Rehoboth professor pens second novel

The long-held dream comes true once again for Rehoboth author Ethan Joella, whose second novel, “A Quiet Life,” will be released by Simon & Schuster Tuesday, Nov. 29.

In November 2021, when Simon & Schuster published his first book, “A Little Hope,” Joella was told the publisher generally waits to see how the first novel sells before buying a second one. However, Simon & Schuster signed him for a second novel before the first was even available for sale.

“They publish Hemingway, ‘The Great Gatsby,’” Joella said. “It’s unbelievable to be part of that group.”

The publisher’s intuition proved true; “A Little Hope” went on to be a Read with Jenna bonus selection, a Book of the Month pick, and was named one of the best books of the year by Today.com.

Joella hesitantly perused the New York Times the morning the review of “A Little Hope” was published. 

“I read it with trepidation,” he said. “I was waiting for the bad part, and there wasn’t a bad part.”

An English and psychology professor at University of Delaware’s Georgetown campus, Joella was teaching when his book was mentioned on the “Today” show. He had earlier turned on the TV and told students his book would be discussed, but hosts kept talking about clothes and fall outfits.

“The kids started getting restless,” he smiled, “Then Jenna Bush and Hoda [Kotb] pulled out the book. That was a really nice moment.” 

“A Quiet Life” is different from “A Little Hope” because it’s more of a novel, Joella said, while the first book was a composite of woven stories. The new book features three main characters each dealing with loss of a different kind and how their lives ultimately connect. 

The storyline of “A Quiet Life” takes place over the course of several days in a small Pennsylvania town, so getting the plotting right was important, Joella said. He set up a chart to detail what each character was doing at each time, each day.

“This book made me learn to love revision,” he said, noting the original ending didn’t work well, so he had to scrap and rewrite 100 pages. “This has a lot of my blood, sweat and tears.”

One character is based on a comment he overheard while walking on the Boardwalk, Joella said, when a man was pondering whether he should make the trip to Florida alone this winter.

A prompt at a Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild event also inspired an object in the novel that represents pain, Joella said.

Joella recently finished his third book, set in Rehoboth, to be released in spring or summer 2024. Joella describes it as “a love letter to the area” with the essence and feel of Rehoboth. Some streets and local landmarks are real while others are imagined, he said.

The third novel involves a man who has run his family restaurant for 30 years and is considering selling it to a corporate restaurant group, Joella said.

Joella lives in Rehoboth with his wife, also a college professor, and their two daughters.

Conversation with Ethan Joella

Browseabout Books and the Lewes Public Library will debut a launch party of “A Quiet Life” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the library, 111 Adams Ave. The event will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

Joella will discuss the book with Browseabout owner Susan Kehoe, and a reception and book signing will follow. Preorders of the book are available from Browseabout online, in person or by calling 302-226-2665. Those who preorder or purchase the book at the party will receive a cardinal ornament, as depicted on the book cover, which represents a source of light and hope in the story.

Registration is free, but required at tinyurl.com/zoomwithauthors. At registration, participants will be asked to select virtual or in-person attendance.