What do editors want? That age-old question.
Well, we can’t speak for all editors, but the Harlequin Medical Romance Team can certainly speak to what we’re looking for. So, if you’re considering submitting to Medical Romance, to paraphrase Meredith Grey “you’re our people”, and this one’s for you!
Life or death!
Will they, won’t they? This usually refers to our heroes and heroines and that delicious romantic tension simmering between them. But we’d love to see even more life and death medical scenarios in our stories where patients’ lives really are in the hands of your characters.
Medical Romances are still uplifting, life-affirming romances at their heart so we want to keep that at the forefront of readers’ minds. But having your hero and heroine working together on high-octane, high-stakes cases with a dash of touch-and-go, is bound to get their (and our) pulses racing. The only questions are where will it lead…?
Do think about where these exhilarating stories might be set? What medical specialties or settings might be fueled by life or death drama? Because we know that there are plenty of ups and downs that occur – inside hospital wards and out, close to home and in far flung locations across the globe. We just want to be in the thick of it alongside your hero and heroine.
Putting on the glitz (and glamour)
Medicine may not be the most glamourous of vocations at the best of times. Add in a medical emergency or two and it certainly isn’t. Besides, that’s not what medicine is about. It’s about that sense of community, helping people, saving lives.
However, that doesn’t mean for the sake of fiction you can’t have a little fun with the private and professional lives of your medical professionals. Think billionaire docs, surgeons to the stars, private clinics… Less diamond in the rough and more Cartier!
And it’s not just the high-flyers that can have all the fun. Everyone can experience the thrill of a little luxury in their lives sometimes. City docs, GPs, doctors practicing in the depths of the jungle. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of finding a special someone to share it with…
We’re bringing sexy back…
We know that one of the reasons our readers love Medical Romance is that we publish stories with a range of sensuality levels. And we want to give them even more chance to experience the sexier, more passionate side of Medical Romance.
Whether you whisk us off to an exotic location or bring us a hero and heroine who play just as hard as they work, we want you to satisfy readers’ longing…for a Medical Romance where passion isn’t just the recommended course of treatment, it’s a promise!
Something for everyone
The world is beautifully diverse place. And the medical world is no exception!
So, whether you’re writing a story based on classic tropes or embracing a fresh new take we’re keen to see a wider range of diverse and underrepresented characters in our medical romances, especially in Own Voices stories (after all the medical community, and its patients is a very broad church, and we’d love to see stories that really reflect that). But we want you to write the story that you are comfortable and confident in writing. Because we know that’s when your passion for the story shines through!
Medical Romance is for everyone and we want everyone to see themselves reflected in the stories we publish.
And remember, whatever your storyline, whoever the medical professionals at the heart of your romance, what we want most is to invite readers to get swept into the world of dedicated (and delectable!) medical professionals. Stories that deliver on emotional and romantic intensity of navigating the high stakes of falling in love in the pressured world of saving lives.
We look forward to reading your submissions!
Please submit to Harlequin Medical Romance via Submittable: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
13 replies on “What the Medical Romance Team Want”
Are you looking for Medical Romances that include the animal medicine world of a Veterinarian?
Hi Chrissie!
Yes, we do acquire for Harlequin Medical Romance, stories that feature Veterinarians.
Thank you!
Hannah
How do editors feel about h/h who are involved in other medical specialties, like disease detectives or researchers (not involved in direct patient care)?
Hi Shannon!
We’re looking for heroes and heroines who work together in a medical setting. We want their working relationship and medical dramas to help drive the romantic relationship.
Thank you!
Hannah
Medical romance is new to me, so I browsed the books and it seems it’s always two medical professionals that are the hero and heroine. I was just wondering if that was one of the genre’s expectations/rules or, for example, could it be a medical professional and a patient or a medical professional and maybe a lawyer or a social worker involved in a medical case?
Sorry, I missed the comment right before mine asking the exact same question…
Hi Michelle!
We’re looking for heroes and heroines who work together in a medical setting. We want their working relationship and medical dramas to help drive the romantic relationship.
Thank you!
Hannah
Are you interested in a medical romance between a hero doctor and his neighbor, who happens to be a kindergarten teacher? Do both the H/H have to be in the medical field with most of the activity in a medical setting?
Hi Ellen!
We’re looking for heroes and heroines who work together in a medical setting. We want their working relationship and medical dramas to help drive the romantic relationship.
Thank you!
Hannah
Is there a due date? I did not see one. This way I can be working on my story. Thanks!
Hi Lakisha!
You can submit to the Harlequin Medical Romance series at any time, via the below link:
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
We hope you consider submitting!
Thank you!
Hannah
Hi!
I have a quick query. Would Harlequin Medical be interested and happy with the slightly unusual but definitely medical world of a Anatomical Pathology Assistant our Autopsy Assistant and similar? Basically H/H both working in a Hospital Mortuary/Morgue? It’s different, definitely but I have a wonderful idea that I’d like to expand in hope of submitting of that valley of medical professionals Isn’t too out there!
Thank you!
Hi!
Are you still looking for medical romance books?
Thank you
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!