.jpg)
A reader will first meet Abby on the back cover blurb:
All Abby Walker ever wanted was to live a normal life in her small suburban-Chicago house. After traveling around the world in her youth, staying put in one spot is a dream come true. But when she winds up on a game show as a favor to a friend, her life takes an adventurous turn she isn’t at all prepared for.
The second line sums up her backstory in one sentence. She's the only child of a career military man. She's lived all over the world and feels she's missed out on anything resembling a 'normal' childhood. No trips to Disney World, the Wisconsin Dells, or even camping. Having no brothers or sisters, she longs for a big family and a cozy house with a white picket fence. Abby has an average, ordinary job as an office manager, and for excitement, she and her best friend, Claire, rent chick flicks and eat raw cookie dough. She'd love to find a man to share her dream (the house, the fence, the kids), but so far, no one has bought into the whole settling down ideal.
So, in Wild Wedding Weekend, I paired her (married her off actually in a marriage-of-convenience type story) with someone who has no intention of settling down, travels all over the world for business and pleasure, and has no plans or desire for a family of his own.
The story opens in Abby's point of view, and we learn a bit more about her.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” Abby Walker paced around a tangle of backstage wires, props, and technicians. Ignoring the commotion around her, she listened to the voice of her longtime friend coming from the cell phone tucked against her ear.
“Oh, come on, Abby. It’ll be fun,” Claire wheedled.
“Fun? You call humiliating myself in front of a live studio audience fun? And with some guy I barely know.”
“It won’t be that bad, I promise. Besides, you know Noah.”
“I’ve met the man three times. I’d hardly call that knowing him.”
“He’s out of town a lot. Travels for his job. It’s not my fault.” She sounded almost desperate.
“I know, I know. I don’t think this will work. They’ll find out I’m not you, and then we’ll all be in trouble.” She chewed a fingernail.
With just these few lines, the reader will see how out of her comfort zone Abby already is, and the story has barely begun. Abby soon finds herself farther out of her comfort zone than she ever thought she'd be when she winds up married to Noah, a man she barely knows. Of course, as the story progresses, she'll learn a lot about him, and about herself as well. Turns out, an adventure with the right guy isn't all bad!
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Wild Wedding Weekend - from The Wild Rose Press
I lived all over the world as a child, and it was great--except for changing schools every few years and never having steady friendships. I am happy living on a farm. My kids went to the same school k-12, and still talk to kids they grew up with. Your heroine rings true with me!
ReplyDeleteAna, Abby has a line in the story where she says almost the exact same thing about school and friends. Nice to know I got it right!
DeleteI love your opening paragraph, Debra. It really does make me want to buy the book.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Back, Margaret! I hope this means all of your computer issues have been solved. How frustrated you must have been...
DeleteThanks...those openers can be tricky. I once heard you shouldn't start with dialogue, but I've used it a few times for the first line in my stories, and it seems to work for me. :)
I'm still having a few computer problems, Debra. But thank goodness its nearly all over.
DeleteI love this opening, which, combined with the title and blurb, sets the scene perfectly for an intriguing story.
ReplyDeleteBTW I often open my stories with dialogue too!
Then I'm in excellent company for those openings! :)
DeleteSounds great--can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen.
DeleteGreat excerpt! Best wishes with your book!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashantay...thanks for popping in to say 'hello'!
DeleteLove the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne!
Delete