nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) asked Karen Witemeyer:

I love your books and look forward to what you write next.I was just wondering, If the other two Archer books are full length novels, why was the third one a short novella? Or just it originally going to be that way?

Karen Witemeyer Actually, the Archer brothers were never intended to become a series at all. My editors have always steered me away from series. They wanted me to write only stand alone novels. However, when Short-Straw Bride did so well, they reluctantly agreed to let me write Crockett's story. I promised to make it stand on its own with a different setting, different characters, etc. Well, Stealing the Preacher did well, too. I really wanted to get the last Archer brother's story told, and at the same time, I'd been wanting to try a novella. Something I would write more quickly and get out to my fans without them having to wait a full year. So since the Archer brothers momentum was going strong, I approached my publisher about doing a novella project featuring Neill. They were excited to try a novella collection but weren't too sure about using a carry-over character like Neill Archer. At first they recommended that I do a completely fresh story. I resisted a bit, really wanting to do Neill's story, and when the other authors in the collection supported my wish, my publisher agreed. So, happily, I was able to write the final Archer brother's story even though it was a shorter format.

I found that I really enjoy writing novellas, so I'm going to try to add them into my repertoire more regularly. The next one planned is called Love on the Mend, and it features the runaway boy, Jacob, from Full Steam Ahead. Jacob is now all grown up and finally returns to the home he ran away from 17 years earlier, determined to lay the past to rest. Only, when he arrives, he finds his past is still alive and kicking. Love on the Mend will be available on February 3 - in digital format only.

Thanks for your question!

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