I have a rare lunch hour free wedged between a brain sucking meeting from hell and a destined to be as equally entertaining sit down with 7 hostile executives. I need a pick me up in a bad, bad way. Seriously. Before I run through the cubicles like a madwoman, yelling and pulling at my hair.
I look at my options.
I can pop across the street, playing Frogger in busy traffic, and buy something at the convenience store, that something consisting of chocolate, caramel and maybe a nut or two. Not a good choice for the waistline, butt, or the coworker having to deal with me post-sugar high.
Or
For the same cash, I can download Michele Ann Young’s Christmas Masquerade at Coffee Time Romance. This 58 page holiday novella with our tormented axe wielding Earl and our broken down outside the wrong residence heroine might be just the thing to put me in a mellow enough mood to love foaming at the mouth V-P’s. And Christmas Masquerade is calorie free.
I decide upon the Christmas novella. Yes. In May. Why? Because I can. That is the beauty of the internet. I can read holiday romances all year round.
This holds true for all holiday romances, explaining why I read Amy Ruttan’s Halloween themed Masque Of Desire in January. Yep, as my granddaddy used to say, I am often a day late and a dollar short.
Another wonder of the internet? Easily obtained quick reads like Stephanie Bedwell-Grime’s A Darker Passion (I have a serious thing for flying men) or Kalen Hughes’ absolutely free (did I mention free?) Rakes Of London short Something Wicked.
This is all new to me. I am not a paper short reader. I never bought anthologies. That changed with the eSales. For a dollar or two, I can buy a short romance, read it over a break, and then carry that loving feeling into the rest of my day. All without leaving my desk. Wonderful.
The issue I’m now having is finding recommendations for short reads. Have you read a novella or romance short lately that you loved? Have you written a short? Do my coworkers a big favor and tell me about it.
Lynn Viehl has a huge heap o’ free shorts online, paranormal romance to SF. I think she’s in the sidebar here as Paperback Writer, and there are links to her free stuff on her sidebar.
Harlequin’s brand-spankin’-new Nocturne Bites has short paranormals. I believe they also do Spice Briefs.
And I just subbed something short, which probably means it will be appearing as a serial on my blog in a couple of months.
by Kerry Allen May 20th, 2008 at 7:31 amOh, that’s right, Kerry!
(Thumping my head against the screen)
The whole idea behind this post
came from the always fab
Michele Hauf
http://www.michelerhauf.com/
mentioning Nocturne Bites
in a recent Romance Junkies post
(her awesome release Racing The Moon).
I’ve been a Michele Hauf fan
since her 2006 kick butt
dragon slayer novel
Rhiana.
Kerry, big congrats on Wish List
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 7:42 ambeing a 2008 Golden Heart Finalist!
Does that mean Kerry’s fake book
is going to become a very real book?
“The issue I’m now having is finding recommendations for short reads. Have you read a novella or romance short lately that you loved? Have you written a short? Do my coworkers a big favor and tell me about it. ”
Um, no, but I’ve written one.
I still have novels to read and write before I launch that puppy into Queryland though. 
In the meantime, I’ll just check out everyone else’s recommendations.
by Kimber An May 20th, 2008 at 7:53 amKimber An,
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:14 amAnother cyberbud I’m anxiously awaiting a release from!
If your fiction voice is anything like your blogging voice… wow!
I post a romantic short story on my website every month. They’re stories that have been previously published in magazines, mostly in the UK or Australia (which is a great market for commercial short fiction, romantic and otherwise, and pays quite well! You can e-mail me if you want more information about submitting).
Kate
by KateHewitt May 20th, 2008 at 8:25 amKim, the vision of you running between cubicles screaming and pulling out your hair is a short story all of its own! Thanks for the mention, by the way.
I have to agree, short stories are a great escape for the reader, whether for a a break from work, a wait at the doctor’s office or a spare moment at home. It is also a super challenge for the writer, especially with a romance, where it must have all the elements including a HEA all in 20 to 60 pages depending on what the editor asked for.
Other novella’s? Molly O’Keefe participated in a great anthology for Valentine’s Day this year, “Who Needs Cupid” from Harlequin, I loved Becca’s story.
Novella’s are fun to write and hopefully fun to read. Great post.
by Michele Ann Young May 20th, 2008 at 8:31 amKate, I LOVE great freebie reads and
your December story, A Real Christmas,
got me all misty-eyed.
Two lonely souls finding each other.
Looking at your release schedule for 2008,
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:37 amwowsers!
You’re having a smokin’ year!
Well, they’re also a chance for an author to do something a bit different, aren’t they, Michele?
Like your Western Brides anthology (a departure from your Regencies).
I knew nothing about Mail Order Brides before reading it.
Fascinating stuff!
The things we learn from romance novels.
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:40 amI’ve written eight shorts — one released last week from The Wild Rose Press entitled “A Change of Heart” — and have one more coming out with Samhain in August (yes, a shamless plug for MOI
).
Also, The Wild Rose Press has started offering FREE reads on their website (oddly, listed under “free reads”), so that’s something you could check out as well.
I love reading short stuff, especially online.
by Marianne May 20th, 2008 at 8:48 amActually I enjoy holiday themed stories, whether their shorts or novellas.
That way I can live some of my favorite holidays all year round.
Writing a Halloween Quickie for me was a no brainer. LOVE HALLOWEEN!!
Thanks for the shout out Kimber!!!
by Amy Ruttan May 20th, 2008 at 9:03 amOh, Marianne, plug all you want
because A Change Of Heart looks GOOD! I’m pulling for Jake and Emily.
You know, I like free reads
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 9:26 ambut dollar (or two) downloads are just as good (in my opinion). Goodness knows I squander my spare change in other, less worthy ways.
Amy, that’s how I think!
I love reading Christmas stories
in the middle of summer.
And Halloween shorts are
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 9:28 amunfortunately rare.
Great Halloween shorts
like Masque of Desire
even more so.
OH!! I also have a novella coming out this Thursday. An older woman younger man called OH YUM! LOVE THY NEIGHBOR from Ellora’s Cave.
Wylie Kinson’s Novella LAW OF AVERAGES from Ellora’s Cave came out last week, and let me tell you it was HAWT!!!
by Amy Ruttan May 20th, 2008 at 9:31 amWas out of town for a family “thing” and can’t begin to catch up with posts. I’ll just pop in some BSP for my own short e-stories, published with The Wild Rose Press. Details and sneak peeks at my website so you can see if they’re what you’re looking for.
Back to catching up.
by Terry Odell May 20th, 2008 at 9:48 amI do the same thing–order a short romance just because I’m in the mood for one. I read them often and many of my own novellas are sold as downloads, too. Great topic.
by Robin Bayne May 20th, 2008 at 9:58 amTerry, I was wondering where you’ve been.
I always enjoy your comments.
And I really enjoy your explanation for your own bits and pieces…
“What happens when the characters won’t leave after you type “The End”?”
I find that happens for me as a reader,
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 10:24 amespecially if the book is awesome.
Just because I finished the book,
doesn’t mean I stop thinking about the characters.
Will they have kids?
Won’t they?
What kind of house would they buy together?
That sort of thing.
Robin,
You have some of the best titles I’ve ever read.
Crumbs In The Keyboard
(looking at mine, so true,
and ohhhh, is there chocolate flakes in there too?)
The Scent Of Falling Snow
A Matter Of Life
Do you come up with those
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 10:28 amor does the publisher
or do you have some top secret title writer captured somewhere?
Glad to be back, Kimber — no computer, no Internet for 4 days. There’s a teeny taste of what we were doing on my blog.
And I know what you mean about “life after ‘the end’”. I had to know what would happen if the relationship continued, so I wrote “non-story” scenes just so I could find out. Those are the scenes that will probably never see life beyond my blog and website posts, but I’m happier knowing.
by Terry Odell May 20th, 2008 at 10:31 amI love both reading and writing novellas! Epublishers make a happy home for short reads. I have several at Ellora’s Cave and Samhain. So does the compulsively readable Shannon Stacey if you want a short laugh break.
One of my all-time favorite novellas is Loretta Chase’s The Mad Earl’s Bride (Avon anthology, Four Weddings and a Kiss). Fabulous. Also love me some Brava Bad Boys. And there’s a smokin’ Blaze anthology coming in July, What I
by Charlene Teglia May 20th, 2008 at 10:52 amDid on My Summer Vacation that I cannot wait to read.
Ann Bruce’s Rules of Engagement. Get it, you’ll love it, I promise.
Not as short but also über excellent is Bonnie Dee’s The Countess Takes a Lover.
Shiloh Walker’s Beautiful Girl
Hope these help!
by azteclady May 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pmI wish there were more great short stories and novellas out there. I know that many readers say they don’t like them, but I think that’s because writing in a short form requires A LOT of discipline and a different approach than for long fiction.
IMO Robin Schone and Shannon McKenna excel in shorter fiction (I enjoy their shorts more than their full length novels). And now, with so many authors giving away shorts on the Web, we readers have a much bigger selection. However, I still don’t think short fiction gets the same level of respect as longer fiction (from readers, authors, and publishers), which is too bad, because it IS so great to be able to read a whole story in one shot without having to find 3 or 4 or more hours to do so.
by Robin May 20th, 2008 at 1:54 pmHi Kimber — a terrific post. And you’re right… a short is a much healthier alternative to a chocolate sugar high!
I was just wondering if those 7 MALE (assumed) executives noticed your glow at the meeting
I haven’t read Michele Ann Young’s novella yet, but am adding it to the MUST read list. Amy’s Masque of Desire was an uber-hot little read, as is anything by Red Garnier.
And for a longer read, can I suggest a great new novel called Breach of Trust by um… um… Kimber something. Wait, it’ll come to me
by Wylie Kinson May 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pmOoh, I love shorts (and I’ve written some too - if you’re interested the shortest story is Love Songs at The Wild Rose Press, or check out my website for a couple others up to novella length). They are inexpensive and great to fit in when you don’t have time to invest in a big read and they can be just as satisfying.
by MG Braden May 20th, 2008 at 4:24 pmLori Foster’s Tangled Sheets from the Hot Chocolate anthology. And anything by Emma Holly. She does good shorts.
by Jill Sorenson May 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pmI wrote a novella called How Much You Want to Bet? Ya know had to plug and all (like Marianne who is also fan-tab)
Also, the Romance Divas have an annual e-book challenge. Free reads, all of them.
by Melissa Blue May 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pmCharlene,
Oh, you brought up
one of my fave categories
of novellas/shorts,
the erotica short.
I’m not a fan of longer erotica
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pmbut sometimes an erotic novella like your
Wolf In Shining Armor
(especially being historical)
hits the spot.
(please get all your minds
out of the gutter…LOL)
azteclady
I think I must be the
last reader on the planet
to have not read a
Shiloh Walker novel.
Dang, the excerpt for Beautiful Girl
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pmsounds like a tear jerker though.
I’d have to save it for a good crying night.
Robin,
I hear you about short fiction
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:03 pmnot getting respect.
As someone who likes to blather on
(I can’t even leave a short comment
for goodness sakes),
I have SO much respect
for authors who can say so much
with so few words.
Wylie!!
You asked if men noticed something.
Okay, okay,
I don’t work with romance heroes.
The guys I work with
don’t notice much.
Yes, your
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pmLaw Of Averages is FINALLY out!
Rockstars for everyone!
MG,
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:09 pmYes, Valentine’s Day!
That’s one of the holidays
I missed with this post and
your rosette Love Songs
would have been a perfect mention.
Short and packed with cupcake sweetness
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
Whoa, Jill,
Emma Holly has a whole lot of titles.
What do you reco?
(my pref is Regency
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:12 pmbut good is good
in any genre)
Melissa,
by Kimber Chin May 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pmCongrats on the debut novella!
How Much You Want To Bet? looks awesome.
Love the pool hall setting.
Played a few games on the weekend
(I’m guessing not with the same results
as no one got nekkid).
Kimber, LMAO. Unfortunately they don’t get nekkid on a pool table. But there is this scene in the kitchen…
Thanks.
by Melissa Blue May 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pmIf I could make a living writing short…
I’ve written from 3k to 87k. Guess which one doesn’t give me fits to fix a saggy middle?
by Delilah Devlin May 21st, 2008 at 12:51 am