NEW YORK — Publishing house HarperCollins launched in March the eBook imprint Mischief to specialize in erotic fiction. The company, which got the ball-gag rolling with the release of erotic vampire story "Red Grow the Roses," is set to publish four eBooks a month.
The label hopes to capitalize on the success of E.L. James "50 Shades of Grey," the literary sensation that has struck a chord with female readers over the age of 30 that have become fascinated with the book's themes of BDSM, and which continues to spike sales for retailers of erotic novels and fetish gear.
"The fact that HarperCollins, a big publisher, is joining the fray with this range of erotic books is an indication of the popularity of the genre," said Suzanne Noble, director of Stunning PR, publicists for Mischief.
"Until now erotica has been dominated by small publishers and self-published authors," Noble continued. "With the launch of Mischief, we are looking to raise the quality of what's out there, not to mention the popularity of erotica in general."
To whip up consumer interest, Mischief.com is offering free and half-off download specials this month on many of its eBook titles, including such works as "Sisters in Sin," "A Study in Shame" and "Girl for Hire: The Secret Encounters of Amateur Escorts."
