“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.” ~Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert was a science fiction writer best known for his books, Dune and its five sequels. So he did keep going with those stories for a good long while. Here’s another quote along the same line.
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” ~Graham Greene
A writer or a reader can get to those final words in a story and take a moment to look back at the characters and events or look ahead and think about what might happen next to the people in the story. I believe many of my readers do that because I often get messages or comments about how the reader would like for me to write another story about my same characters to let them know what was going to happen next. But even when I have written additional books about the same characters (Heart of Hollyhill books; Rosey Corner books; Hidden Springs Mysteries), I’ve intended to end each story in a good place where you the reader can be glad you chose to follow my story trail to an end before you close my book.
So, as I thought about finally finding the end of my work in progress, I started thinking about those last lines. People sometimes share first lines of books, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anybody share last lines. So this could be a first! I’ve picked out some of the best last lines in my books. They don’t really give away the story except to show I do like a happy ending. Some of you might remember the stories when you read the last lines. If so, I hope that makes you smile. Others of you may not have read the books yet and I hope these last lines might make you want to pick the book up and start at the beginning with that first line.
Victor wouldn’t have been a bit surprised to see angels dancing right along beside her as they walked down the road toward home. ~Angel Sister
It was so good to come home to love. ~Love Comes Home
Love was the only anchor they needed. ~Murder Is No Accident
The lights flashed brighter than ever and sirens rang in his ears. This time it definitely had to be the kiss. ~Murder Comes by Mail
One step at a time. One day at a time. As long as she prayed believing. ~River to Redemption
They were going to make good music together. ~These Healing Hills
It was as it was meant to be. All cannot be Shakers. ~Last line of Sister Sophrena’s journal entry in The Gifted
Pray anyway. And so she did. With a glad and thankful heart. ~Carlyn in The Innocent
Such are the blessings of being a beloved child of God. ~The Refuge
All those last lines are set in print so no changing any of those. However, the last sentence in my work in progress, An Appalachian Summer, may very well be changed a dozen times. In fact, I just rewrote it when I went over to copy it for this post, and I’m already thinking a little more editing might help. 🙂
Adventure awaited as they began living their own happily ever after story. ~An Appalachian Summer
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
To celebrate finding those elusive words “the end,” I’m giving away a book, maybe two. We’ll make this contest quick and have the deadline Saturday, June 15, 2019 at midnight EST. I’ll pick a winner by random number and announce the winner next Sunday, June 16th. Winner can have her or his choice of one of my books along with a grab bag book by a different author. To enter you must be at least 18 years old and all you have to do to throw your name in my givewaway hat is leave a comment on this post or on whatever I post on Wednesday. If you comment on both posts, you’ll get two entries. Easy enough.
To enter this time you can tell me which ending sentence here you like best and that might make you want to read the story that comes before that last sentence.
Comments 58
My favorite is the one from River to Redemption. It was very close though between this book and The Innocent.
Author
It’s good for us to remember that one step at a time. One day at a time, April. Both of the ones you liked were about praying anyway and believing. 🙂
Carlyn’s internal reflection in The Innocent:”Pray anyway. And so she did. With a glad and thankful heart. ” reminds me of the Biblical exhortation to ,’Pray without ceasing.’ from 1 Thessalonians 5:17! What an encouraging and wonderful way to end a book,Ann! 🙂
Author
That’s the verse I always include with an autograph a copy of that book, Emily. That was the faith thread throughout the story. Glad you liked the way I ended that one.
I love the ending “it was so good to come home to love.” I think love in your home is so important! I also enjoyed this book and had trouble deciding between this and the ending of Angel Sister!
Author
Love in the home is the best, Tera. Great reason to pick that line and it is the last line for the whole series of three books. I wanted my Merritt sisters to know love.
Angel Sister remains my favorite book, so I feel compelled to go with its last line.
Author
That’s a good reason to pick that last line, Diana. I think it makes you think that the characters are going to be okay as life continues on for them. Of course, then I wrote a couple more books about Rosey Corner and gave them all kinds of new problems. 🙂 Writers are like that!
Victor wouldn’t have been a bit surprised to see angels dancing right along beside her as they walked down the road toward home. Angel Sister….It ended the story on such a happy note and showed what the love of a family can do. Having a family that sticks by us through the ups and downs of life is a true gift from the Lord, and Kate was truly a gift to her dad. One of my favorite books, with a sweet ending! 🙂
Author
So glad you liked Angel Sister, Hope. It’s one of my favorite books too because of how I was able to work my mother’s memories into the background of the story. That made that book a gift of the heart.
I liked the ending to River To Redemption. One step at a time. One day at a time. As long as she prayed believing. If we would all just pray believing. Maybe when you leave the mountains you can do another story with a Civil War time period.
Author
There are certainly many historical happenings in the Civil War that can make great backgrounds of a novel, Janice. I’ve used Civil War backgrounds in some of my Shaker books, The Seeker and Christmas at Harmony Hill and some after effects of the war in The Innocent. So who knows? Maybe I will find another story with a Civil War background.
We do need to pray believing in the Lord’s guidance and love.
Victor wouldn’t have been a bit surprised to see angels dancing right along beside her as they walked down the road toward home. ~Angel Sister
I’ve already read this book and that last line still touches me.
Author
Sometimes you find just the right sentence to end a book, Nancy. I think maybe I did on that story. It tells so much about the relationship between Kate and her dad.
I like the ending for The Appalachian Summer. I love to read your stories that take place in the mountains. I’m looking forward to your new book coming out.
Author
I’m glad you’re looking forward to more mountain stories, Connie, because I’m going back to the mountains for a new story after I finish this one. I’ll be talking mountain before long. I already talk country, so county mountain might be just right for me.
I like These Healing Hills which I am currently reading now. I look forward to reading more of your books.
Author
I’m glad reading These Healing Hills is making you think about reading more of my stories, Susan. Thanks for telling me that. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story all the way to that last line. 🙂