As you might know, my publisher Bethany House is famous for their historical romances. They pioneered Christian historical romance (Janette Oke, anyone?) and have led the genre ever since.
What they are not famous for are their novella collections. Bethany House hasn’t had a novella collection for decades.
Until now….
So if Bethany House were going to publish a novella collection what would the genre be? Almost guaranteed it’d be historical romance. What setting? What tone? Hmm…Western settings are popular. Humor is always good.
Naturally they’d want an author who has a huge following and many books already penned. One who writes funny cowboy stories like –
and
And they’d want another author with years of experience under her belt and a faithful following. One who’s written numerous novellas and over 25 books like –
and
Two down, two to go.
Now they might look to their newer authors. Of course they’d want one who is racking up awards like skeeball tickets. One with adoring readers who beg her to write more than one book a year. An author who produces great books like –
 and
Their work is almost done. They have a novella team of Mary Connealy, Carol Cox and Karen Witemeyer. One spot left to fill.
Here they evaluate the team they’ve put together. Western writers? – yes. Strong romantic elements? – check. Humor? – absolutely. Who would be their fourth writer to meet these criteria? Maybe someone newer? Someone who’s just getting her writing career started with books like –
and
Can you hear me squealing? Is your screen bouncing from me jumping up and down?
Keeping quiet this long has taxed my self-control, but it’s so worth it.
But the wait isn’t over. Bethany House’s first Novella Collection since the Reagan years will come out in January 2014. History in the making. And you’re the first to know.
So that’s what that squeeeeing come from west of me is!!!
SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! Bethany House chose well!
WHEW! I’ve been holding my breath for a long time now! So excited, and can’t wait to see the novella! Oh, and excellent choice, Bethany House!
Congratulations! Sounds like a great round-up!
Congratulations Regina! So happy for you!
Thanks, you all. I’m really excited, as you can tell. And I’m looking at all these beautiful covers, wondering what ours will look like.
Congratulations!!! That has to be completely thrilling!! Woohoo!
Squeal! So excited for you! Excited to try out someone new in Carol Cox. I have never read her before.
And we’ve come up with such fun ideas. I can’t wait to see this in print!!!!
Yay! This is so exciting! Congratulations!
I loved Sixty Acres and Bride Regina! How awesome for you! You should be major excited!!!! Wow!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Such fun and exciting news! Congrats, Regina! Way to go, girl! Eager to read that second book.
Wahoo!! Very excited! Congratulations!
Such exciting news! Congratulations to all 4 of you.
For the cover, please don’t let them chop off the heads of the characters. That really aggravates me.
Thanks for celebrating with us. Mary Connealy is right, we have come up with some fun ideas. But if we are plotting together, doesn’t that make us conspirators? Uh-oh.
And to the other Mary, we have very little say on the covers. A lot of people don’t like to see the face of the characters. The jury is split.
I love all of these authors! This should be an amazing collection!
so happy for you Regina, Mary, Carol and Karen, looking forward to this!!
Ah, Mary, c’mon. Beheading cover models is NEVER WRONG! It can’t be. Not when they do it so much.
Novella covers can be tricky because there are FOUR heros and heroines so you can’t really hardly have a FACE on the cover. I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Bethany House does terrific work on covers!
Congratulations! I know that I’ll be looking forward to reading these!
What a great line up of authors! Whoever came up with this combination is brilliant! I’m looking forward to this book. Keep us posted, please, about the title.
So awesome! Congratulations. I’m sure all those writers are blessed and amazed to be working with the great Regina Jennings!
Very fun! Thanks for the announcement. Looking forward to this! Kathleen
I’m excited for all of you! I know the book will be awesome!
How fun! Congrats to all! Should be a blast to read!
Robin, Regina is definitely the brains of the operation.
Ha, Mary! I thought I was the brawn.
Sounds like a great group of ladies. The stories are bound to be dynamite!
All this waiting for Christmas to finally get here and now I have to wait a whole year to read these stories! I won’t be able to sleep at night for the excitement! Can’t wait.
Awesome!! How exciting for you all!! I thought OK was having an earthquake but now I know what the earth shaking was all about!!! Lol You must have been jumping pretty hard!!! Can’t wait to get to read it!!!
Well, you can be the brawn, then, let’s let Karen or Carol be the brains. I think of myself as the getaway car driver.
Um…I’m usually the navigator, Mary. Hand me the map, and we’ll let Karen do the thinking. 😉
This has been such an exciting collaboration! So much fun being a “co-conspirator”, as Regina put it!
Congratulations to all four of you.
And since I’ve read the majority of the books pictured, I’ll be waiting patiently – NOT.
Congrats to Regina and all! (But mostly I think that we’re the lucky ones, because we all get to read your magic words!) ; )
Regina, I am so excited for you. You will be a plus to the book. Congratulations! Maxie