Leyla Erkan Editor of Harlequin. Below, she discusses the evolution of queer romance in publishing and its growing influence beyond the genre.
We are living through incredible times where romance is more popular than ever. Rachel Reed’s heated rivalry has taken the world by storm, ushering in enthusiasm for all types of stories depicting queer love.
As an editor I’m already seeing the impact. I’m finding more queer romance submissions than ever before in every sub-genre. And the fantastic authors I already work with, some of whom have been publishing in the space for years, are also seeing an influx of new readers discovering their books. This is a good sign for the future, which I am proud to be a part of.
I’m not surprised that our style is at the forefront. As a serious and culturally significant genre, romance is rarely given the credit it deserves. Instead, we are often stigmatized and dismissed.
But in reality, romance is an inherently radical genre that believes every character deserves to be happy forever, no matter who they are. And because queerness is inherent in those we love, romance books provide an especially powerful tool for affirming queer identities.
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A book can be the first piece of art where queer people see themselves fully and joyfully presented in all the layers and complexities of love. Like the strange love stories that have come before them, heated rivalry‘S Shane and Ilya join a storied history of queer media that has been creating this cultural moment for generations. With this big platform also comes a big impact, bringing in new readers who can create their own stories.
This is a very exciting time to influence the next generation of talent. I can’t wait to see even bigger and brighter stories to come from our next class of writers. What next will we dare to imagine that is possible?
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