The Classics - Opening Lines: Intruder in the Dust by William Faulkner

It was just noon that Sunday morning when the sheriff reached the jail with Lucas Beauchamp though the whole town (the whole county too for that matter) had known since the night before that Lucas had killed a white man. (Published 1948)


I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they really?

The Classics - Opening Lines: Middlemarch by George Elliot

Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress. Her hand and wrist were so finely formed that she could wear sleeves not less bare of style than those in which the Blessed Virgin appeared to Italian painters;
(Published 1871-72 in eight installments)

I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they really?

The Classics - Opening Lines: Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!" This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. (Published 1911) 


I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they really?

Celebrate the Small Things: Ocean at Cannon Beach

Holiday on the Oregon coast at beautiful Cannon Beach..... 

We did not anticipate every RV campsite would be full. We spent the night in a hotel, but the rate was reasonable......only $25 more than a typical RV campsite. 

I LOVE THE OCEAN....SO WORTH IT!

 

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is visit the Celebrate page on Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you are grateful for that week. It can be about writing, family, school, general life or whatever. This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! (Originated by VikLit)  Co-hosts are: L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Katie @ TheCyborgMom

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

The Classics - Opening Lines: The Plague by Albert Camus

The unusual events described in this chronicle occurred in 194- at Oran. Everyone agreed that, considering their somewhat extraordinary character, they were out of place there. For its ordinariness is what strikes one first about the town of Oran, which is merely a large French port on the Algerian coast . . . (Published 1948)


 I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they really?

IWSG - September: Sitting on the Fence

The Insecure Writers Support Group meets online every first Wednesday of the month. Founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG was created to support and encourage all writers in every phase of their work, from writing to marketing. Click here to join, and for information, writing tips and more. 

The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting are Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!

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Where has time gone? It is now officially over one year since I moved to my new home and community. I brought with me a novel that begged completion and an inner voice that nagged me constantly. "Are you kidding me? Just how serious are you? You should have finished this novel months......no, years ago!" I suspect there are some in my family who would echo the same. 

So why do I continue making promises, sitting on the fence, waiting for that magic moment? Because it's TRUE. The story is complete and aside from the tweaks I'm doing with my new editing software, SmartEdit, I've about exhausted all I can do. So....bear with me, dear blog friends. I promise I will produce!

Meanwhile, I've been impressed with the support the blog community offers its members. Since my goal has been to publish my novel, I've been slowly converting my blog to one more supportive of others in the same boat. I've added an author blog roll of YA/MG writers and another with Author Helps. The list continues to grow as I discover more links. Also, I took Lexa Cain's advice and added a "Celebrate the Small Things" blog roll at the bottom. Blog rolls can clutter up a blog, I admit, but they are extremely helpful in knowing when others post. I tried using Feedly for this purpose, but the extra steps and organization was too time consuming. So for now....this is the best I can think to do.

One goal I've had is to read more books and short stories published by other bloggers, in their support. I spent some time organizing my e-reader (a few books in print) and was surprised at the books I'd acquired. I'm not a fast reader and resist skim reading, but want to mention the books and short stories I have read, ones I'm currently reading, and ones I plan to read. I wish I could do a real review of these, but I'm  committed to the reviews I already do, which just about maxes out my capabilities and time. Not sure how the rest of you manage writing and reading. I'm slow as molasses.

Here are some AWESOME published authors and their works:

Reading and Enjoying Now:

--Beyond Suspicion by Catherine A. Winn (YA)
Accused of murder and her little brother missing, fifteen-year-old Shelby faces the challenge of a lifetime.
--CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh (Adult Sci-fi )
A Star Trek space adventure complete with racial tension, space ships, mysterious aliens about to attack, and a love story.
--The City of Refuge (Book 1) by D.M. Wilder (Historical fiction) A mystery set in Egypt about one man's journey on the Paths of Righteousness. A story of revenge and renewal. 

Read and Enjoyed: 

--Moonless (Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier (YA)
Sixteen-year-old Alexia has no idea she comes from a strange breed of people and that lives are in danger, until she meets a frightening man who becomes the love of her life.
 --"The Mission" by L.X. Cain (Short Story) (YA, MG)
Two boys and a spooky mission, where a giant plant from one's worst nightmare threatens their lives.
--Loathe your Neighbor by D.A. Cairns (Adult Fiction)
Meet David Lavender, a man who must bear the consequences of ill thought out actions and a neighbor who brings out his worst. 
--"Ghost of Death" by Chrys Fey (Short Story) (Adult Fiction) 
A mysterious murder is solved with the help of a ghost.
  
On Shelf to Read (and growing....):

--Alligators Overhead by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)
--The Great Timelock Disaster (sequel) by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)
--Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls by Elizabeth Varadan     (Middle Grade)
--25 Flowers by Stephanie Faris (Middle Grade)
--Counting to D by Kate Scott (YA)
--Breakthrough by Stephen Tremp (YA)
--Ursa Major by Tamara Narayan (YA)
--Odin Cats by Sandra Cox (YA)
--Who R U Really by Margo Kelly  (YA)
 --12 Days of Krista May Rose by Rebeccah Giltrow (Adult)
--A Muddy Red River by D.A. Cairns (Adult)
--In Praise of Lilith, Eve & Serpent in the Garden of Eden & Other Stories by Susan Scott (Nonfiction)
--Stranger or Friend by Silvia Villalobos (Adult)
--Khamsin, The Devil Wind of the Nile by Inge H. Borg 
(Historical fiction)
--Not a Drop to Drink by Patsy Collins (Short stories)
--Lady Thy Name is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin (Fantasy)
--The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders (Mystery)
--Woven by Michael Jensen & David Powers King (YA)