Harlequin Enterprises Opens Office in Turkey

ISTANBUL, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlequin Enterprises Limited, the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, announced today that the company will expand its international operations by opening an office in Turkey. HARLEQUIN TURKIYE will officially open its offices in Istanbul's Kadikoy district in February, 2010.

Harlequin launched its new operation at a reception for local media at the Cıragan Palace Hotel on February 2, 2010. Harlequin Enterprises Executive Vice President, Overseas, Stephen Miles, and numerous managing directors of the publisher's global offices attended the launch.

"We are very excited about this opportunity," said Donna Hayes, Harlequin's CEO and Publisher. "Turkey is a rapidly growing market with a significant percentage of literate urban women, many of whom have been dedicated readers of Harlequin novels for many years. We anticipate that setting up local operations and distribution will make Harlequin books more readily available for Turkish women to enjoy."

Harlequin will swiftly move to increase its distribution beyond existing kiosks to newsstands, supermarkets, hypermarkets and bookstores in major urban centers around the country. The number of titles currently published in Turkey will remain the same for the time being.

Harlequin has been active in Turkey since 1998 through a third-party licensing agreement with Ekip A.S. Ekip A.S. published eight Harlequin series stories in five monthly volumes sold at kiosks in and around Western Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.  

Harlequin will run the Turkish operation as a branch of its Warsaw office, which currently oversees its Czech and Slovakian businesses in addition to Poland. All printing, editing and translations of Harlequin Turkish books, however, will be done in Turkey. Ekip A.S. will continue their long relationship with Harlequin by acting as a local partner to Harlequin Turkiye.

About Harlequin Enterprises

Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of books for women, with titles issued worldwide in 28 languages and sold in 114 international markets. The company produces over 110 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,100 authors from around the world. Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSB). Harlequin's Web site is located at www.eHarlequin.com. Harlequin has offices in 19 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information please visit www.eHarlequin.com or press.eHarlequin.com.

SOURCE Harlequin Enterprises Limited