Avon Books & Powell's Books Launch "Mutual Attractions," Author-Curated Romance Recommendation Program

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This February, Powell's Books, in conjunction with Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, launches a new author-curated romance recommendation platform. The pilot program, named "Mutual Attractions," features a shortlist of four thoughtfully selected romance novels, promoted in-store and via social media every two months.  Each distinctive curation will be personalized by a bestselling, reader-favorite romance author.  The first collection was personally compiled by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn (The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy, on-sale 1/27/15).  Readers often ask Quinn about her favorites - and her February list is comprised of books that she strongly feels will be "mutually attractive" to readers.

Curation has long been a hallmark of independent booksellers.  Readers often also turn to favorite authors for ideas on what to read next, trusting in the writers' editorial judgment.  The "Mutual Attractions" program combines the traditional, personal endorsement that independent booksellers are renowned for, with the customer reach of Powell's Books' stores and the social-media reach of favorite, much-respected authors.

Both Avon and Powell's are excited about the new program, and feel it will be embraced by romance authors and readers.

"We have seen success with our independent retailers who have dedicated space to even a small, curated romance section," says Mary Beth Thomas, HarperCollins Vice President, Deputy Director of Sales. "These stores have been able to tap into their customer base to find a devoted romance readership, which has led to significant incremental sales.  Powell's is such a force in the independent market so we are truly excited to see what they will be able to do with the Mutual Attractions program."

Tom Luce, New Book Buyer at Powell's, shares this excitement, saying, "We are eager to get this program up and running and very honored to have Julia Quinn provide our inaugural recommendations."

The first set of "Mutual Attractions" will launch in conjunction with Julia Quinn's newest book, THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY, and will feature:

"Something New," a hot new title just hitting shelves: Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare.

"Recommended Read" from one of Quinn's personal favorite authors: The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long.

"New Discovery" - a book that the author-curator has only recently happened upon (and loved) herself: Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase.

"Desert Island Keeper," a classic favorite: A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson.

For more information, and Julia Quinn's complete description of the inaugural "Mutual Attractions" selections, visit www.avonromance.com or www.powells.com.


About Powell's Books and Powells.com:
Powell's is an independent bookseller serving Portland, Oregon, since 1971, with four general bookstores and one specialty store. Its flagship location takes up an entire city block, offering 68,000 square feet of used, new, rare, and out-of-print books. Powells.com offers the combined inventory of its five retail locations and five warehouses, with approximately 4.5 million books in all. The website features author interviews and essays, as well as staff recommendations, weekly guest bloggers, and daily sweepstakes.

About HarperCollins Publishers:
HarperCollins Publishers is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 18 countries. With nearly two hundred years of history and more than 65 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in over 30 languages, and has a print and digital catalog of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins, headquartered in New York, is a subsidiary of News Corp and can be visited online at corporate.HC.com.

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SOURCE Avon Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers