It is a truth universally acknowledged ...

By Catriona

"Readers often read the opening few lines or page to a book before deciding to buy. What makes an opening sentence stand out above the rest? Give examples of openings, including your own, that you believe work brilliantly. Any tips or lessons learned for new authors about what to avoid on that first page?"

Funnily enough, it was today I got an email from the organisers of Desert Sleuths' Write Now! with the rules, deadlines and - most importantly - the 47 entries in this year's firs...