Harlequin editors attend writers’ conferences throughout the year to meet authors, hear story pitches, speak on panels, and participate in Editor Q&A sessions – in person and virtually. We’ll update this page as our conference and event plans for 2025 evolve.
Be sure to check the writing guidelines for Harlequin romance lines to help you prepare to pitch your story to an editor. You can read editor bios on the Meet the Editors page.
League of Romance Writers – Write Happily Ever After Conference
March 1, 2025
Caroline Timmings, Associate Editor for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, is accepting virtual pitches at this conference. Read the writing guidelines for Romantic Suspense and all Harlequin series on Submittable. Check the conference website for more information.
The Festival of Literary Diversity
April 27 – May 4, 2025
Harlequin is proud to support The FOLD’s 10th anniversary in 2025! The FOLD is Canada’s leading festival for diverse authors and storytellers. Harlequin will offer a virtual booth about our publishing programs for aspiring authors and give editorial feedback through the Pitch Perfect program. We’re thrilled that Toronto-area Harlequin Intrigue author K.D. Richards is invited as a featured speaker. Visit the festival website for more information at www.thefoldcanada.org.
Romance Slam Jam Virtual Romance Book Con
July 10 – 12, 2025
Harlequin is excited to meet romance authors at RSJ’s annual conference in July. Editors will take part in sessions before and during the conference and will be accepting virtual pitches.
Pre-conference session – May 22, 2025 at 12 pm ET
Get to Know Harlequin with editors Hannah Rossiter and Helena Bacon
Harlequin’s Presents and Romance lines are looking for new authors. Join us to talk to editors from these popular imprints for an inside look at the types of stories they want to acquire for their lines. Put your questions to an editor!
Pitch sessions
London-based Helena Bacon acquires stories for Harlequin Presents and will be accepting story pitches by email. Stay tuned for details. Read the writing guidelines for Presents and Romance on Submittable.
Georgia Romance Writers – Moonlight & Magnolias and Maggie Awards
Adrienne Macintosh, Editor for Harlequin Heartwarming, will attend the Moonlight & Magnolias conference in Atlanta on September 25-27, 2025. She will participate in panels and pitch sessions.
Harlequin editors will judge two categories of the 2025 Maggie Awards that recognize excellent work by unpublished romance writers. We’re excited to help support new romance writers to reach their goals.
- Allison Lyons, Senior Editor for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, judging the romantic suspense category
- Natalia Castano, Editorial Assistant for Harlequin Heartwarming, judging contemporary romance
Entries were accepted February 14 to April 25, 2025. Find more information at PREPUBLISHED MAGGIES | GA Romance Writers.
RWA Conference
July 16-19, 2025
Executive Editor Kathleen Scheibling and Harlequin Intrigue Editor Emma Cole are heading to Niagara Falls for panels, pitches and networking with new and established authors at RWA 2025. More details to come.
RomanceLahoma
August 1-2, 2025
Susan Litman, Senior Editor for Harlequin Intrigue, looks forward to meeting authors at sessions, events and pitch appointments at this conference.
Romantic Novelists’ Association
August 16, 2025
Harlequin’s London editors head to Birmingham for the RNA Summer Fling! Annie Warren, Editor for Harlequin Historical Romance, and Helena Bacon, Assistant Editor for Harlequin Presents, will present a writing workshop and spend the day with romance authors.
ACFW
September 4-7, 2025
Tina James, Executive Editor for Love Inspired will attend the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Springfield, Missouri. We will share more information as plans evolve.
Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers
September 26-28, 2025
Melissa Endlich, Senior Editor for Love Inspired, will attend this conference in Phoenix. Stay tuned for more details.