For anyone who is confused about self-publishing/vanity/traditional publishing, the current discussions about Harlequin's latest move in the self-publishing/vanity direction are very interesting.

The Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America all take a dim view:

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/011896.html#more

And here is a blog that is basically in favour, although the (hundreds) of comments below it are more mixed:

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/want-to-self-publish-how-about-harlequin/#com


Terry

Interesting.

“Now with Harlequin Horizons, more writers have the opportunity to ... achieve the goals that burn in their hearts.”

I like that even their sales pitch has the romantic touch!

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The odd thing is that the appeal of theirs over any other self publishing service is presumably that you get to have a book with the Harlequin name on the spine. But in self publishing it doesn't actually make any difference who you are "published" by - indeed, Lulu and Harlequin may well get their books printed by the exact same company, unless they're like Kellogs and don't make cornflakes for anyone else - so the selling point is the one part of the package that has absolutely no value at all.

I find it mysterious. How can Harlequin not think their brand will be damaged by this move?

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Maybe they are so huge and so well known that they are immune to brand damage?

Just as a post-script. It seems that Harlequin's venture into running a self-publishing arm has lasted less than a week - or, at least, they have hastily taken their name off it.

http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2009/11/harlequin-news-flash.html

I must admit, it doesn't surprise me at all. It always seemed suicidal in reputational terms to put out a line of unscrutinised, unedited manuscripts with their name on the cover.

Rosy

Interesting blog, Rosy. I liked this from Harlequin:

Most importantly, however, we have heard the concerns that you, our authors, have expressed regarding the potential confusion between this venture and our traditional business. As such, we are changing the name of the self-publishing company from Harlequin Horizons to a designation that will not refer to Harlequin in any way. We will initiate this process immediately. We hope this allays the fears many of you have communicated to us.

It's a great bit of spin: blaming the very writers they're trying to fleece for being too confused to understand the scheme, and therefore they're having to take their name off it - the one thing that might have hooked those writers in the first place. Actually, I suppose 'our authors' could include their paid authors too; in which case, I wouldn't have thought they'd be 'confused' so much as furious.

Terry

It was specifically their existing authors, Terry - not the potential customers for the new imprint. And you can understand their outrage!

R x

I'd be fucking furious.
HB x

This probably sums it up nicely:

http://smallbeerpress.com/not-a-journal/2009/11/22/small-beer-press-horizons/

Terry