Friday, November 19, 2010

First Line Friday!!!

How important is a first line to you? I sometimes spend days thinking about the first line when I begin a new book. If I have a dynamite first line, I'm thrilled! Not only does it help the rest of the book flow better for me but I know a first line can make or break a buying decision for a reader. Have I always nailed it? LOL The answer is no. And even if I think I have, many times I've been asked to add chapters or a prologue to a book and even though I kept that first line in another chapter, it lost some of its oomph when it didn't get to go first. See, I told you I spend a lot of time thinking about this!

I've always thought the first line of book and even the first line of each chapter is important. However, that was really brought home to me several years ago. I was at an RWA conference and Linda Howard was being awarded a Lifetime Achievement award. And if you know me at all, you know I'm a huge Linda Howard fan. One of the fun things they did that night was read the first line of several of her books throughout the program. And it turned out that I knew the title of every one of those books. She always starts her books with a memorable first line. One that makes you want to read the second, the third and so on. I love those kinds of beginnings.
One of my favorite lines that I've written is from a book I wrote years ago (actually my second manuscript) that's still sitting in my computer, hoping for a home one day. I still love this book, but it needs major work. However, it's got some great moments and lines in it and I hope to see it in print one day.
Here's the first line of Golden Girl:
Lori Gray raced through the Atlanta airport with the grace of a pregnant gazelle.
What about you? Do you have a favorite book with a favorite first line? What about a favorite line? If so, feel free to quote it here, but be sure to tell us the title and author. That line might get us to buy the book!
And the first person who can tell me which Last Chance Rescue book has this as the first line of a chapter, wins a signed LCR book of your choice.
"Mommy, higher...push me higher!"
Also doing this over on my Facebook page every Friday, so come over and click like and have some LCR fun there too. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christy-Reece/136065869748798?ref=search&v=wall


Happy Friday all! Have a great weekend and don't forget to come by Monday for Recommend Monday!






11 comments:

Sehlly Estes said...

Second Chance?

Shelly Estes said...

Looks like I was in such a hurry that I can't spell my own name!!

Christy Reece said...

LOL! Sehlly (Shelly), you got it! Congrats!

Which signed LCR book would you like to have?

Shelly Estes said...

Lets go for Run to Me. Then I will have your first three books with your autograph! I love your books and won't loan out my "personal" copies!! hehe

Crystal (cmac) said...

I have been running late today. I checked both FB and here just about 5 minutes to late. :( Congratulations Shelly!!

Hope said...

I do have a favorite line from a book....it is Cindy Gerard's book Take no Prisoners...

It is where Crystal and Reed are arguing (again) at the end of the book, he is begging her to go to dinner with him and she is saying it isn't worth her time...back and forth. Then she agrees and gets in her car then leaves, then he says "damn it may not be love, but it sure is fun". I don't know why, but I have always loved that whole scene :)

Happy Friday everyone...

Christy Reece said...

Crystal, sorry you missed it. We'll try another one next week!

LOL Hope, that sounds like a cute scene. I'm so behind on my CG books. Need to get cracking because she's awesome!

Linda said...

Congrats Shelly! I was on the treadmill and then off to see the latest Harry Potter movie; while you placed your post.

Christy, I recieved my package today---I LOVE everything in it! Thank you!

I frequently start reading the first few pages of a book before making the decision to purchase it. That's what happened with Return to Me, it fell on the floor while I was at the library; looking for something good to read. I took it as a sign picked it up and started reading it. The story pulled me in and did not let go!

I like the three paragraphs in Shannon K. Butcher's No Regrets in which David and Caleb are discussing buying feminine hygiene products for Noelle. Caleb says, "We'll figure it out without her. We've planned missions that were harder than this, right?"

Heather D said...

Second chance was one of my faves. I have a 3 year old little girl and my heart just ached the whole time for poor keeley. What a great ending though! Loved it : )

I cant think of any fave lines off the top of my head. It seems the only thing I can think of are all from my daughters kid books. haha Ahhh the life of a mom! Hope every one has a great weekend

Christy Reece said...

Yay, Linda, glad you got your package. Hope you enjoy!

I love the story of how you started reading my books. I still have the email you sent me describing how RETURN TO ME fell at your feet. (:

That scene in No Regrets sounds so hilarious.

Christy Reece said...

Hey hmdfeather! So glad you enjoyed SECOND CHANCE. It was a difficult book for me to write because of those kids! I think I cried for Keeley almost as much as Keeley cried. (:

LOL Feel free to quote a great line from a children's book. Some of my favorite books are Dr. Seuss's.