This would have to be one of the hardest things to learn how to do consistently for an author. Providing “that” moment when a reader takes a deep breath, leans back and says to themselves, “I can’t believe that just happened.”

Think of how some of the best do it. Think of when Joffrey orders Ned Stark’s head chopped off in A Game of Thrones. When Dan Abnett reveals that the Blood Ravens in the 40K universe were actually a company of Thousand Sons that chose not to betray the Imperium 10,000 years ago. When Boromir loses control and tries to take the ring from Frodo only to then regain his honour by sacrificing himself. When Grymauch dies defending his love in Storm Rider. I wish I could bottle that feeling, that awesome, jaw dropping moment that makes whatever money you spent on the paperback or ePub worth it. Sometimes worth it ten times over in my opinion!

However, having said that, there are probably equally as many times when that moment has either been missed, or royally messed up. When you’ve been built up to a climax only to get through it and think, “Wow. That’s disappointing.”

From an author and a reader’s perspective that moment is what I think makes a book. 100,000 words and it all comes down to a few paragraphs to really provide that singular moment that makes the time spent reading the novel worth it. That killer punch that any obsessive reader chases like a surfer chases ‘that wave’. I crave that moment; hopefully one day my living will depend on it!

What is your favourite moment from your favourite book?