Today, I am releasing my latest Darcy and Elizabeth novella, The Bell. Here is a brief description:
Mrs. Darlington, the current lessee of Netherfield Park, wants out of her lease, and rumor has it that Mr. Bingley, a handsome gentleman from the North, is interested in leasing a country estate near to London. In order to entice Mr. Bingley to take over the lease, Mrs. Darlington had planned to host an intimate party to show off the neighborhood and the local beauties. When word gets out that there is an eligible bachelor in the neighborhood, all of Mrs. Darlington’s plans go out the window, and a small card party becomes a full-blown affair. One of the people adding to the confusion is Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, who is reported to be an elderly gentleman who travels with an ear horn. When the real Mr. Darcy arrives at Netherfield Park, all eyes are on the gentleman from Derbyshire, but who will be the fortunate lady to capture Mr. Darcy’s attention? Confusion, mistaken identities, and an obnoxious bell all make for an interesting evening at Netherfield Park.
I have written several Pride and Prejudice short stories, and I was thinking of putting them in a collection. All these stories are previously published, and I wanted to know if you think there would be any interest for such a collection. My concern is that people will not read the blurb on Amazon and not know that the stories have been previously published. There have been people who have been unhappy with me because my short stories turned out to be short! I would really appreciate your input.
Wishing you all the best in 2019!
If you enjoy The Bell, please consider writing a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. They really do help. Thank you.
The Bell is available exclusively on Kindle.
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I say – publish. I have seen other short stories or books re-packaged on Amazon. If you feel you can do it well, go ahead. Those who buy without reading the description have no cause to repine.
Hi, Mary. Thanks for your input. You would be surprised at how many people do not read the blurbs, so I put the length of my stories right on the cover. But, then, we’re all busy. Thanks for stopping by.
Exciting. Publish them.
Thanks, Patricia. Happy New Year!
I like short stories — I think there is a special skill for an author to be brief and yet complete. I don’t mind that maybe only one thing happens in a short story. If it is well-told, I will probably like it.
I also like short stories published and sold together. When deciding to buy or not, one thing I am aware of is price. One trigger for me is price/page ratio. I am likely to skip it if that ratio is too high.
For me, I would consider a collection of previously published short stories. The price/page ratio would probably be more in line with other books. If I skipped the story originally because of price, I might buy a bunch published together.
H, Rose. I agree with you about the price. I price my stories by length b/c I want them to be affordable for all my readers. Glad to hear you like short stories b/c they are now my favorite length. Happy New Year!
I believe that as long as you state Previously Released Individually in larger print towards the beginning of the blurb, people should see that and know what they’re getting. There seem to be a number of authors who are updating their covers, or re-releasing books with new names, and they state that. If I’m getting it for free I don’t always read the blurbs well, but if I’m spending money, I sure do. Maybe not everyone watches their pennies like I do. I blame it on being raised by depression babies from Kansas and S. Colorado, but I don’t think I’m the only one.
Hi, Taswmom. I understand what you are saying. I was raised by Depression babies from a small coal-mining town in PA. We certainly counted pennies when I was growing up. I really appreciate the input. Happy New Year!
A new novella! I can’t join the giveaway because I live in France but I’m a bullet journal addict and now I must buy this Jane Austen journal! Thank you! 😉
Thanks, Rosq, for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Well that has cheered me up and helped with my January blues. A new novella. Cannot wait! I agree with Rose about price and page ratio and that determines if I will buy it. I also do not like modern Pride & Prejudice stories so might not bother if it had any modern stories. However, this is just my opinion. I love all your books and looking forward to reading your new one. Happy New Year.
Hi, Michelle. This will be a collection of all Regency Era stories. Glad to help you with your January blues. Jane is a cure for a lot of things. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year!
I enjoy collections of short stories, even if they have been previously released. I agree about being sure to state they were previously released in the book description and that it’s up to the purchaser to decide if they want the book or not at that point. Thanks for the opportunity to win the giveaway!
Hi, Laura. Thank you for the feedback and for stopping by. Happy New Year!
What I hate is if an author publishes the same novel with a new title, perhaps making an edit or two. If you incorporate in the title that this short story collection has previously been published as separate works, then I see no deception.
Hi, Meg. I, personally, have never bought a book twice b/c of a title change, but I’ve bought a book that I’ve already read. That’s why e-readers are great! I have all my books in one place. Thanks for your input and for stopping by. Happy New Year!
I think it’s a great idea to release your short stories in a collection. I would just suggest that you make mention that they were available separately so that readers are aware of this.
Hi, Darcy. Once the stories go into the collection, I’m going to take the individual stories down. I hope that will avoid any confusion. Thanks for your input and for stopping by. Happy New Year!
I am so excited to add another of your wonderful books to my collection! Good luck with sales, I cannot wait to start reading!! Amy Z
Hey, Amy. How have you been? Thanks for your good wishes. Happy New Year!
Publish – I always read the blurb so if you start saying these are previously published short stories…….
Thanks, Vesper. Happy New Year!
I think your best bet would be to indicate that they are previously published stories somewhere in your book’s subtitle or in the very beginning of the description blurb. In my experience, people will at least scan the book descriptions, but they aren’t very likely to expand the box unless they are incredibly interested in the book. But I do think compliling them into one book is a great idea and a great way for new readers to get to know your work in one fell swoop!
Hi, Aimee. Excellent suggestions. Thank you for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Personally, I really like short stories. I don’t have a problem with them being re-released. I must admit that I am a big fan of KU for re-releases though. Sometimes I’ve read all but one or two short stories in a collection, and I really don’t want to pay for the whole thing just to catch up on those few. It’s exciting that you’re having a release day today!
Hi, Alecia. Glad you enjoy reading short stories b/c I enjoy writing them. As for KU, I do use it on older titles, but you have to sell a ton of KU units to make money. Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year!
As I am not one to purchase a novella, I would prefer a book of them. Yes, it is important to state previously published and don’t change the titles. When titles are changed, I never know if I had read it before. The journal is lovely. My words would hardly equal the lines that I wrote on.
Hi, Eva. Thanks for your input. Happy New Year!
I would love to have a book of your short stories (although I already own many of them!). Congratulations on your new release!
Thanks, Susan. I appreciate you stopping by. Happy New Year!
I own 3 of your books/novellas that currently reside in that traffic jam I call my TBR [to-be-read] pile. I also own and have read 11 of your books/novellas and I checked out 2 other works from my local library. I love your stories. I will buy collections and anthologies if they contain something I don’t already own or it has stories that I have not read. When the price is right, I have bought a collection just to get the one or two stories that are missing from my collection. Readers look at prices and Ebook prices matter. Publishers want to make a profit. Authors want to make a living. Readers are looking for a good deal. I understand this financial fine-line that everyone has to walk. It can get crazy and frustrating for all parties. Many authors are bundling their works. Usually, we will see the words bundle or collection in the blurb or even after the main title. Listen to your gut instinct.
I enjoyed the excerpt forThe Bell and it is on my wishlist, by the way. Thanks for the offer of the generous giveaway. I love journals. Have a blessed new year.
Hi J. W. Thank you for your in-depth input and for your support of my writing efforts. This is very helpful. Happy New Year!
I enjoy these “confusion” stories. And I’d enjoy the diary. Having the quotations is a lovely idea.
Be clear in the description of the collection that the stories are previously published, perhaps even with a cover blurb. Indicate that the stories range from X to Y in length. Keep the price reasonable, so that buyers will be paying for the new-to-them stories and not the re-reads. I know prices of everything are increasing, which for many means that food and shelter comes before books, particularly with access to public libraries, including ebooks that can be ordered from home as easily as they can be bought on line. The economic realities and uncertainties make price per thousand words a major consideration in choosing books. Combining your short stories may very well result in more readers.
While I strongly prefer lengthy stories, not everyone does. And shorter stories do have a place in my library, so long as the author is good–and I do like your works, Mary. Moreover, not everyone has the luxury I have of full days to read, so long as my tunnel vision allows me to walk by the ironing, and prefer to be able to read an entire story in a short time.B
Hi, Betty. Thank you for your in-depth input. It’s very helpful. I understand about price, and I think my books are probably among the most reasonable out there b/c I really do want people to read the stories and not have to worry about price. Yesterday, I got an alert from Book Bub for a book on sale for $12.99, regularly $17.99. Yikes! That’s the sale price. Hope you have a wonderful new year.
Publish it! This may sound negative but I always need short stories at the end of academic year (and in betweens) because I barely have time to read.
Publish ebook and see how it goes, then you decide if going paperback is worth it or not.
By the way, for the giveaway, I don’t live in the USA or Canada, but in the case I win, could I ask to have it sent to somebody who lives there??
Hi, Ana. I really enjoy writing short stories so that I can concentrate on Darcy and Elizabeth. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and sharing your thoughts. And, yes, you can definitely designate someone to receive the journal. Happy New Year!
Thank you for this giveaway and congratulations on your new release. I think that as long as you tell readers in the book description that it is made up of previously released stories that it should be fine. I have come across several books that are bundles of previously published novellas that tell you that and it now nice to sometimes have several novellas together.
Thanks, Chelsea. I appreciate the feedback. Happy New Year.
I like your books I think a compilation would be a great idea.
Thanks, Gail. Happy New Year!
I advise publishing. I know that I would love to have several of your short stories all in one place to read rather than having them scattered about all over my Kindle as they are now. 😉
Thanks, Mary, for the journal giveaway. I confess to having a bit (okay, MUCH more than a mere “bit”) of a journal addiction. I would love to add this one to my collection. (I do write in them, but I tend to gather them more quickly than I can fill them.
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Hi, Susanne. Always good to hear from you, and thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Hi, Susanne. Always good to hear from you and thank you for the feedback. Journals require discipline, so I imagine that is right up your alley. Hope you have a Happy New Year!
Please, please publish a collection! I love your books 😄
Thank you so much for your kind words, Laura. Happy New Year!
Publish. Just add to the blurb that the anthology contains previously published stories. 🙂
Thanks, Cindy. Happy New Year!
Yes, please, publish !
I love your stories and I always read the descriptions 😁
Hi, Isabelle, and thank you for your input. Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by.
I too say publish ! I rhe novellas if in KU but don’t buy. But when bundled together, the value to me increases.
This sounds like fun!
Congrats on the new novella!!
Thanks, Carol. I hope you have a wonderful new year.
I like it when novellas in one bunch and bundled together. I would system that they were previously published individually at the beginning of the description. Thank you for your generosity with the give away.
Hi, Debbie. It’s always good to hear from you. Happy New Year!
Sorry about the spelling. Autocorrect has a mind of its own.
I love your novellas (and the novels and mysteries too) so I say publish it. I’ve seen other authors do the same thing. Definitely intrigued guys the description of this one! I guess I know what I’ll be reading during breaks at work tonight! 😉
Thanks for sharing your stories with us!!
Hi, Megan. Thank you for your kind words. So glad you enjoy my stories. Happy New Year!
This story sounds like a hoot. I think even if Mr Darcy had been elderly and using an ear horn, if he still had the 10k a year he’d be even more of a catch to some ladies! Lol
I like the idea of publishing the novellas into a collection. 🙂
Hey, Monica. It’s been a dog’s age. Your comment is very close to a scene from the story. That’s too funny. Hope all is well. Happy New Year!
Hello! I agree with all the other ladies. I’d rather have a bunch of stories together in one book. Price is always a consideration, as others have stated.
Suzanne, Thanks for the input. Happy New Year!
I would enjoy your novellas compiled into one. I usually don’t have a lot of time to read lately but, the thought of reading a bunch of short stories sounds great. Price is always a factor in buying a book. Congratulations on the new Novella, I just read the sample.
Hi, Shelley. Thanks for your feedback. Happy New Year!
Goodness, publish! If you are very worried put in the top line bold or all caps and separated from the rest of the description a brief line that explains it is collection of your previously published work… Good luck! I love your stories.
Thanks, Christina. You have been so supportive of my efforts, and I appreciate it.
Congratulations on your new book. I don’t min reading short stories thatway I can easily get to the ending ( i just get too excited to learn what the ending is). Anyway, I actually love collection of stories. Be it e-book or in print, if I have the choice, i choose collection than individual books – easier to find and space-saving for the printed ones.Probably just disclose somewhere in the book/heading that these are old or previously published stories.
Us, fans/buyers, is suppose to read the summary (or we can read the sample anyway), so we should now the stories are being republished into a collection.
Thank you for this chance to win the Journal
Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I usually do not purchase novellas but I do like collections. As long as you mention clearly that stories have been published individually.
New story sounds really interesting. Thank you for giveaway opportunity.
Hi, Linny. Thank you for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Hi Mary
An elderly gentleman who travels with an ear horn’ sounds especially fun! Unfortunately I’m not in the right country so can’t win the prize, but I am sure someone will enjoy it.
As for whether or not to put your novellas into a compilation, I say a big yes. I love both shorter and longer stories, and find they each have their place. Short stories are great to be able to read in one sitting or maybe a bit longer. They certainly mean you can finish them instead of having to read late into the night, or wait until the next day to finish it.
I agree with many of the comments and suggestions already made about compilations, and I think an important part of a compilation is getting the title and subtitle right. The word ‘compilation’ or ‘collection’ certainly helps point out it is short stories, or maybe something about ‘bite size stories’ ;P
Good luck with the new story and (hopefully) the new compilation.
Hi, Sarah. Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. Happy New Year!
When I have a busy day I like to have short stories to pick up without worrying about not getting to the end/climax before bedtime. I have enjoyed your stories and look forward to reading The Bell. Thanks for a chance to win the journal.
Hi, Sheila. Always good to hear from you. Thanks for your input. Happy New Year!
Publish it and in blurb let it be known some were already published.
Thanks, Bella. Happy New Year!
I would love a bundle of novellas, but do note they were previously published. Thank you for the giveaway. The Bell sounds intriguing just by the title alone. Another TBR on my list.
Hi, Sharon. Thanks for your input. Happy New Year!
I would definitely love a collection of short stories. I always read the blurb, so that solves any issues. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi, Leah. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year!
I’d say definitely publish! Maybe consider putting something along the lines of ‘stories previously published individually’ on the front cover AND at the start of the blurb. I’m in the UK, so can’t enter the giveaway but the journal looks wonderful. Mind you, I’m not sure I could bring myself to sully its pages with my rather scratty handwriting!
Congrats on the new publication.
Hi, Anji. Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it. Happy New Year!
I think you should publish the collection. It would be nice to have them all together. If it makes you happy than you should do it and not worry over what others think.
Thanks, KC. Over the years, I have developed armor plating, but sometimes comments do get through. Happy New Year!
Definitely publish the short stories. Personally I find I’m not willing to purchase many really short stories, they’re just over too fast, but a collection of short stories is right up my alley!
Thanks, Lynn, for the feedback. Happy New Year!
I would be unlikely to buy a single short story, but far more likely to buy a collection. You could start the blurb by saying that this book is bringing together previously published stories etc. I am in the UK so not eligible for the giveaway, but just wanted to add my two penn’orth! 🙂
How exciting that you’re thinking of offering all your stories together! Yes, please publish your stories together and title it something as, “Collected Stories of Pride And Prejudice….” or “New and Updated Collected Stories,” or “A Short Collection of…” etc. You could also include a subtitle such as: “Previously published,” or something like that. Good luck!