Getting Hooked: Fiction's Opening Sentences 1950s-1990s
by Sharon Rendell-Smock   ISBN: 0-9654981-0-7 

What grabs the reader? Getting Hooked, a new book by award-winning author
presents novels' first sentences, categorized by decade and genre (mystery,
science fiction, western, romance, mainstream).

Excerpt of Getting Hooked 

Quentin Fears never told his parents the last thing his sister Lizzy said to
him before they pulled the plug on her and let her die.
Orson Scott Card, Treasure Box, 1996

When Menolly, daughter of Yanus Sea Holder, arrived at the Harper Craft Hall,
she came in style, aboard a bronze dragon.
Anne McCaffrey, Dragonsinger, 1977

That morning James Harker was not expecting anything unusual to happen.
Robert Silverberg, Recalled to Life, 1957

We were about to give up and call it a night when somebody dropped the
girl off the bridge. 
John D. MacDonald, Darker Than Amber, 1966

She sits in the corner, trying to draw air out of a room which seemed to
have plenty just a few minutes ago and now seems to have none.
Stephen King, Rose Madder, 1995

In the end there's cruelty and death alone over the land.
Greg Bear, Eternity, 1988

His wife had held him in her arms as if she could keep death away from him.
Philip Jose Farmer, To Your Scattered Bodies Go, 1971

You can't be happy in this life because of what happened in your past lives.
Jude Deveraux, Remembrance, 1994

"Wait a minute," he said. "How old are you?"
Sheila Bosworth, Slow Poison, 1992

Standing in front of his dresser mirror, the young man pointed the revolver
at his reflection.
James W. Hall, Under Cover of Daylight, 1987


Author recaps the world situation for each decade. Trends, quotations,
pseudonyms, and trivia game add to this well-researched book.

"GETTING HOOKED takes the reader on a journey through 50 years of popular
fiction in this interesting collection of trivia and opening lines.
A joy to read!"  Bookbug on the Web (Sept. 97)

My previous book, Living with Big Cats: The Story of Jungle Larry, Safari
Jane, and David Tetzlaff, earned a national NF writing award.
ISBN: 0-9642604-0-9

TO ORDER these books postpaid: Mail $10 for the 1st copy of Getting Hooked;
$9 each additional Getting Hooked. For Living with Big Cats, send $14 for the
first copy; $13 for each additional Big Cats.

If you'd like an autograph, please note who I should sign it to.

SEND ORDERS TO:

Shara Rendell-Smock
P.O. Box 34012
Indialantic FL 32903-0912

more details at http://www.spacey.net/smock
or email smock@spacey.net