Welcome Harlequin TEEN Senior Editor Natashya Wilson. She began working at Harlequin Books in 1996, when she became an editorial assistant for the Harlequin American Romance and Intrigue series. She left in 2000 to work first as an associate editor for McGraw-Hill and then later for the Rosen Publishing Group, where she edited children's nonfiction books. She returned to Harlequin in 2004 to head up the Silhouette Bombshell series. She then worked as an editor focusing on Silhouette Romantic Suspense until recently being named senior editor for Harlequin TEEN.
Why Harlequin is launching Harlequin TEEN,
a new young adult fiction program
By Natashya Wilson
Senior Editor Harlequin TEEN
Hello, Ninc, thanks so much to Patricia and all of you for the invitation to blog about our new single-title, young-adult fiction imprint, Harlequin TEEN. As the senior editor for Harlequin TEEN, I'm excited to have this chance to tell you more about what we're publishing in our young adult fiction program and what we're looking for in submissions.
Harlequin has long considered joining the young adult fiction market. Now that we've solidified and grown our single title programs, and with the recent phenomena of books such as J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga raising the profile of young adult novels, the timing seems perfect to launch our new imprint.
From flirty, fun romance to serious drama, Harlequin TEEN will publish stories across all genres, including contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, historical, mystery, and many more. We're looking for compelling stories that teens will find relevant; books that will be remembered long after the covers are closed. We're excited to have a mixture of both experienced and brand-new authors, from New York Times bestsellers to fresh talent. Our first two books will be released this year, followed by a full-year's lineup in 2010. Here's what's coming soon...
MY SOUL TO TAKE by Rachel Vincent, first in the Soul Screamers series, comes out in trade paperback this August. The story features Kaylee Cavanaugh, a girl with a secret heritage-she's a teen banshee, and when someone near her is about to die, Kaylee can't control her urge to scream bloody murder. When the hottest guy in school seems to know more about her urge to scream than Kaylee does, it's all she can do not to fall head over heels even as classmates start dropping dead around them. Now they have to find out why-or the next scream may be Kaylee's last.
INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter, the first Intertwined Novel, lands on shelves in September in gift hardcover. This story stars Aden Stone, a sixteen-year-old magnet for all things paranormal-including the four souls who share his body and mind. Everyone thinks he's crazy, but he doesn't mind. For months he's been having visions of a beautiful girl-a girl who will either save him or destroy him. And though he's half in love with her before she arrives, he's unprepared for the centuries-old secrets she brings with her. Together, they'll enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger . . . and not everyone will come out alive.
2010 will be a whirlwind year, with two more Soul Screamers novels in January and June, the next Intertwined novel in September, several incredible debut authors, and several YA favorites. In February, we've got debut author Julie Kagawa's THE IRON KING, the first of a romantic modern faery series featuring the secret daughter of a faery king. March brings fresh contemporary writer Mara Purnhagen's TAGGED, a tale of secrets, graffiti and love-all surrounded by the sweet 16th party of the year.
In April, the incredible Maria V. Snyder delivers INSIDE OUT, an unforgettable futuristic story about a girl whose attempts to rebel quietly put her at the forefront of a revolution. For May, Allison van Diepen has penned the enchanting ORACLE OF DATING, in which a teen relationship whiz gives anonymous dating advice through the Web and winds up with more trouble than she can shake her mouse at, and in July, Douglas Rees joins our lineup with MAJIX, featuring one irrepressible teen witch you'll never forget. And that's just the first half of the year!
We've also got a secret...shhh...something fun we hope to announce at BEA, and so much more to come. It's incredible to feel the energy generated by this new program and all its possibilities, and we hope you'll check out some of the books and perhaps come to write for us in the future.
Harlequin TEEN's focus is on building authors and their characters and storylines. At this time, I would particularly love to find a strong historical project as well as a mystery. Although I don't have too much of any particular story type, those are two holes in the lineup that I am looking to fill.
What are we not looking for? For one, I see a lot of derivative stories; writers trying to emulate Stephenie Meyer, Sarah Dessen, the P. C./Kristin Cast House of Night sensation and other YA favorites. And while I'd jump off a bridge for the chance to work with any of them-well, you know what I mean-what I'm looking for is the next Someone New. If you've got a fresh, original young adult story that only you can tell, I invite you to submit it.
I would love to hear from Ninc members. Do you have any questions about Harlequin TEEN? Why do you think readers and authors are embracing young adult novels? Who are your favorite young adult writers? Let's talk!
