tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post1210889675204526198..comments2024-03-28T07:00:43.256-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: FirstsElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65566159499517306092011-09-01T04:48:01.606-06:002011-09-01T04:48:01.606-06:00I'll admit it.
I have a cover fetish.
Shiny ...I'll admit it. <br />I have a cover fetish. <br />Shiny covers. <br />Cool, swirly typefaces. <br />Brooding faces or dark, tangled woods always draw me in. <br /><br />I'm a title freak, too. My current WIP that is out right now has a really awesome title one of my crit partners came up with.<br /><br />But once I get to reading those books, it's the pages that have to draw me in. Once I'm past the cover, it better grab me or it joins the Island of Lonely Books, that takes up way too many shelves in our house.Ronald L. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649046677631873728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-82436925358071646802011-08-25T13:38:51.905-06:002011-08-25T13:38:51.905-06:00AWESOME covers, here, love 'em all. So creativ...AWESOME covers, here, love 'em all. So creative and eye-catching. I admit to being shallow and choosing books (at least initially) by their covers. So yep, covers sell me! They at least get my attention so I pick the book up and read the flap and starting sentence. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-64941057768629579562011-08-24T10:01:24.227-06:002011-08-24T10:01:24.227-06:00Wow, the cover of "As I Wake" is astound...Wow, the cover of "As I Wake" is astounding! But then I have to admit that the title makes me think of "Before I Fall" and "If I stay" and so I'm wondering if it is similar to those. I don't know anything about it, but I'm already making assumptions. <br /><br />I don't really judge a lot by covers or first lines. It's great if there is an amazing cover and first line, but I don't start to make judgments until I've read a page or two and I almost always give a book 50 pages before I decided to put it down or read the rest. <br /><br />Awesome post!Liesl Shurtliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064620851881036609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-12883612851501818282011-08-23T20:15:37.742-06:002011-08-23T20:15:37.742-06:00An intriguing cover will always suck me in. One of...An intriguing cover will always suck me in. One of my favorite leads is from FAHRENHEIT 451. "It was a pleasure to burn." Chapter titles draw me in as well - from the same book - Chapter 1 The Hearth and the Salamander.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-13844883899654467712011-08-23T20:04:59.161-06:002011-08-23T20:04:59.161-06:00I generally give a book 50 pages or so to hook me-...I generally give a book 50 pages or so to hook me--or 3 if I don't actually own it or have it checked out. And the cover is important too, but not crucial if I've heard buzz about the story. <br /><br />Congrats on the first day. Hope you survived!Nichole Gileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12536148445303996747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-81058202799056222112011-08-23T18:48:38.528-06:002011-08-23T18:48:38.528-06:00I admit. I'm terribly drawn in by a books cove...I admit. I'm terribly drawn in by a books cover. A Beautiful Dark had me salivating to read it and I didn't rest until I did. Thank goodness it didn't disappoint. I've never paid attention to first lines--though a particular good one is cool, I give a book much more time to convince me than that.<br /><br />Congrats on your 12 years. You must have pretty good kids. So many teachers I know have or plan to exit out of the classroom ASAP!June Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08570382577796763370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-87935813838787839662011-08-23T16:42:47.983-06:002011-08-23T16:42:47.983-06:00I love reading first lines of books!
Congrats on y...I love reading first lines of books!<br />Congrats on your first day of your 12th year teaching! Have a wonderful school year!<br />(Thursday will be the first day of the 12th year that I haven't taught full time - since I had my first child!!)Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28291448163482115942011-08-23T15:58:19.942-06:002011-08-23T15:58:19.942-06:00You have five pages to sell me; if it isn't wo...You have five pages to sell me; if it isn't working, it is bye-bye-birdie!<br /><br />I have ditched: Lord of the Rings. Crown of Thorns... and many other books that were supposed to be "good"<br />Nice post.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-51870003844150302702011-08-23T15:24:42.081-06:002011-08-23T15:24:42.081-06:00Congrats on your 12 years!
I love firsts, but lik...Congrats on your 12 years!<br /><br />I love firsts, but like you, I give most books time. Some of my favorite books have covers I really dislike, and some of them are slow to start.Krispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492607213249874138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-30824765963180254992011-08-23T15:14:55.934-06:002011-08-23T15:14:55.934-06:00Whoohoo, Elana! Congrats! Seriously awesome covers...Whoohoo, Elana! Congrats! Seriously awesome covers, too! Only one I was familiar with so now I'm off to check out the other books . . . hope you're having a great summer, girl!Kimberley Griffiths Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269829969442171522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28690245821372294882011-08-23T13:59:45.181-06:002011-08-23T13:59:45.181-06:00When reading a submission, I can usually tell in t...When reading a submission, I can usually tell in the first paragraph or two if I don't want to buy it. It takes a whole story to know if I do want to buy it. That's true of the books I read too, I think. Hope you have a great school year! *hugs*Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445455787485222068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-23534676245526486682011-08-23T13:12:15.618-06:002011-08-23T13:12:15.618-06:00Congratulations on 12 years! That's awesome. ...Congratulations on 12 years! That's awesome. :)<br />I'm with you, I get hooked by firsts. <br />I actually passed on reading The Hunger Games for quite awhile because the cover didn't suck me in. Bad, I know. I've changed my ways lol.<br />Maybe if I'd opened the cover and read the first line, I'd have read it a lot sooner.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07850344847209933016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-58419305173353945882011-08-23T11:35:53.279-06:002011-08-23T11:35:53.279-06:00Covers count. First lines count, first pages count...Covers count. First lines count, first pages count, but if I'm not hooked by then, it's probably not going to fly. Good luck in the upcoming school year.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-40942152693099849282011-08-23T11:25:04.655-06:002011-08-23T11:25:04.655-06:00Congrats on 12 years!!!
Covers a HUGE when I am bl...Congrats on 12 years!!!<br />Covers a HUGE when I am blindly looking at the library or bookstore. I've found some of my favorite books that way. First lines or paragraph's aren't to big of a deal to me, but I LOVE when I connect with the character by the end of the that 1st chapter, then I'm usually in it for the long hall.Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-33410605078397363452011-08-23T11:25:03.955-06:002011-08-23T11:25:03.955-06:00Congrats on 12 years!!!
Covers a HUGE when I am bl...Congrats on 12 years!!!<br />Covers a HUGE when I am blindly looking at the library or bookstore. I've found some of my favorite books that way. First lines or paragraph's aren't to big of a deal to me, but I LOVE when I connect with the character by the end of the that 1st chapter, then I'm usually in it for the long hall.Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-49220655967569312762011-08-23T11:06:34.588-06:002011-08-23T11:06:34.588-06:00I love firsts! And I must admit that I do look at ...I love firsts! And I must admit that I do look at covers. I didn't think I did and I try not to always pick up a flashy cover, but I do sometimes.Carolyn Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780443388339294502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-82813232931332670532011-08-23T11:06:01.090-06:002011-08-23T11:06:01.090-06:00Great post, Elana! I love ALL of your examples, an...Great post, Elana! I love ALL of your examples, and you make such a great point. And those covers... I am TOTALLY hooked! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-71909945643802050362011-08-23T10:28:53.190-06:002011-08-23T10:28:53.190-06:00Those were great firsts! I love the first chapter...Those were great firsts! I love the first chapter of Peace Like A River so much, that every time I try to read it aloud to my husband or a close friend I simply can not do it.Kazzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04411131948607000725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-36463389123243834852011-08-23T10:08:59.877-06:002011-08-23T10:08:59.877-06:00I TOTALLY judge books by firsts. But only in the: ...I TOTALLY judge books by firsts. But only in the: YES I AM SO GOING TO LOVE THIS way. If I don't feel the instant pull of the cover/title/first line, I usually give the book at least 5 or 6 chapters. If I'm still not feeling it, I skip to the middle to see if things get better. If they don't, I'm out.Shannon Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08003607156860716462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-14349873307158409152011-08-23T09:55:43.041-06:002011-08-23T09:55:43.041-06:00It's the whole package for me. The cover, the...It's the whole package for me. The cover, the synopsis and the first page. I usually read the first page to make sure that the writing is good and won't drive me crazy with too many adverbs.Cynthia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595677706434920552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-870834807634025732011-08-23T09:41:39.325-06:002011-08-23T09:41:39.325-06:00I must admit, I am a sucker for firsts as well. P...I must admit, I am a sucker for firsts as well. Probably the reason I'm struggling to work the right first sentence for my own YA paranormal novel. It's important because it is an invitation and you want it to be something the reader simply can't refuse.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-56439096642194487682011-08-23T09:33:30.739-06:002011-08-23T09:33:30.739-06:00I'm dying to get my hands on Everneath just be...I'm dying to get my hands on Everneath just becasue the cover haunts my dreams.Jennie Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17331827076858223497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57537262675174080642011-08-23T09:29:04.662-06:002011-08-23T09:29:04.662-06:00I'm addicted to cool covers and I love firsts....I'm addicted to cool covers and I love firsts. I'm still working on mine. Congratulations to you on yours!Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05184772057308479564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-66434168323730545012011-08-23T09:25:26.321-06:002011-08-23T09:25:26.321-06:00I have my favorite authors that I read no matter w...I have my favorite authors that I read no matter what, but for new authors, the cover has got to grab me. If it's not an awesome work of art that tells me a little about the story, I almost never pick it up.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-86052744661636892152011-08-23T09:16:07.205-06:002011-08-23T09:16:07.205-06:00Covers can certainly grab my attention, sometimes ...Covers can certainly grab my attention, sometimes even more than titles.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.com