Fresh Fiction Blog | Dana Marton | The Perfect Dessert

I've noticed that novellas have been making a comeback lately. Amazon.com has 8,224 novellas available at the moment. Once upon a time, novellas have been a well-respected literary form. Then, for some reason, they fell out of favor. I have to admit, it's been a while since I'd read one, until Charlaine Harris started to put out Sookie Stackhouse novellas in between her full-size books. And then I fell in love with the format. So as of this year, 3 of those 8,224 novellas on Amazon are mine. Yay!

Since I've started writing novellas, I've been reading more of them. They are the answer to my problem of not being able to put a book down once I started it. Sadly, I don't get to read until it's bed time. Then I'm up until 2 a.m. when the last word is read. Then I'm dragging the next day. Sounds familiar? But now I can read a novella, get the full experience, a rounded out story, and still get some sleep. They proved to be the perfect beach read as well. I'm not saying I'm leaving full-size novels behind, no way. But I found that novellas have their place in my library, and there are times when they're the perfect read.

While reading novellas is my new guilty pleasure, writing them is my new challange. I like to write long. I wrote for 13 years before my first book was published. I love the sight of accumulating pages. It's a deeply satisfying experience. (Hey, I wrote all that!) Limited by wordcount, in a novella the story is more concentrated, packs more of a punch. GUARDIAN AGENT, the first in my Agents under Fire trilogy, starts with a high-stakes chase on the crumbling palace roofs of Venice. No time for a slow introduction, the story must be an adrenalin-filled thrill from beginning to end.

When Gabe Cannon's commando team is tasked with bringing down a rogue solider, he doesn't expect to come face-to-face with the target's sister at the showdown instead of the man himself. Jasmine is trying to lead the team away from her injured brother. Recognizing one of the hunters as her teenage crush is definitely a shock to her system. To save her family, she must convince Gabe that her brother was framed. But can she stop from falling in love with him all over again?

Instant conflict, instant attraction. Does that formula work? Does size matter? I'll let you decide. But I have to say, I do believe that great things can come in small packages. (Think mini vacations and bit-size candy.)

Would you try a novella if it promised to be a full-value, truly entertaining story, or are you firmly a novel-size reader? Post your opinion for a chance to win a gift package of my romantic suspense novels (full size) and favorite treats (bite size). Thank you for stopping in!

--Dana

Agents Under Fire

WARRIOR AGENT
#3

AVENGING AGENT
#2

GUARDIAN AGENT
#1

Comments

Hi Dana,

I do love to read novellas. It depends on the time available. If I'm on a trip, I'd take a novella so that I can finish it at the end of the ride. Taking a novella to the beach is also a good idea.
(Nas Dean 3:21am November 12, 2011)

Hi Dana,
I like to read novellas and novels depending on my mood and how much time I
have to read.
(Tammy Yenalavitch 12:07pm November 12, 2011)

I tend to prefer novels because they last me a little longer and even then
I'm sometimes disappointed to turn the last page!
(E Felder 12:09pm November 12, 2011)

I enjoy novellas when I am limited on time... they may be short, but they give you a chance to enjoy a wonderful story. I will admit that I have read a few and thought they could have been longer...
(Colleen Conklin 1:03pm November 12, 2011)

I carrying novellas in my purse when I have appoints and know
I will need something to read. They are short and I don't have
to worry about trying to remember alot of stuff when usually
the places I am at are noisy.
(Paula Freeman 1:10pm November 12, 2011)

I do enjoy reading novellas. They're perfect when I want to sit for an hour and or so and be able to finish the story, but I do prefer full size novels because the stories don't feel rushed.
(Jane Cheung 1:17pm November 12, 2011)

The first couple of novellas that I read I was surprised how
short they were. Now, that I know what I am getting into that
doesn't bother me.
(Gayle Cochrane 1:30pm November 12, 2011)

I like novellas...in fact I guess that's what you would call the stories in Reader's Digest condensed books and I use to read them all the time when I would get home from teaching all day and had to do homework like grading papers and such. Now I read mostly full size novels because I have the time to read them.
(Ellen McDaniel 1:37pm November 12, 2011)

Thank you so much for having me here, Sara! I love FreshFiction. And thank you so much, Ladies, for stopping in.

I'm so glad to hear that novellas do have a readership out there.

Ellen, I'm a big Reader's Digest fan, too. I even tried to write jokes for them years ago. They never seemed to like what I sent.
(Dana Marton 3:00pm November 12, 2011)

I love to read. Novellas are great reads since I can ususlly finish one before my laptop battery runs out during my bus commute.
(Debra Mowatt 7:08pm November 12, 2011)

Debra, My Kindle battery is like that. For some reason, it runs out really quick. So a short read can be a definite advantage.
(Dana Marton 8:06pm November 12, 2011)

I rather read a novel if the book is good but I will read anything.
(Loretta Canton 8:41pm November 12, 2011)

I've never read a novella before. I think I'd rather read a book myself, because for one thing, I don't own a kindle. I also prefer to hold a book in my hands and enjoy it. Perhaps someday I'll buy a kindle and get into novellas, but for now, just call me old-fashioned. Your story sounds like a real page-turner, and I can't wait to read it!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:33pm November 12, 2011)

Novellas are fine as long as they're less expensive than a full-size novel. I don't have an e-reader, so a serial novella with weekly or daily updates would be fun along with a scavenger hunt.
(Alyson Widen 4:51pm November 13, 2011)

Dana, I have read all three of your novellas and love them!! Thanks so much. I
read them on my ipad or ipod and find them short and usually good reads. If
you have any recommendations for other novellas in the same genre please let
me know!
(Bobbie Cloud 9:55pm November 13, 2011)

Ayson, I love the scavenger hunt idea!!!

Bobbie, Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I know other Harlequin Intrigue authors are writing enovellas currently, but I'm not sure who has theirs out already. The names that pop into my head are Paula Graves, Rickey Mallory and Julie Miller.
(Dana Marton 10:02am November 14, 2011)

Novellas are great for that time when you need a quick read
(like waiting at the doctors)and if they are good and
entertaining stories they are doubly good :D
(Ilona Fenton 1:32pm November 14, 2011)

I like novellas to read especially when I don't have time for a novel. i am making a trip to N.C. to see my sister and will get a novella to read where it is a two and 15 min., flight! Agatha
(Agatha Townsend 2:50pm November 14, 2011)

I will read novellas. I'm sure they're gaining popularity because they're a quick read. I notice there are some authors putting them out together (two or three stories into one book). If they are a good captivating story, then I will read them. Love paperback books and don't care for so many authors going to e-book instead of offering both options. There is an abundance of Christmas novellas now coming out. Love a book in my hands while waiting at appointments, etc.
(Linda Luinstra 6:43pm November 14, 2011)

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