HOOK THE READER FROM THE FIRST PAGE

Photo courtesy of my own tackle box

Hello Writers,

This week I have a special treat for you. I have invited other authors to share their best tips for hooking the reader from the first page. These methods are tried and true. 

Without the proper bait, your hook won't attract anyone. You can cast your lure online, and no one will notice. After all, the internet is a sea of books. You want readers to bite early and hang on tight  You can't have them to fighting to escape. If done properly, they'll love your story and beg for more.  

For the record, I took this picture myself, but I don't like fishing for anything but readers. 

There's a half-dozen barbs on the lure. And there's more than one way hook your audience. Now, let's see how my guests dig their hooks in deep. 

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Helen C. Johannes writes fantasy romance and has a tip for you. 

One technique I use is to set up a goal for the character in the opening lines. What does he/she hope to achieve in the next minutes/hours? If the reader knows what the character is determined to do, the reader can ‘keep score’ as the character bobs and weaves through whatever obstacles are thrown into his/her path. Here’s the opening to my latest fantasy romance LORD OF DRUEMARWIN: 

Sixty-nine, seventy, seventy-one...  Naed counted the tower steps, gritting his teeth at every other one. His left leg held strong under the combined weight of his weapons, shield and chest armor—even on the third climb.

Seventy-two, seventy-three... Never again would he be the last up the stairs because of it. Never again would he fall.

Or fail. 

Sweat dripped off his nose. Seventy-four, seventy-five, seventy-six...  To make doubly sure, he would add his helm to the weight total tomorrow.

If only his patched-together thigh didn’t still ache... 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Helen-C-Johannes/e/B003JJDQWS/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

 Blog: Helen C. Johannes, Author

Contact: helen.c.johannes@gmail.com

http://helencjohannes.blogspot.com/

Brave Men, Bold Women, Hearts in Search of Home

LORD OF DRUEMARWIN

THE PRINCE OF VAL-FEYRIDGE

BLOODSTONE

FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER             Blog / Amazon author page  / The Wild Rose Press 

About the author: 

Helen C. Johannes writes award-winning fantasy romance inspired by the fairy tales she grew up reading and the amazing historical places she’s visited in England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. She writes tales of adventure and romance in fully realized worlds sprung from pure imagination and a lifelong interest in history, culture, and literature. Warriors on horseback, women who refuse to sit idly at home, and passion that cannot be denied or outrun—that’s what readers will find in her books.

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Here's some advice from contemporary romance author, Jennifer Wilck. 

Ideally, I want the first line of my book to grab my reader’s attention in unexpected ways. Maybe it’s a piece of dialogue that’s just crazy enough to make the reader stop and focus. Or a description of the hero that makes the reader drool. Or just something out of the ordinary that conveys information. In my latest book, Unlock My Heart, the first sentence of the first chapter gives information about my hero, Ted Endicott.

Lip reading was exhausting.

“Right away, the reader knows the hero is hard of hearing, he’s tired, and he wants to make a change (even if he doesn’t know it yet himself). Hopefully, the reader is convinced to keep reading to learn more."

Here's a link to Jennifer's books: https://books2read.com/u/4NyjGx 

About the author:

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate. 

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/879114386079365

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

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Sandra Young enjoys mixing things up. Here's what she had to say.

When I wrote my February debut, Divine Vintage, I mixed genres in an attempt to hook readers who enjoy a variety of books. I personally like to read novels that entwine romance around historical mystery, fashion, and ghostly influences, so I focused on those for my debut and the sequel I’m currently finishing.

 

I also strive to keep up the pace of the scenes. If I start getting bored or bogged down when writing, I imagine readers will feel the same and I move on in building the tension and stakes for the characters.

 

 

Sandra L. Young

Author of Divine Vintage

Debuted February 21, 2022 with The Wild Rose Press

 

Website: SandraYoungAuthor.com

@1DivineVintage    https://www.instagram.com/slyoungauthor/

About the author:

Sandra L. Young’s love of vintage fashion inspired her to write her debut novel, Divine Vintage. She’s researched and gathered an impressive collection spanning the late 1800s to 1990s, wearing pieces onstage through years of performing in community theater. To round out her love of the arts, she sings with a trio and a praise band. The book is available through https://books2read.com/u/3Ly7Q5 or links on her web site at https://sandrayoungauthor.com/.

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Regarding hooks, Carol Nickles  tries to leave the reader with a lingering visceral reaction so they are compelled to read more! Here are 2 excerpts from her book, Thumb Fire Desire. 

Monet, Gauguin, and Winslow Homer would have

pledged their plein air easels for a crack at the scene.

But the scene sticking in Ginny’s mind on her return

home was Peter, brushing his rough hands over an

embroidered hatband. She couldn’t decipher all it

entailed, but this she knew—a bond existed between

Peter and Nokee that surpassed any of the dime novel

love stories authored by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.

Ginny’s hips rolled in tandem with the movement

of Buster’s shoulders. Her feet lolled in the stirrups.

She held the reins lightly. The hardest working muscle

in her body was her brain. Ginny’s accumulated kiss

experience left her questioning and wanting. She leaned

forward and pressed her lips into Buster’s mane. Was

Peter’s kiss just an emotional climax to a thrilling

horse race? Or was he kissing her like he’d kiss a little

sister?

To read more of  Carol's book,  Thumb Fire Desire click the link https://www.amazon.com/Thumb-Fire-Desire-Carol-Nickles/dp/1509241981/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UTELDSQI7008&keywords=thumb+fire+desire+by+carol+nickles&qid=1651519365&sprefix=%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1

About the author: 

Carol Nickles is the sixth generation of a German textile aficionado family.  In 1881, her great-great-great-grandfather founded Yale Woolen Mill—the longest-lasting of Michigan’s once twenty-nine woolen mills.  Carol earned a Master’s degree in Historic Clothing & Textiles at Michigan State University.  Her thesis is a narrative of the Yale Woolen Mill. She held faculty positions at both Utah and Michigan State universities. She lives in West Michigan and enjoys spinning a tale, weaving a story, and threading a luring hook. 

Website: www.carolnicklesauthor.com

Email:  carolnickleswriting@gmail.com

Facebook:  AuthorCarolNickles

Tik Tok:  @authornickles

Twitter:  @CarolNickles

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Terry Newman, the author of Heartquake, has great advice. 

The surest way to grab the reader’s attention is to drop them into the middle of the action. And the best way to do that is to pique their attention with an opening line.

It’s that simple. And that difficult.

It’s impossible to underestimate a book’s first line. It needs to be short—some say no longer than ten words—and must lure them into the action that’s happening in the first paragraph.

In my book, Heartquake, the first line is: “No, ma’am, I don’t believe we’ll need you to describe it…” When the reader reads the next line, they discover they’re in the middleof the police dealing with reports of a lion  wandering through town.

As an author, you need to decide, first, on what type of action or situation to introduce to your readers, then decide on the best and shortest way to lure them into the action.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Heartquake-Terry-Newman-ebook/dp/B09PJZ5FK1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8O69AITAZH3O&keywords=heartquake+terry+newman&qid=1645631543&sprefix=Heartquake+%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1 

Social Media Links

Website

https://terrynewmanauthor.com/

Facebook: Terry Newman

https://www.facebook.com/terry.newman.31521 

Twitter: @tnewmanwrites

https://twitter.com/tnewmanwrites 

Instagram: terry.newman.31521

https://www.instagram.com/terry.newman.31521/ 

TikTok: @terrynewman614

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1

Bookbub: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60574351-heartquake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=99H2V7dnWm&rank=1 

About the author: 

Terry Newman has always loved words. As the editor-in-chief of a national natural health publishing company, she has written books on a variety of topics, as well as writing direct-mail advertising.

She’s also worked as a reporter, a communications specialist and a freelance writer. She’d had clients worldwide, and researched and wrote hundreds of eBooks and print books as well as ghostwrote novellas and short stories.

One day she woke and decided to make her dream of writing her own novel come true. She sets

all her stories in fictional towns in northeast Ohio and writes about things she loves—like coffee.

Terry has taught workshops on writing and character development. 

She has a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy, and lives in North Lima, a real town in

northeast Ohio.

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That's a wrap for my guests. Now, I'll throw in my two cents. In my YA suspense novel, Run Girl Run, the opening makes the reader curious and introduces my protagonist.

I started the trouble. If Dad was here, he’d say, ‘Tracie, you did it again.’

Naturally, the reader wonders what kind of trouble. What did she do?

Later, on the first page, my main character's desire and fear clash. Tracie wants something, but deep down she's afraid. This creates the internal conflict my character must overcome to reach her goal. Her internal conflict is the real story. It's why the story matters. That's how I make the reader care about her. Without her internal struggle, she's just a sixteen-year-old -girl in a terrible situation.

Tracie's fear stems from a misbelief she's been living with. I set her on a journey to overcome it. The reader goes along for the ride. That's how I hook my audience.

My novel is under contract with
The Wild Rose Press, tentative release 2022

This blog post was inspired by one of my subscribers. It wouldn't have been possible without the gracious authors who agreed to contribute. Thank you, thank you. You ladies are the best. Readers, please show them some love by clicking on their links, visiting their websites, or leaving a comment below.

If you like this post, be sure to share, and subscribe. If you have a tip that hooks the reader, feel free to leave a comment. We're here to help each other. If you have a writing topic you'd like me to tackle on a future, leave a request in the comments. Until then, have a blessed day, and whatever you do, keep writing.