Harlequin’s Romance Includes You Mentorship aims to increase diversity and representation in the romance genre by calling for story submissions by authors in underrepresented communities. Now in its fifth year, the mentorship is part of Harlequin’s ongoing commitment to welcome more underrepresented voices to the romance genre.
We call for story submissions each May and a team of publishing professionals selects the top submission. The author is offered a publishing contract with Harlequin for their debut novel, a year-long mentorship with an editor to complete their novel for publication, and a grant to further develop their writing career.
2025 Recipient
Beth McMurray’s outstanding submission, Flight Risk, was selected for Harlequin’s 2025 mentorship. She will publish her debut novel with Harlequin Medical Romance. One of 170 submissions that were individually reviewed by Harlequin’s team, Beth’s story is a heart-racing LGBTQ+ medical romance set in the rugged Montana wilderness. As part of the mentorship, Beth signed a one-book publishing deal with Harlequin and received a grant to help further her writing career. She will work one-on-one with her mentor editor for a year to complete her debut novel for publication.
“Beth’s fast-paced and charismatic storytelling immediately stood out,” said Charlotte Ellis, Senior Editor for Harlequin Medical Romance. “We loved the strong female leads, the fantastic scene setting, and brilliantly written chemistry backed by adrenaline in this adventurous medical romance. We’re excited to work with Beth as she develops this story into her debut novel.”
In the September 2025 announcement, Beth shared her excitement about being offered this opportunity. “This mentorship means so much to me—not just as a writer, but as a reader who knows how powerful it is to feel seen in a story,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who makes this program possible and for the work being done to create happily-ever-afters that truly include all of us.”
Previous Recipients
2024: Author Simone Sims worked with editor Emma Cole to complete her debut novel for Harlequin Intrigue. Watch for the release of Reunited With the Marshal in fall 2026! Leading up to her Harlequin debut, Simone has published several romance short stories and novellas. Find out more about Simone at simonesims.com.
2023: Emma-Claire Sunday published her debut novel, The Duke’s Sister and I, with Harlequin Historical Romance in September 2024. A spellbinding sapphic love story set in the Regency period, this romance between the ton’s most in-demand debutante and the sister of her handsome new suitor is filled with wit and queer joy. Emma-Claire then published another LGBTQ+ historical romance, Gentlemen Prefer Scandal, for Harlequin’s Online Reads targeting new romance readers with serialized stories. Her latest novel is The Fortune Hunter’s Guide to Love. A playwright, filmmaker, preacher and competitive spoken word poet, Emma-Claire Sunday’s mission is to fill the world’s libraries with queer happily-ever-afters. Find her on Instagram: @ec.sunday.author.
2022: Faye Acheampong was the recipient of the 2022 Mills & Boon Love to Write competition. Faye’s Harlequin debut, The Christmas that Changed Everything, was published by Harlequin Romance and Mills & Boon True Love in November 2023. Her second novel, Prince’s Reunion in Paradise, releases in December 2024. When she isn’t writing, Faye loves to discover new food places to frequent and attend cinema or theatre showings. Visit her website at fayeacheampong.com.
2020: Sera Taíno was the inaugural mentorship winner and continues to publish with Harlequin today. Sera’s submission for her story, Incomparable, was selected from among 11 finalists and
over 160 submissions in 2020. Her Harlequin debut, A Delicious Dilemma, was published by Harlequin Special Edition in 2021 followed by The Trouble with Exes, The Best Man’s Problem, A Summer to Start Over and her upcoming title, Their Summer Rescue. When she’s not writing or teaching, she can be found traveling or wrangling her family. Visit her website at serataino.com.
Interested in becoming a Harlequin author?
Harlequin is always on the lookout for new talent and is currently acquiring for all Harlequin Series romance lines. We welcome all authors and are committed to publishing diverse and inclusive stories. For more on how you can submit your love story to Harlequin, read How to Submit and visit Harlequin.Submittable.com.
Harlequin wants readers to see themselves reflected in the books it publishes. Read our latest update on initiatives to diversity, equity and inclusion at Harlequin.