What's In A Title? Help Wanted

What I'm reading: The Lost (anthology--bike) by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, and Ruth Ryan Langan.

First – don't forget you have until tomorrow to leave a comment on Colleen Collins' Tuesday post to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of her book.

Also - I've got features for two different books today. FINDING SARAH is at Rock Bottom Reads, and DEADLY SECRETS is at Nook Lovers. I hope you'll point people that way.

A short while back, I asked for help with ideas for cover art and titles for my new Pine Hills book.  I'm participating in a Barnes & Noble program, which means I have to have everything ready to go in early March. I've sent the preliminary ideas to my cover artist, and my editor is working on the manuscript. But I need a title NOW.

There were some good suggestions, both via the blog and sent to me via email. The monkey-wrench in the decision is that since the book is part of a series, the titles should have the same feel. Also, they should, if at all possible, work "visually" with the others.

I've created a short survey where you can vote for your favorite, or suggest one of your own. Although most have "Scott" in the title, it's not required. I hope you'll give me some feedback, because when you're publishing an indie title, you don't have the luxury of wandering down the hall to a meeting of a marketing department. OK, I can wander down the hall, but there's never anybody there but me when I try to hold a meeting.

Click here to take the survey

Thanks!


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Whose Story Is It?

What I'm reading: Contest entry #4 of 8; The Affair, by Lee Child.

Remember, there's still plenty of time to comment on both my Monday post and Mike Nettleton's Tuesday post to enter to win books. And another reminder about my POV workshop at Savvy Authors. I'll be giving books away there, too. If you know someone who might benefit from a basic craft workshop, point them that way. (Link in the sidebar)

In the world of romance fiction, reader expectation dictates that you have (at least) two Point of View characters: hero and heroine. They both must have complete story arcs, almost equally weighted.

Key word: "almost". Because it's not really 50-50. It might be as close as 49-51, but the reader is usually left with the feeling that it was a "his" book or a "hers" book.

Not being much of a plotter, I knew who my characters were, and what their conflicts were, but I wasn't really paying a lot of attention to whose book it would turn out to be. It didn't really matter until I needed a title. (That's another thing I rarely come up with in advance.)

Now, this book is part of my Pine Hills Police series. I've got Finding Sarah and Hidden Fire. There's also Finding Fire, but that's a collection of connected short stories. The new book features two totally new characters, Scott and Ashley, but there are still many familiar faces. The title should somehow "fit" with the others, giving potential readers a signal that the books are part of a series. For example, my Blackthorne, Inc. series all have "Danger" in the title.

Titles - and a secret

What I'm reading: Master of Craving, by Karin Tabke

Names. By now, everyone (me included) is saturated with discussions of the new iPad (there were clearly no women on the team that came up with THAT name). This was an old spoof on the iPod, but it's just as appropriate now.


Naming things can be a headache. I hate coming up with titles for my books. When I started learning the business, everyone said not to worry about it because the publishers would change it. That was fine with me. Only my publishers never have, so what you see represent my struggles to find those perfect words.

Titles are the last things I come up with. WHAT'S IN A NAME? got its title the day I wanted to enter the manuscript in a contest and I had to write something on that "Title" line. Since the book dealt with people pretending to be someone else (or is it someone elses?), the title seemed appropriate. Even though that wasn't really what I had in mind when I wrote it, as long as it worked, I was happy.

Thanks! Looking Ahead

What I'm reading: Face of a Killer, by Robin Burcell

First Things First: I want to thank everyone who took time to pop over to the Night Owl Romance "Best of the Best" poll. Hidden Fire is one of the top three in Romantic Suspense. THANKS!!


On to the new year, which mentally starts today for me. Mondays don't mean much when you work at home, but starting a New Year on a Thursday just didn't work. Now that it's Monday, the routine is back; hubby goes to work, stores are open, school is back in session (not necessarily a good thing when you're stuck in traffic behind moms and dads jockeying around the traffic pattern to drop off kids).

Resolutions? Not for me, although I do resolve, for what little good it will do, NOT to get upset at the $4800 hospital bill we got on Saturday because hubby's employer canceled our medical insurance 6 weeks early. He has to iron that one out, and until he does, I will make a concerted effort not to turn to the chocolate.

I submitted a short story to Cerridwen Press yesterday for consideration in their upcoming "Free Reads" program. It's another Randy & Sarah story. We'll see if my editor approves it.

And today, I sever the last tie to my former day job when I turn over the keys to the storage locker.

Tomorrow I'm turning this space over to Teresa Reasor and her fascinating hobby. Please come back and join her.

I am within 2500 words of my goal for cutting Fozzie's book at which point I suppose I'll need a title! I really, really hate coming up with titles. In my computer files, it's still "Fozzie's Book". However, I got a great idea for a totally different title this morning when I called one of my detective contacts, Mark Hussey, to ask a couple of questions about terminology. He answered the phone, "Homicide. Hussey." Can't you just see it? Homicide Hussey. What a great title. Now, all I'd have to do is write the book! Meanwhile, I'm fumbling for something clever and evocative for Fozzie's book. And, more good news. Detective Hussey has written down accounts of a lot of his adventures during his police career, and he's giving me permission to share some of them. I don't have a set schedule for these, so you'll just have to check back regularly.
(Hint -- you can sign up to follow this blog)

No Theme Today

No real theme today, just odds and ends.

Tomorrow our RWA chapter is hosting Eileen Ann Brennan, who's going to address the topic of sexual tension. As always, I'll be posting notes next week. I'm not sure exactly what day the post will show up, so please check back. Or, you can become a 'follower' of the blog and you'll be notified of new posts. Or the feed option. I'm still in awe of all this technology.

Last night's event for the Ovarian Cancer Alliance was fun--a definite change of pace from a book signing. Vendors from all over town were there--everything from free chair massages to jewelry to toys. And of course there were three local writers with books to sign! Oh, and did I mention free food and wine? Dara and Katie--you were great table partners (but Katie, next time get a table that doesn't take four people to carry!)

My crit partner and I met earlier in the day and did some brainstorming. It's been a while since we've had time for a face to face meet, and it was great to get the wheels turning. I still don't have the definitive title for Fozzie's book; there's a theme of 'setting roots' in the book, but most of the titles we tossed around sounded like gardening or genealogy books. Definitely have to work on it some more.

Today's Gratitude List

1. All the wonderful people who came out last night in support of the Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

2. Dara, for her great ideas

3. Tom, for volunteering to read my knife fight scene and make sure I didn't say anything stupid.