Happiness is a good book.
Happiness is a package on your doorstep.
Happiness is sharing a great read with a friend.
I’ve got a book.
Would you like it?
Despite the fact that I regularly post book reviews, I don’t always like reading them. I don’t want to know what happens. I want it all to be a fantastic surprise as it unfolds. I don’t like reading the back of the book, it gives away too much. I like reading the first page, the first line.
“It was as black in the closet as old blood.” At least three quarters of the credit for this masterpiece goes to John who came up with all the ideas and drew the chemical structure!
That’s the first line of the book I have here.
This book is used. Or shall we say, softened. Broken in, ready for a new friend. It is a book I’ve read and loved and if you stopped by to chat I’d try to send it home with you.
Leave a comment with the title of the book in it and I’ll throw your name in the hat.
Maybe the happiness will come your way.
Contest will be open through April 18th.
Winner will have the dubious award of receiving our hand letting artwork in the mail as well as the book.
Artists of all kinds (Yes, you photographers and you who says you can’t draw and you who just wants to practice hand lettering and you who is selling paintings online and…all of you!) if you are interested in providing a small piece of work that includes a first sentence I would love to hear from you!
Authors, have I read your book and tagged it as a recommended read? Would you like to donate a hard copy? Let me know!
Behind the Willows 
Oh Jessie, isn’t this a wonderful idea and a book to win too. John deserves major kudos. I too always love first sentences. I gauge most books on the first sentence. If that doesn’t work, the first paragraph must bring me in.
Yes, that’s exactly how I do it too! (And I’m happy to send this book winging it’s way out of the country if you’d like to join in too!)
‘The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie’
Yay! Thanks for playing! 🙂
Well, darn… I don’t have a print book for giveaway. Want a digital one? And, on another note, here is first line of my work in progress: “I always knew my office was haunted, I just never knew I was the ghost.”
Oooo I like it!
And I know you don’t have a print book… I checked – I was hoping!
So I guess you’ll just have to be on the receiving end of books- that’s never a bad thing leave the title of this one if you’d like it. And if you haven’t read it you TOTALLY should!!! 🙂
I love this idea! Genius!
I’m not sure I have a first line… Does it have to be my own writing or do I have to quote from a book that’s already published?
If you’d like to win the book, you don’t need a first line. You can just tell me which book the first line in the picture came from! 🙂
Hey Jessie! Thanks for getting back to me! It’s from the Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley!
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Oh- unless I just read that wrong and you’d like to do some first line art (forgive me, I don’t do well in the AM) and then it’ll be from a published book that I pick. (I’ve got to have it to send it after all!) But I should be able to give you a few options.
Sounds like a great book!! I love that the book is already loved. 😉
It is a great book! You should look up that line and leave another comment with the title maybe you can be the next one to love it! 🙂
I don’t know the book but this is a wonderful idea, not least for the promise of seeing other opening lines illustrated. You reminded me of the invitations and book covers we made for our wedding using words and quotes😊
What a fun idea for your invitations! (And if you don’t know the book it’s a google-able first line) 😉
Fab post Jessie and I am in total agreement about blurbs and reviews, I just don’t read them. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie has a terrific opening line and I’d love to have the rest of it to read 😉
Nice to know I’ve got good company in my avoidance of reviews! 🙂