Novelists, Inc. Position Papers

Novelists, Inc. Addresses Harlequin/Silhouette Pseudonym Issue

On behalf of its many members who write for Harlequin and Silhouette, Novelists, Inc. urges Harlequin Enterprises to revise its contractual policy on pseudonym use. Inequities exist between Harlequin and Silhouette authors who write under their own names and those who write under pseudonyms. These inequities are unfair and should be abolished.

It makes no sense that authors who write under their own names for Harlequin and Silhouette have the freedom to write under their names for other publishers, while Harlequin and Silhouette authors who use pen names must first seek permission (not always granted) from Harlequin to use their pen names when writing for other publishers. Some of the authors who write for Harlequin and Silhouette under pen names feel that they were coerced by Harlequin into taking pseudonyms. Others may have chosen to write under pen names but resent their inability to shape their careers and build name recognition by using their pen names at other publishing houses. That Harlequin sometimes does allow authors to use their pen names at other publishing houses is beside the point. Novelists, Inc. believes that Harlequin should not in any way control authors' use of their pseudonyms, just as the company doesn't control the names of authors who don't use pseudonyms.

Harlequin's contractual right to limit an author's freedom to publish broadly under his or her pen name confers no benefit to the company. Quite the contrary: authors who publish with another house under their Harlequin or Silhouette pen names will likely attract new readers to their Harlequin or Silhouette titles, thereby increasing Harlequin's bottom line. Of course, a talented author with a pen name controlled by Harlequin has the choice of writing for other publishers under a different name. This choice benefits neither the author nor Harlequin. The author loses her readership, and Harlequin loses the possibility of increased demand for the author's backlist.

We understand that authors at different stages in their careers receive different contract terms. However, the pseudonym clause affects authors at every level of experience, from beginners selling their first Silhouette Romance to veterans with long backlists and huge sales figures. This contract clause is not negotiable based on an author's performance at the company. And again, those authors who don't use pseudonyms don't have to deal with the pseudonym clause at all.

Novelists, Inc. joins its members in the fight for complete control of their pen names. We feel such control will enable authors to chart their own careers and will profit all the publishers for whom these authors write.

The Novelists, Inc. Board of Directors
Barbara Keiler (w/a Judith Arnold), President
Patricia Rice, President-Elect
Kathy Chwedyk, Secretary
Linda Kay West, Treasurer
Georgia Bockoven, Advisory Council Representative
Pamela Browning, Newsletter Editor

Note: Harlequin Enterprises Limited dropped the Pseudonym and Real Name clauses from their contracts, effective June 14, 2002.

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