General Information
This information was collected from published guidelines, interviews with authors and editors, and other resources. As always, publishers' wants and needs change, and the information as presented below might already be out-of-date by the time it's published on WWR. Please check with the publishing house you're targeting if you have doubts about anything listed below.
Word Count » 50,000—55,000 words
Point of View » Third person. However, the POV can be from the male or female perspectives, or seen through the eyes of both protagonists.
Setting & Time Period » Limitless settings within a contemporary time frame as long as the location is sophisticated, glamorous and international.
Here are a few of the highlights from eHarlequin's guidelines:
- "Although grounded in reality and reflective of contemporary, relevant trends, these fast-paced stories are essentially escapist romantic fantasies that take the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride."
- Each book should contain a "strong, wealthy, breathtakingly charismatic" alpha-heroe who is tamed by a "spirited, independent" heroine.
- The focus of the story should be on a "provocatively passionate, highly charged affair, driven by conflict, emotional intensity and overwhelming physical attraction, which may include explicit lovemaking."
Submission Information » For this line, Harlequin will accept from new authors the first three chapters and a synopsis. They do accept agented or unagented submissions. A few of the editors who accept Harlequin Presents submissions are: Tessa Shapcott-Senior Editor, Kim Young-Editor (Modern/HP only) and Meg Sleightholme-Editorial Assistant in the London office.
You should send your material to your Harlequin Presents (Mills & Boon Modern Romance) editor of choice at:
Harlequin Presents
Eton House, 18-21 Paradise Road
Richmond, Surrey
Tw9 1SR
United Kingdom
Telephone inquiries should be limited, but here's the number in case you decide to call overseas: 011-44-020-8288-2800.
This information was up-to-date as of November 2004. Check with the publisher for updates!
