Part #2 of our chat with Stacy Boyd, senior editor at Afterglow Books. LUV: For the writers among the LUVerlies can you tell us about the editorial requirements and submission process. Are there themes or topics you would most like to see come across your desk? Who are the acquiring editors? Stacy: We’re looking for stories that are fun, fast-paced and full of feeling. These books have energy and depth, and they feel like big books in a small package—we love upmarket hooks, especially if they’re a little different from what you’ve already seen on the shelves. For example, we’ve had ‘books about books’ romances that include a journal-maker with witchy vibes, a fanfiction writer retelling Shakespeare with sex, and a librarian character who’s a secret author falling for her fan. At Afterglow Books, the hooks only work if they’re paired with great characters. The characters drive the plot! We want to understand their motivations, who they are, how they change. We love to see their interior lives—how they think, why they make their choices. And yet even as the characters pull us into the story, the romance is key! Sensual tension and chemistry must pop throughout the book. The attraction should be on the page and described in detail. We love modern slang, sex scenes that feel real, but don’t want to see cliché or euphemism. These are books about people you could know, and the sex scenes should feel real in that way. The books are 70,000 words, always contemporary romance, and our full submissions guidelines are on https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit You can get writing tips and watch videos about each series at https://www.writeforharlequin.com I acquire books for the imprint, along with associate editor John Jacobson and assistant editor Errin Toma. Right now, we’re particularly looking for contemporary romance that hints at other genres or includes a speculative element. Time slips, retellings, magical realism, light mystery or horror—we’d love to see fully modern, realistic romance that plays around with other genres.

Posted by LUV Team at 2024-05-07 19:00:55 UTC