Harlequin and vanity publishing: attracting readers? or taking writer's money?

Organizations such as Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and Science Fiction Writers of America have taken a stand on behalf of their authors regarding Harlequin Enterprises joint venture with Author Solutions to create what was to be called Harlequin Horizons, although Harlequin has since announced that it will change the name, removing Harlequin from the title.  However, that doesn’t change the fact that Harlequin is still now in the business of Vanity Publishing.

When Harlequin first made this announcement, romance writers across the country were shocked and dismayed.  Many authors, even authors published with Harlequin sent the company letters regarding their new business practices.  Others sent letters to Romance Writers of America calling RWA to address this situation.  RWA did just that with a swift decision.  Here is part of what they decided:

“One of your member benefits is the annual National Conference.  RWA allocates select conference resources to non-subsidy/non-vanity presses that meet the eligibility requirements to obtain those resources.  Eligible publishers are provided free meeting space for book signings, are given the opportunity to hold editor appointments and are allowed to offer spotlights on their programs. 

With the launch of Harlequin Horizons, Harlequin Enterprises no longer meets the requirements to be eligible for RWA-provided conference resources.  This does not mean that Harlequin Enterprises cannot attend the conference.  Like all non-eligible publishers, they are welcome to attend.  However, as a non-eligible publisher, they would fund their own conference fees and they would not be provided with conference resources by RWA to publicize or promote the company or its imprints.”

An article describing why Vanity Publishing can be bad for writers can be found here.

Many members of RWA were pleased with the way RWA responded.  Then Harlequin announced that they would be changing the name because of the fear authors had about how the Harlequin Brand name would be used.  While authors were pleased with the name change, they are still concerned that Harlequin is forging ahead with this venture.  The idea that Harlequin would reject a writer’s work, in essence not willing to pay the author for their book, but send to an imprint where the author would then have to pay the same company to publish their work.  The money should flow to the author.

Harlequin responded to RWA.  Here is part of the company’s response:

“Harlequin was very surprised and dismayed to receive notice late yesterday that the RWA has decided that Harlequin is no longer eligible for RWA-provided conference resources.  We were even more surprised to discover that the RWA sent a notice to its membership announcing this decision, before allowing Harlequin to respond or engage in a discussion about it with the RWA board.  Harlequin has been a significant supporter of the RWA for many years in several ways, including: 

• financial sponsorships at the annual conference

• sending editors to the national and regional chapter conferences throughout the year to meet with and advise aspiring authors and participate in panel discussions on writing

• celebrating our authors, most of whom are RWA members, annually with the largest publisher party at the conference.

It is disappointing that the RWA has not recognized that publishing models have and will continue to change.  As a leading publisher of women's fiction in a rapidly changing environment, Harlequin's intention is to provide authors access to all publishing opportunities, traditional or otherwise.”

Well, many other publishers attend RWA National Conferences each year.  In addition, RWA does not exist for the purpose of the publishers.  RWA and other organizations like it were created with the author in mind.  To teach, guide, and be an advocate for writers across the country.  Every single organization I have mentioned, and those I have not such Thriller Writers of America have never recommended vanity publishing, or self-publishing, or even the no-advance model of publishing.  None of the business models are new business models.  They have been around a very long time. 

What has changed is technology.  The creation of electronic books, electronic readers and what is known as POD or Print-On-Demand are changing the way consumers read books.  These technologies will change the face of publishing, but Vanity Publishing will always be a bad idea for authors.  The sad truth is that for every couple of writers who will understand that choosing a vanity press such as Harlequin Horizons, or whatever it will be called, there where be at least twice that amount will to buy a publishing packages instead of selling their work.

The model to which Harlequin implies that RWA refuses to embrace goes against the grain of author advocacy.  The money should roll toward the author.

Both MWA and SFWA have sent letters to their membership regarding this issue and the concern regarding what Harlequin has done with Author Solutions. 

Vanity publishing is not about a new way to publish books, but a new way for the publisher to make money that has nothing to do with the end product for the consumer… the book.  For the publisher, the consumer is now the author and the product is the package of publishing (a la cart) that the author purchases.