Writer in Residence Workshop: Grand Openings: The All-Important First Page

Grand Openings: The All-Important First Page

A strong opening page is vital to attracting an agent weeding through her slush pile, an editor seeking the next project, and a reader prowling through the bookstore. In this workshop we examine 6 opening pages, from well-known and award-winning books in different genres, to discover some of the techniques authors use to create compelling, dynamic, engaging openings.  

USA Today bestselling author Karen Odden earned her PhD in English at New York University, writing her dissertation on Victorian literature. After teaching at UW-Milwaukee and editing for an academic journal, she turned to writing mysteries, all of which are set in 1870s London. Her fourth, Down a Dark River, an Oprah Daily pick, introduces readers to Inspector Michael Corravan at Scotland Yard; the sequel, Under a Veiled Moon, was nominated for the Agatha, Lefty, and Anthony awards for best historical mystery in 2023. She is a member of the national board of Sisters in Crime and has taught workshops across the US for writing groups, libraries, and conferences, including Desert Nights, Rising Stars at ASU. She makes her home in Arizona and Utah, where she loves to hike while plotting crimes. www.karenodden.com