Author Guest Post with Terry Korth Fischer, Gone Before

Small-town detective, Rory Naysmith, thought he’d seen it all, but a young woman’s brutal murder is especially hard to stomach. Doubly so, when he recognizes the murder’s MO is identical to that of Tobias Snearl—the killer he put behind bars a decade before.

Welcome to one of the April 19th stops on the blog tour for Gone Before by Terry Korth Fischer with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, author guest posts & interviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

No one gets a second chance at a first impression. All aspects of a novel are important, but the beginning of a story might be the most important of all. The job of the opening line is to make the reader read the second line, then the paragraph, and then the page, then…. you get the picture.  If, when readers look inside your book and the first words intrigue them, they are more likely to want more. On the other hand, if the opening is dull and uninspiring, chances are they will leave the book unread.

Here are six ideas to help make your beginning one that appeals to readers.

• Define the Story Task
  1. Open with the big picture goal, although; a subtask or a minor goal for the first scene that hints at the bigger picture or mirrors the primary task works. Remember, the reader needs to buy into the undertaking. Your job is to create a desire to see the goal achieved.  

• Introduce an Intriguing Character
  • Introduce a protagonist with an unusual mix of characteristics, like a rap-singing nun or a shoeless undertaker.
  • Present a character whose response to an event is relatable. Trigger a bond, think about a phobia, a pet peeve, or the love of chocolate.
  • Give the character an attitude the reader yearns to have but doesn’t have the nerve to carry off, like being a dare-devil, the ability to speak their mind, or not being encumbered by reality.

• Pose a Mystery
  • Pose a problem: Who, what, why, how: find a dead body, empty safe, or hidden message. 
  • Suggest there is something mysterious about a character, place, or time.
  • The arrival of a mysterious person, object, or disastrous event.

• Spring a Surprise
  • Use an unanticipated or astounding event, something that makes the reader think, “Wow!” or “No way!” Or— “I got to read this!”
  • Have the character do something surprising or unexpected such as a granny who pulls out a submachine gun, a French-speaking begonia, or a character dressed as a bride attending a funeral.

• Stage a Conflict
  • Tension in a relationship—co-workers, significant other, the dog next door.
  • Conflicting desires within a character include knowing what is right and doing the opposite anyway.
  • Characters with opposing points of view that give the sense more overt conflict will happen later in the book.

• Use Action
  • The action doesn’t have to be a life and death conflict, but make sure your character is doing something, not watching, not remembering. Put them in the middle—NOW!
  • Intrigue can fall short. There needs to be enough characterization before the active conflict for the reader to care about the character. For example, if you begin with Joe hiding under the desk when the door opens, readers only care if they know who Joe is, why he’s hiding, and who is behind the door. Make the reader interested in finding out what happens next.

Make an excellent first impression; write, edit, and re-write until you get a beginning that really draws the reader into your story.

About the Book

Gone Before
Rory Naysmith Mysteries Book Two
by Terry Korth Fischer

Published 17 January 2022
Wild Rose Press

Genre: Mystery
Page Count: 316
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Small-town detective, Rory Naysmith, thought he’d seen it all, but a young woman’s brutal murder is especially hard to stomach. Doubly so, when he recognizes the murder’s MO is identical to that of Tobias Snearl—the killer he put behind bars a decade before. His frustration grows after a series of senseless accidents plague those dearest to him, and a second woman dies—this one too close to home. Searching for answers, Rory races against time, plunging deep into the murder investigations, drawing ever closer to becoming a casualty of the dark, angry deeds himself, until he finds no one is who they pretend to be—and none are beyond evil’s reach.

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Excerpt

“I think my guardian angel is off for the Fourth.” The detective studied the cloudless sky and tried not to think about his foot. It didn’t work. “Just use the crowbar to break one of these frickin’ stones loose.”

The jack handle didn’t do the trick. Opening the trenching tool and using the pick end, Thacker swung it against the largest stone. It bounced off the surface.

Rory suppressed a scream as pain shot from his knee down his encased leg. “Easy!”

“Sorry, boss.”

“Try removing one of the outer stones. Loosen them, and maybe we’ll be able to budge these. I’ll hold the light, and you make room for these damn jaws to unclasp. Try finding the cornerstone.”

A fine layer of perspiration covered Rory’s face. He felt defeated and a little nauseous. He leaned back on his elbows and looked at the sky. “Thacker,” he said, “this is damn unlucky.”

The rookie moved down the mound to the edge of the pile. Using the crowbar and a lot of muscle, he attacked. Finally, he was able to roll one stone out of position. Then another. He was still three feet from Rory’s crevice, working his way toward the more enormous boulders and Rory’s ultimate freedom, when the rock he was prying loose rolled out of place. He hesitated. “There is something funny here, boss.”

“I could use a good laugh.”

“Not ha-ha funny, peculiar funny.” “Tell me anyway.”

“There’s someone else in this rock pile.”

About the Author

Terry Korth Fischer writes mystery and memoir. Her memoir, Omaha to Ogallala, was released in 2019. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies in print and online. Terry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Pennwriters, Inc, and Clear Lake Area Writers. Transplanted from the Midwest, Terry lives in Houston with her husband and their two guard cats. She enjoys a good mystery, heat and humidity, and long summer days.

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Giveaway Alert!

Terry Korth Fischer will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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