First Line Quiz

By Paula Matter

ETA: Time for some hints! In no particular order, here are the last names initials of the authors. All 10, even though Barb knew Alan Orloff's. Scroll down for the ANSWERS.

I have a file on my computer that (which?) contains sentences that pop into my head. Some of these are opening lines for stories I’m currently working on, others are for stories that have nothing more than the one line. Some of them have been sitting in that file for a very long time. Some of them aren’t opening lines, but I know they’ll fit somewhere in a story. Someday. Somewhere. Somehow.

I love coming up with opening lines. I love reading great opening lines. I love quizzes matching opening lines with their authors. I especially love creating quizzes where I know the answers.

Just for fun, can you match up the following ten opening lines with their author and title?

There are no prizes, so go ahead and Google your heart out.

1. I hate whiners.

2. You may remember me.

3. I was lying dead in the churchyard.

4. The first thing I noticed as I was sitting in a squad car was that police cruisers don’t have seatbelts in the back.

5. “I’m scared,” Ethan said.

6. I lurked in the wings watching the man kill.

7. Falling on my ass really hurts.

8. If my life were a book, I would have masking tape holding my hinges together.

9. “They’re all dead.”

10. Justifiable homicide might be hard to prove, but my had-it-up-to-here brain was giving it a hearty stamp of approval as a reasonable defense.

So, have at it! I’ll be back later today to provide the answers. Y’all are such a smart group, I have a strong hunch I won’t have to.

Did you have to Google for any/all of these lines? I'm thinking at least one will be known immediately by this group.

What are some of your favorite opening lines? How important are they to you as a reader? As a writer?

Hints:  Answers:

1. Lois Winston; Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
2.Steve Hamilton; The Lock Artist
3. Alan Bradley; The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag
4. Nancy Martin; Sticky Fingers
5. Linwood Barclay; Never Look Away
6. Alan Orloff; Killer Routine
7. Joelle Charbonneau; Skating Around the Law
8. Kate Carlisle; If Books Could Kill
9. Sheila Connolly; Red Delicious Death
10. Heather Webber; Deeply, Desperately

Does that help?

Well, at least I don't Twitter

by Paula Matter

Not that there's anything wrong with Twitter. I simply don't need another time sink. (Or should that be time suck?)

The older I get, the easier I'm distracted. For example: I typed that sentence, then Googled 'Fibromyalgia + Distraction.' Yep, I was right–I can blame it on my fibromyalgia. If I look hard enough, I can generally blame a lot on this condition.

Anyway, back to getting distracted. In order to get focused, say when I'm writing, I follow a daily routine to prepare my mind for the work ahead.


My usual routine:


Solitaire, Hearts, Free Cell. In that order and only one game allowed. (Anal with a capital A.)


One puzzle here http://www.jigzone.com/puzzle A little flexibility here if there are some really interesting puzzles.

Check e-mail.

Read favorite blogs. Too many to list. I have stopped reading all of the comments. Hell, Nathan Bransford's blog alone would take an hour or more to read. And I don't comment on very many of the ones I read.

Yahoo! Groups/listserves. I read them online and skim quickly.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ Quick in and out. I'm down to three times a day.

By then I'm on my third cup of coffee and ready to begin work.

As soon as I check e-mail. Oh! Someone responded to my status on Facebook. A quick look. Reply. May as well check what others are doing. Oh, interesting link.

And on and on and on...

Since I know I'm not alone (please!) here's a fun quiz:

http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/Personality-Tests/c/Creativity-Quotient-Test.asp

I scored 64. How'd you do?

A Little Quiz About Books

by Joyce

Since news of the publishing world, not the mention the rest of the economy, is so dismal these days, many people are opting to buy books for Christmas this year. (I think people should do that every year.) If you're going this route, don't buy your books from a chain. Be sure to support your favorite independent bookseller, or buy them from our favorite, Mystery Lovers Bookshop.

I came up with a little quiz to help you with your book selection. The quiz is for fun only, so don't expect any prizes. Besides, I included links to make it way too easy for you! It's like an open book test. Feel free to add your own questions in your comments.

1. What author writes the popular Sookie Stackhouse mysteries? What is the name of the TV show based on these books?
2. Nancy Martin wrote what popular series? Can you name them all in order?
3. What is the name of the book released last year featuring Pittsburgh cop Colleen Greer? What is the name of this author?
   
4. What Pittsburgh author writes about actress Rosie Winter? Where does Rosie live and what is her occupation? Bonus: What does this author's dog like to eat?
5. Which popular author was 104 years old when she passed away this year?
6. Who wrote the book Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers?
7. Name the two newest Working Stiffs (both, coincidentally, had debut novels this year). No hints on this one!
8. Another author who passed away this year was Tony Hillerman. Where are his books set?
9. Who wrote The Murders In the Rue Morgue?
10. Name your favorite book, movie, or play with a Christmas theme.

Well, that's it kids. Have fun!