no·vel·la
noun
1. a short novel or long short story.
Yep, that is the official definition of novella, the subject of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday. As in the case of their longer cousins, novellas span genres and styles — historical, contemporary, suspense, romance — there is something for everyone! Looking at the varying forms novellas take, I have come up with a few categories. What do you think?
Don’t forget to check out other bloggers favorite novellas at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Novellas
The Complimentary Novella — books that are written to introduce or compliment a novel series. These help to fill in the blanks, as well as entice a reader with a quick read. They are often prequels to the main story.
An Awakened Heart (An Orphan Train Novella) by Jody Hedund
Then Came You (A Bradford Sisters novella) by Becky Wade
Interrelated Novella Collection — these 2-4 novella collections often have several authors all writing within a continuing storyline. The examples I have chosen either follow different members of a family, involve characters connected with a place, and/or tell the story from different characters’ points of view.
Austen in Austin, volume 1 by Susan Dietze, Gina Welborn, Anita Mae Draper, and Debra E. Marvin
Invitation, Cycle One of The Harbingers Series by Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, Bill Myers, and Alton Gansky
Where Tree Tops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, and Sarah Sundin
Serialized Novellas — a series of individually published novellas (not part of a published collection) that follow a character, or group of characters, and are written by a single author.
Boo series by Rene Guttering (there are 4 in the series)
In The President’s Service series by Ace Collins (there are 14 books in this series, I have included the covers of the first 2)
Summer of The Burning Sky series by Susan May Warren (a third is due out in August)
Thematic novella collections — several novellas published together and united by a common theme or subject matter. They often involve several authors.
Among The Fair Magnolias by Tamera Alexander, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser, and Shelley Gray
Sins of The Past by Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, and Dani Pettrey
Standalone Novellas — a complete, unto itself story, just in novella length. I have found that there are lots of novellas published with Christmas themes — great for quick reading during a very busy time of year.
12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep
An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti
Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh
Silent Night, Deadly Night by Richard Mabry, M.D.
What is your favorite novella?
I absolutely love how you split this post into types of novellas. I never though about novellas like how you put them, but it’s super informative. Thank you! I’ve seen Then Came You mentioned on a few posts now, and I’m very curious about it. I might give it a try soon. Thank you for sharing!
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday
Thanks! The categories I came up with are certainly unofficial, but they made sense to me.
The Boo series looks like it’s a lot of fun.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
It is! There’s Boo Humbug too.
What a fabulous post, Beckie! Love how you put it together – and of course, I’m so glad to see Becky’s on the list. 🙂
I need to read Becky’s novella. I am currently reading Falling for You. Love this series.
Great list! I haven’t read any of these, but I like your categories.
Thx! And thanks for stopping by!