OPENING PARAGRAPH
STATUS: So! Excited! For the Oscars! Woo hoo!
FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: Can I please have every apron on this site? The photography alone is a work of art.
Writers pay a lot of attention to the first five pages of their books, and with good reason. They’ll make or break you with an editor or agent. If you can’t nail your voice and hook a reader by page five, it’s hard to stay out of the slush pile. Having just penned a draft of a book that, in my mind, might start a little slow, I’m on the prowl for books that begin with a bang. And boy did I ever find one. My friend Karen loaned me Ask for a Convertible, a series of YA short stories by Danit Brown and, let me tell you, the first paragraph just about knocked me over it was so good. I’m pasting it here so you all can read it. I hope the author won’t mind. And I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to get your hands on this author’s writing. Go, Danit!
DESCENT
When Osnat’s grandmother came to visit, she brought Osnat underwear and socks, bananas and eggs fresh from the lool. “Eat a banana,” she said. “Come on. Eat a banana. Eat it. Eat a banana. Eat it. Eat a banana. Eat a banana. Eat it. Eat a banana.” She was crazy. Osnat’s parents knew she was crazy, but they yelled at her anyway. “Quit it with the bananas. She doesn’t want a banana.” Osnat’s grandmother smiled. Her eyes were blue, but her skin was brown and shriveled. She grabbed Osnat’s head and kissed the top of it over and over. “Muah muah muah muah muah. Come on. Eat a banana. Eat it. Eat a banana. Eat a banana.”