The following is an interview with Editorial Director Molly Majumder regarding the recent launch of Entangled Publishing‘s new imprint, Red Tower Books. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Majumder about the impetus behind the new imprint, what readers can anticipate from their upcoming catalog of releases, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent launch of Red Tower Books! What can you tell us about the impetus behind the publishing company’s creation, and what do you feel defines a Red Tower book?
Molly Majumder: Thank you! Red Tower was formed out of a desire to provide high-level fantasy and science fiction for romance readers. We’ve seen a lot of success with both our teen and adult lines in this genre, and we could see that there was a gap in the market for books marketed to an NA space. We’re currently in a golden age of fantasy, and we’re seeing a renaissance of romance, and it only makes sense to combine the two and usher in a new era of sweeping, epic love stories.
As to what defines a Red Tower book; well, that’s kind of it. Extraordinary science fiction and fantasy romance that focuses on feminist and empowered voices. Stories that are epic in scope, cinematic, gripping, thrilling, and fast paced; but ultimately at their core, they’re all connected by the fact that they’re all stories about people – what drives us, what connects us, what we yearn for. They’re stories about people overcoming insurmountable odds to be together.
BD: Along with your own wealth of knowledge regarding fantasy and sci-fi romance, you will be joined by an incredibly talented team of editors to lead Red Tower Books. How would you describe your team and your collaborative approach to finding and developing new projects?
MM: With Red Tower, what we’re trying to do is pair the right idea with the right voice. Authors come to us with pitches, and we will often workshop these pitches and collaborate on a plot or character or theme. The workshopping part of the process is absolutely my favorite bit. What’s great about doing things this way is that it really speeds up the publishing process, since you’re writing with an end goal in mind. We’re also specifically tailoring pitches to be salable in a variety of formats, especially film and TV.
Of course, we are still taking agented submissions for some projects, but the bar for these is very high. It needs to be an exceptional voice and a really high concept, and often we suggest revisions to take the manuscript to that next level. It’s really about having a shared vision and making the most rewarding experience for readers that we possibly can.
BD: What can you share with us about your upcoming slate of books for 2023?
MM: In 2023, our kick-off book is FOURTH WING, by USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros, set in a war college for dragon riders where the only rule is graduate or die. To give you a glimpse, #1 NYT bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout called FOURTH WING a “fantasy like you’ve never read before” and NYT bestselling author Helena Hunting said it’s “hands down the best book hangover I’ve ever experienced.” Next up, we have STARBRINGER, by #1 NYT bestselling author Tracy Wolff, and Nina Croft, an LGBTQ+ romance pitched as Firefly meets the Breakfast Club, which is a snarky space opera with laugh-out-loud moments bringing into sharp relief this life-and-death, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that will have everyone wondering exactly how much space one princess really needs. Following that, we have BLOODGUARD by National Reader’s Choice Nominee Cecy Robson, THE LAST ONE, by NYT bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall, and finally, the sequel to FOURTH WING. We’re super excited about this lineup, since it’s been curated to provide readers with nothing but the very best stories, making the next Red Tower book an automatic must-buy!
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Red Tower’s catalog will connect with and impact readers?
MM: The books on Red Tower will be a great fit for the #StoriesMatter initiative because, while they are about massive, larger-thanlife circumstances, they are ultimately about the very human bonds that connect us to each other. You deny catching feelings for someone while running from an intergalactic space armada, and you can be at dragon rider school and find out what it truly means to build camaraderie. The books on this line will be a rollicking good ride, but they will also leave you with massive book hangovers that will make you want to change your life and seize everything you were too afraid to reach for.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Red Tower and Entangled Publishing?
MM: You can follow Red Tower on Twitter (@redtowerbooks) and Instagram (@redtowerbooks). Find out more about Entangled at our website, EntangledPublishing.com.
