It was a dark and stormy night

In the comic strip Peanuts, Snoopy works often on his great American novel. It always starts out with the title words to this post. (*trivia note* A very famous book does start out in just that way. Can anyone name it? For a prize of course :). )

First lines are vital to a story. After all, the reader makes a decision to either stop or keep going. If an author snags the reader’s interest in that first line, they might just have them for the whole book.

There are many ways to start a book from dialogue to action. What’s best? Depends on the story and the type of tale you’re telling.

One recent line that drew me in, “This month my name is Mary and, apparently, I'm as contrary as the nursery rhyme.” It's from Broken by Megan Hart. It drew me in immediately to this woman’s world. I hadn’t read the back blurb so made it that much more thrilling to figure out what was going on in those initial sentences.

Another good one: From Raine Weaver’s “Incubus,” “It was the kiss of the night wind through the open window that first attracted her."

So, what’s the best first line you’ve read of a book? Can be recent or in the past. I’m curious to see what’s grabbing interest.

Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/
http://www.melanylogen.com/