First sentences

I once heard that the first sentence in any story is important. It needs to arouse curiosity in readers, to make them want to keep reading. That's hard.

Here are a couple of my starters. Some are really bad, and others are poorly structured sentences, but I'm still editing. Hmm.. My two Adventures of a Pirate books begin with complaints about the heat. And my Pendragon books all start with asking a question.

The day had begun with a relentless heat.

~The Black Horizon

It was so hot, I felt as if I was melting.

~Lost Treasure

The crowd of drably dressed screaming commoners fled out of the tall pine forest. 

~Burnt

I received my draft notice soon after I turned eighteen.

~Flying Colors

The tall blond skinny boy sat on the chair, his fingers crossed, staring at the man behind the desk.

~Ghost Island

What am I going to do with a diary?

~A Prince Charming Diary

“Johnathon Dulzer!” that particular young man's mother screamed, as her nine year old son flew past dragging the cat by its tail, the remainder of the drapes still clenched in its claws.

~Justice Begins

Do you believe in other worlds?

~Key of Avalon

A thick choking dust settled over the scorching brown desert of Pègre.

~The Line in the Sand

Jill Rice was disappointed with the Van Gogh painting.

~Lord Nobody

Miss Elizabeth Bolshim slid into her desk and hastily bent over her manual, in the pretense that she had been working for a long time.

~Man of Shadow

Before I begin this second story in this ancient saga, let me ask you one simple question.

~The Pendragon Heir

An alarm shrilled, and lights flashed, but otherwise the smoke filled planet army base was deathly silent.

~Planet of DEATH

I leaned against the yellowish stone wall of the St. Norbert's Catholic school.

~The Promise

Ferrin scrambled up, onto the ridge and looked down on his little cottage with pride.

~Protectors of the Kingdom

The night sky was lit up with a strange red glow, that flickered and it was strangely warm for season of the red leaves.

~A Ranger's Quest

The black pirate ship bore down on Narik's little wolf ship, giving the young raider captain no time to turn his ship about.

~The Pirate Fleet

“Sire, wake up!” the steward shouted as he burst into the King's chamber, a lighted candle in his hand.

~The Ranger's Bow

The rope bit into my wrists as the ship plunged downwards.

~In My Enemies Land

“Red alert! Red alert!” a man in a green suit yelled as he tore past rows of desks and black garbed government agents.

~The Rubbish Inventor

I think I will start by introducing myself.

~Sword of Light

A light drizzly rain was falling from the night sky.

~The Night Thief

~E