Harlequin Launches Digital Imprint Called Carina Press

Posted on June 12, 2010

Harlequin Enterprises Limited has launched a digital imprint called Carina Press. The books in the imprint will be published first as ebooks and will be sold directly to consumers through the Carina Press website and third-party websites. Carina Press will begin by publishing 37 books in its first month-approximately 10 books a week-across a broad range of fiction with an emphasis on romance and its subgenres, including science fiction, fantasy, erotica, gay/lesbian, mystery, suspense and thriller. Carina Press ebooks vary in price from $2.99 to $6.99 depending on the length of the work, which can range from 20,000 to more than 100,000 words.

"As a digital-first publisher Carina Press is a natural extension to our business; it builds on our digital strength and leadership position. It gives us greater flexibility in the type of editorial we can accept from authors and offer to readers. As such, we expect to discover new authors and unique voices," said Donna Hayes, CEO and Publisher of Harlequin. "As well, we hope to reach a new group of readers with niche editorial."

Carina Press is currently accepting submissions in all genres. Carina Press will consider shorter length stories, genre novels from 50,000 to more than 100,000 words and complex narratives of over 100,000 words. Carina Press says it will also acquire books that have been previously released in print form, but for which the author has either retained digital rights or had digital rights revert to them.

"More and more readers are migrating to the digital world," said Angela James, Executive Editor of Carina Press. "They're as interested in refreshingly original stories, told by authors with truly distinct perspectives, as they are compelled by the immediacy of digital publishing. With a click they can have the book right in front of them on their computer or portable device. There's no waiting for a book to arrive and it's never out of stock."