Seven Lines for Seven Writers

11/30/2017

Welcome to my stop for the December 2017 SFRB Showcase! Once you're finished reading my blog, please click the graphic above and check out the other fabulous SFR authors participating!

Every so often a fun writer challenge surfaces on Facebook. One of my favorites is the “Seven Lines Game” where writers post seven lines from their current work in progress (wip) on their page, then they tag seven other writers to do the same. Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed that each iteration has different criteria. The first one I participated in required me to go to page seven of my current wip, copy and paste the seventh line, and tag seven others. Another was the first seven lines on the seventh page, and yet another was the first seven lines of the seventh chapter.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this game making the rounds, so I was pleasantly surprised when a friend tagged me last week with the newest version. The criteria this time: Post the first seven lines of your current wip. Yes, that would be the dreaded hook. But, what better way to test an opening out to see how it goes over? Isn’t it better to know before you send your baby out into the world?

I gotta be honest here, this game’s a lot of fun! So, here’s what I’m going to do today. I know that my fellow December SFRB Showcase authors will read this, and I challenge each of you—yes, you Veronica Scott, Eva Caye, Aurora Springer, and Ed Hoornaert—to post the opening seven lines from your current wip in the comments! I further challenge any other writers reading this to do the same. Yeah, no one is safe here. Mwahahaha! Even the readers have to do something...enjoy! (Okay, yes, the readers get off easy, this time.)

To be fair, I have posted my first seven lines of Collision, Book Three of the Prophecy Series here:

This is stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Flora Grace MacDonald Bock ground her teeth together, and bunched the skirt of her sundress in her fists. She didn’t want to stand in the hot sun with her adoptive parents, brother, sister, and countless dignitaries from Terr and Matir—and the entire town of New Damon Beach. She didn’t want to smile and be polite. And she definitely did not want to give a warm, New Damon Beach style welcome to the first ever Anferthian ambassador to Earth.

But since when did a ten-year-old’s opinion on politics matter?

Can’t wait to see what you all post!

USA Today Bestselling Author, Lea Kirk, loves to transport her readers to other worlds with her science fiction romance and paranormal romance stories. In 2016 she released Prophecy and Salvation, books one and two of her Prophecy Series, as well as All of Me, a short story set in the same universe. Grave Tells Blog named her Debut Author of the Year for 2016. In 2017, she released her first vampire paranormal, Made for Her, and a new story for the Other Worlds boxed set--Touch the Stars. Her third book in the Prophecy series, Collision, is on track to release in 2018.

When she not busy writing, she’s hanging out with her wonderful hubby of twenty-seven years, their five kids (aka, the nerd herd), and a large Doberman mix who thinks she’s one of the “kids”.

Aurora Springer link

12/2/2017 05:25:36 am

A tricky game - but I'll play. My first seven lines are unedited or polished and might change since the story is at the messy stage. Its the sequel to Europa and opens in the submarine station. Here goes:

Nikki’s com beeped. A shrill voice on the edge of panic said, “Dr. Bell, you’re ordered to the hub. We have an emergency. Unidentified floating object on the monitors.”

Noting the irascible Safety Officer’s switch to her formal title, she replied, “Hold your horses, Tar, I’ll be there in a second.” Anxious to learn the worst, she left the lab and raced toward the transit hub of Bathos, the Lower Station. What the styx could have happened? The fast spaceship, Taxyon One, had departed only two weeks ago, leaving the fledgling colony without transport off the moon.

Lea Kirk link

12/2/2017 08:35:46 am

Yay! There's a sequel! Thanks for playing along, Aurora. xoxo

Eva Caye link

12/2/2017 04:16:19 pm

I'll play! This is from one of the novellas in Integrity:

"Prince Enrique ‘Ricky’ Encino-Sinclair took a glass of wine from a servant’s tray at the Imperial Ball while watching his cousin Brielle intimidate the men flocking to meet her. It was almost amusing, although he knew she didn’t really appreciate the attention. Her totally buff body and straightforward ways had been honed to perfection as an officer in the Service, and the rumors of her recent self-defense against four men trying to haze her had drawn the rabid attention of every single Royal man in the Demesnes.

If only he could find a lady as awesome as his vivacious cousins! That thought made him finish his wine quickly, lest he get stuck in a mind-rut again.

He turned to leave the Crown Prince’s pavilion simply to avoid the spectacle of Brielle trying to make nice to men who had previously avoided her for being such an outlier, and made for one of the small tables used to deposit empty glasses and plates, near the booths along the eastern promenade of the Imperial ballroom. The crowd around the booths was so thick he had to ask a lady to move so he could set his glass on that side table."

I'm hoping I've established that he's single, has depression, and often gets overlooked (for a reason you'd have to read the other books to know about).

12/3/2017 11:37:27 am

I did get the sense he's isolated and lonely even in the crowd, Eva. And definitely single. ;-)

Misa Buckley link

12/3/2017 03:18:51 am

Aww, I feel for Flora - you've definitely captured an irritated 10yo there!

Here are the first 7 lines from TOMBS:

Patience wasn't something that Effie Grant practised well. Waiting on the decision from the Intergalactic Archaeological Commission on whether she'd be permitted to join the next mission had worn any self-control to the bone and she paced the antechamber of the boardroom, her heels clacking on the polished granite floor.
Her submission was perfect. Then again, her last had been perfect, but the commission had rejected it. Her hands fisted at the memory. She stopped pacing, took a deep breath and let it out slow, unfolding her hands as she did so. That was last year - this year would be different.

12/3/2017 11:38:50 am

Nice!

Veronica Scott link

12/3/2017 08:09:58 am

Enjoyed your snippet! Yeah, no, I don't post from first drafts and especially not the 'hook' LOL. If the book were further along in my process, then sure, I'd 'play' of course. But this one hasn't had even one revision as yet and is subject to much change, I'm sure! Happy holidays!

12/3/2017 11:40:09 am

You too, Veronica!

Ed Hoornaert link

12/3/2017 11:22:32 am

I have a book coming out tomorrow, and one with only a first draft done. I'll show the latter:

The first sign of trouble was soul-shaking thunder at the exact instant Cynthia O’Connor’s wading boot kissed the surface of Twisted Lizard Lagoon. She stared stupidly. Her foot, too slender for most shoes, couldn’t possibly have caused the roar.

The sky was clear, so it couldn’t have been thunder. A sonic boom? She’d grown up with those nerve-shattering bellows at Dad’s pub near the spaceport on Kintle-Tilene, the home world she shuddered to think of. But here?

12/3/2017 11:44:51 am

Congrats on your new book baby, Ed! Looking forward to reading it. I love the opening line here. Great hook for a first draft. :D

Aidy Award link

12/3/2017 07:04:48 pm

I love hooks! These ones all make me wanna read the books!
Here's the first seven of my curvy girl and dragon shifter book coming out Feb 1, CHASE ME.

Agh. Ciara’s feet ached, her back was stiff and the headache she'd staved off with some ibuprofen four hours ago was rapidly creeping back behind her left eyeball. Nothing like the sweet pains of victory.
One more commission like this and she could afford to take that beach vacation she’d been promising Jonathan for the past three years.
“Oh, Sarah, there you are.” The bride’s mother, who was reasons number one, two, three, and forty-three for said headache, waved her over. Mother-of-the-Bridezilla paid the bills, so Ciara pasted on her most helpful of smiles and greeted the table.
“Hello everyone. Having a nice time?”
Headache mom turned to the couple sitting next to her. “Bill, Khai, this is Sarah, the wedding planner. You simply must book her for your Linh’s wedding. She is the best, always available for her clients. I called her last week at two in the morning when I simply knew that Bethany needed to have three more wedding cakes at the reception. Sarah never says no.”
Oh, great. That’s what she wanted to be known for. The slut of the wedding planner world.

12/4/2017 07:37:17 pm

LOL!! Love it, Aidy!

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