Please join us in welcoming Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg today! We’re very pleased to have her here talking about Harlequin’s Famous Firsts special edition releases.
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By: Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg
As Executive Editor of Feature and Custom Publishing at Harlequin, I work on reissue programs all the time and have done so for many years. So what was so special about putting together our Famous Firsts Collection, timeless romance stories which readers are enjoying in select months of 2009?
First of all, we wanted to do something really special for Harlequin’s sixtieth anniversary celebration. Each series had special in-line books and features planned. What could we do in a reissue format that would appeal to current readers? We decided to go for “timeless” and “classic”, and to revisit some of the first novels written by romance authors who had gone on to establish careers and renown in their chosen field.
For me, this was really a project of the heart because….I happily admit it….I have been at Harlequin long enough to have been on staff when many of these books were originally acquired, and reflecting on the journey of both the books and the authors is quite nostalgic for my sentimental heart!
Finally, and most important, working on this project afforded the wonderful opportunity to reconnect with many of the Famous Firsts authors, whom I have known throughout their careers. It was a chance to catch up, and even more rewarding, to gather their reflections and thoughts on their particular books, on their careers and on the current state of romance publishing.
In a series of blogs on various sitesover the next couple of weeks, it will be my pleasure to share some of these comments and insights with you!
I was quite delighted by the variety of responses I got when I asked the authors what had prompted the ideas for their books. Linda Lael Miller told me that she had always been interested in politics, and wanted to write about how it might affect a heroine’s life to be related to a president of the United States. What she was going for in State Secrets, she explained, was a relationship similar to that between Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, a television series from the 80’s that she loved.
For Joan Johnston, the inspiration for Ties that Bind was a newspaper article on performance art that described two people who’d spent an entire year tied together by an eight-foot rope, and had not spoken to each other at all during that time!
For The Matchmakers, Debbie Macomber recalls that she heard a story through her daughter of a young single teacher whose students were trying to find her a man for her…and ultimately succeeded.
Vicki Lewis Thompson, as an established Harlequin Temptation author, was asked to write one of the first Harlequin Blaze stories. She wanted both hero and heroine to be out of their element, and remembers that she “couldn’t think of a more Blaze-like city” than Las Vegas, which both fascinated and repelled her!
And Anne Stuart, an author of more than 100 stories, instantly responded that the plot of Tangled Liesemerged in her brain from her affection for an obscure 1948 movie entitled Miss Tatlock’s Millions. It depicted the impossible dilemma of someone falling in love with a person pretending to be a sibling…the biggest romantic no-no of all, and she desperately wanted to write that story—as a mystery. Fortunately for her and for us, the Harlequin Intrigue line had just begun , and this book, which was “burning a hole in her brain”, was one of the first bought for that series.
Please be sure to watch from my next blog post at PlotMonkeystomorrow, June 2, where I will share with you how the technological revolution impacted some of your favorite authors!
Don’t forget that you can enjoy 16 free Harlequin novels by downloading them at www.HarlequinCelebrates.com. And the Harlequin Cover Art Show in New York runs May 30 – June 12th at the Open House Gallery, New York City (201 Mulberry Street in Soho).
Have you read any of the Harlequin Firsts?
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To celebrate the release of these we’ve got 4 of the novels and one tote bag to give away!
Every person who leaves a comment on this post telling us what Famous First they’re most looking forward to will be entered to win this beautiful tote bag:
Additionally, we’re going to giveaway one of each of these Famous First titles:
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart
Moontide by Stella Cameron
The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber
Tell us which one you’re interested in and we’ll throw your name in the hat. You’re welcome to put your name in for all four books, but you may only win one. However, one person may win a book AND the tote!
You must leave a comment before 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 5th in order to be entered in the giveaway.
See a full list of the Famous Firsts here.
Tangled Lies! Anne Stuart is my author goddess.
I’m looking forward to Moontide!
I’m interested in Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart AND Moontide by Stella Cameron.
I’m interested in the books by Anne Stuart and Linda Howard. Thank you.
I would love to have Tears of the Renegade by Linda Howard or Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart. Or for that matter I would love to win Moontide by Stella Cameron. I would also love to win the tote bag.
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart and Tears of The Renegade by Linda Howard are the two I’m most looking forward too.
I have to put my name down for the Anne Stuart and Linda Howard books, please. They are awesome authors and my favourites. 🙂
Too hard, so I am going to say that I would love to read any of those 4 books 😀
Please add me to the list for any of the four. I have read all of these authors and would love to what their first looked like.
I too would love the tote…I would of course taking some major teasing from a few of my older nephews 🙂
Regards, Ruth
Any four are fine, but please put me in for Tears of a Renegade. Thanks.
Please toss my name in the hat for Debbie Macomber’s book. Thanks for the chance to win!
I think I’m most looking forward to Uneasy Alliance by Jayne Ann Krentz, but I will admit many of them look like they would fit quite nicely in the tote bag should I win it 😉
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart would fit quite nicely in my bag too!
I’ve already read Tangled Lies (and loved it!)
I’d love to win any of the other 3 🙂
Tears of the Renegade by Linda Howard, I love Linda Howard but I haven’t read this one.
Tears of Renegade by Linda Howard
also State Secrets by Linda Lael Miller
looking forward to those
Would love to have tThe Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber.
I would love to have Tears of Renegade by Linda Howard. She is one of my favorite authors.
Tears of the Renegade or Tangled lies. I’m a die hard fan of Linda Howard but Tangled Lies seems great too so… 😉
Books? You’ve got books? Sorry, I’m distracted by that awesome tote bag! I want to have babies with that tote bag.
I’m looking forward to Moontide.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I’ve Tangled Lies and Tears of the Renegade in my pile. I’d love to read Moontide, so please put my name for this book! 🙂
Moontide by Stella Cameron
I would like to read “Moontide” by Stella Cameron. I wish she would write more historicals!
Both TEARS OF THE RENEGADE and TANGLED LIES! So neat to put these books out again!
I already have the Debbie Macomber book.. Love Debbie.
Would love to win the tote bag..it is awesome!
I’m interested in Linda Howard’s “Tears of the Renegade” and Anne Stuart’s “Tangled Lies.”
Of all the Famous Firsts I’m most looking forward to reading Lori Foster’s Impetuous!
These four authors are all excellent!
Actually,I’d really love to have ALL the books for me to treasure!!
If i had to choose one it would be Debbie Macomber’s The Matchmakers! I haven’t read this one. I really enjoy her knitting /Cedar Cove series!
I have read and enjoyed all four authors for years. I would enjoy any of the four books.
I loved Scarecrow and Mrs. King and I always felt like a dork for doing so.
Guess I’m not so much a dork after all since I’m in such good company! 😀
Ohh what a great post. I think I’m most looking forward to either Lori Foster’s or I believe I read Lindsay McKenna has one coming. I love both of these authors!
hugs,
WendyK
highlandlovesong at yahoo dot com
I’m looking forward to Tangled Lies!
I would like to be entered for (1) The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber and (2) Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart, thank you!!!!
delilah0180 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I really really want the tote bag!!
I would also like the Linda Howard book 🙂
Thanks for another great contest!
I’m interested in all four. Please add my name in.
Any one of the books would be wonderful. I absolutely love the tote bag!
I’d love to read The Matchmakers. LOVE the You Never Know With Women totebag!!!
Mary (meah56 at gmail dot com)
I’m interested in the books by Linda Howard and Anne Stuart.
I love the totebag and thanks for the contest!
Very cute tote! I’d love to be entered for Tangled Lies. I have a few of the other firsts already–how funny!
I’d love to be entered for any of the 4 books. Sadly I’ve not read ANY of the famous firsts! Yikes. I think I need to change that.
How much do I love that tote bag? Definitely enter me into the contest. 🙂
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart, but I’m also reading another Debbie Macomber book at the moment, so I’d like to see what else she can do.
This is a great idea, to re-publish famous author’s first books. I’ve been a romance reader for only about 8 years, so I’ve missed a lot and still have lots of catch up to do.
I know all these authors and they are all wonderful story tellers.
Linda Lael Miller is a particular favourite of mine. Her stories are always so very moving…I’ve often cried after reading one!!
Personally, I would be thrilled to win any one of these books, but I live in Germany so I don’t know if I am eligible.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
I’ve borrowed Debbie Macomber’s first again and again from the library and would love to own a copy. Ever since Smart Bitch Sarah and Rob from RT posted pictures of HQN Art and the tote, I’ve been hoping for a chance to be able to buy somewhere. Winning it would be sweeter. 🙂
I haven’t read anything by Debbie Macomber before, but I love the plot for The Matchmakers!
The Matchmaker since I’m a big Debbie Macomber fan. What a great selection I want them all!!
msboatgal at aol.com
What a delightful selection. Tangled Lies would be perfect. Thanks.
Lovely tote bag – bert it holds lots of books 😀
Put my name down for Moontide please.
Thank you, I would like to win:
The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber and
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart
plusmore678 AT yahoo DOT com
I am interested in reading Tangled Lies + The Matchmakers, thank you!
The Matchmakers by Debbie Macombe is definitely the one I would love to win and read. thanks so much.
I’m looking forward to Heather Graham’s book… she is one of my personal favs 🙂
All four of these authors are amazing, and I would be thrilled to win any one of these “famous first” books.
As for that tote bag? Just the hottest thing EVAR. Vintage cover art is my favorite thing.
Tears of the Renegade by Linda Howard, one of my fave authors
Great giveaway!
All four of these authors are amazing, and I would be lucky to win any one of these books.
And tote bag is just great!
i’m looking forward to Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart
elaing8(at)netscapae(dot)net
I would be thrilled with any of these four titles!
If I had to put them in order:
Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart
Moontide by Stella Cameron
Tears of the Renegade by Linda Howard
The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber
I’d also love the tote bag!
hawkes (at) citlink.net
I’d love to win Debbie’s book and that bag is fantastic!
Thanks!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tangles Lies by Anne Stuart!
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