“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.” ~Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert was a science fiction writer best known for his books, Dune and its five sequels. So he did keep going with those stories for a good long while. Here’s another quote along the same line.
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” ~Graham Greene
A writer or a reader can get to those final words in a story and take a moment to look back at the characters and events or look ahead and think about what might happen next to the people in the story. I believe many of my readers do that because I often get messages or comments about how the reader would like for me to write another story about my same characters to let them know what was going to happen next. But even when I have written additional books about the same characters (Heart of Hollyhill books; Rosey Corner books; Hidden Springs Mysteries), I’ve intended to end each story in a good place where you the reader can be glad you chose to follow my story trail to an end before you close my book.
So, as I thought about finally finding the end of my work in progress, I started thinking about those last lines. People sometimes share first lines of books, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anybody share last lines. So this could be a first! I’ve picked out some of the best last lines in my books. They don’t really give away the story except to show I do like a happy ending. Some of you might remember the stories when you read the last lines. If so, I hope that makes you smile. Others of you may not have read the books yet and I hope these last lines might make you want to pick the book up and start at the beginning with that first line.
Victor wouldn’t have been a bit surprised to see angels dancing right along beside her as they walked down the road toward home. ~Angel Sister
It was so good to come home to love. ~Love Comes Home
Love was the only anchor they needed. ~Murder Is No Accident
The lights flashed brighter than ever and sirens rang in his ears. This time it definitely had to be the kiss. ~Murder Comes by Mail
One step at a time. One day at a time. As long as she prayed believing. ~River to Redemption
They were going to make good music together. ~These Healing Hills
It was as it was meant to be. All cannot be Shakers. ~Last line of Sister Sophrena’s journal entry in The Gifted
Pray anyway. And so she did. With a glad and thankful heart. ~Carlyn in The Innocent
Such are the blessings of being a beloved child of God. ~The Refuge
All those last lines are set in print so no changing any of those. However, the last sentence in my work in progress, An Appalachian Summer, may very well be changed a dozen times. In fact, I just rewrote it when I went over to copy it for this post, and I’m already thinking a little more editing might help. 
Adventure awaited as they began living their own happily ever after story. ~An Appalachian Summer
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
To celebrate finding those elusive words “the end,” I’m giving away a book, maybe two. We’ll make this contest quick and have the deadline Saturday, June 15, 2019 at midnight EST. I’ll pick a winner by random number and announce the winner next Sunday, June 16th. Winner can have her or his choice of one of my books along with a grab bag book by a different author. To enter you must be at least 18 years old and all you have to do to throw your name in my givewaway hat is leave a comment on this post or on whatever I post on Wednesday. If you comment on both posts, you’ll get two entries. Easy enough.
To enter this time you can tell me which ending sentence here you like best and that might make you want to read the story that comes before that last sentence.