Anything Can Happen!

by Susan Litman, Editor, Harlequin Special Edition

Fortunes of Texas fans know that this continuity has been around for quite some time – in fact, it started long before I came to work at the company, originally running under the name Fortune’s Children! Over the years it has appeared in a number of incarnations, but in 2009, The Fortunes of Texas found a home at Harlequin Special Edition with Return to Red Rock, and we’ve never looked back.

 It takes a lot to put together such an ambitious project, and it all starts with some research – namely, what has been done with the Fortunes family before, and are there any available family members we can spin off and pair up? (But of course!) Should we create an entire new branch of the family (In 2011, the answer was yes – which has given us a plethora of spinoff characters in the Atlanta branch of the Fortune family J!)  And what paces can we put the family through this time around? We’ve resolved the secrets behind long-lost family members, deep-rooted family secrets (including secret babies – always a favorite), had a tornado – and of course celebrated many weddings and babies with the Fortune family!

The FORTUNES have been connected by the families and the setting – the all-important town of Red Rock – has become a character unto itself, though that doesn’t mean we might not tweak the setting in the future.  The books feature members of the wealthy Fortune family (the Texas branch are wealthy ranchers and business tycoons – or both! – while the newer, Atlanta Fortunes are successful in the financial world, though of course they each find a new lease on life and romance waiting for them as they make their way to Red Rock – usually to talk one of their relatives out of falling prey to Cupid’s arrows!)  We also feature members of the Mendoza family, a local Latino family of restaurant owners, artists, ranchers and a tycoon here and there who have been longtime friends of the Fortunes. Some members of the Mendoza family have married into the Fortunes as well, and will continue to do so in The Fortunes of Texas: Southern Invasion, which launches this very month with HER NEW YEAR’S FORTUNE by Allison Leigh.  And of course, we’re constantly introducing new stand-alone characters who get involved with the Fortune family and find life in Red Rock to be just what they are looking for.

Once our editorial brainstorming is complete and the bible is written by the excellent Marcia Book Adirim (how lucky is she to have that name?), it’s time for the authors to take over. As the project editor, it is always a pleasure to work with the Fortunes team and watch these authors take the core bible and develop it into an outstanding series of books for our loyal readers to enjoy – books that fit beautifully into the history of this most excellent Harlequin franchise. And I’m so thrilled to report that The Fortunes of Texas: Southern Invasion is no exception to that rule! Starting this month through June of 2013, we’ll be continuing the story of the Texas and Atlanta Fortunes and their Red Rock neighbors, the Mendozas, as they make new friends, find new loves . . . and uncover some juicy family secrets. So please read on and join us on this terrific journey – we all hope you enjoy every word!

 Ask Susan a question OR tell us your favorite previous Fortunes of Texas book OR say which title listed below piques your interest the most and be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Nancy Robards Thompson’s 2012 book:  Fortune’s Unexpected Groom!  Remember the winner of the book will be posted on Sunday so check back then!

•  THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS: SOUTHERN INVASION

HER NEW YEAR’S FORTUNE

Allison Leigh

January 2013

A DATE WITH FORTUNE

Susan Crosby

February 2013

A SMALL FORTUNE

Marie Ferrarella

March 2013

MARRY ME, MENDOZA!

April 2013

EXPECTING FORTUNE’S HEIR

Cindy Kirk

May 2013

A CHANGE OF FORTUNE

Crystal Green

June 2013

Bio:

Susan Litman is the Editor for Harlequin Special Edition. She started reading in first grade and never stopped – and she’s got the (over)crowded bookshelves to prove it! In her spare time (what’s that?!) she reads cookbooks, watches Mad Men, Homeland and Top Chef and still obsesses over the unresolved mysteries of LOST.  You can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/susan_litman or Facebook at www.facebook.com/susan.litman.5.