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. Here’s a run-down of recent and upcoming events.
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.
Check back for more information on our 2023 schedule soon.
Black Ink Charleston
March 25, 2023
Black Ink Charleston is hosting a virtual program for romance writers with an Editor Q&A in the morning and pitch sessions in the afternoon.
Participating editors:
- Patience Bloom, Senior Editor for Harlequin Romance Suspense
- Katie Gowrie, Associate Editor for Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense
- John Jacobson, Associate Editor for Harlequin
Liberty States Fiction Writers
April 1, 2023
- Kathryn Lye, Editor for Harlequin Heartwarming, is taking part in virtual pitch appointments for romance writers with a full manuscript. Kathryn has been an editor with Harlequin for over 25 years and worked on a variety of contemporary romance imprints.
The Festival of Literary Diversity
April 30 – 7, 2023
- Harlequin is excited be a part of The FOLD 2023, Canada’s leading festival for diverse authors and storytellers, and to have participating authors featured on panels.
- Visit Harlequin’s virtual booth at the festival Marketplace on April 30 from 1- 5 pm for information about our romance and fiction publishing programs.
Calgary Romance Writers
May 20, 2023
- Allison Lyons, Editor for Harlequin Intrigue, will join members virtually to talk about writing romantic suspense and answer questions. Allison has more than 20 years experience editing romance stories at Harlequin.
OKRWG RomanceLahoma
August 4-5, 2023
- Allison Lyons, Editor for Harlequin Intrigue, will be attending the Oklahoma City conference for in-person pitch sessions, panels and networking.
Romantic Novelists Association Conference (UK)
August 11-13, 2023
Four editors from Harlequin’s London team will be attending the conference for pitch sessions and a workshop on what readers expect from today’s romance heroes.
Participating editors:
- Hannah Rossiter and Awo Ibrahim, Harlequin Historical Romance
- Soraya Bouazzaoui, Harlequin Romance and Harlequin Medical Romance
- Bobbi-Lee Wright, Harlequin Presents
RWA Australia
August 11-13, 2023
Editors from Harlequin’s London team will be taking part in virtual pitch sessions with Australian romance writers. Flo Nicoll, Senior Editor for Harlequin Presents, and Jennifer Macey, Editorial Assistant for Harlequin Romance and Harlequin Medical Romance, are participating.
ACFW Annual Conference
August 24-27, 2023
- Tina James (Executive Editor) and Katie Gowrie (Associate Editor) will attend the conference to meet authors interested in writing for Love Inspired.
Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference
September 21-24, 2023
- Meghan McCullough, Editor for Inkyard Press acquiring YA and middle grade fiction, will be available for in-person pitch sessions. Find out more about Inkyard Press.
GA Romance Writers Moonlight & Magnolias Conference
October 12-14, 2023
- Editors Kathryn Lye (Harlequin Heartwarming) and Susan Litman (Harlequin Special Edition) will be taking virtual pitches from romance writers for these imprints and all Harlequin romance lines.
- Carina Press editors Kerri Buckley and Stephanie Doig are donating story critiques to two romance writers involved with GA Romance Writers and conference goers will receive a free Harlequin book in their event packages.