Harlequin India and Cosmopolitan India announce partnership publication
To launch “Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin”, a new series of contemporary, fresh, flirty and racy novellas
Written by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors such as Sarah Morgan and Sylvia Day
Mumbai, 2nd December 2013: Harlequin India today announces the publication of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Sarah Morgan and Tawny Weber to launch the Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon. Two specially written scorching novellas, Ripped by Sarah Morgan and Fearless by Tawny Weber will be published as a 2-in-1 book.
“I love writing about strong, independent women and I’ve always been a lover of Cosmopolitan, so when I was asked to write a Red-HotRead I knew I was going to enjoy myself. I hope you have as much fun reading this story as I had writing it”, shares author Sarah Morgan.
Cosmo Red-Hot Reads is a new series being published by under Mills & Boon, the world’s foremost publisher of romantic fiction and a leading Harlequin brand, in association with Cosmopolitan magazine.
This line-up willalso bring Sylvia Day, a multi-award winning novelist, whose most recent new titles both debuted at #1 on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers lists. Two novellas, Afterburn andAftershock, will be released as a 2-in-1 book format in 2014. Both titles will be connected editorially and feature characters newly created for the Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Mills & Boon series. Individual e-Books of the two novellas will also be available online.
“I’m thrilled to be launching the Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon’s series of fresh and sensual contemporary romances,” said Day. “My stories are known for featuring fun, fearless and Cosmopolitan-type heroines as well as delicious, dangerous heroes synonymous with Mills & Boon. Afterburn and Aftershock will be no exception. I’m excited to share these sizzling new romances with readers and to do so hand in hand with Harlequin and Cosmopolitan, iconic brands known for giving women exactly what they want.”
Harlequin will publish 2in1 books under the Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon program and both novellas will be available individually as e-Books online. An exciting line-up of bestselling authors has been contracted under the series, including Tiffany Reisz, Sarah Morgan, Megan Hart, and many others. The novels will feature strong narratives focusing on female protagonists who embody the Cosmo ethos. The shorter length of Cosmo Red-Hot Reads titles – approximately 30,000 words per title – will appeal to readers on a variety of platforms.
“We are delighted to be kicking-off our Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon series with authors of international standing like Sarah Morgan and Tawny Weber, and look forward to bringing Sylvia Day under this banner,” said Amrita Chowdhury, Country Head & Publishing Director of Harlequin India. “Their addictive stories of adventurous, fabulous women negotiating modern love will enthral our readers, and perfectly capture the spirit of this exciting partnership between Harlequin and Cosmopolitan. The entire series of fast-paced romances has been set in exciting city locations and features fantastic heroines who are also rocket engineers, technology professionals, master chefs, graphic artists, political interns, and so on. Our readers in India, typically young career women, would surely love these heroines and their stories. ”
“Cosmopolitan Magazine is thrilled to partner with Harlequin to bring our readers this series of co-branded romance novels,” said Nandini Bhalla, Editor, Cosmopolitan. “The Cosmo girl is passionate about her career, wardrobe, life—and relationships, and these modern, sexy novels have been created keeping this independent, free-spirited woman in mind.”
The first book inthe series was launched in an event in Mumbai hosted by Harlequin India andRichard Bale, the Canadian Consul General. The book was unveiled by actor Aftab Shivdasani. It was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Racy Reads: Breaking Boundaries or Reflecting Society in Change’ moderated by noted thespian Dolly Thakore, in conversation with authors Aastha Atray, Ashok Banker and Madhuri Banerjee. Sula and Olive were the event sponsors.
About Harlequin:
Harlequin is one of the world's leading publishers of books for women. The Toronto-based company publishes over 110 titles a month in 31 languages in 111 international markets on six continents. Harlequin is unique in the publishing industry, combining over highly recognizable imprints including - Harlequin, Mills & Boon, MIRA Books, HQN Books, Harlequin TEEN, Spice, Harlequin Nonfiction; aglobal reach, a highly successful reader service and forward-looking technology (eBooks, downloadable audio, mobile phone applications) that not only allows the company to move further and further into the forefront of women's fiction but continues to position Harlequin for growth.
Harlequin India, which started in 2008, has brought its global romantic fiction and general fiction books to India. It has published Indian authors for its romantic fiction genre and is now expanding its Indian publishing portfolio to publish Indian authors in other genres of fiction.
Harlequin India is the subsidiary of the Toronto-based publisher - Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Harlequin had 390 bestseller placements in 2010 in North America that enjoyed a total of 1,048 weeks on bestseller lists. Since its inception, has sold approximately 6.05 billion books. Harlequin creates entertaining and enriching experiences for readers to enjoy, to share and to return to, that drives the company's success and enables Harlequin to push the boundaries, launching new stories, reaching new readers, offering new formats.
About Cosmopolitan India
Cosmopolitan is the world’s largest-selling magazine, the ultimate market leader with 200 million readers in over 100 countries around the world! Cosmo India was thefirst international women’s magazine to enter India, and has maintained its position as urban India’s market leader.
Cosmo is so iconic, so loved, so powerful as a brand, it is actually referred to as the ‘young woman’s bible’.
Cosmo India covers everything a young woman wants to know about—relationships, fashion, beauty, and sex! In addition, the magazine aims to empower women, and does so with a monthly dose of ‘confidence-boosting’ articles and career advice and insights.
