Let the first sentence grab you

 All praise is not homegrown.

Readers, and especially critics, are blown away by a novel's first sentence.

There are classics. Think Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. 

I ran across an introductory sentence today that impressed me so much I had to share.

In Last Light by J.N. Bake, the opening sentence reads as follows:

"Hell. As I pried my sword from his life-less body, I was sure that's where I'd be going;

that was, if I could actually die."

Doesn't that tell you a lot, yet still draw you in?  It did me. A fantasy? Or, a delusional killer?

Why chose?  You must read on.  I haven't read the entire novel, but I'm intrigued.

I went back to look at my own novels. (Proud to say that the last two have had gold medals bestowed upon them. The first a most popular www.authorsden.com novel for 93 consecutive days.)

Alexa's Gold starts with:  "'Rich men don't date exhausted women.'" Grandma's oft-repeated admonition ebbed into the minutiae of Alexa Hovey's grief."

Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel starts with:  "Eta Dorcas pressed four fingertips into her right palm's flesh. She feared, if she looked, it could still be there."

One Paper Heart starts with: "The romantic flames of Alicia Danielson's sweet dreams flared into conscious panic."

Different genres please readers in multiple ways. For the author to gain that praise requires the reader to do one thing, i.e., read on with a sense of what comes next. That is, a fantasy, a romance, or a thriller with romantic elements.

It presents a tall order for the author. All readers may not have a critical vision when opening a novel, but below the surface there's an attraction. It benefits the author and the reader.   

Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel wins Gold Award

 Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel

Wins Literary Titan Gold Award

Just announced:  Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel, has won the July 2021 Literary Titan Gold Award.

(Note, a prior blog post presented their June 25 five-star book review of Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel.)

Literary Titan bestows its Gold Award on books found to be perfect in delivery of original content, meticulous development of unique characters in an organic and striking setting with an innovative plot that supports a fresh theme with words transformed into beautifully written prose.

Author Donan Berg was quoted as saying he was humbled and honored to be recognized by an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors with a passion for the written word.

 

Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel Five-Star Review

 Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel

 Find the Girl by Donan Berg immerses us in the whimsical story of Eta Dorcas. Eta’s world opens with a shocking discovery; after a trip to local caves with her grandma and younger sister Daria, Eta’s fingers suddenly begin to glow a bright blue. This shocks her – but she’s even more surprised to find that a creature has snuck into her backpack and escaped the cave with Eta and her family. We learn that the creature is a weasel who once lived as Eighteenth-Century Sailor, trapped in his animal form by a vicious curse.

 Find the Girl takes a magical turn into an expansive world where anything is possible. Eta and Ian, the boy-become-weasel, are suddenly entangled in a quest to free Ian from the curse that’s been put upon him by Greek seafarers. This quest leaves him with three important words: find the girl. We travel around the world and through time with the protagonists as they encounter different trials and creatures, challenging them to discover a cure for the curse before time runs out.

 This book was such a fun read. Eta’s voice is entertaining and joyful despite the strenuous trials she faces, and I loved seeing this magical world from her perspective. The bond she forms with Ian felt genuine and touching, and I found them both to be nuanced characters with relatable emotions among the fantastical setting. I enjoyed that the story left some open avenues where future tales could develop further from this intricate and well-constructed universe.

 I found the world presented in Find the Girl so unique. It was unlike any fantasy stories I’ve read previously, and I loved the specialized voice that came along with this brand-new view. However, I did find the beginning confusing as we’re thrust into this magical world without much description. Berg makes up for the heavy information by providing, detailed fantastical occurrences later in the story, as we meet new characters who give more context to the universe that’s been constructed.

 If you’re looking for a joyful and inspiring story that’s great for all ages, Find the Girl is your next perfect read. The story emphasizes how special it is to embrace wonder and change. It shows that when we care for one another and have the passion to help them, we might discover beautiful corners of the world along the way.

Literary Titan/Thomas Anderson

Literary Titan is an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors that have a passion for the written word.

Mystery versus Suspense. A writing Tip.

 Mystery versus suspense.

 Let’s differentiate the two in simple terms.

 Mystery concerns the past. There’s a body. Whodunit? This is a prime mystery example.

Suspense, on the other hand, concerns the future. What will happen? Who will be hurt?

 Your major character is about to lift a lid on a box.

 Is this mystery? Yes, if the box contains a clue.

Is this suspense? Yes, if the box has a poisonous snake ready to bite. But, and here’s the crucial point about suspense, the character must have an inkling a peril lurks.

How does that happen? Well, the writer could say the character faces death. But come on. That’s sophomoric, at best. There needs to be a build-up. The character’s boss may deal in poisonous snakes and this box returned from Egypt when the boss did. While the box may not say a poisonous snake is enclosed, perhaps the stamp of A.S.P. Co could be a foreshadowing? Maybe if the boss returned from the western USA, the character hears a rattle inside the box.

 The point for writers is: even if the character does not suspect to be hurt, the reader must be aware of potential adverse consequences for suspense to be created.

The reader must envision the possibilities. If the hero stands on the edge of a cliff, there’s no significant possibility he may fall, even die. If the hero stands there and a villain rushes towards him, the reader can assume the villain may push the hero. And, if that happens? The hero is in danger.

 As it has not yet happened, suspense can build. Add in a few other details, like the villain’s shout “you’ve breathed your last” or the hero’s foot slipping on a loose rock that cascades to the canyon floor below and there’s suspense.

 If you skip all that and a park ranger comes across a dead body on the floor of the canyon, well, we’re now dealing with mystery.

 Choose your approach. Yes, an unidentified villain can cause suspense by creating the death of a hapless individual and allow the story to migrate into a mystery.

This is a conscious choice. An author may choose. Yet, mystery and suspense live separate lives.

Visit Author Donan Berg at Award winning books .

Independent Website Honors Author Donan Berg with Firsts

 Independent website www.authorsden.com honored Author Donan Berg on May 12, 2021 with four top most popular ratings for four of his novels.

More than a week later on May 20, 2021, the most popular novels, yes, the top six in reader appeal at www.authorsden.com are written by Author Donan Berg.  They include the below listed four.  Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel, has been a top pick since April 16. A Body To Bones, his debut paperback novel that recently joined the e-book ranks, like cream, has risen to the top. 

Top fantasy - Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel

Top mystery/suspense - Into the Dark

Top action/thriller - Aria's Bayou Child

Top romance - Alexa's Gold (Author Berg's Abbey Burning Love earned a second.)

Click here to Find Donan Berg novels .

In a statement, Author Donan Berg said he couldn't be prouder of his readers. "They are the most important persons," he said.  "Honors are fantastic, but the underpinning is to write for the enjoyment of readers. That, in all humility, is best. To be a part in a win/win spurs my passion to write even better."

After his statement, word was received that a new five-star review has been issued into the literature world. Read a review of Aria's Bayou Child, A Thriller at www.featheredquill.com.

Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel, Ranks Most Popular

 Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel 

is now available on Amazon (ASIN B091FZBQTG)

in both E-book and paperback.

    It is free to all who have KindleUnlimited.

    Click to Purchase Find the Girl fantasy novel here

    Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel most popular.

    Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel has earned the Number One

ranking as the most popular in fantasy and all other genres since April 16, 2021.

    Click here to read a sample chapter Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel sample.

    Or, read an excerpt in an earlier post on this blog site.

Writing tip : Ask yourself why?

 Multiple writers send out samples of their work and ask for comment. The writer expects compliments. Yet, criticism is received. This can be both good and bad. The focus for you, the writer, must be:

What are you asking for?

Is it to improve your writing? 

While writers may hope all feedback helps them improve, honest readers know they walk on eggshells when they express what they see as faults in the written word they have read. Readers assume you, the writer only want praise. And, loads of it.

This presents a conundrum. Bad prose will result in fewer sales. This inflicts greater sadness to the writer after the lack of praise.

For me the analogy is like Brussel sprouts.  I like them. Majority don't. Should I say so if thus predict the answer to be received will be a negative? Probably not. Should it be so for writing?  I think not.

So, you're the writer. How do you approach this?

Consider that the reason you're asking for honest feedback is that you're still learning to be a successful writer. Ask any bronco rider: Do you expect to get tossed to the arena dirt? The answer: yes.

As a writer, do you expect to be loved by every reader?  

If the bronco rider learns with every ride, shouldn't the writer learn by every critique?

The answer: yes.

Does pride blunt the learning experience? Yes, but only if you let it.

Take every reader response in stride. Weigh it. If a reader can find fault with you as a writer, why can't you as a writer find fault with the reader. Yes, you can. But, be objective. 

Be in control of what you write. If your words have unintended consequences, learn to be more precise. If your words strike a chord, but less than you expected, amplify with a sharper focus.

It's the interchange between writer and reader that strikes a harmonious chord.

Only by interacting can the writer find the common niche. The writer's and the reader's world, as expressed by the word, is enriching and better if in sync.