Zondervan has launched “A Year of Weddings,” a collection of contemporary wedding stories releasing monthly as digital novellas from best-selling romance novelists. The series kicked off Nov. 26 with the release of author Denise Hunter’s A December Bride, and also includes titles from authors Beth Vogt, Deborah Raney and Rachel Hauck, among others.

“I’m so excited to be kicking off the ‘Year of Weddings’ novellas and am honored to be included among such noted authors,” said Hunter. “Romance readers are going to flip for these short, sweet tales of wedded bliss!”

“Romance readers delight in wedding stories and can’t get enough from their favorite authors,” said Becky Philpott, acquisitions editor for the series. “We’re thrilled to present this new collection from some of the strongest voices writing inspirational romance today, as a gift for the current readers who love these authors, and for readers who prefer shorter-format content and who may be discovering these authors for the first time.”

The structure of the series provides unique opportunities for marketing.

“We’ve had the best time dreaming up fun ways to promote these novellas,” said Director of Marketing Katie Bond. “The authors are all delighted to be a part of this roster and are eager to lift up the entire series, not just their individual titles, to their readers.”

The Zondervan marketing and publicity team’s plans include advertising on top wedding websites and the creation of a Wedding Party—a group of bloggers committed to reviewing each release throughout the next year. Readers can download free desktop calendars, designed with quotes about love and reminders of upcoming “wedding dates” (release dates for upcoming novellas), and can RSVP for monthly email reminders about the new titles.

Beginning in fall 2014, the digital releases will be collected into seasonal print compilations every three months. The first print release, Winter Brides (Nov. 25, 2014), includes the novellas for December, January and February.

Plans for a second year of wedding novellas are already underway.

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