BET Books, publisher of the Arabesque line of romances, is launching Sepia, a mainstream women's fiction imprint, in October. Sepia will offer contemporary African-American stories that "reflect the cultural spectrum." Linda Gill, v-p and publisher, said that the motivation behind the imprint was to "gratify existing readers while continually garnering new ones, with work by bestselling authors who are joining BET Books from all genres."
Glenda Howard, senior editor of BET Books, is handling acquisitions for the line, which officially launches with the trade paperback title A Chocolate Affair by Sheila Copeland. The first list also has two trade paperbacks and two mass markets. The publishing schedule for 2002 will feature 12 trade paperback and several mass market titles. Marketing plans include targeted promotions, such as book club promotions and campaigns aimed at African-American Web sites. Sepia titles will be distributed by Kensington.
