Cliffhangers get a bad rap from the reading community. They moan and complain and say that they hate them with a passion! But from a writer's perspective, cliffhangers are little more than a tool for suspense, right? So how do we craft endings to our fiction novels that are exciting and suspenseful (and yes, sometimes leave information out!), but that don't enrage our readers? The answer to creating suspense is finding that balance between what to share and what to hide; it's about careful and strategic placement of details. In Hook, Line, and Cliffhanger, delve into the intricacies of effective (and ineffective!) cliffhanger endings. It will identify different types of endings that are often considered cliffhangers by readers, and discuss when to use them, when not to use them, and how to do so most impactfully. In addition, this book will go over the different types of book series, to better understand how to keep your reader turning page after page late into the night—and then grabbing the next book in the series as soon as they finish the first. Learn how to shove your readers over the edge of that suspenseful cliff, and have them enjoy the fall.

BOOKER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A novel that follows a middle-aged man as he contends with a past he never much thought about—until his closest childhood friends return with a vengeance: one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present. A novel so compelling that it begs to be read in a single setting, The Sense of an Ending has the psychological and emotional depth and sophistication of Henry James at his best, and is a stunning achievement in Julian Barnes's oeuvre. Tony Webster thought he left his past behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and the modern classics My Sister’s Keeper, The Storyteller, and more, comes a “complex, compassionate, and smart” (The Washington Post) novel about a family torn apart by a murder accusation. When your son can’t look you in the eye…does that mean he’s guilty? Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. He has a special focus on one subject—forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he’s always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he’s usually right. But when Jacob’s small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob’s behaviors are hallmark Asperger’s, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are thrust directly in the spotlight. For Jacob’s mother, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, it’s another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And for the frightened small town, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder? House Rules is “a provocative story in which [Picoult] explores the pain of trying to comprehend the people we love—and reminds us that the truth often travels in disguise” (People).

Solène Marchand begins an impassioned affair with a member of her daughter’s favorite boy band.

Heart rate is rising, call the doctor, stat! Emergency room nurse, Mallory Locke takes dating lightly. After leaving her husband to return to her hometown, she doesn't have the desire to allow anyone into her life. But, seeing her high-school crush after years of separation could just be the key to opening her heart. CAT scan technician, Drew Carson, is a devoted father to his 7-year-old daughter especially after losing his wife to cancer. His new job at Bay City Medical keeps him busy and the demands of a growing girl tells him she needs a mother figure. Still the thought of moving on doesn't cross his mind until he runs into his first true love. Mallory's past catches up to her, and the dream of making things right with Drew shatters. She must stand up for herself and face her fears. Can Mallory fight for her right of happiness or will she submit to the one who hurt her the most? Hook, Line, & Vital Signs is the second book in the Bay City Medical series with a new cast of characters and cameos from your favorites from book one. It has a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhanger.

You're holding a book that's a bit different. It's not a novel, not a single story, but my first cracks at writing fiction. Venturing into the art of storytelling has been a transformative journey that commenced in the spring of 2020. Before that, I was the reader, not the writer, consuming philosophy books and novels like they were going out of style. But writing my own stuff? That was a whole new ball game. In this collection of seven volumes, you'll find each attempt at a story is its own thing, not connected to the others. Think of them as a bunch of mismatched socks that have somehow ended up in the same drawer. They've got one thing in common though—they're all part of my journey from avid reader to rookie writer. I'm inviting you to come along . With every page you turn—you're getting a glimpse into my learning curve, the rough and the smooth. Remember, as you dive into these pages, you're witnessing my first steps into a world I'd only ever seen from the reader's side.