Endings

ENDINGS

Just like real life, endings in our books are sometimes dramatic, occasionally sudden, once in a while drug out in like a terminal illness but then, just every now and then, they are sweet, just and better than you ever thought they could be.

I love it when the story gets the main characters into a deeper and ever deeper mess. There just doesn't seem to be any way out, until the characters just throw in everything but the kitchen sink, against all odds, giving it one last shot, all or nothing and then, despite all the cards stacked against them, they come out on top, win the woman or man of their dreams, become the town hero and win the day. Even better, because of their enormous effort and noble character, they win the lottery or find the gold at the end of the rainbow as well as winning their true love and defeating the enemy.

I've written some good endings and some so-so endings. I have two favorites. The first is from the first short story I wrote that was published by Rhapsody Romance back in the day. It's about a woman with a horrible scar on her face who has discovered a way to surgically implant artificial optics to help the blind see. The hero is a man of the future whose people are all born blind--except him. At the very end the heroine is embarrassed that he can see her horrible scarred face. Here is the ending from BLIND INTUITION.

"Oh, Maria," Roth whispered as he kissed me and cupped my face in his hands, "Everything will work itself out."
He brushed my cheek gently with the back of his hand, "And the scar, well, who doesn't have a scar of some kind or other? A scar is just a place that hurt once then healed."

The second ending is from THE VIOLIN published this year by Amira Press. Of course, I might just wait to share that one with you since it would ruin the story for you. But you get my point I'm sure that endings are as important as beginnings. If that story doesn't end the way you promised, readers are going to howl with disappointment and I can't blame them. I've quit reading books by authors who left me high and dry at the end. I read Stephen King's IT. It was a fat book filled with clues about a monster that no one could see but children. There were so many wonderful clues about innocence, water and the lack of response by adults. I knew the end was going to be something spectacular. Well, disappointment reigns because the wonderful clues were just red herrings leading nowhere and the monster turned out to be a lame space spider. Yep. Space spider. That was the last Stephen King I ever read. As much as I respect him, it's like he just got tired of writing the story and dumped me off at the curb.

Endings are difficult to write, as difficult as beginnings. But when it's done right, it's the cake, the icing and the plate!

I hope you've read or written some great endings and I would be glad if you would share those endings with me. Bring 'em on.

All good things to your corner of the universe.

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

http://amirapresssays.blogspot.com/

Beginnings

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Now that is truly a great beginning in so many ways. But the classics in literature have not always been so wonderful.

Moby Dick: "My name is..."

David Copperfield: "I was born..."

If we started off books like this today, do you really think they would sell? Nope. No way. Granted, the classics got nice and juicy after you waded through the monotony of the first two to three chapters but, in our world, there is a whole lot of competition. We have televisions, movies and video games. On top of that, we have to compete with all the other talented writers.

Writers know that the first line in our story is our one big chance to snatch a reader's interest and the first paragraph must reel them into wanting to know more about our story. We worry over it and suffer if we don't get it right.

I'm right there with the rest of the authors wanting the reader to find my stories entertaining and interesting.

Here are the first lines from my books:

THE VIOLIN: "Genevieve tossed restlessly in the bed, her breath quickening as she fell into the familiar dream."

THE DARK ISLE: "Deep, deep beneath the ancient crumbling stones of the black castle, seated on the Dark Isle in the middle of the Lake of Sorrows, there below the dust and cobwebs lay Mahara, the creature of the Black Blood and the Old Clan."

LAKE OF SORROWS: "Hawk leaned back in his chair and propped his booted feet on Noratuke's saddle.

LIGHT OF VALMORA (WIP): "Death whispered to him its dark, seductive song."

Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride (WIP): " 'This place is spooky as hell,' Lola whispered to herself as she climbed the narrow span of wooden stairs in the back of the closet that led up to the attic."

Some of my opening lines are good and some, not so much. I try to improve as I write.

So I invite you to reply with your favorite first lines whether they are your own or by someone else. What grabbed your attention to the book you are presently reading? Did the first line in the beginning make a difference to you?

I look forward to hearing from anyone out there who cares to respond with their favorite first line.

All good things to your corner of the universe.

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

News from Regina Paul...

This weekend has been very busy for me, that's probably true of all of us. Lately I've been working a full-time job, and then doing my freelancing on the side which of course includes working on my books as well as creating covers for other authors, writing articles and posting to my blogs. Sadly the last couple of weeks though I had very good intentions I didn't make it to post to this blog. So, hopefully, this post will make up for it with our loyal readers who the entire group here is very happy to have!

I spent yesterday creating a book cover for a friend of mine for her book A Place for Ida, and then today finishing up the last minute details. Finally this afternoon I managed to get a monthly newsletter out for May. That made me absolutely ecstatic since I had missed April what with everything else going on. I'm thankful for having loyal readers and patient ones at that. If you haven't already signed up for my newsletter Regina's Universe, I hope you'll consider doing so, not only for the free reads of which there are plenty, but for the articles, exerpts, news and other fun stuff!

I've posted a new desktop wall paper in the Gallery on my website. I'm working towards making these more of characters from my books, rather than just random art, although there will be the occasional random piece from time to time. This one is my vision of Tiana Slickpoo from my Native American Romantic Suspense Destiny's Choices.

I have a new contest posted for the month of May that may be of interest to those who enjoy getting promo items. It is for a large promotional package of goodies a few of which will be bookmarks, desktop wallpapers (different ones than on my website), e-books and who knows what else! Check out my website for further details.

That's it for now! Hope all is well with you and yours! :-)

New Newsletter and other Goodies...

I put out my February newsletter a few days late this last month, but I figure better late than never. LOL If you haven't already signed up for Regina's Universe, you might want to consider doing so now. I have posted two new chapters for Soul Memories, and added a new folder Free Short Stories. If you haven't yet read my holiday sequel Destiny's Holiday, then you can now find it there for your reading pleasure. There is also another short story called Alien Dreams which is a science fiction romance.

Alien Dreams is about a young woman who can travel astrally during dreaming and the alien she meets and falls for while doing so. I'm already getting some very good feedback on this one, so if you sign up and read it feel free to send me an e-mail at tiwatz@yahoo.com and let me know what you think of it or any of my other stories.

In addition if you enjoy Native American romance coupled with paranormal themes I now have eighteen chapters of my Native American reincarnation romance Soul Memories posted to the files section.

I've also created another piece of artwork that you can use as a desktop background, this one titled "Moon Priestess," and yes, she is levitating the pillars and herself! LOL You can check it out at the bottom of this post. Oh, and you can see a larger version in my Art Gallery on my website.

And...(yes there's more!) there is a new contest posted on my website for a pair of Native American beaded earrings created and designed by yours truly.

Feel free to check out my newsletter Regina's Universe and my website at your leisure. :-)

New stuff on my website...

Well, Kayleigh isn't the only one highjacking Pat's day to post! LOL Here I thought I'd be one of the ones who posted faithfully on her day, and oopsss this is the third week that I've posted late. Oh, well with all the deadlines I've been dealing with lately, it's a wonder I know what day it is! LOL

I added the new desktop wallpaper mentioned in last week's post, so if you want to get a larger version of "Communion" the picture with my elf Ayana and her pet dragon, you can find it here.

I've also added a new contest for February. January's contest for a copy of my holiday sequel to Destiny's Choices, Destiny's Holiday, went so well that I decided to have a second contest. This is for those of you who didn't have a chance to take advantage of the special to get this sequel for free when you purchased a copy of Destiny's Choices over the holidays. While you can read Destiny's Holiday on its own, you will understand Tiana's world better if you read Destiny's Choices first.

Oh, and there's a brand new newsletter out! To get access to your copy, sign up for Regina's Universe. Oh, and you get access to all sorts of other freebies as well including a serial Native American reincarnation romance called Soul Memories, so be sure and sign up today!