Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is launching Blink, a new YA imprint, with titles debuting this fall. Chriscynethia Floyd, v-p of marketing for Zondervan, said the imprint is designed for the general trade, not the Christian market: “These would be no different from other YA titles published by HarperCollins. They are for anyone, regardless of faith.” She added, “These will be hopeful books. We won’t go as dark [as some other YA novels], but we will touch on very real issues” while striving for a “positive balance and approach” and “[representing] morals and ethical standards.” Five to six titles per year are planned.
“Having the separate imprints allows us to more focus our content and marketing efforts,” Floyd said. “We’ve been doing YA for the general trade, but not under a distinct imprint. We understand that librarians and educators need to get their hands around our books, and this will help.” Zondervan will continue to publish Christian YA under the Zondervan imprint, roughly 6-8 titles per year. Books for both imprints will be acquired and edited by Jacque Alberta.
Zondervan is introducing Blink at BEA and ALA, and, Floyd said, “we are putting a ton of resources behind this launch,” with a six-figure marketing budget. Promotional efforts include “high-impact ads and social media, which for this audience can be incredibly effective,” she noted. The tag line for the new imprint is “Your next read can be a Blink away.”
Blink books will span genres, and there will be select nonfiction titles, such as autobiographies. The fall 2013 list includes six new novels, among them Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon, a fantasy romance; Remnants by Lisa T. Bergren, dystopian fiction; and Merlin’s Shadow, the second in a series by Robert Treskillard that reimagines the myths of King Arthur’s Court. There also are paperback editions of two previously published books: Like Moonlight at Low Tide (contemporary) and Guardian (paranormal).
