Sneak Peek at Exclusive Digital Publishing from Harlequin - Malle Vallik

Before I begin any discussion about some very exciting exclusive digital content, I wanted to continue Donna Alward’s BSG countdown: 3 more days! And just as important to me, Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse premieres on Fox, 9 pm Friday, February 13. (If I could invite any 3 writers living or dead to a dinner party they would be William Shakespare, Jane Austen and Joss Whedon.)

As the Director of Digital Content & Interactivity at Harlequin, I have a super cool job that encompasses two of my passions: editorial (there is nothing I adore more than a great story, especially one with a happy ending) and relationships (which is what digital interactivity, also know as social media, is all about). Relationships between author and reader; between reader and reader; publisher and reader are amazing, powerful, informative connections. As a publisher, Harlequin is one of the rare few who has a direct relationship with its readers.

eBooks (http://www.ebooks.eharlequin.com/)

We were the first publisher to publish its entire frontlist in eBook format and have been publishing digital-original titles since August 2007 with Spice Briefs. We launched Nocturne Bites in May 2008 and Harlequin Historical Undone in November 2008.

Prequels

Last April the brilliant Gena Showalter wrote an eBook-only prequel to her Lords of the Underworld series called THE DARKEST FIRE, which revealed more of the series’ back story. This made us realize that many authors have more to tell about their series and so we’ve asked some of your favorites to write a little something extra. Gena Showalter is writing a companion piece to her THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE, March 2009. You can expect prequels as well from Rhyannon Byrd, Susan Mallery, Nicola Cornick and many more!

These tasty tidbits are a wonderful way to introduce new readers to a fantastic author and reward loyal readers with just a little bit more. And the best part is that we will usually offer these stories FREE for a limited time.

Enriched eBooks

In an enriched eBook we add “extras” to the novel. Anything and everything from videos, to hyperlinks, to author notes, to whatever is interesting, clever and fun. Wondered what a phaeton looks like? Click on the link and learn about this sporty, elegant carriage!

Linda Lael Miller begins a new trilogy, The Montana Creeds, with LOGAN in February 2009. The cover is just amazing, but we knew the photographer had a series of fantastic shots that didn’t make the cover – so we’ve included more photographs of hot, hunky cowboys throughout the text. Plus Linda writes a note explaining the connection between the Creed and McKettrick families.

That same month we have included an inside look at the Second Life events we hosted for Deanna Raybourn in SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY. Get an inside glimpse of this virtual world and the fantastic costumes people created for the party! Deanna also added some historical information, such as a history of the main character’s family estate and a recipe from the Victorian era.

You’ll find more enriched eBooks throughout the year – just look for the flash on the cover!

60 Years of Pure Reading Pleasure

In 2009 Harlequin celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since publishing our first book in 1949, the company has grown to become the world’s leading romance publisher. To celebrate 60 years of pure reading pleasure, we’re offering every woman in American a free book! Sixteen different series books can be downloaded at http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/ beginning January 29th. Feel free to share with your friends!

Free Valentines Book (with UGC)

Available on February 14 at www.eharlequin.com we will be offering a free copy of A VALENTINE FOR HARLEQUIN’S ANNIVERSARY. We are celebrating our Anniversary by putting the spotlight on the people who know Harlequin best – our readers. As an added bonus, we’ve included one of our Valentine’s short stories to create an exclusive collection as a token of our appreciation for your readership. Happy Valentine’s Day!

The digital team at Harlequin is always happy to hear from readers with ideas. Do please feel free to contact me and I will forward to the appropriate person: malle_vallik@harlequin.ca And you can follow us at Twitter!

(If you want to add any more links, my twitter is www.twitter.com/mallevallik, my blog is http://mallevallik.wordpress.com/ and I am the current smart bitches/dear author podcast http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/01/13/dear-bitches-smart-authors-first-inaugural-podcast/

You can find Harlequin at:
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www.paranormalromanceblog.com
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www.myspace.com/harlequinbook
www.myspace.com/silhouettebooks
www.ebooks.eharlequin.com
http://www.community.eharlequin.com