In October 2024, Odile Levert officially launched LL éditions, with a catalog dedicated to romance. The new publisher, also a writer, thus joined the long list of specialized houses participating in the expansion of the genre in France.
Long relegated to the background, even mocked, romance is today experiencing a real revival, continually welcoming new publishing houses. These structures, whether recent or already well established, have had to adapt to the constraints of a constantly evolving market.
Laura Chevalier (bookstore 9e quay in Annecy): “ There is enough room for everyone »
When you ask specialist booksellers what makes up their shelves, the big publishers are never far away. Among the most cited are Hugo Publishing, BMR and HarperCollins, but also the brand new label “Verso” at Seuil, “New Rules” at Archipel or even “Nox”, a new adult romance collection by Albin Michel whose launch is scheduled for January 2025.
A variety of actors appreciated and valued by booksellers, who generally welcome them: “ There is enough room for everyone », testifies Laura Chevalierbookseller at 9e quay in Annecy. Yet, Edith Bravardbookseller at Encre du coeur (Rouen), notes: “ We are rarely contacted by small publishing houses. I think it’s a shame they don’t take their chance. »
But, consider Marie Wietzorekbookseller at l’Escapade (Strasbourg), “ this is not always easy for smaller publishers. Famous authors like Emma Green offer Hugo Publishing greater visibility. In comparison, small publishers like Sharon Kena, whose authors are less known, struggle to find a place in bookstores.. » Founded in 2011 by Cyrielle Walquan (aka Sharon Kena) and initially dedicated to self-publishing, the Sharon Kena publishing house only entered bookstores recently, in January 2024.
Eugénie Dielenschneider (éditions Céleste): « The variety of publications gives the genre all its richness »
Particularly tough competition which does not worry Eugénie Dielenschneider et Charlotte Deloyfrom the very young publishing house Céleste: “ We certainly have less room for error, but the variety of publications gives the genre all its richness. » Founded in 2023, Céleste editions have enjoyed recent success, notably due to a more eco-responsible sales model.
Distributed by CED and distributed by DOD&Cie, Céleste editions were keen to take their first steps in bookstores, as explained Charlotte Deloyco-founder: ” It wasn’t easy with broadcasters, our catalog was more than limited, but it ended up working. »
Since 2024, the publishers have had eight titles in their catalog, including six published and 22 titles scheduled for 2025. With two publications per month, the publishers anticipate an average circulation of 2,000 to 4,000 copies. Among its biggest successes, the house counts mainly translations, particularly widespread in editions specializing in romance: The Edens of Devney Perry et Where the darkness remainsd’AB Morning. The publishers announce that they will publish six French authors next year in order to diversify their offering. A local appeal shared by Odile Levertfounder of LL éditions, which for its part only publishes French writing.
Odile Levert : « No dark romance in my house »
Created in 2020 and initially dedicated to self-publishing, LL editions have integrated new authors from August 2024. These areAthena Jacob’s and of Sweet Pearl Girl. Sold in particular at the Escapade bookstore (Strasbourg) and at 9e quai (Annecy), the works are printed in an average of 300 copies. The editor insists: “ No dark romance in my home, I value consent, good energies », an important editorial choice for Laura Chevalierbookseller at 9e dock. She emphasizes: “ It is important to think about young audiences and those who do not like this type of story. »
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With 11,000 copies sold (digital included), the biggest success of LL editions to date is It’s promised of Lina Lessons (pseudonym of the editor). Odile Levert wishes to limit the number of publications for “ maintain a beautiful bond with its authors “. A desire shared by Eugénie Dielenschneider at Celeste which develops: “ I think that more and more authors prefer to work with small publishing houses for our wider audience and the value we give to collaborative work. »
Sarah Berziou (éditions Black Ink): « Going to a bookstore was a risk and an important decision »
Among the new arrivals cited by booksellers, certain publishing houses have been present on the market for many years. A shift which can be explained in particular by a shift in romance, from digital to paper.
This editorial choice pushes certain houses to completely rethink their economic model. Sarah Berzioufounder of Black Ink, explains: “ For us, it’s one release per week and print runs ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 copies, coupled with percentage distributions between broadcasters and distributors. Going to a bookstore was a risk and an important decision. »
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Born on the networks in 2016, Black Ink has long benefited from the enthusiasm of its “fanbase”, its sales until then being made exclusively on a dedicated site. For a year now, the publishing house, based in Charente-Maritime, has gone through DOD&Cie which distributes its works throughout the territory. Sarah Berziou continues: “ Until now, some copies sold 90% digitally, today it’s the opposite. » Among her biggest paper successes, the publisher cites Inside Mac of Yes Heli, The Contest d’Isabelle Fourié et Just a little crush of Tyler Brown.
Édith Bravard (L’Encre du coeur bookstore in Rouen): “ It is essential for publishers to develop their own graphic identity »
Whether at Black Ink or Sharon Kena, the move to paper and therefore to bookstores was motivated by several arguments. First of all, the search for a new, younger audience, absent from the networks or not having the possibility of ordering online. Then, the attraction of female readers (they are the majority) for the aesthetics of the works.
Pour Edith Bravardbookseller at Encre du coeur, it’s obvious: “ It is essential for publishers to develop their own graphic identity, to take care of the aesthetics “. She continues: “ Some readers remember book covers seen on TikTok and end up collecting titles from the same publishing house. » The bookseller gives the example of Plumes du Web editions.
All on social networks
Over the years, creating content on TikTok has become a necessary step to launch and/or stay in the romance market. Céleste editions have also relied heavily on certain influencers like @the_secret_of_a_book (Colyne). The influencer has more than 10,000 followers on Instagram.
Eight years after the founding of her publishing house and well aware of these new challenges, Sarah Berziou continues her communication work on the networks. She elaborates: “ Everything we post on the networks is quickly obsolete, we always have to reinvent ourselves. If you are not Hugo Publishing, content creation is essential. » But playing the game of social networks is not the only key to success, as the editor also points out Cyrielle Walquan : « At Sharon Kena, the authors who achieve the highest sales are not present on the networks. »
