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Hello, wonderful InspyRomance readers! I’m excited to be part of this blog in the company of these fabulous ladies. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I’m going to invite you to put on your fuzzy slippers, pour a cup of cocoa, and talk novellas with me.
Have you ever read one? They’re like a fun-sized chocolate bar—so much goodness packed in so you can read it in one sitting if you want. The pacing and backstory are a little bit different than most trade-length novels, but the stories are every bit as satisfying!
There are two trends I’m noticing in the inspirational romance market right now: Novella collections featuring powerhouse author casts (such as Zondervan’s A Year of Weddings series and Thomas Nelson’s Smitten series) and traditionally published authors releasing e-novellas between books. I’m all for both of these trends taking off so the good stories will keep on coming — especially when there’s romance involved, for obvious reasons.
I recently had the chance to read Hollywood, Texas, Kathleen Y’Barbo’s latest Brides of Texas novella. In this contemporary romance, movie star Amy Foreman returns to the Hollywood she abandoned—small-town Hollywood, Texas. She’s running from trouble in Tinseltown to the safest place she can think of, the doorstep of Adam Chambers, the hunky veterinarian she left behind to chase her dreams.
If the phrase “hunky veterinarian” wasn’t enough to win you over, let me tell you what else I loved. Like in her other books, Kathleen Y’Barbo is a master of including tiny details that make readers love and root for her characters from the start despite their imperfections. Maybe even because of their imperfections. She finds the beauty in ordinary settings, planting the reader as an eyewitness in the middle of the story. Plus, her chapters end in such a way that you can’t help turning the page (or swiping the screen) to see what happens next. Okay, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: she has just been added to the fabulous line-up at InspyRomance.com, so be on the lookout for her first post next week!
Hollywood, Texas is a jewel in the constellation of stellar works from Kathleen Y’Barbo. And one lucky InspyRomance reader can win it below! No Kindle? No problem. Simply download the Kindle app on your computer, smart phone, or tablet. Easy peasy.
Thanks for joining me today and celebrating novellas, the fun-sized story! For even more fun, check out these novellas written by our very own InspyRomance authors:
Heather Gray - Ten Million Reasons: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
JoAnn Durgin - Meet Me under the Mistletoe: Amazon -and- Starlight, Star Bright: Amazon
Kristen Ethridge - New Year's Eve: Amazon -and- The Cupid Caper: Amazon
Elizabeth Maddrey - Joint Venture: Amazon
Valerie Comer - "Topaz Treasure" featured in the collection, Rainbow's End
Laurie Tomlinson is a wife and mom from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a member of My Book Therapy and the American Christian Fiction Writers and received the 2013 Genesis Award for Contemporary fiction. Her work is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary. A self-professed bookworm, Laurie earned a degree in literature but bypassed the traditional education route to become a book publicist. In addition to writing contemporary romance, she enjoys cooking, singing with her church’s worship band, and going on adventures with her husband, daughter, and yellow Lab. She always has a good novel in her bag, usually tucked between the diapers.
Hi Laurie, I like reading romance novellas because they’re a nice, fast and satisfying read. I haven’t written a novella, but I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to explore the world of novella writing one day :)
You had me at chocolate! Adding ‘hunky veterinarian’ only sweetened the deal. This novella sounds like such fun!
Now, now, now … you need to start drinking coffee. ;) But AMEN!! To Kathleen’s novels. LOVE THEM
It’s on my writing bucket list, for sure!
It is! You’d love it :)
Maybe you can convert me to coffee this weekend!
I haven’t read any of Kathleen Y’Barbo’s books yet but I do have one in my TBR pile so I hope to get to it soon. I find with novellas, I like them if the characters knew each other beforehand (second chance at romance kind of thing). Then, their attraction seems natural and not “too fast.”
Hi Laurie, I do enjoy novellas, especially if I’ve just read a lengthy novel or one that was anxiety-ridden. When I’m looking for something light, I usually read a novella. They are like soothing bites of chocolate after a heavy meal.
Laurie, thanks for featuring novellas in your article. I love the new trend, too, and recently wrote about it on my own blog. What do you think? http://writingtoinspire.blogspot.com/2014/02/trending-eshorts.html
Blessings,
Andrea
Adding Kathleen’s novella to my TBR pile right now — well, after I finish posting this comment. Novellas are fun reads — a quick dash of romance that can be so satisfying.
Sounds like you would love this one, then! :)
Exactly! You described it perfectly!
Great minds think alike. I think I will be reading a lot more novellas and eShorts from now on. So many good ones out there!
Agreed completely. I had no idea you were coming out with Seth + Meghan’s story or I would have posted it! Just pre-ordered it for my Nook and can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, Laurie, for blogging about this new trend–definitely one to watch!!!
Laurie, I adore the term “fun-sized stories.” What a great description! Hope you don’t mind if I “borrow” that for a blog or two. :) I’ve had such a great time writing my novellas, and they’ve been great marketing tools for my longer books, as well. It’s a great way for readers to “test” an author’s writing style to see whether or not they’d like to try a full-length novel by the same author. In some ways, it’s more of a challenge to write a novella with fully fleshed-out characters and do them justice with a fully-rounded plot (especially if it’s a “first time” meeting scenario). But, hey, let no one say we Christian romance writers don’t love a good challenge! Blessings, and thanks for your post! Now, for some fun-sized chocolate… :)
I agree with Pepper – You had me at chocolate. But novellas really are wonderful — adding this one to my TBR! Thanks!
I’m excited about it. Hope to write a few of my own someday!
Feel free to borrow the term. I can definitely, definitely see how writing a novella would be a challenge. But it’s one I hope to take on myself sometime soon!
Chocolate is the universal language of writers, I’m discovering.
Also, I am officially casting my vote right now for a Sam + Alex novella. Definitely want more of their story!
I agree, Lis! It’s hard to fit a full romance arc into the shorter length if the characters have no history.
Great post, Laurie! Novellas are just the right size for plane trips and those sleepless nights away from home. And they are as much fun to write as they are to read. More snow coming our way. Can’t wait to curl up with Kathleen’s Hollywood, Texas.
Hi Laurie! Thank you for sharing this review and giveaway on Kathleen Y’Barbo’s novella. I have enjoyed many of her other books and look forward to reading this as well.