Saying Goodbye
We, as many of our readers, will be sad to see Harlequin's Temptation line no longer being marketed in the United States. However, in tribute to the many wonderful authors who've started or developed their careers by writing for the line, WeWriteRomance would like to dedicate this article to saying goodbye and giving readers some insight into where some of their favorite authors will be publishing now.
But first, we'd like to take a step back and explore what we know about the line's latest development for those readers who didn't know that Temptations will no longer be available in North America.
As part of their last reorganization process, Harlequin decided to move and revamp the Temptation line. All editorial processing will now be located in their London offices, and they renamed the line: Harelquin Mills & Boon Tempation (M&B Sensual Romance).
According to what we found in eHarlequin.com's guidelines, one major change overseas readers can look for is an opening for international settings (much like those found in the Harlequin Presents line). There are a few other changes but those will be addressed in our summary of the new Temptation guidelines. To summarize, basically, Temptation will continue to be printed but it appears they will only be sold in other parts of the world—outside North America.
Another change WWR uncovered was that the Harlequin Mills & Boon Temptation line will contain all new authors...but for the loyal Temptation fans out there, never fear. Most of your favorite authors have already found a new home!
About the Publisher
Since most who may read this article are familiar with the Harlequin/Silhouette company, we're going to skip straight ahead to the good stuff...
Insight from Temptation Authors
Leslie Kelly, Author of Make Me Over (12/04)
The awesome author of numerous Temptations, Leslie Kelly shared her thoughts on the marketing change for the Temptation line with WWR. This is what she told us:
"I was terribly saddened by Harlequin's decision to stop publishing the Temptation line in North America. I read Temptation long before I sold and it was such an incredible thrill to get to know and work with some of my long-time favorite authors, such as Vicki Lewis Thompson. I made lifelong friends, not only with other Temptation authors, but also with the incredible editors in the Toronto office of Harlequin.
"To say I'm honored to be closing out the series by writing the last ever book to be published here [in North America] is an understatement. The book, Her Last Temptation, is a true work of love...as well as sweat and tears. The senior editor of the line, Brenda Chin, has been wonderful about allowing the four authors writing the final four books to get incredibly creative. We...Heather MacAllister, Wendy Etherington, Kristin Gabriel and I...have written a series of books, called Last Call, which are all part of an intertwining, simultaneous-release miniseries. The books are about four best friends trying to figure out what to do with their lives when their bar, Temptation, is closed down. We had lots of fun plotting the stories together, and included a lot of inside jokes.
"I don't recall Harlequin ever putting out four books in one series all in the same month, and we were so excited to be allowed to use this creative, daring technique to say goodbye to a line that has always been known for being creative and daring.
"I hope readers will continue to follow the amazing careers of the "Temptresses" as we like to call ourselves. The line has an amazing list of success stories. Just a few of the authors who got their start in Temptation include Jennifer Crusie, JoAnn Ross, Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Janelle Denison, Julie Kenner, Gin Ellis, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond, Julie Elizabeth Leto, Cherry Adair, and many more.
"Be sure to watch for the next six months of Temptation—we're going out in style."
While the "Temptresses" are going out in style, Leslie Kelly will still be sharing her wonderful imagination with readers. Be sure to watch for Leslie's HQN debut, She Drives Me Crazy in March 2005!
Tanya Michaels, Author of Sheer Decadence (08/04) and Going All the Way (Temptation "Heat" 01/05)
A Temptation Author who brought a touch of comedy into each story, Tanya Michaels shared her feelings on the Temptation changes:
"From Jennifer Crusie to Stephanie Bond, many of my favorite authors have written for Harlequin Temptation. It was an honor to contribute three books of my own to the line! It was originally my editor's idea. She knew I loved to read Temptation and thought I might have the right "voice," with my sassy humor and lots of sexual tension between the characters. But it was really a challenge for me at first to get the love scenes right—so it's almost funny that my January book, Going All The Way, was steamy enough to be a Temptation Heat!
"Going All The Way will be my final book for the line before it closes in the North American market. I'm very sad to see Temptation go, but thankfully, I'll still be busy writing for Harlequin. I have more 2005 releases in other lines. After Temptation is gone, I'll continue to read many of my all-time favorite Temptation authors in Harlequin Blaze, other series lines, and the single title market. For writers who were targeting the line when it closed, this is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I'm sure many aspiring authors are disappointed by the news, but the upside is that the overseas market for Temptation is still actively acquiring, through the UK office. If your stories are sexy and sassy, with lots of chemistry between your likable hero and heroine, then this is a unique opportunity to get your foot in the door with Harlequin and start building a readership. In the meantime, there are some fantastic Temptations coming out in 2005, and I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading them!"
You should be sure to check out Going All the Way! Not only did it receive 4 1/2 Stars from RT and 4 1/2 roses from A Romance Review, Tanya has committed 15% of the royalties from this book to be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation!
If you're interested in reading more books by Tanya, be sure to keep watching for the launch of Harlequin/Silhouette's new NEXT line!
Rhonda Nelson, Author of Unforgettable (Temptation "Heat" 05/04) and Getting It! (01/05)
When WWR asked Rhonda Nelson for her thoughts on the Temptation line, this is what she had to say:
"I've always been a longtime fan of the line. It was the line I read—and initially targeted—when I first started writing, so it's especially hard to see it go. My first home at Harlequin will always be Blaze, but the word length as well as the room within the Temptation line for different types of stories was a really good fit for me. I *loved* writing for Temptation. (My last Temptation is on the shelves now. :-) To say that I was shocked when I found out that Harlequin had decided to close the line would be a vast understatement. Aside from Blaze, I think Temptation is the most contemporary line in category romance. The stories are fun, hip and peopled with today's heroines, and the writers within the line have managed to consistently morph with changing trends and pop culture. The good news is that the best of Temptation—Wrong Bed, etc...—is going to be absorbed into Blaze, so that ought to spice things up in Blaze line.
If you're interested in reading more books by Rhonda, be sure to check out the Blaze line. She has numerous books already out and more to come!
A Quick Look at Some of the Other Tempation Authors
One of the most beloved Temptation authors, Lori Foster is now writing the majority of the time for Kensington Brava. Be sure to watch for her latest work in the Star Quality Anthology to be released in May 2005!
Along with Lori, here are a few of the Temptation authors you can find writing for the Kensington Brava line:
A Look at Harlequin Temptation's Writing Guidelines
While Temptation will no longer be marketed in the United States, they will continue to publish for the overseas market. Most, if not all, of the current authors will no longer be writing for the line. However, Temptation is still open to submissions by new authors. Check out what they're looking for by visiting the Temptations guidelines page.
