First Line Contest–Win a Critique from NY Agent Barbara Poelle!
To celebrate my debut novel, THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD I am sponsoring a first line contest for historical romance writers – and the grand prize is a three chapter critique from my agent, the utterly brilliant Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency! She really helped me improve my writing, and without even making me feel like a complete dork – now that’s talent. She also knows what sells!
Writing the first line of the book is a challenge for me. I anguished over that first paragraph and especially the first line. It has to set the right tone. It has to draw the reader in. That’s a lot of pressure for one poor little sentence! Here’s the first line from THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD:
“If they caught him, he would hang.”
I’m totally impressed with those who can write great first lines – so here is your chance to shine! Entering is easy peasy. Just comment on this blog with the following:
- Your Name
- Title of your historical manuscript
- First Line of your historical manuscript
- Era you are writing in (Medieval, Regency, etc.)
Entries must be received by 3-20-10. I’ll choose the top three entries and Barbara will choose the winner. The top three will receive a signed copy of THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD and the winner will receive a three chapter critique of their manuscript from Barbara Poelle! Woo hoo!
So… what’s your line?
Good luck!!!
March 16th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Name: Mary O’Malley
Title: Katy’s Choice
First Line: “Victor’s dead, isn’t he?” Katy said.
Era: Contemporary New York/ Imperial Russia 1911-(Time Travel)
March 16th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Congratulations on your release Amanda. I can’t wait to read it. Here’s my entry for the contest.
Author Name: Hanna Rhys Barnes
MS Title: Footprints in Time
Opening Line:Edward is undone. He will not rule.
Historical Period: Medieval(13th C)
March 16th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Congrats, Amanda. I’ll be looking for the book.
Opening line: Kierran MacLauglin was born with a beautiful face;too bad it belonged to a serial killer.
medieval. Ms title: Victoria’s Highland Secret
Doreen Jensen
March 16th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Congratulations on your release, Amanda!
Opening Line: When the Angel of Death calls thy name, do not answer.
Title: Immortal Prey
Historical Paranormal
Diana Ballew
March 16th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Congrats on your release, Amanda — I keep hearing folks on the review sites say they can’t wait to get their hands on it! And thanks for hosting this contest!
Name: Crista McHugh
Title: Lessons From a Scoundrel
First Line: “Mr. Cooper, I’d like for you to ruin me.”
Era: Early Regency
March 17th, 2010 at 6:07 am
congrats and many sales on the book
Name:Lucy Farago
Title: Two Highland Hearts
First Line: At her bedchamber’s window, the sacrificial lamb awaited her slaughter.
the book is set in 17th century Scotland
March 17th, 2010 at 10:17 am
The King’s Grove
by: Kerri Nelson
15th Century Ireland
The day my father killed me, I’d just met the girl of my dreams.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Name – Colleen Mold
Title – The Foothills Bride
First line – There was a bite to the wind that blew through this place.
Era – Historical Western (American) – 1880 Montana Territory
March 17th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Name: Nancy Connally
Title: Heavens, Annabeth!
First line: This was not the Traynor Junction that Garrett Stafford had described.
Era: Historical Western (American) – 1882 Texas
March 17th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Name: Susan Wilbanks
Title: The Inconvenient Bride
First line: “Marry you? Why, Sebastian, you do me too great an honor!”
Era: Regency
March 18th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Amanda, love the cover. : )
Name: Angie D
Title: Enchantress
Era: Regency
First Line:
“I say, I don’t think you should hit her that hard, Charles.”
March 18th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Name: Angie D.
Title: Belladonna
Era: Medieval
First Line:
They said it would be a day of victory, but the only victor was the murder of carrion crows.
March 18th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Name: Angie D.
Title: Belladonna
Era: Medieval
First Line:
They said it would be a day of victory, but the only victor was the murder of carrion crows.
March 18th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Name: Angie D.
Title: Magnetism
Era: Regency
First Line:
William Garrott spied the pixie peeking out from behind a potted plant on the edge of the crowded ballroom
March 18th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Apologies about submitting an entry twice. I’m electronically challenged.
Name: Angie D.
Title: Alchemy
Era: Georgian
First Line:
A ghost-like face, distorted by thick window glass, peered into the laboratory; the coup de grâce to a bloody horrid day.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
If it’s OK to enter more than one…
Name: Susan Wilbanks
Title: The Sergeant’s Lady
First line: “Aiee! Madre de Dios, it hurts!”
Era: Regency
March 19th, 2010 at 1:00 am
Cool contest!
Your Name: Sandrine Thomas
Title of your historical manuscript: Lost Without You
First Line of your historical manuscript: In the sudden reversal of fortunes which accompanied her husband’s premature death, Meredith Warrick Minton was thankful for the etiquette which provided a grieving widow a thick black veil which obscured her face from prying eyes–and terrible news
Era you are writing in: Gilded Age America
March 19th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Your Name: Evangeline Holland
Title of your historical manuscript: The Dollar Princess
First Line of your historical manuscript: “As Dominic Edmund Rolfe Curson, 17th Earl of Dereham waited to board the ocean liner at the Cunard docks, he couldn’t help but notice the irony of his ignoble and penniless return to England as thousands of his hopeful and begrimed compatriots streamed from the gangplanks of Ellis Island steamers in search of the wealth and position denied them in their mutual home country.”
Era you are writing in: Edwardian England
March 19th, 2010 at 3:19 am
Ironically on September 11, 1995, terror reaction had already emerged.
March 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Name: Jennifer Hilt
Title: A Night in Tarnished Amour
First line: Like a fox in a henhouse, the Duke prowled among the marriageable virgins at the soiree; unlike the fox however, the Duke had no appetite for feather brains.
Era: regency
March 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Great contest, Amanda! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Name: Shannon Robinson
Title: The Sheriff’s Outlawed Mistress
First Line: Sheriff Jared Buchannon stood in the alleyway beside Lady Cornelia’s Saloon, concealed by the evening shadows, and waited.
Era: Western Historical
March 19th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
NAME: Sarah Hos
TITLE: Highland Dreams
FIRST LINE: The rain came down in a steady rhythm and she wiped her eyes clear as she looked around to see where she was.
ERA: 18th Century Scotland
March 19th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
NAME: Victoria Roberts
TITLE: Highland Savior
FIRST LINE: Sometimes being a Highland Laird is a royal pain in the arse.
ERA: Scotland/1600s
March 20th, 2010 at 3:24 am
NAME: VICKI VUAT
TITLE: LAIRD OF GLENCAIRN
FIRST LINE: The tense silence stretched as the two gentlemen awaited the Laird’s reaction
ERA Regency 1819
March 20th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Thank you for this opportunity, Amanda.
Name: Gerri Bowen
Title: Audrey’s Love
First Line: TamPanni thought nine hundred years was a long enough time for these people to get it right.
Era: Medieval time travel
March 21st, 2010 at 12:40 am
Thanks for all the fantastic entries. This is going to be a tough decision! Winners will be announced later on this blog so stay tuned!
Amanda
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Woot! Thanks for having us Amanda.