“It was a dark and stormy
night.” “Once upon a time …” Those are two classic ways to begin a
book. While they’ve become clichés, they are effective beginnings. Why?
Because they set the scene. The
first one tells us we’re not reading a romantic comedy. Instead, there’s likely to be at least
something sinister about this story. The
second one makes it clear that the tale will take place
at some time in the past. It also has a
leisurely feel to it, signaling readers who are seeking fast-paced contemporary
stories that this isn’t the one for them.
All this in just one line. That’s
part of the art of a great beginning.
But there’s more. Not only should the first page tell readers
what to expect from the rest of the book in terms of tone and timeframe, it
should also intrigue readers enough that they simply cannot put the book down. How do authors do that? By asking more questions than we answer. I don’t mean that we necessarily begin with a
literal question, although a line like, “Why couldn’t you at least have tried
to hide Wayne’s body?” would probably intrigue readers enough that they’d
continue.
Rather than use actual questions, I
try to begin my books with sentences that will pique readers’ interest and
cause them to ask themselves questions like, “Why did she say that? What does that mean? What’s going to happen next?” That’s why I began A Tender Hope this way:
She was free.
Thea Michener smiled as
she checked the harness, then climbed into the buggy. Within minutes, she would
be leaving the only home she could remember. As much as she loved Ladreville,
whose half-timbered buildings and Old-World charm made visitors declare it to
be one of the prettiest towns in the Hill Country, it was time for a change.
While others might have
trembled with fear over the thought of leaving family, friends, and all things
familiar, the prospect filled Thea with relief.A new town, new possibilities, a
new life beckoned her. A year ago she would not have dreamt of leaving, but
that was a year ago.So much had changed in the past year, most of all Thea.
Here’s what I hoped to accomplish in
each of the three paragraphs. The first
paragraph, which is only three words long, is designed to make readers ask,
“Free from what?” The second names the
heroine and sets the time and place. The
references to the harness and buggy signal that this is an historical, while
“the Hill Country” tells readers that the book is set in one of the most
beautiful parts of Texas. The third
paragraph gives us a few clues to our heroine and the story itself. She’s clearly leaving home, and her reaction
to that isn’t necessarily commonplace.
Instead of being apprehensive, she’s excited. Why? I
don’t tell readers that yet, because I want them to keep turning the pages,
asking why Thea wants to leave and what changed her so much that she wanted to
leave.
Did I succeed in creating an opening
that raised more questions than it answered and that intrigued readers? You tell me.
Back
Cover Copy
As far as Thea Michener is
concerned, it’s time for a change. With her husband murdered and her
much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville.
Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of
remarrying. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an
abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it.
Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t
concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced
that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon
becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he
anticipated—and he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he
seeks.
Bio
Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a
book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more
than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and
what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a
medium-sized city. Her inspirational
romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists,
have garnered a starred review from Publishers
Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and
the Booksellers Best awards. A popular
workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve
their dreams of publication.
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2 comments:
I'm looking forward to reading A Tender Hope.
Marilyn -- I hope you enjoy it. This book was a lot of fun to write, although it was also a bittersweet experience, since it's the last in a trilogy. I always hate leaving my fictional towns.
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