Archive for January 29th, 2009

29th January

Harlequin teams up with Big Fish Games – fun to come!

Another example of how awesome Seattle is. Anyone have more info???

Harlequin and Big Fish Games Announce Licensing Agreement

Market leaders to create a series of Mystery Case Files books and Harlequin Presents games

TORONTO and SEATTLE, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Harlequin Enterprises Limited, the global leader in series romance and one of the world’s leading publishers of women’s fiction, and Big Fish Games(TM), the world’s leading online destination for games and interactive entertainment, today announced a new licensing partnership.

In the summer of 2009, Big Fish Games will begin publishing interactive games inspired by Harlequin Presents, the most popular romance-novel series in the world, which regularly tops eRetailer and retail bookstore bestseller lists. These games will be sold on line exclusively at www.bigfishgames.com and at all major retail stores.

In the second quarter of 2010, Harlequin will begin publishing a branded series of books inspired by Mystery Case Files(R), Big Fish Games’ award-winning franchise with over 3 million units sold. These novels will be written by Harlequin’s bestselling authors. Harlequin will be the first to publish women’s mystery fiction for Big Fish Games.

“We are delighted to be Big Fish Games’ partner in this venture,” said Donna Hayes, Publisher and CEO of Harlequin Enterprises. “Our companies share vast and rapidly growing female audiences. Our partnership with Big Fish Games will allow us to engage our customers in a truly unique manner.”

“The Harlequin and Big Fish Games brands are an excellent match,” said Jeremy Lewis, President and CEO of Big Fish Games. “Harlequin has a uniquely talented team, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with them in bringing these exclusive new products to our worldwide consumer base.”

In 2008, Harlequin sold 130 million books and enjoyed a total of 252 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. Almost half of all romance readers read Harlequin, and the company has some 13 million series readers. Harlequin sold a book every 4.1 seconds in 2008 and has sold 5.76 billion books since its inception. Also in 2008, Big Fish Games served its global customer base nearly 400 million games.

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29th January

More FREE ebooks! and a Survey

I heart eHarlequin. Not only do they have excellent writing guides and fabulous online sales, but they keep giving away free eBooks like it’s going out of style. It’s Christmas time again!!! If you missed the Harlequin free book a day over the holidays, or you’re like me and just want moooore, check out the Harlequin Celebrates site to download 16 free ebooks. That’s right SIXTEEN FREE EBOOKS. I am in heaven!

I’d like to draw your attention to two of the 16 offerings:

SNOWBOUND by Janice Kay Johnson
2008 RITA® Award for Contemporary Series Romance!!!
How can you go wrong with a Seattle RWA member and a RITA-winning book???

When a blizzard strands Fiona MacPherson and her students in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, their only hope of survival is to seek shelter at Thunder Mountain Lodge. Their host is John Fallon, a handsome, enigmatic war veteran haunted by secrets and scars that may never heal.

John Fallon never imagined he’d be playing host to this captivating teacher and her eight teenage charges. But when his solitude is shattered by their arrival, his world shifts on its axis. He needs Fiona—but does she need him? There’s only one way to find out. The ex-soldier must find the courage to reach out to the remarkable woman who has transformed his life…

SLOW HANDS by Leslie Kelly
I recently discovered author Leslie Kelly when her hubby friended me on Twitter. (Let the record show that Twitter is useful for promotion!) Ms. Kelly’s Harlequin Blaze book DON’T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS was fabulously hot, witty and delightfully romantic. I was swept off my feet by the story and laughed out loud at the sharp dialog. Ms. Kelly has won a fan and I can’t wait to read her free offering from Harlequin. (I would have bought Slow Hands along with her other eBooks yesterday if the eharlequin site hadn’t failed on me. Free is better!)

This is Maddy Turner’s lucky day. The civilized society girl just bid on sexy rogue Jake Wallace at a charity bachelor auction—and won! But Maddy knows Jake’s dirty little secret. And it should keep her from trying out her new boy toy. Too bad she can’t stop herself from indulging in raw, quite uncivilized sex all the same….

Jake Wallace is utterly bewitched by Maddy—and utterly bewildered. How can this tantalizing woman melt so rapturously under his ministrations one moment, then turn into a haughty queen the next? He’s determined to get to the bottom of Maddy’s agenda. One slow, delicious inch at a time…

Let’s Celebrate!

Smart Women Read eBooks

I took the survey and you should too. The results will be used for the “Smart Women Read eBooks” panel being presented at the Tools of Change Conference in New York, February 9 through 11, 2009. The presenters (including Kassia from Booksquare, Sarah from SBTB, and Harlequin’s Malle Vallik) would like to get a sense of how women read ebooks, what you like/dislike about digital text, and what you want from ebook publishers.

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