26 +0000

by Malle Vallik, Digital and Internet

We have a debut podcast called “Book Chat” live now. One of the things I like best about working at Harlequin is that we share information about good books we’ve read. There’s nothing more fun than starting a meeting with a few minutes of chit chat about a novel: what we liked, what else this author has written, what we hope might happen next in the series. We work in publishing because we are passionate about novels, and we adore Harlequin books because they are such great entertainment.

We decided to record some of those passionate discussions as podcasts. For the first recording session I booked six of us (Jenny Bullough, Eleanor Elliott, Jayne Hoogenberk, Aideen O’Leary-Chung, Amy Wilkins and myself) to travel to the studio that records our podcasts. Unfortunately Amy had to bow out because she had to travel to visit her boyfriend’s family for an early holiday event, and Eleanor was ill that day, which is almost a good thing (sorry Eleanor!) because the four of us talked for such a long time we might still be recording if the original six had participated.

Ed, our audio engineer, was very puzzled by the concept of Book Chat when I first pitched it to him, and worried about how to mic all of us. However, he quickly talked himself into how winning an idea this could be and even imagined us drinking tea and eating cookies as we talked books. (That didn’t happen although I did buy everyone lunch and insisted a glass of wine would help us get over stage fright.)

I know we were really nervous as we started talking about the selected titles, but within minutes we were in the groove, talking to each other about what worked (and not) for us about the stories. Listen and let us know what you think. You can comment here at the blog or send an email to Harlequinpodcasts@Harlequin.ca

Starting in January the Book Chat podcast will appear monthly. Our January edition will cover favorite books of 2010.

In the debut podcast we discussed Dark Road to Darjeeling, Bespelling Jane Austen, Trial by Desire, The Keepers and a title from Carina Press Demon’s Fall.

Meet the Editors Podcast Debut – Book of Your Heart vs Book to Sell

Malle — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:00:28 +0000

Editors tell you to write the “story of your heart,” a tale you are inspired to tell. And then you see that all they are buying are books about vampires. How does the aspiring author resolve what to write? Does she write what’s hot? How does she know what’s hot? When does what’s “hot” suddenly cool to nothingness? Is it worth taking years to write the book of “your heart” when it does not fit into any romance category or anywhere in the bookstore. Can editors tell that you are writing to a market trend?

How do you combine commercial viability with sincere storytelling? Editors Allison Lyons and Kathryn Lye provide tips on following trends versus a story you are passionate about writing in today’s podcast, Book of Your Heart vs. Book to Sell.

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Meet the Editors Podcast Debut – How I Became a Romance Writer

Malle — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:28:09 +0000

For some of you participating in SYTYCW today, the idea of becoming a multi-published romance writer – as a career – is a new one. Everyone has read stories about authors being willing to starve for their craft but never being able to make a living from their passion. The romance world can be the opposite. Almost half of all paperbacks sold in North America today are romance novels. And many, many New York Times bestsellers are written by romance writers. In fact, the NYT bestseller list from yesterday included these authors who are writing a version of romance: Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Lora Leigh, Nora Roberts, Ferns Michaels and Iris Johanson. (I didn’t include Nicholas Spark’s latest tome because I haven’t read it and can’t therefore classify it, but he generally writes tropes that do not fit into romance conventions, like the unhappy ending.)

In today’s podcast you will meet three new authors and learn how and why they decided to become romance writers. They have dedicated numerous hours in honing their skills, learning from other romance writers and receiving feedback. Now they share back with you. Listen to Executive Editor Birgit Davis-Todd interview three newer writers about why they decided to write romance and what their lives have been like since they published. Meet Harlequin Blaze writer Meg Maguire, Harlequin Historical author Jeannie Lin, and Harlequin Presents scribe Maisey Yates!

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Joseph Teller Wins Nero Award

Malle — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:05:04 +0000

by Malle Vallik, Digital Team

We’re very excited to announce that The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller has won the Nero Award, a very prestigious award in the mystery and thriller community. It is judged by an expert panel and given to only one book per year.

The Tenth Case is the first book in the author’s Jaywalker series of legal thrillers and is followed by Bronx Justice and Depraved Indifference. The next book in the series, Overkill, will be published in August 2010.

You can listen to a podcast with Joseph Teller discussing his inspiration and own background that influenced The Tenth Case.

Congratulation to Joseph!

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