NEW YORK and TORONTO, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlequin, one of the world's leading publishers of books for women, today announced the signing of #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Sylvia Day to a seven-figure two-book deal to launch Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin. Cosmo Red Hot Reads is the publisher's new ebook program produced in conjunction with Cosmopolitan, the world's largest women's magazine and the biggest-selling monthly magazine on U.S. newsstands and a leader in the digital, social media and tablet space.

Ms. Day, a multi-award-winning novelist who had two titles place on various "2012 top ten bestselling books" lists around the world, will introduce readers to Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin with Afterburn on August 15, 2013. Her second title, Aftershock, will be released on November 15, 2013. Both titles will be connected editorially and feature characters newly created for the Cosmo–Harlequin series. Afterburn and Aftershock will also be released as a two-in-one trade paperback in November 2013; the first Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin title to be published in traditional print format.

"I'm thrilled to be launching the Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin series of fresh and sexy contemporary romances," said Day. "My stories are known for featuring fun, fearless Cosmopolitan-type heroines as well as delicious, dangerous heroes synonymous with Harlequin. Afterburn and Aftershock will be no exception. I'm excited to share these sizzling new romances with readers and to do so hand in hand with Harlequin and Cosmopolitan, beloved brands known for giving women exactly what they want."

Harlequin, a leader in digital publishing, intends to publish two original Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin titles per month, beginning in August 2013. The novels will feature strong narratives centering on modern young women living the free-spirited and outgoing lifestyle espoused by the international magazine. The ebooks will bear both the Cosmopolitan and Harlequin logos on their covers. The shorter length of Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin titles (approximately 30,000 words per title) will appeal to readers on a variety of platforms, including mobile devices.

"We are delighted to kick off Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin with an author of Sylvia Day's talent and stature," said Loriana Sacilotto, Harlequin's executive vice president of global editorial. "Sylvia's contemporary sensibility, distinctive voice and unequaled tales of independent, adventurous women negotiating modern love make her a perfect fit for Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin."

Dianne Moggy, Vice President, Series Editorial and Subsidiary Rights, and Ann Leslie Tuttle, Senior Editor Harlequin Series, secured world rights for Harlequin. Ms. Tuttle will edit the novellas. Kimberly Whalen, executive vice president at Trident Media Group, brokered the deal.

About Sylvia Day

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award-winning novels sold in 39 countries. She has millions of copies of her books in print and her Crossfire series recently surpassed 6 million copies sold in its first eight months on sale. Her novels Bared to You and Reflected in You took spots among the top ten bestselling books of 2012 on year-end sales roundups throughout the world. Sylvia Day has been featured by the Associated Press, USA Today, People, the Evening Standard, Time, Variety, Entertainment Weekly, the Wall Street Journal and many international editions of Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. She has been a trivia question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and a two-time nominee for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® Award of Excellence. Visit her website at www.sylviaday.com.

About Harlequin

Harlequin (www.Harlequin.com) is one of the world's leading publishers of books for women, with titles issued worldwide in 31 languages and sold in 110 international markets. The company publishes more than 110 titles monthly and more than 1,200 authors from around the world. Harlequin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation (www.torstar.com), a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Harlequin's website is located at Harlequin.com. Harlequin has offices in 19 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information, please visit Harlequin.com and Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks. Follow Harlequin on Twitter @HarlequinBooks.

About Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is the best-selling young women's magazine in the U.S., a bible for fun, fearless females that reaches more than 18 million readers a month. Cosmopolitan delivers the latest news on men and love, fashion and beauty, health, work and money, self-improvement, and entertainment. Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front: Cosmopolitan.com reaches 10 million unique users a month, in addition to boasting 2 million+ Facebook fans and a half-million Twitter followers. Cosmopolitan is also available on apps for the iPhone and iPad, and via Cosmo Radio, the only magazine-branded radio channel of its kind, available on Sirius XM Channel 109. In addition to the U.S. flagship, Cosmopolitan publishes 64 print magazine editions around the world. Cosmopolitan is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation, one of the nation's largest diversified media and information companies. With 20 titles in the U.S., Hearst is the leading publisher of monthly magazines in terms of total paid circulation (ABC 2012) and reaches 83 million adults (Fall 2012 MRI gfk). Follow Cosmopolitan on Twitter at @Cosmopolitan.

Media Contact:

Michelle Renaud

Senior Manager, Harlequin, Public Relations

(416) 448-7164

[email protected]

SOURCE Harlequin