Possibly, 'Reindeer from a made-up story' or 'Imaginary deer associated with the cold season'. These could be the clues you're looking for.
It could be Frodo Baggins. He's a well-known character who embarks on a journey to Mordor in 'The Lord of the Rings'.
Maybe it's Cherry. It's a common fruit name that could fit as a first name for a fictional narrator in a crossword.
A clue for a body of fiction could be 'fiction book' or 'imaginary tale'. It really depends on how the crossword setter wants to phrase it. Sometimes they might use a synonym or a more creative description to make it challenging.
Epics could also fit. Epics are long narrative poems or stories that often deal with heroic deeds and adventures, so they are a great match for the 'long stories' crossword clue. They usually have a complex plot and a large number of characters.
An innovative idea. Since 'novel' also means new and original, an innovative idea could fit the crossword clue. It could be a fresh concept in various fields like technology, art, or business.
Some clues for a reminiscence novel could be 'Thoughts of yesteryears' or 'Sentimental journey tale'. They capture the essence of looking back and sharing past experiences.
Sometimes, it could be a phrase like 'intense joy' or 'deep sadness' that gives a hint about the emotion. Also, it could be a word related to the expression or manifestation of the emotion, like 'smile' for happiness or 'tears' for sadness.
I think it could be something like 'Great literary masterpiece' or 'Stunning fictional work'.
Ethan Frome. This is another well - known novel by Wharton. If the crossword clue is about a Wharton novel, Ethan Frome is a strong contender. It's a short but powerful story set in a rural New England environment.
Maybe 'epics'. Epics are usually long and complex novels that can be physically heavy due to their length and often come in thick volumes. For example, 'War and Peace' is an epic novel that is quite hefty in terms of page count and physical weight.