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| Lenora Worth |
Hey writers, Annette here. Ever notice how no mater the length of your writing project, there aren't any short cuts when it comes to research? Read on to see veteran author Lenora Worth's advice. Enjoy!
Researching for Novellas
by Lenora Worth
Research is a very important part of writing, even when you are
writing a short story. Maybe even more so because you have to write tight and
get to the basics right away. And even when you are writing a light-hearted
story, research can bring the story alive and make readers feel as if they can
relate to the emotions and even the setting in a story. Whether it’s a light
sprinkling or a detailed procedural, research adds richness to the stories we
write. My rule for research—research more than you’ll ever need but use exactly
what you will need!
I am very happy to be a part of the twelve book novella series
“A Year of Weddings,” from HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Zondervan.
My story is An April Bride,
and I enjoyed writing about Marshall and Stella and their journey to the altar.
The groom, Marshall Henderson, is an injured soldier. His distance and refusal
to allow Stella to visit him while he’s in a military hospital causes her to
have doubts about their relationship. But Marshall insists that she not cancel
their April wedding. When he returns home one month before the wedding date, he
confesses to Stella that he’s having memory problems. Stella tries to help him
remember her and how they fell in love. Marshall must face his worst fears
before he can marry the woman he still loves.
This story started out lighthearted and joyful but the subject
matter of post-traumatic stress syndrome certainly isn’t light-hearted. While
the short length and quick time span didn’t allow me to delve too deeply into
this very serious disorder, I certainly researched it heavily and learned just
how devastating it can be for injured warriors returning from war.
I hope readers will understand some of the challenges both
Marshall and Stella had to face. And I hope they like this story. I am honored
to be a part of “A Year of Weddings.”
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| An April Bride |
Lenora Worth has written over fifty-five
books for four different publishers. Her first Love Inspired, The Wedding Quilt, won Affaire de
Coeur’s Best Inspirational for 1997, and Logan’s
Child won Romantic Time’s Best Love Inspired for 1998. Three of her books have
finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award and her Love
Inspired Suspense, Body of Evidence,
made the New York Times Bestseller list in Mass Market Paperbacks. With
millions of books in print, Lenora continues to write romance and suspense for
several imprints. Lenora also wrote a weekly opinion column for the local
newspaper and worked freelance for a local magazine. She now enjoys full-time
fiction writing and going on adventures with her retired husband, Don. Married
for thirty-eight years, they have two grown children. Lenora enjoys writing,
reading, baking, and shopping … especially shoe shopping.
