Harlequin Books: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
=== The Beginning === | === The Beginning === | ||
Richard H.G. Bonnycastle founded Harlequin Books in Winnipeg, Canada in 1948. In this first stage, the company only focused on producing reprints of other, cheaper books.<ref name=":0" /> It was only when Mary Bonnycastle, the wife of the founder, took on editorial duties a few years later, that the company began to shift toward the romantic side of books. She realized many women fancied the romantic works of the British company Mills & Boon, and she sought paperback rights so Harlequin could reprint some of their works.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
=== Mills & Boon === | === Mills & Boon === | ||
These reprints proved to be very successful for Harlequin. They tweaked the books and created a very specific romantic formula that included a happy ending. Explicit content was removed.<ref name=":0" /> In the 1970s under president Lawrence Heisey's guidance, books were distributed for free in grocery stores with the purchase of some cleaners and other household items, attempting to expose their target audience, housewives, to their books. In 1971, Harlequin purchased Mills & Boon, taking over the company that had helped them find their footing in the publishing industry.<ref name=":0" /><ref>“History of Harlequin Enterprises Limited – FundingUniverse.” ''FundingUniverse'', <nowiki>https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/harlequin-enterprises-limited-history/</nowiki>. Accessed 30 September 2025.</ref> | |||
=== Torstar Purchase === | === Torstar Purchase === | ||
Revision as of 07:06, 30 September 2025
Introductory Information
Harlequin is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers that is renowned for its many romance publications.[1]
Mission
Harlequin strives to publish a variety of interesting and diverse romance novels that both represent many different identities, and are enjoyable to all sorts of romance readers. [1][2]
History
The Beginning
Richard H.G. Bonnycastle founded Harlequin Books in Winnipeg, Canada in 1948. In this first stage, the company only focused on producing reprints of other, cheaper books.[1] It was only when Mary Bonnycastle, the wife of the founder, took on editorial duties a few years later, that the company began to shift toward the romantic side of books. She realized many women fancied the romantic works of the British company Mills & Boon, and she sought paperback rights so Harlequin could reprint some of their works.[1]
Mills & Boon
These reprints proved to be very successful for Harlequin. They tweaked the books and created a very specific romantic formula that included a happy ending. Explicit content was removed.[1] In the 1970s under president Lawrence Heisey's guidance, books were distributed for free in grocery stores with the purchase of some cleaners and other household items, attempting to expose their target audience, housewives, to their books. In 1971, Harlequin purchased Mills & Boon, taking over the company that had helped them find their footing in the publishing industry.[1][3]
Torstar Purchase
The Romance Wars
News Corp Purchase
Present Day
Structure
Finances
News
Catalog
Notable Titles and Authors
Formats
Brand Identity
Editorial Staff
Audience
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Corporate Harlequin: Home, https://corporate.harlequin.com/. Accessed 26 September 2025.
- ↑ “Harlequin Publishing.” Harlequin, https://corporate.harlequin.com/wp-content/themes/harlequin-corporate/img/Harlequin_2022_Press_Kit_Nov_2022.pdf.
- ↑ “History of Harlequin Enterprises Limited – FundingUniverse.” FundingUniverse, https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/harlequin-enterprises-limited-history/. Accessed 30 September 2025.
