BET Holdings Embraces Romance

Posted on July 30, 1998

Arabesque, the only line of original African-American romance novels distributed by a major publisher, is now owned and operated by BET Holdings, Inc. BET purchased Arabesque from Kensington Publishing Corporation. Arabesque's previous owner, Kensington Publishing Corporation was the first major publisher to introduce a romance line with African American heroes and heroines in July 1994.

BET Holdings, Inc. has also secured the dramatic rights to Arabesque for possible television and original film development. Arabesque novels written by African-American authors have received outstanding reviews in newspapers nationwide.

"The strength of the BET brand name combined with Arabesque's reputation for quality romance titles, creates significant growth opportunities within the African-American marketplace," said Debra Lee, President and COO of BET. "BET has a unique opportunity to expand the Arabesque book line through BET media properties which target black consumers including the BET network, the internet (MSBET), Heart & Soul, BET Weekend, Emerge magazine and BET's new fall season show, Buy The Book.

Kelli J. Richardson will serve as vice president and publisher of Arabesque. Prior to her new appointment, Richardson was vice president of brand marketing and licensing for BET Holdings, Inc. The acquisition of the Arabesque line offers BET an immediate presence in the area of African-American book publishing. Arabesque publishes four titles per month with sales of nearly 1 million copies per year.

The authors who write for Arabesque feel the line is unique because African Americans now have the opportunity to see themselves within the pages of romantic fiction. "Many of our readers are not used to seeing African-American men personified 'heroically' and 'sensually' in contemporary fiction, now they are able to do so," said Francis Ray, one of Arabesque's best selling authors.