I was going to blog about Harlequin opening its digital publishing doors as Carina Press.  It was a relatively small wave, only notable because of the backing of the large traditional publisher and some digital publishing heavy-hitters on its staff.  But that move was eclipsed by a tidal wave of the shitstorm known as Harlequin Horizons.

The venerable Grande Olde Dame of romance publishing has partnered with a vanity publishing service known as Author Solutions to create “Harlequin Horizons.” They are marketing it as “self-publishing” and selling dreams between slices of snowy-soft white bread.  Breathless marketing on the site (which I’m not linking to and not giving legitimacy to, even for my six readers out there–Hi, you guys!) heaves with moist declarations of making your dreams come true and being the center of attention at booksignings, about showing the world you are a Serious Published Author through a hardcover copy of Your Book in your sweaty little hands.  My bosoms heave just thinking about it.  I mean…it’s–it’s Harlequin!  You, too could be a Harlequin Author…for the modest price of seven hundred bucks.

Now, if no one else has told you this yet, allow me to be the first, and to be undeniably clear when I say YOU DO NOT PAY SOMEONE TO PUBLISH YOUR WORK.  If someone walks up and offers you a discounted price to publish your work, refer to the words in caps.  Money flows TO the writer.

There are lively discussions, with input from Malle Vallik, the Harlequin rep with the misfortune to draw the short straw and become the spokesperson for this fustercluck, at Dear Author and Smart Bitches, where I’ve posted comments among many voices much more erudite and knowledgeable than mine.  If you aspire to write stories and publish them for public consumption in any way, shape, or form, you need to read both of these threads, along with the Writer Beware blog entry, and the thread at Absolute Write‘s forums.  Yes, the comments and threads are long, but anyone who is interested in either publishing a story or making a career (main or side) of writing, cannot afford to tl;dr this.