Harlequin Announces the Launch of Harlequin Audio

New imprint to produce audio versions of its titles

TORONTO and NEW YORK, May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlequin and HarperCollins Publishers today announced the launch of Harlequin Audio, a new imprint that will produce audio versions of Harlequin titles. The imprint will release its first titles on June 30, 2015.

"We are excited to be producing our own audio titles," said Craig Swinwood, Publisher and CEO of Harlequin. "The audio format has been experiencing tremendous growth recently and Harlequin authors will benefit greatly from this new distribution outlet."

Harlequin Audio, in conjunction with HarperAudio, will work directly with digital audio distributors to provide full distribution to the retail and library markets. Furthermore, Harlequin Audio will distribute physical CD versions of all titles through relationships with Blackstone Audio and Midwest Tape.

"High production values have been key to HarperAudio's success, and we look forward to extending our expertise to the Harlequin Audio imprint," said Sean McManus, Associate Publisher, HarperAudio.

In its first year, Harlequin Audio plans to release 200 titles, including audios from bestselling authors Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber, Shannon Stacey, Marie Force, Pam Jenoff and Maisey Yates. All titles will be available in the retail and library space.

About Harlequin Harlequin (www.Harlequin.com) is one of the world's leading publishers of books for women, with titles issued worldwide in 34 languages and sold in 102 international markets. The company publishes more than 110 titles monthly and more than 1,300 authors from around the world. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, itself a subsidiary of News Corp and one of the largest English-language publishers in the world. Harlequin has offices in 15 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information, please visit Harlequin.com and Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks. Follow Harlequin on Twitter: @HarlequinBooks.

About HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 18 countries. With nearly two hundred years of history and more than 65 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in over 30 languages, and has a print and digital catalog of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins, headquartered in New York, is a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) and can be visited online at corporate.HC.com.

Contact: Penny Tantakis Sr. Mgr., Corporate CommunicationsHarlequin 416-391-7047 [email protected]

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SOURCE Harlequin