Following a record year driven by the blockbuster sales of Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, Entangled Publishing has signed agreements with 12 self-published romance authors to acquire print rights to their bestselling e-books.
The first print books acquired in the deal could appear as early as this summer, said Jessica Turner, editorial director of Entangled’s Amara imprint, which will publish the titles. While the acquisitions involve some standalone titles, most agreements are for series and involve about 80 books in all, Turner said. Authors joining the Amara imprint include A.L. Brody, K Bromberg, R.S. Grey, Melanie Harlow, Helena Hunting, AL Jackson, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Marni Mann, Monica Murphy, Elizabeth O’Roark, Laura Pavlov, and Tijan.
With 2023's record results, Turner said Entangled is “looking to scale all of our imprints.” The idea to acquire titles written by self-published stars began with a book by Yarros, but not the two that may spring to mind. Turner said at the end of 2022 sales for her The Things We Leave Unfinished (released in 2021) began to build, prompting Entangled to think about ways to deepen its romance backlist. When sales of Fourth Wing boomed, retailers began to ask for similar books, and those requests only increased after Iron Flame became a second mega-seller, Turner said.
Working with self-published authors gives Entangled a headstart in promoting the books since all have established fan bases, Turner added. Under most of the print agreements, Entangled has paid an advance. “We want to signal our commitment to the authors,” she said. All titles will receive a fresh read by Entangled editors and get completely new artwork. And while the titles may have been e-book bestsellers, Turner said that the authors are eager to expand their readership in print formats that will be available in physical outlets. Entangled’s books are distributed by Macmillan.
Turner is hoping to release eight to 12 print titles this year, with the final number dependent on channel availability. The launch list currently includes Helena Hunting’s Pucked from her Pucked series; Melanie Harlow’s Runaway Love from her Cherry Tree Harbor series; and Tijan’s Hate to Love You and Enemies. The list will also see the relaunch of A.L. Brody’s cozy monster fantasy Dating & Dismemberment, as well as new titles from Marni Mann’s Spade Hotel series and Laura Pavlov’s Magnolia Falls series. Turner estimated that first printings will be between 30,000 to 60,000 copies with a tentative price of $17.99.
“It’s a dream to work with these brilliant creators,” she said. “Entangled’s strength has always been bridging the gap between indie and traditional publishing, so this feels like a natural partnership.”
