Welcome to The VERB!

Where do you get your ideas? That’s the #1 question readers ask when they meet their favorite author. In fact, it’s so prevalent that some authors have flat-out demanded it not be asked in any more interviews. They’re tired of answering it. 

But I understand fully why readers continue to ask. It crosses my mind every time I read a client’s manuscript. And it particularly occurred while I read, re-read and wrote Opinions for the First Chapter contest entries. The quality of these babies just keep getting better and better. Most opened with a bang that lured me in, and most ended with a hook that made me sad to reach the last page. I wanted to read more, and I wanted to know more. How did the author come up with this? What event in his or her life triggered it? How long did it fester in the brain before it finally evolved into this chapter? When did he or she decide it was worth the time and investment? 

We all know a novel isn't written in a day. The story we choose to explore has to be interesting enough to hold our enthusiasm for a long long time, day in and day out. Not only that, it has to transfer to the page well enough that a literary agent and a publishing house editor and all those book buyers farther down the line feel the same enthusiasm. But it all starts with an idea. And I like to hear about those. Maybe we’ll ask writers to include that with their first chapters next time.

Congratulations to Gustavo Florentin, winner of our 2007 First Chapter Contest. His entry, IN THE TALONS OF THE CONDOR, will be on our website for a limited time. If you’d like to read it, go here. Also, a big congrats to the runners-up and honorable mentions. You should all be proud of your work. OPINIONS will begin landing in email boxes later today, so keep an eye out for yours.

I want to send out a special thanks to judge, and professional musician, Audrey Danielson for her in-depth Opinions and all-around awesomeness. And to judge Stephen Angeloff who is our resident Simon Cowell, the loveable Reader with a heart of gold who calls 'em as he sees 'em. You guys raise the standard. 

And now, without further ado ... turn the page.

Elizabeth Guy
Editor
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This issue 
was published 
under the musical influence of

PRINCE
Purple Rain