Harlequin editors attend writers’ conferences throughout the year to meet authors, hear story pitches, speak on panels, and participate in Editor Q&A sessions – in person and virtually. Here’s a run-down of recent and upcoming events.
Festival of Literary Diversity (Canada)
April 30 – May 2, 2020, Virtual event
Romancing the Capital, 2020 Online Romance Convention, Canada
May 2020
- Session: Get Swept Away: Three Harlequin authors discuss why we all need romance right now with Harlequin Desire Senior Editor, Stacy Boyd
Romance Slam Jam (US)
June 24 – 28, 2020, Virtual event
Participating editors: Glenda Howard (Senior Executive Editor), Patience Bloom for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and Cat Clyne for Graydon House Books were on hand to take story pitches
- Session: Write for Harlequin: Overview of Harlequin’s 12 romance lines
Romantic Novelists Association (UK)
July 11, 2020, Virtual event
Participating editors: Linda Fildew, Hannah Rossiter and Julia Williams heard online story pitches
- Session: Creating Conflict Through Characters
Romance Writers of Australia 2020 Virtual Con
Aug. 12 – 16, 2020
Participating editors: Rachael Donovan and Nicola Robinson who acquire for Mira, Escape and HQ in Australia heard pitches and ran a workshop session.
Black Writers Weekend
Aug. 27 – 29, 2020, Virtual event
Check out Harlequin’s Virtual Stage. Four editors participated in the online Dope Reads & Book Pitch – Gail Chasan for Harlequin Series, Kerri Buckley for Carina Press, Peter Joseph for Hanover Square Press, and Natalie Hallak for Park Row Books.
American Christian Fiction Writers
Sept. 18 & 19, 2020, Virtual event
Participating editors: Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense editors Tina James, Melissa Endlich and Emily Rodmell took story pitches and led a Spotlight on Inspirational Romance
Toronto Romance Writers Northern Hearts Conference
Sept. 19, 2020, Virtual event
Participating editors: Executive editor Kathleen Scheibling took part in an Ask the Editor session; Harlequin Heartwarming editor Dana Grimaldi led a Getting to Contract workshop
Emerald City Writers’ Conference
Oct 16-18, 2020, Virtual Event
Participating editors: Harlequin Special Edition editor Susan Litman take story pitches for Harlequin romance lines
San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA)
Oct. 17, 2020
Participating editor: Harlequin Intrigue editor Allison Lyons took part in a Q&A with chapter members
ROSACon 2020 (South Africa)
Oct 20-25, 2020, Virtual Event
Editors from our UK series acquisitions team participate in story pitches and a Spotlight on Harlequin session.
National Black Writers’ Conference
Centre for Black Literature, City University of New York
Nov. 11 – 14, 2020, Virtual event
Participating editors: Senior Executive Editor Glenda Howard to participate in a Talkshop session on publishing, fiction and playwriting