One more post about my Shaker book, The Innocent, since there are only a very few days left of the book’s 99 cent e-book sale on Amazon. Always be sure to check the price before you click the buy link to be sure you’re getting the price you’re expecting. Those prices can change in a flash.
I shared this post several years ago when the book was on e-book sale back then, but I thought some of you might like to read more about the inspiration behind the story and about the characters. Carlyn was brave and resourceful in the face of impossible situations. Mitchell was a great character too as the sheriff in the town near my Shaker village of Harmony Hill.
And Carlyn did love her dog, Asher. That makes this post timely since I saw on social media that it is National Dog Day. My dog, Frankie, thinks every day should be Dog Day. But then he’s not exactly a dog like Asher. Several times in the story Asher came to Carlyn’s aide just in time. He was a very good dog. I tell Frankie he is a good dog too, but I have to add a “some of the time” on the end of that. Now that he’s older and better behaved, I can say “most of the time.”
But back to Asher and Carlyn.
I really didn’t think I’d write another Shaker book after my Shaker Christmas novel, Christmas at Harmony Hill. But my son-in-law kept saying I should write a Shaker mystery. When I’d shake my head and say I don’t know if I could do that, he’d say all I had to do was write a story about a Shaker and sheriff.
So I decided to do just that. Carlyn is the Shaker. Mitchell is the sheriff. And there is some mystery and suspense in the story. I especially liked how the spiritual thread in the story turned out to be Carlyn remembering how her mother told her to “pray anyway” no matter what was happening. I’m sure some of you know how hard that is to do at times when you feel as if nothing is going right and your prayers aren’t helping. But as Carlyn’s mother said (and the Bible says) “pray anyway.” Without ceasing. Many readers responded to that thought and attitude in the story.
I’m on this writer’s loop where we sometimes play a “first line” game with the writers posting the first line of their work in progress. Always fun to see just those first lines and how only a few words, if they are the right words, can invite you into a story. Sometimes I can tell from those first sentences what kind of book it might be – mystery, suspense, romance. Sometimes I can’t.
I’m going the first line one better for you and sharing the first nine lines. Ten if you count the date.
September 15, 1865
When she saw the two men riding down the lane toward her house, Carlyn Kearney lifted the shotgun down off the long nails that held it over her front door. One of the men was a stranger, but the other one was not. She needed to keep a gun between her and that man. Not that she intended to shoot anybody, but she wasn’t about to let Curt Whitlow know that.
Beside her, Asher quivered as he watched the door with his gray specked fur ruffed up on his neck and a low growl in his throat. The dog had barked once to alert her that the men were coming and now was ready for whatever she wanted to happen next. He was an uncommonly intelligent dog and the only reason she hadn’t gone insane after she stopped getting letters from Ambrose two summers ago.
“Easy.” She spoke softly to the dog, not wanting her voice to carry out to the porch. She gripped the gun tighter when she heard the tread of boots on her steps.
~~
Some of you may have already read the story, and if so, I thank you. I hope you enjoyed reading about a Shaker and a sheriff. If you haven’t read it, tell me if these nine or ten lines would encourage you to perhaps read on to find out what happens next. To Carlyn and to Asher. The dog found a way to keep being in the story even though Carlyn wasn’t allowed to keep him after she went to the Shakers when she had no where else to go. (I know I shared some of the scene in a post earlier this month, but it just seemed to fit here again. Thanks for your patience with my posts.)
Making a reader want to read the next paragraph and turn the page and then another is, of course, what I wanted to accomplish with the opening. Pull readers into the story. That’s the aim of every line in a story until that very last sentence that ends the story, but those very first words are extra important.
Those are the words I’m trying to find as I start down a new story road.
Remember, you have this post and one more to get an entry in a giveaway for one of my Shaker books or a Rosey Corner book. You get an entry by commenting on this post or one of the others before the deadline to enter, September 1, 2026 midnight EST. Each comment on a new post gets you another entry. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter and the winner will be chosen by random, notified by email, and announced here on my September 2nd post.
You can tell me if those few lines made you want to know more about the story, or if you just want to celebrate National Dog Day, you can leave a comment about a dog you’ve known?
Oh, and I promise to write something completely different Sunday if I’m not too tired after being part of the Appalachian Literary Arts Festival this weekend. If you are in the Morehead area, come on out and enjoy all the good mountain times and stories.
Comments 17
Author
Connie, Diana, Taylor, Joannie, and Dana – Thanks so much for your encouraging thumbs up about my opening sentences for The Innocent. Those first lines are so important to get a reader to want to keep reading. I’m glad you thought they would have made you want to read on.
Christie. Una, Janice – I love that you love my books and want to keep reading. Christie, I’m glad you want me to keep them coming. If only I could write a little faster. Maybe I could if I didn’t go off walking my dog and reading other people’s books and trying to research to get things right in my books.
Yes! Who is the stranger? Why is he there? Are Asher’s instincts correct? Yes, I definitely want to keep reading.
Author
Glad my opening sentences have you coming up with some great questions about what might be next. And of course, Asher’s instincts were spot on. 🙂 It’s neat that you would want to read on to find out the answers to your questions.
Yes, I would like to continue reading that story to see what happens.
I love your books!
Those first lines of “The Innocent” definitely make you want to find out what happens next! Can’t wait to read it!
Author
Glad my first lines in The Innocent had you wondering about what happens next in the story. That’s what first lines are supposed to do. If you want to read the story, now is the time if you like to read on your Kindle. Or the print copy is still available on the internet booksellers.
Loved The Innocent and all the Shaker books!
I love your books! This month my local news channel has been showing “clear the shelters” days. I like dogs, like cats more, but don’t have any pets. I don’t want a dog in the house, and I don’t like cleaning litter boxes! That said, some of those cats and dogs have been soooo cute!!! My sister had a rottie, and I must say, if I was going to get a dog, it’d have to be one that didn’t have a tail, or was really soft! Some of those tails HURT when they hit!
Author
I wouldn’t want to see those “clear the shelters” ads, Trudy. I’d be wanting to add a dog to the mix. I might do that sometime anyway, but right now, just having the one dog seems right.
I smile at you saying your dog would have to have a clipped tail or a soft one. Frankie’s tail is pretty soft. But your comment made me remember a dog that my sister had. He was a German shepherd and when my youngest was maybe three, the dog would wag his tail and knock my son down. But he still grew up to be a dog lover.
Yes, I would like to read more.
Yes! I would love to read more!
I read “The Innocent” quite awhile back, but reading those first sentences makes me want to read it again! And, I love Asher! What a good boy. I’m a dog lover and everyday is Dog Day at our house, since we have four. And, all of them are rescues. Thank you for including dogs in your stories. But, most of all, thank you for including your faith!
Author
Asher was a great dog character, Judi. Loyal and smart. What more could a person want from a dog, right?
I’m a dog lover too and Frankie thinks it’s fine if it’s Dog Day every day. But wow! Four dogs. My son has three now, but he did have four and one is a huge mastiff. But he’s a sweetheart of a dog except sometimes he thinks he’s a lap dog.
Yes! It makes me want to read it.
Love all your books!! Keep them coming!!
Yes I would keep reading!