Monday, July 16, 2012

Hookers & Hangers Blogfest



I need a serious distraction today as I wait for my dog, Jack, to get out of surgery, and it just so happens the amazing ladies over at Falling For Fiction are hosting the Hookers and Hangers Bloghop.  Here are the details:

We all know how important the first and last lines are in every chapter. This blogfest will hopefully get your HOOKERS and HANGERS polished making it impossible for readers to put down your book and leaving them begging for more!

On July 16th, post the first sentence from each chapter.

On July 18th, post the last sentence from each chapter.

Post as many as you like!

We will be judging everyone’s first three HOOKERS and first three HANGERS. We’ll each pick two winners (MOST ENTICING HOOKER and MOST IMPOSSIBLE HANGER) making a total of ten winners! Winners will receive a 10 page (double spaced) critique and a Friday Spotlight on FFF!

I only have one book, THE MISTAKEN, to be released 10/18/2012, but I thought it’d be fun to share a few first lines.  I have 50 chapters, but I’ll keep this short.  Here are eight chapter hooks:


  • I don’t know how I missed it, that moment I changed, when I somehow became a different man. 
  • God, I didn’t want to do this; just thinking about it had my gut tied in knots, but I was out of options.
  • Five times I watched the dense summer fog march in and retreat outside the hospital window, five long days of prayers and pacing before Nick was moved out of the ICU.
  • I paced the floor around me, unable—perhaps unwilling—to process the reality of what I had just done—what I almost did—the severity of the mistake I had made, and the dire consequences that now faced me, my brother, and the wounded woman cowering in fear and humiliation in the corner.
  • In one moment of madness, my life had turned upside down.
  • Nick and I were tossed about the van as it threaded erratically through city traffic.
  • About eight hours later, the pain had eased enough that I could move around, though my head still felt as if it were split down the middle.
  • The crowd quieted down as they watched me cradle the body of my dead brother in my arms.
I hope this interests you enough to add The Mistaken to your TBR list on Goodreads.  




    37 comments:

    Cassie Mae said...

    Oh I can't wait to read this, Nancy!

    Summer Ross said...

    These draw the reader in so well- nicely done! Love the first line.

    Hope Roberson said...

    Wow! So good! Looking forward to reading this! :) Hope Jack's surgery goes well :)

    Lisa Regan said...

    OMG this just reminds me of how much I freaking LOVE this book!!!! I can't wait to read the paperback version and then download the ebook and read it AGAIN! Woo hoo!!!!

    Carrie Butler said...

    NICE! *High five!*

    Stephsco said...

    Very cool -- I like trying to piece the story together from first lines.

    Thanks also for posting the blog hop explanation; I visited another blog earlier today that forgot to post the rules and I got really confused when I saw Hookers and lines from a YA novel. I was worried!

    Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

    And I can vouch for the awesomeness of this book!
    Hope everything goes well with your dog. You need a break.

    Leigh Covington said...

    This sounds awesome Nancy! So excited to read it!

    Karen Elizabeth Brown said...

    Very enticing! I'll have to make sure I put your book on my list to read.

    Gossip_Grl said...

    Great posting and intriguing hookers.
    Can't wait to read your hangers. Enjoyed reading your posting!

    Rachel Schieffelbein said...

    Ah! How could you leave us with that last line! That's just mean. :-P

    Kimberly Gabriel said...

    Wow! These are intense! I'm hooked - well done!

    Chuck said...

    Now I am even more ready for this book!!! Hope your pup is doing okay.

    A.J. Locke said...

    A lot of tension here! Makes me wanna know what's going on

    Krista McLaughlin said...

    Wow - those are awesome hooks!

    Jenny S. Morris said...

    Uh, ya, this totally makes me want to read your book. How is this not on my TBR list???

    Thanks for participating!

    Anonymous said...

    They all sound great... especially the second one.. i want to know what's going on:)

    Samantha May said...

    Oh man these are great! I really want to read this! I can't wait until it's released :)

    Michael Abayomi said...

    Great hookers. Especially the last one. Can't wait to read the hangers! :)

    JeffO said...

    Looking forward to it. Hope Jack's doing well. Good vibes, good vibes.

    Amanda Olivieri said...

    Wow, these are all great! I actually gasped at the last one--gave me chills. Can't wait to read your hangers!

    Tara Tyler said...

    gritty first lines! intense! great job!

    sue said...

    sounds like a good read

    Anonymous said...

    Great hookers! You spoiled it a bit with that last line.

    Kelley Lynn said...

    It's so close to the release date!!! Love Number 3. Can totally feel the anxiety and tension.

    Lynn(e) Schmidt said...

    That last line just broke my heart. I couldn't ever imagine one of my siblings dying. I would read this just because of that line. Nice hooks.

    1000th.monkey said...

    #5 is my favourite :)

    Joylene Nowell Butler said...

    Actually, it just moved The Mistaken to the top. Excellent openers and hooks, Nancy. Really grabbed my attention.

    Elizabeth Seckman said...

    I most certainly will add it to my to be read pile on Goodreads!

    Kyra Lennon said...

    Awesome hangers! The second one is my favourite! :D

    Emily R. King said...

    All of these grab me. Nicely done!

    Nick Wilford said...

    Can I say "intense"?? I feel like I need a stronger word! The first line is an awesome hooker - understated, but I want to know more straight away. Can't wait to read your book, Nancy! Sounds like a hell of a ride!

    Unknown said...

    What can one say? These are all great!

    Ink in the Book said...

    The last one is so sad.... and the rest of them are awesome. I would read the next chapter because the story sounds intense, poignant and emotional.

    A.L. Sonnichsen said...

    Oh no! That last one is horribly sad. They're all great, though. Good job!

    Trisha said...

    Wow - sounds like an emotional story for sure! Great lines!

    Heather M. Gardner said...

    Still so good!
    HMG