Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

Hey everybody!

So I have a quick question for you guys :) I'm currently writing a series of novellas that is going to be in 4 books. It's a romance series, but since the story unfolds on 4 books, the happily ever after will only happen on the 4th one. Does that bother you guys? Do you mind if the first book doesn't end super well, as long as the last one does?

MORE INFO: The books will be 80-100 pages long. First book starts in the summer, next will be fall, winter and spring. It's the same characters all along, throught that year.

Thanks for you feedback :)

I prefer, when reading Historical Romance, to have there be a HEA. However, I'm a little more lenient with other sub-genres, especially if it is CLEARLY stated that the book is a part of a X-number series. That way, if I choose, I can wait until all the books are out, if I desire.

Hey Lisa!
Glad to know that. I plan to make a bundle when the 4 books are out, so I guess that's an option for those who can't wait!
(I'm writing Contemporary Romance)

Thanks for your fast reply! :)

Ginnie, Just my personal preference, but I'd rather read one 320-400 page book than a novella series. I know it's really popular now and a lot of people enjoy a serial book, but they are not for me. My solution is to wait until all books are released and read them all together. I've started several novella formatted series and tend to read one or two and then never finish. I lose my investment in the story and characters and find it hard to go back without re-reading. There has been a lot of discussion on this trend in one of my groups. So much depends on the pricing as well: the cost of four novellas vs one full length novel. As to the HEA, if you clearly state in the description it's a four volume series, everyone will know up front and not expect the HEA until part 4. But my personal preferences aside, the format does seem popular with some readers.
Wishing you all the best with your books!

I like the bundle idea =)

Thanks Melanie!
I know a lot of people prefer full length novel and that's why I plan to make it as a novel in the end, but also release the parts seperately.
How long was it usually between the releases of the novella you read? Just out of curiosity, because I understand that someone could loose interest after a while. What would it be for you? A month? More? (If I can make it easier for readers by releasing every a part every 3-4 weeks or sooner, I'd be happy to do that!)

I appreciate your opinion :)

Everything that Melanie said. When I see serial novels, my first thought is that the author just wants to make money. It's like the trend in movies to turn the last book into two movies. Is it really necessary?

But, as Lisa said, some readers like it. It's just not for me.

Sorry but I also avoid serials. Good luck, though!

Hey Abigail!
I have to say that if I chose this path (the 4 releases instead of one), it's mostly to build momentum. I feel like it's easier to get exposure and get your book out there that way. Stand alone novels don't usually do as well as series and serials.
I plan to make the first book free in the future, so people know what they are getting into before either buying part 2 or the bundle!

Ginnie, I would say around a month (again, that is for me personally). I read quite a lot and remembering details of plot lines and the connection I feel to the characters and the story tend to fade after a few weeks. I even dropped the Crossfire series off my tbr when Sylvia Day changed from a trilogy to a 5 book series and the time between releases was SO long. I loved the first two books, but I'm not going further with it until she's done with all five. It's sort of like the series that Netflix does. They release the whole season at once and I can indulge with a marathon of watching. Can you tell I just got hooked on House of Cards??

I understand!
So I guess for you guys, the full length novel (in 4 parts) would be better than buying them as seperate novellas. That's good to know, I can always come back here with the full one, when it's going to be all written :)

I have another question then, since you guys give me a lot of interesting feedback! For the end of my novellas, how do you feel about cliffhangers? Love or hate? (I do it mostly because it makes it more interesting in my opinion. There's no point reading the next chapter/book if you don't have a good hook.)

I avoid serials too. I would only consider reading a serial if it was by one of my absolute favourite authors. But if I had to read a serial, I would want them to be released close together--maybe a month, as Melanie suggests. If it's too long, I'd have to re-read the previous ones before starting the new one, and that would piss me off and there's a good chance I wouldn't get around to finishing it.

Another option might be a prequel novella (which you could have free at some point) - this could be Part 1, then Part 2-4 could be a novel? I don't know if this makes sense for what your story, though. LikeA Little Combustible Chemistry and Love, Chocolate, and Beer. As a reader, this is less of a turn-off for me than a 4-part serial, but that might just be me :)

Thanks Laura!
It's really interesting, what you just suggested! I hadn't though about that, but I guess it's something I could think about. Instead of having the 4 parts into a novel, only 2-4. I'll have to think about that! The only thing is: can you start the full length novel (Love, Chocolate, and Beer) without reading the prequel novella? For what I'm doing, part 2-4 couldn't be read without part 1.

I'm torn about cliffhangers.

If I know what I'm reading is a serial, I'd expect it. If not, it would tick me off so much I wouldn't read the rest of it. Clearly state in the description (or even title!) that it's part I or II or whatever (which I'm assuming you're planning on doing anyway) and you'll be fine.

I agree with Abigail about cliffhangers. Epilogues have gotten so bad about NOT being an epilogue, but a cliffhanger/prequel to the next book in the series that I read them with a "guarded" heart.

One author wrote a supposedly "traditional" Historical Romance book with such a major cliffhanger between the H/h (and no warning...and the first book in the series) that I never read another of her books. I usually don't throw books against the wall, but I did that one.

I have to say that I don't mind a little cliffhanger between the secondary characters (I've been "trained"), but I like my HEA between the main characters within the current book.

Ginnie wrote: "The only thing is: can you start the full length novel (Love, Chocolate, and Beer) without reading the prequel novella? For what I'm doing, part 2-4 couldn't be read without part 1. "

I think for that one you did have to read the prequel, but it was included at the beginning of the novel as well.

Thanks for all your replies!
I'll keep everything in mind :) You've all been very useful.

Good luck, Ginnie.

That's a good question! Personally, I don't care what genre I'm reading, or sub-genre I need a HEA. But, I think there's a bit of leniency when it's part of a series. Ultimately I want that HEA, but I'm willing to deal with upheavals and turmoil for a while before we get there.