Call For Submissions
Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin feature contemporary, fun, sexy stories for today’s fun fearless females!
The Heroine:
- She is the Cosmo woman: fun, fearless, female
- She is independent
- She does not need a man to make her life complete, but he is the icing on the cake
- She’s adventurous and daring both in the bedroom and out!
- She values her female friendships
- She is focused on her career
- Our heroine (and hero) grew up with reality TV, texting, online dating
- She is most likely in her early to mid-twenties
- The heroine drives the story
Key Elements:
- Sexy romantic relationship with a satisfying ending
- Love scenes are frequent, fun, detailed, fantasy-oriented and push the envelope
- A strong conflict
- Fast-paced, snappy dialogue, witty repartee
- Strong female lead
- A hero that you want to spend the weekend in bed with
- Fresh, contemporary voice
Stories Can/Will:
- Include multiple points of view
- Be told in first person
- Be contemporary (but not paranormal please!)
- Urban international settings are good
- Heroes can be bad boys, successful entrepreneurs, geeky scientists—different flavors of men for different fantasies
What We Don’t Want:
- No historicals
- No paranormal
Program Details:
- 25,000–30,000 words
- 2 titles a month
- Digital First
- Launching late spring/early summer 2013
How to Submit:
Please submit only completed, fully polished manuscripts along with a query/cover letter and synopsis. In the subject line of your query, please type the manuscript title and your name.
Queries must include the following and will not be reviewed if any piece is missing:
A brief, introductory query letter including word count and a short description of the book, as well as any pertinent information about the author, including both legal name and pen name and any writing credits.
The full manuscript saved and attached as an RTF file. The file name should be saved as TITLE_MANUSCRIPT, where you substitute your book’s title in place of TITLE.
A 2–5 page synopsis of the book detailing character development, plot and conflict/story resolution. Attach as an RTF file with file name TITLE_SYNOPSIS, where you substitute your book’s title in place of TITLE.
*Please be sure to put the following information on the first page of all files: manuscript name, author pen name/legal name, email address, phone number, and word count.
Submissions should be sent to Submit_HCosmo@Harlequin.com.
All submissions will receive an auto-response acknowledging receipt of submission. Please allow 8–12 weeks for an editorial response to your submission. If a response has not been received after 12 weeks, please follow up at Submit_HCosmo@Harlequin.com.
In the subject line of your query, please type your manuscript name, your name and the target series. (Example: Book X by Jane Doe, Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin.) In the body of the email, please let us know the date it was submitted. It is also helpful if you email from the same email address you used to send your submission.
Harlequin authors should submit through their editor orSubmit_HCosmo@Harlequin.com directly and indicate you are a Harlequin author. Please do tell us who your Harlequin editor is. Harlequin authors can submit a proposal.
Tips:
- Use a professional email account; for example: Jane Doe, not Fluffy Bunny
- It is helpful if your author name and email account name are similar
- Please do not use your spouse’s email account
- Select a readable font (not Courier)
- Make sure your synopsis answers all the questions raised in your plot. If we read your synopsis will we understand why the heroine falls in love with the hero? It also needs to showcase your voice.
All submissions should be original and targeted specifically to CosmoRed-Hot Reads from Harlequin.
