Publisher Of Bodice-Rippers Turns 60

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STEVE INSKEEP, host:

A seller of popular romance novels is now a publisher of a certain age. And that's our last word in business today. Harlequin is 60 years old this year. It's the iconic publisher of canned romance, or what it calls women's fiction. Now, you can imagine that some romance publishers would downplay their 60th birthday, try to keep it a secret or even shut themselves in the bedroom to cry.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, host:

But Harlequin is choosing to celebrate. It's giving away free books, which means I can go to my digital reader and download a book like "The Price of Passion."

INSKEEP: Or you can browse "Irresistible Forces," or "Stranded with a Spy."

WERTHEIMER: Harlequin has spy romances, crime romances, historical romances. I think we're still waiting for the political romance, although that is one play where truth is stranger than fiction.

That's the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News.

(Soundbite of laughter)

WERTHEIMER: I'm Linda Wertheimer.

INSKEEP: And I'm Steve Inskeep.

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