Harlequin Special Edition Series - 70,000 - 75,000 words
Harlequin Special Edition offers emotionally rich, complex contemporary romances set in North American small towns. Centered on love, family, and friendship, these stories deliver both depth and escape for readers seeking heartfelt, relatable love stories.
Special Edition stories feature fan-favorite romance hooks such as western settings, rancher and law enforcement protagonists, pregnancy, babies/children, holidays, and animals. We love to see fresh takes on popular tropes, including fake relationships, friends/enemies to lovers, secret or unexpected pregnancy/babies, fish-out-of-water, and grumpy/sunshine. We continue to look for diverse authors who can bring more varied backgrounds and characters to Special Edition.
Harlequin Special Edition Key Elements
- Characters are from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences
- Contemporary romances set in North American small towns
- Fresh takes on classic romance hooks and tropes
- Multiple hooks and tropes within one story
- Stories leave readers feeling optimistic, empowered and connected
- Stories breathe life into the main characters and the world around them—their parents, siblings, children, friends and co-workers.
- Includes stories with a range of sensuality, from subtle to spicy
- A strong internal conflict adds emotional depth and a strong external conflict creates a compelling plot
- Word count of 70,000 - 75,000 words
If you love TV shows or movies such as Gilmore Girls, Sullivan’s Crossing, Stick, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, or authors like RaeAnne Thayne, Robyn Carr and early Kristin Higgins, then you might be a good fit for Special Edition!
What to Submit
- A query letter pitching your book to our editors. For guidance on how to write an effective query letter, visit Write For Harlequin.
- Your full manuscript of 70,000 to 75,000 words.
- A brief synopsis of 2-3 pages, describing your story, plot, character development and conflict resolution/ending.
Did You Know?
- New York Times bestselling authors such as Diana Palmer, Susan Mallery, RaeAnne Thayne, Maisey Yates, and Brenda Jackson, and Melissa Senate have written for Harlequin Special Edition, and many still do!
- There are 4 new Harlequin Special Edition books available each month.
Senior Editor: Adrienne Macintosh
Associate Editor: Kimberley Conroy