You've Got Five Pages...To Tell Me It's Good

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first pages of The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon bring readers to the 1960s and the height of the Cold War. We are to witness a prisoner exchange...only we are quickly transpo...

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first pages of The Tenant by Katrine Engberg are...well the first THREE pages are marvelously done. I was lulled into impatience following an elderly character, but by the end o...

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first pages of The Silent Sisters by Robert Dugoni transport us immediately into a dangerous, bloody territory. Who is really on the meathook--the enemy, or the ally? We do not...

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first pages of When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry contain beautiful prose with a mysterious narrator who has a journey he must complete. This journey's goal we...

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first chapter of The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart starts with some beautifully dangerous prose, and when time-jumping is part of the protagonist's universe, we know we'll have to c...

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! The first chapter of Fatal Lies by Frank Tallis has some beautiful elements as well as some befuddling distractions I can't ignore. What will you make of these first five pages? Let...

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will The Push by Ashley Audrain warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will Bough Cutter: A Northern Lakes Mystery by Jeff Nania warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will Nanny Dearest by Flora Collins warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

A new year means new reads! Let's spend the winter wrapped up in New Releases available through the local library. Will The Hidden by Melanie Golding warm up our imaginations? Let's take a sip and find out!

This is the twelfth and final episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's twelfth choice is Wizards of Once by Cressi...

This is the eleventh episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's eleventh choice is Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin H...

This is the tenth episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's tenth choice is Unplugged by Gordon Korman . Blondie ex...

This is the eighth episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's eighth choice is Woof by Spencer Quinn . Blondie expla...

This is the seventh episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's seventh choice is Foxcraft: The Taken by Inbali Iserl...

This is the sixth episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's sixth choice is Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst . Blondie...

This is the fifth episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's fifth choice is Writing with Rosie by Patricia Reilley...

This is the fourth episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life.  Blondie's fourth choice is Endling: The Last by Katherine...

This is the third episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's third choice is Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture by K...

This is the second episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life.  Blondie's second choice is Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Pro...

This is the first episode of Blondie's Books, a series dedicated to Middle Grade reading recommendations. Blondie's been asking to join me on the podcast, and we thought December was the perfect time to share her favorite stories so that you, my fellow creatives, can sip samples of fiction perfect for the young readers in your life. Blondie's first choice is How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Co...