| Sumario: | Now under BET Books, Arabesque imprint celebrates a decade as African American romance publisher. The original authors to join the imprint were Rochelle Alers, Angela Benson, Monique Gilmore, Layle Giusto, Shirley Hailstock, Donna Hill, Sandra Kitt, Felicia Mason, Francis Ray, Ebony Snoe and Margie Walker. In 1998, Arabesque was purchased by the newly formed BET Books. According to Linda Gill, BET Books vice president and publisher, the initial objectives were to continue to leverage a good business reflecting African Americans in positive relationships, to leverage the programming for the network with thirteen movies, and to provide additional content for the Web site. More than 450 Arabesque titles, have been published as of 2004, 59 each year, up from 12 a year in 1994. The movies are no longer being produced, but they continue to air on BET and are also available on DVD. Authors are chosen from an existing roster, as well as from new submissions from agents and authors. As Gill points out, Arabesque is also one of the few publishers that accepts unsolicited manuscripts. Gill says readers should watch for new authors including Kim Louise, Celeste Norfleet and Melanie Schuster. As Afro-American romance novels continue to thrive at Arabesque, so will its readership. INSET: At the Helm.
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