I don’t get far enough into a boring book to hate it. - Gary Wills

The opening lines of a book are so important. You really need to somehow charm your reader. If you can’t get her attention in the first pages, you may have lost her. There has to be an ambiance. - Tatiana de Rosnay

Writing the opening lines of a story is a bit like starting to ski at the steepest part of the hill. You must have all your skills under control from the first instant. - Marion Dane Bauer