Comments on: Harlequin Launches New Line, Authors Everywhere Polish Synopses

By: April Joleen

April Joleen — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:43:23 +0000

I actually found this post because I was looking for info on epic romances as research as to what harlequin might be looking for LOL

I like the SASE.

i do have to say though, that The Notebook, by Sparks was only 47,000 words, and he successfully nailed a relationship from beginning to end at old age. I don’t know what his other book lengths are, but this is incredible. Also, James Patterson’s Suzann’es Diary For Nicholas, isn’t much longer than The Notebook. I think it might also be considered an epic.

Ofocurse than you have books like Gone With the Wind, which is lengthy, to say the least.

I like the idea of this, but have to agree, with whoever mentioned selling to another publisher verses a series .

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 19:55:38 +0000

Unless you’re talkin’ saga, 75,000 words is considered a short book? Really? That seems like a perfectly decent length.

By: Susan Gable

Susan Gable — Tue, 31 May 2005 17:34:50 +0000

Hey, and get a load of the acronym for them: SASE – pronounced Sassy. (Because I said so!)

Yes, Yes, I do believe Short Attention Span Epic is the way to go! I should call HQ’s marketing department now!

Of course, SASE also stands for Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope, something authors are very familiar with. (g)

Short Attention Span Epics – so small they will fit in a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.

Okay, yes, we are easily amused, I admit it. LOL.

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Tue, 31 May 2005 17:28:13 +0000

Well, when you consider the fact that we’re having all this fun with the idea, it’s not so sad at all. Unless you consider the fact that it highlights how easily amused some people are.

I do like Short Attention Span Epic…it’s catchy!

By: Susan Gable

Susan Gable — Tue, 31 May 2005 16:03:50 +0000

LOL – Another author also recently proclaimed this “Epic Light.”

I was thinking more in terms of Sound Byte Epic. Or Short Attention Span Epic.

How sad is that?

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Tue, 31 May 2005 15:28:27 +0000

Hmm, I never thought of Sparks angle. Possibly because I never think of Sparks. Seems like there’s a cause/effect thing going on. If you’re right Brenda (and I’m totally fine with declaring that to be so!), then they’re seeking sweeping romance light. Reads great, less filling.

By: Susan Gable

Susan Gable — Tue, 31 May 2005 15:22:12 +0000

Amen, Brenda. I think you’ve nailed it. They want to capture the essence of Sparks in a category line – and I too am wondering why an author with that kind of a book would want to do it as a category instead of a single title and the potential of a much bigger payoff.

Although if the line survives long enough, it will become sort of expected to try to find your book a home there, I suppose.

By: Brenda Coulter

Brenda Coulter — Tue, 31 May 2005 15:13:50 +0000

From the guidelines sheet: Epic Romance novels explore a relationship over a period of years--even an entire lifetime. An Epic Romance is the history of a romance [Emphasis theirs.] Nothing in the guidelines suggests they are talking about anything other than stand-alone books. I imagine they're thinking along the lines of Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. But heck, if I had a story like that in me, I sure wouldn't sell it to a series line.

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Tue, 31 May 2005 14:20:28 +0000

Okay, at the risk of stating the obvious, no, they are apparently not kidding (though the what are they smoking thought remains on the table). My guess, if I may, is that maybe you can follow the characters through multiple books? No, that doesn’t feel right. I’m sure someone has a clue here…

By: Brenda Coulter

Brenda Coulter — Tue, 31 May 2005 13:36:13 +0000

Yeah, I nearly laughed myself off my chair yesterday when I got that e-mail announcement from Harlequin. “Sweeping narratives” that will “span considerably more time than the typical series romance” sound very exciting until you realize that these “epic romances” will be crammed into little books of 75,000 words.

Are they kidding?