Wanted: Hot Tales for Latino Market

Where else but in her beloved New Mexico would schoolteacher Natalia Colon want to spend a summer? How about in the roller-coaster biceps of Rafael Montalvo?

Pretty caliente, huh?

Well, there’s more. But you’ll have to wait till summer 1999 for the rest of Hebby Roman’s 400-page Latino romance novel. That’s when her “Suenos De Verano” will hit bookstores, along with three other titles, published in English and Spanish by Kensington Publishing Corp.’s new imprint Encanto, or enchantment.

Among the story lines: a soap opera diva driven to passion by her chauffeur, and a woman descended of Cuban aristocracy who dares to bare her soul--and much more, we’re sure--to her cleaning woman’s illegitimate son.

Dios mio!

Kensington’s move into the Spanish-themed market is a no-brainer, says Diane Stockwell, an editor for Encanto. The company is second only to Harlequin in publishing romance novels in the U.S. and is well aware of the growing Latino market.

* Encanto is looking for manuscripts; the plots should be straightforward with elements of glamour and authentic depictions of Latin culture. Oh, don’t forget the sex. Send submissions to Stockwell at 850 3rd Ave., New York, NY, 10022-6222 or call her at (212) 407-1500. Buena suerte.