Hi, all!
Brenda suggested I tell you about what I do here at Harlequin, so here goes…
Officially, I’m the editorial assistant for Harlequin Blaze and Harlequin American Romance. Unofficially, they call me The Gatekeeper. Anything you send to Blaze or American Romance editors has to go through me.
I suspect I’m best known among Blaze authors as the person who nags them to fill out their art fact sheets. I also do a lot of administrative tasks: filing, photocopying, couriering, etc. And I deal with most of the slush that comes to the Blaze line. I get some promising submissions and some pretty crazy stuff, too—please do not send pictures of yourself, hand-drawn illustrations, or manuscripts written on lined paper and held together with twine. Seriously, just say no.
The part of my job that I enjoy the most is the actual editing. I now have three of my own authors, including fabulous new Blaze author Elle Kennedy, whose first book Body Check came out in March. I often take on projects, such as line edits, for other editors, as well. You, too, could be the lucky recipient of one of my very thorough line edits—don’t get too excited, now.
I love working on Blaze books. The authors are a lot of fun, and the stories are super sexy!
We have a fantastic lineup for you in July….
If you’re looking for a great beach read, we’ve got an anthology that’s all about the beach. In Endless Summer, author Julie Kenner makes her return to Blaze. She’s in good company with Karen Anders and Jill Monroe.
Samantha Hunter introduces us to the next generation of American heroes—The Texas Rangers—with Hard to Resist.
We’re also incredibly honored and excited to have New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn join the team with her first Blaze book Make Me Yours, a hot historical romance.
Cara Summers brings us Twin Seduction, the follow-up to last month’s Twin Temptation.
Rhonda Nelson’s The Soldier is another Uniformly Hot! title, linked to last month’s Letters from Home. Army Ranger Adam McPherson shows us that even though he lost part of his leg to a roadside bomb, he’s still one-hundred percent man.
And Kate Hoffmann offers The Mighty Quinns: Teague, the second in her Quinns Down Under series.
So have fun at the beach and remember to take along these sizzling hot reads. And, make sure you add the comment that Blaze Heroes are Hunks to get your name in the draw for copies of our June Blaze books.
Thanks for having me and good luck!
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Sounds like a lot of great reads coming out, just what I’d expect from the Blaze line. Because Blaze Heroes are Hunks.
Great post.
Lots of great stuff here!
Oh, and of course, Blaze Heroes are Hunks 
Lois
Hi Laura! Will we see you at the RWA conference?
Hi Heather,
Sadly no, I’ll be staying in Toronto this year. My fingers are crossed for next year, though. It would be so much fun to meet you all!
I wouldn’t call it *nagging* about Art Fact Sheets at all, although your reminders can occasionally instigate major panic attacks. As in– I have to fill out art fact sheets???? today???? That’s quickly followed by either A)– ack!!! Must finish book!!!! Or B) — ack!! Must remember what that book was about!!!
Either way, your reminders are very appreciated in the long run.
Aw, thanks, Joanne.
Laura, how fun to see you out here! Now I get to bother you in two places… *G*
Like Joanne, I don’t mind the AFS reminders, and anyway, I think I probably pester you about other issues just as much.
Well, more, really. (LOL Joanne… yes on remembering what the book was about, and also searching the ms for what color their eyes are LOL).
Honestly, you have always been so helpful with so many issues, it’s never a bad thing seeing your name in the inbox.
–especially when there’s a cover attached. 
Sam
First let me say – Blaze Heroes are Hunks!
Thanks for the insight into your job. Sounds cool. Hard work, but worth it.
Great line-up for July too.
Blaze Heroes are Hunks! That sounds like a great lineup of books and worth all the hard work and effort of nagging the authors!
Thanks, Laura, you’ve been a help to me.
Blaze Heroes are Hunks!
Laura *waving* Hey and welcome to the blog!!!
Its so cool to hear what you do in your cubicle. Although I’m sticking with my image of you in an office lined with books and hunky cover posters… it just works for me
Thanks for sharing. I have to ask, too – what’s your favorite part of your job? And what brought you to editing?
Hi Tawny,
It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m very impressed with the blog. It looks fantastic and the postings are a lot of fun to read!
My favorite part of the job is probably line editing. I love working with language. But I also really enjoy working with the authors–whether it’s brainstorming ideas for a new book, or helping them with smaller problems. Harlequin authors are genuinely nice people and are always kind and appreciative of my efforts.
What brought me to editing… Well, I’ve always loved books and have read voraciously most of my life. I did a BA in English, but I didn’t want to be a teacher. (That’s what most people expect you to do when you get a BA in English.) It was the writing that appealed to me and I’d always helped my classmates with their essays, so I decided that was the path for me. I enrolled in a publishing program and when I graduated, I had the good fortune to be hired as a proofreader at Harlequin. A year later I was promoted to my current position. Editing was a great choice for me.
Looks like some great reads coming from Blaze this summer! Blaze Heroes are Hunks!
Hi, Laura! Very cool to learn more about your role! Sounds like quite a lot on your plate!
And of course, Blaze Heroes are Hunks! Woohoo!
Ooh, another month, another set of 6 wonderful reads from Blaze. I’m heading our to my local Barnes and Noble tomorrow night for our monthly Romance Book Club and can’t wait to pick up my July Blazes.
Hi Laura,
Nice to get to know you. Thanks for all your hard work for Blaze.
Blaze heroes are definitely hunks and Blazes are great fun to read at the beach.
such great books and cover all.
what a cool job u have.
love the summer hot men and reads
thanks all
Blaze Heroes are Hunks!!!
Oooh lookin forward to all of the future Blaze that will be hitting the shelves soon! Thanks for the look into what you do Laura!
Sounds like some good reads and Blaze Heroes are Hunks!
Hi Laura!
There are some good books coming out in July, I’m looking forward to The Soldier. The uniformly hot series is really good one. One reason I love blaze books is because blaze heroes are hunks!
Laura! Welcome to the blog. It’s lovely to see you here.
I’m so glad others have ‘fessed up about digging through their mss to find out the h/h eye colour. And wow on the AFS…who knew it would take so long to go through? I had to do the whole thing over two days.
My synopsis had changed so much (thanks to Brenda tossing out a comment) I had to re-think everything.
I hope to see copy edits soon. (maybe from you?)
The photo shoot for my cover is happening soon. Wish I could be there to see that!
Have a wonderful Canada Day!
I’m a fairly new Blaze reader but I will have to agree that Blaze Heroes are Hunks.
Blaze Heroes are Hunks! Sounds like a great group of books as always.
Sounds like a great bunch of books and an exciting job!
Oh, and Blaze Heroes are Hunks!
Blaze Heroes are Hunks. There are so many to choose from that I don’t know which of their stories to read first.
I love cube world. That’s why I think Blaze Heros are Hunks!
Yes, we all agree Blaze heros are hunks.
Sounds like you have a great job, getting to see manuscripts first had. Okay i know some are probably weird, especially tied with twine???? but the diamonds in the rough have to be exciting to read, and then watch an author get pulled from the sluch and get a contract.
that sounds really cool
oh and once again, balze herose are hunks!
lol
jody lynn allen
Hi Jody,
Making that phone call to contract an author from the slush pile is definitely exciting and rewarding. I was lucky enough to contract a new author for American Romance a couple of months ago and it was my all-time favorite moment in this job. I hope that one day I’ll be able to do the same for Blaze.
Good luck with the draw!
Laura
Hi Laura! It’s great to see you here. You did the line edits for my very first Blaze, and I’m always hopeful that you’ll do another…you made the process so easy, and I learned so much from you. Thank you for everything you do!!
Hey Karen! Thanks for the lovely compliment. Fly Boy was a pleasure to work on. What a great story!
Great article! Very interesting. “Blaze Heroes are Hunks”!!
Blaze Heroes Are Hunks!!!!
Blaze Heroes are Hunks! Sounds like July is going to be a great month here.
Hi Laura! Thanks for sharing. I wish I could be you for a day, because I just can’t believe people actually send the weird stuff I’ve heard editors say they send…I think Brenda mentioned something at last year’s conference about a manuscript wrapped in a garter…??
LOL Blaze heroes are definitely Hunks!
Oh, yeah… We’ve gotten a few garters! I guess they’re better than twine.
I just call you AWESOME!
Wow, thanks, Candace! You’re going to give me a big head.
BLAZE HEROES ARE HUNKS!!!! These books coming out sound very very hot!!!! can’t wait to read them!!!
any winners