tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post1728809845406396342..comments2024-03-27T12:54:20.598-07:00Comments on The Misadventures Of Super Librarian: RWA, Harlequin Horizons And My TakeWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-59068705993993251082009-11-20T05:50:29.424-08:002009-11-20T05:50:29.424-08:00Anon: One of the major sticking points is that HQ ...Anon: One of the major sticking points is that HQ will be referring to Horizons in the rejection letters they send out. "We don't want this for HQ, but hey! Give us your money and we'll print it under Horizons!"<br /><br />It's not the having a vanity/self-publishing venture aspect so much as the funneling of the slush pile towards it. Well, in my opinion anyway.<br /><br />I'm not sure how the Thomas Nelson West Bow Press deal is set up - other than it is also through Author Solutions.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-6492818319955393452009-11-20T00:10:58.726-08:002009-11-20T00:10:58.726-08:00But surely RWA now has to look a little closer at ...But surely RWA now has to look a little closer at the other publishers with major stakes in vanities?<br />Isn't the Christian pub got a very similar set up? The only difference the branding?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-62595301826587041292009-11-19T22:29:48.519-08:002009-11-19T22:29:48.519-08:00Oh, I misspoke slightly -- the Nebula awards, from...Oh, I misspoke slightly -- the Nebula awards, from SFWA, do not actually exclude vanity presses.<br /><br />The full SFWA statement is here:<br />http://www.sfwa.org/2009/11/sfwa-statement-on-harlequins-self-publishing-imprint/<br /><br />I particularly like the part about changing the name not being enough.SonomaLasshttp://sonomalass.vox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-70935753831962749932009-11-19T22:18:15.769-08:002009-11-19T22:18:15.769-08:00MWA and SFWA both have taken similar steps. MWA s...MWA and SFWA both have taken similar steps. MWA sent Harlequin a letter about their concerns and said that if those aren't addressed, HQN will stop being an eligible publisher, meaning that pubbing with them won't get you membership and their books aren't eligible for the Edgars. SFWA's list of eligible publishers (again, for qualifiying for membership and for awards) specifically includes "Harlequin after 11/2009" on the ineligible list.<br /><br />I'm very interested to see whether the name change is enough, and also whether this causes the various writers' associations to examine more closely some other publishers (Random House & Harper) with connections to self-styled "self publishing" ventures.SonomaLasshttp://sonomalass.vox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-7520273532215000592009-11-19T19:29:04.746-08:002009-11-19T19:29:04.746-08:00Yeah, this is hardly resolved by any stretch of th...Yeah, this is hardly resolved by any stretch of the imagination. As Shiloh (and others of you) have pointed out - the fact that Harlequin now has a vanity press arm will have ramifications on their authors under current RWA "rules". Especially where it concerns RITA eligibility. So while I do think it's very excellent news that Harlequin has decided to alter the Horizons name - there are still a host of unanswered questions hanging out there.<br /><br />Either way, this will continue to be a very big topic in the weeks ahead. We'll have to see how it all shakes out.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-28492747339897421892009-11-19T18:59:52.111-08:002009-11-19T18:59:52.111-08:00Thanks for the updated information Wendy! I'm ...Thanks for the updated information Wendy! I'm also happy they have removed the Harlequin name. After reading Shiloh's post, now I'm worried about favorite authors that write for Harlequin. They should not be punished for HQN buying a vanity press. I'm sure HQN won't be the last publisher to do this, so I hope RWA finds a way to fix this problem for the future.mslizalouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346608035190326136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-50361302544309598422009-11-19T18:00:22.321-08:002009-11-19T18:00:22.321-08:00You might like to know: the Hot Sheet for the RWA ...You might like to know: the Hot Sheet for the RWA Board meeting this past weekend came today. Even tho' the meeting was over before the HqHo info broke, the board has authorized formation of several task forces, including two relevant to this: 1) to study strategies to address industry changes without diluting RWA's focus on career oriented writers and 2) how to best evaluate publishers in re allocation of conference resources.<br /><br />I imagine there will be more action coming, but as Shiloh said, it's a big organization--the largest writers organization in the world--and it takes some time to change directions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-11245488075974626632009-11-19T17:56:20.359-08:002009-11-19T17:56:20.359-08:00I wondered how long it would take Harlequin to bac...I wondered how long it would take Harlequin to back off and I hope that as much as RWA had a hand in it, that Harlequin also took note of the huge uproar from readers and authors alike. But GOD, take the note off rejection letters!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03620534437805859060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-51778658287614440442009-11-19T17:42:50.117-08:002009-11-19T17:42:50.117-08:00Gah. Passive-aggressive much? Ugh. The whole thing...Gah. Passive-aggressive much? Ugh. The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth and makes me glad I'm not a writer. It makes even more glad I work for small press.<br /><br />Oy.JenBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07038255852917636476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-80334152101110100542009-11-19T17:42:03.985-08:002009-11-19T17:42:03.985-08:00Warning...i'm gonna ramble some.
RWA, IMO, C...Warning...i'm gonna ramble some.<br /><br /><br />RWA, IMO, CAN be short sighted. But I also think most of the members, and many of the BoD, do want to do what's right for the general membership.<br /><br />They are a huge organization and just like the Titanic didn't turn on a dime, neither will RWA. <br /><br />I'm damn proud of how they handled this. :)<br /><br />RWA taking on a stand on this was huge. Very Huge. HQN is a big group and RWA did something that won't sit well with them. It couldn't have been easy.<br /><br />One thing I haven't seen mentioned much of... with the loss of eligible status? Unless HQN changes something, in the future, after the current year contest is done?<br /><br />HQN authors can't enter the RITA.<br /><br />The RITA is the biggest contest for the romance industry. <br /><br />HQN is the biggest publisher in the romance industry.<br /><br />So now... HQN authors can no longer enter to win the industry's biggest contest.<br /><br />HQN is NOT going to like that. <br /><br />I think removing HQN from HHz is a step. I'm happy to see it.<br /><br />What would help? If they stop the funneling of rejected authors and if they remove the links from eHQN's writing areas of the site.Shiloh Walkerhttp://shilohwalker.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-54469520743297835092009-11-19T17:39:58.761-08:002009-11-19T17:39:58.761-08:00Like you I'm happy that they've removed th...Like you I'm happy that they've removed the Harlequin name, but if they continue with the intention of promoting their vanity press services in their HQN rejection letters, that I don't like. Plus, they'll still have a vanity imprint, so they still won't meet RWA's current requirements, right?Katie Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10094236956287511024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350052669699480502.post-4365311822570703512009-11-19T17:37:38.450-08:002009-11-19T17:37:38.450-08:00Yes what you said. Isn't it odd how we tend t...Yes what you said. Isn't it odd how we tend to agree *g*.<br /><br />Thanks for fixing my typosssss ;)sybilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342302708116383329noreply@blogger.com