Harlequin horrors

From HWA:
Dear HWA Members,

Recently, Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd. announced the launch of a new imprint, Harlequin Horizons, a self-publishing venture for aspiring romance authors. This venture is prominently promoted on Harlequin Enterprises' website and is touted in the manuscript submission guidelines for all of its imprints.

The Horror Writers Association is very concerned about the conflict of interest created by this new venture. Harlequin Horizons is a joint venture with Author Solutions, and it is a vanity press that relies on payments from aspiring writers to earn a profit. The fact that this business venture shares the Harlequin name may mislead writers into believing they can improve their chances to be published by Harlequin Enterprises if they pay for this service.

HWA asks that Harlequin acknowledge that the imprint does not represent a genuine opportunity for aspiring authors to hone their skills, because no editors will be vying for or editing the manuscripts. HWA supports the basic principal that writers should be paid for their work, not pay because they aspire to write.

The HWA does not believe that changing the name of the imprint in an attempt to disguise the relationship with Harlequin, changes the intent. We call on Harlequin to discontinue this imprint immediately. If this matter does not find a positive resolution, the HWA will take appropriate action, which may include removing Harlequin from the list of HWA approved publishers, declining future membership applications from authors published by Harlequin and declaring that books published by Harlequin will not be eligible for the Stoker Award.

We are taking this action because we believe it's crucial to alert and protect our members from unethical and predatory publishing practices that take advantage of their desire to be published. The HWA hopes Harlequin Enterprises Ltd will take the appropriate measures to correct this matter posthaste.
Deborah Leblanc, HWA president

Murder, Madness, Mayhem...amen

A new anthology from Comet Press, releases Nov. 23. Like the title says...dark crime. With stories by Tom Picirrilli, Simon Wood, John Everson, more. My own entry is "The Name Game," about what happens when you lose face...or die trying.

Appalachian Winter Hauntings

A new release from editors Mark Justice and Michael Knost and Woodland Press. Features tales from the hills, including my entry "Apple Head Dolly," and stories by Ronald Kelly, Elizabeth Massie, Steve Vernon.

Tater Bear

I don't know what's creepier, the fact that this spud looks like a bear or that it is so obscenely large. This guy brings in mutant fruits and vegetables every year to the newspaper to be photographed--I wonder if radiocative material is buried on his farm.

NC Writer Events in November

TUE NOV 10, 7pm-8:30, PUBLIC FORUM, GREENSBORO: Elizabeth Zelvin, NYC
psychotherapist and mystery author of *Death Will Get You Sober* and *Death Will
Help You Leave Him.* She'll discuss "Alcoholism and Codependency Can Be Murder:
How a Therapist's Whodunits Help People Understand, Live With, Even Recover
from Addiction to Booze and Bad Relationships." Q&A, refreshments.
Unitarian-Universalist Society of Greensboro, 5603 Hilltop Rd., two miles south of W.Wendover. 336-856-0330 or 336-209-0628. http://www.uugreensboro.org/directions.html

SAT NOV 14, 9am-4, CHARLOTTE, fiction writer's intensive with award-winning
author and book editor Chris Roerden. Learn why most submissions are rejected instantly, discover new options for developing your writer's voice, and enjoy succeeding in your publishing efforts. Charlotte Writers Club 2nd annual writers education day. (The 1st in 2008 was presented by NY literary agent Donald Maass, author of *Writing the Breakout Novel* and *The Fire in the Fiction.*) Fifty writers have registered so far; $55 for the day including lunch ($50 for members). For location, registration form, and a list of 27 topics that Chris will cover: http://www.charlottewritersclub.org

SAT NOV 21, 10am-12 Winston Salem
and
SAT NOV 21, 2pm-4 Greensboro
"The End? Is Just the Beginning: Editing, Critique, & Craft, led by
Elizabeth Zelvin, NYC psychotherapist, Agatha Award finalist, author of the
mysteries *Death Will Get You Sober* and the just-released (by Macmillan's
Minotaur) *Death Will Help You Leave Him*, as well as published poems, short
stories, and many professional articles. http://www.elizabethzelvin.com
In Winston: Central Library, 660 W. 5th St. http://wswriters.org
In Greensboro: Sternberger Ctr, 712 N. Summit Ave. http://triadwriters.org

For more events, please visit http://www.writersinfo.info and click on the
microphone.