HSF, Avon Launch Inspiration Fiction Line

by Daisy Maryles, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 9/20/2006

It hasn't gone unnoticed by HarperCollins that inspirational fiction is doing very well, especially in the romance category. Karen Kingsbury, Beverly Cleary, Lori Wick and others—regular stars on the Christian bestseller charts—are enjoying increased sales at ABA stores and also at the big-box outlets Target, Wal-Mart and Costco.

HC has the right companies to be a player in this field—its mass market imprint Avon is one of the leaders in the women's fiction/romance category, and Harper San Francisco is one of the leaders in the religion/spirituality category. Now the two are collaborating on a new inspirational women's trade paper fiction line called Avon Inspire, with the first books to be published in spring 2007. HSF editor Cynthia DiTiberio will be in charge of acquisition and editing and Avon publisher Liate Stehlik will oversee production, marketing, promotion and advertising. Stehlik noted that Avon Inspire's goal is to publish "engaging stories that Christian readers can trust and love."

DiTiberio said Avon Inspire will include historical and contemporary romances by established and popular authors; she plans 10 titles annually. The first title, coming in May 2007, Defiant Heart by Tracey Bateman, is the first in the Westward Hearts series. The June title,Linda Windsor's Wedding Bell Blues, begins the Piper Cove Chronicles.