Genuine Surprise

By Christine Thackeray

I have to admit I startle easily. When very focused on what I'm doing, it may only take a hand on my shoulder to make me jump. At church while talking to a friend, one of my children often sneaks up and leaves me jolted by their sudden scream. The worst is when I'm preparing to sneeze, and my husband shouts a pretend scream just before my authentic ach-oo emerges because then my sneeze never comes and my nose is left itchy and unsatisfied.

In life sudden surprises may not be that great, but in writing genuine surprises are phenomenal. Not only are they rare but if done correctly, they leave you revisiting the plot line in your mind long after you've put down the book, trying to figure out how you didn't see it coming.

Bravo to Tristi who has accomplished this feat in her latest novel "Agent in Old Lace." It's a worthy goal many writers should strive for.