Business Brief: Behind the rise of the Great Hot North
A resurgence in romance novels, dubbed the 'Great Hot North' phenomenon, is being led by Canadian authors and publishers like Harlequin. The genre's popularity has surged since 2020, driven by pandemic-era demand for escapist fiction and uplifting narratives. This revival is boosting sales, supporting writers, and influencing cover art trends in the publishing industry.
- ▪Canadian authors such as Carley Fortune and Rachel Reid are leading a global romance novel renaissance.
- ▪Harlequin, based in Toronto, has played a central role in shaping the romance genre with its iconic cover art.
- ▪Since 2020, Indigo has seen nearly a 400 per cent increase in romance genre net sales.
- ▪Photographer Joanne Klimaszewski has shot hundreds of Harlequin covers, maintaining a preference for real models over AI-generated imagery.
- ▪Harlequin remains committed to using real people on its covers, catering to readers who value authenticity in fantasy storytelling.
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ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountGood morning. A renaissance in romance is revving up the book business, especially in Canada. In focus today, we look at what’s behind the surge in sexy lit – and the Canadians who’ve figured out how to give audiences exactly what they need.Up firstIn the newsArtificial intelligence: Companies are bracing for an onslaught of software fixes from tech giants trying out Anthropic’s powerful new AI model.
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