Bookwormed!

Julie Weathers made me do this.

I'm supposed to open the closest book to page 56, copy down the fifth sentence, then the following two to five sentences. After that, I'm supposed to make five other people do this, or at least ask them nicely.

The closest book physically to me is the one I'm currently reading, which is Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier, who is one of the best fantasy storytellers around. I always get sucked into her books, big time. She jacks the tension, and the stakes, way up high and keeps 'em there.

p. 56

(This comes in the middle of a dialogue segment.)

"He tried once to buy the disputed territory from me, and I turned him down. Well, he found another use for his silver pieces."

Eamonn took a mouthful of his wine, wiped his hand across his mouth. His expression was somber.

"We began to hear of lightning raids by an unseen enemy."

Then I thought, let's try this with my most recent purchase. And so the next is from Medicus, a mystery set in ancient Rome by Ruth Downie. I haven't read it yet.

p. 56 is at the very end of a chapter, and consists of only two sentences and a fragment left over from p. 55:

"...whole lot more bodies, three of them ours. My advice, Doctor, is not to get involved with the locals if you can help it."

"Yes, sir," said Ruso, glad the second spear did not know who was in Room Twelve.

Hmmm. That's enticing. Who is in Room Twelve?

I'm moving that one up in my TBR pile.

And finally, I'll copycat Julie and see what's on page 56 of my own manuscript.

Riordan laid the instrument aside before his clenched fingers could damage the fragile wood. It was a moment before he could speak. "I've been told that when I was an infant, my father would hold me in his arms and I would stare up at his eyes, never crying so long as he looked back at me." He swallowed heavily. "Tell me—is it an act of cowardice to look my father in the eye at dawn tomorrow and offer myself to his knife?"

An uncomfortable silence fell, until Darric cleared his throat. "That is not cowardice, true; it's more like an act of insanity."

Now--who gets to be tagged?

Cindy Pon

Lottery Girl

Jen

Jo Bourne

Lori

Tara Parker

OK, I did it! What's the prize?

There is a prize, isn't there?

A reward?

A cookie?

Something?