Title Woes, Part III (or is it IV? IX?)
In which the title sagas wage on.
I thought the title for my next contemporary thriller had been nailed down: The Deadlight Connection. The editors liked it. The sales department (far more important and powerful than mere editors!) liked it. The recently released edition of Archangel even carried teaser chapters of the book with the Deadlight title—advance publicity. So it was a done deal, right? Wrong.
About six weeks ago, Harper Collins cover conferenced the book. This is when the editors and marketing people get together with the art department to come up with cover concepts. Only problem was, the art people “couldn’t get their heads around the title.” (Huh?) So they wanted a new title. Preferably The Dead SOMETHING Connection.
My reaction was, You’ve got to be kidding? NOW you decide the title needs to be changed. And you want me to come up with a title to fit a cover idea? With the word “dead” in it? Like what? The Dead Nazis Connection?
Round and round we went. Like a good, cooperative author (uncooperative authors, unless they are HUGE, soon find themselves OOPs—Out of Print), I tried to come up with a new title. Steve and I spent hours, day after day, brainstorming new titles, but the results ranged from the dull to the ridiculous. I kept hoping HC would give in and go with the original title. But every Monday there would be a new little email in my box: Come up with any good title ideas over the weekend?
Finally, inspiration hit. I sent the idea in. A shout of jubilation went around the editors, the marketing people, the Art Department. A new title was born. And it shall be called The Solomon Effect.
My editor thought to ask, Does it have anything to do with the book? To which I responded, I’ll make it fit.
Sigh.
I thought the title for my next contemporary thriller had been nailed down: The Deadlight Connection. The editors liked it. The sales department (far more important and powerful than mere editors!) liked it. The recently released edition of Archangel even carried teaser chapters of the book with the Deadlight title—advance publicity. So it was a done deal, right? Wrong.
About six weeks ago, Harper Collins cover conferenced the book. This is when the editors and marketing people get together with the art department to come up with cover concepts. Only problem was, the art people “couldn’t get their heads around the title.” (Huh?) So they wanted a new title. Preferably The Dead SOMETHING Connection.
My reaction was, You’ve got to be kidding? NOW you decide the title needs to be changed. And you want me to come up with a title to fit a cover idea? With the word “dead” in it? Like what? The Dead Nazis Connection?
Round and round we went. Like a good, cooperative author (uncooperative authors, unless they are HUGE, soon find themselves OOPs—Out of Print), I tried to come up with a new title. Steve and I spent hours, day after day, brainstorming new titles, but the results ranged from the dull to the ridiculous. I kept hoping HC would give in and go with the original title. But every Monday there would be a new little email in my box: Come up with any good title ideas over the weekend?
Finally, inspiration hit. I sent the idea in. A shout of jubilation went around the editors, the marketing people, the Art Department. A new title was born. And it shall be called The Solomon Effect.
My editor thought to ask, Does it have anything to do with the book? To which I responded, I’ll make it fit.
Sigh.
Labels: covers, publishing industry, titles
posted by cs harris at 11:42 AM
8 Comments:
I'm afraid "the Dead Light Connection" is much better.
BTW, I started reading "What Angels Fear" last night and it's outstanding. I love the description of the fog shrouded streets.
Have you ever listened to this T. S. Eliott poem? It also discusses the yellow fog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXsItbsr4o0&eurl=http://lilliputreview.blogspot.com/
Solomon Effect has a sort of Clive Cussler/Geoffrey Archer/Wilbur Smith sound to it. Hopefully you'll get their sales!
Well, THE SOLOMON EFFECT is a Steve Berry-like title. Maybe you'll pull in some of his fan base. I agree with Charles, however--I like THE DEADLIGHT CONNECTION better. Although I find it ridiculous that the art department should govern the title of a book, I guess they know what pulls a shopper's eye to a new book. And let's face it, market share is all-important nowadays.
My belated comment is to agree the original title appeals more. What does the "Solomon" convey? Is it a biblical reference? Is the story set in the Solomon Islands?
Your experience confirms that while readers (remember them?) hold authors responsible for what goes in their books, and even what they're called, the Publishers and their committees are the all-powerful, unseen gods. Subservience must be practiced by your "good cooperative author" even as his/her reputation and fortunes are the ones that go on the line.
I, too, prefer "The Deadlight Connection" over what was chosen.
Now I see another hurdle in writing: titles.
Charles, glad to hear you're enjoying Angels. And yes, I love T.S Elliott.
Steve and Sphinx Ink, I think you're right; that's the audience they're going after.
Charles, Sphinxy, and Barbara, I really liked the "deadlight" imagery, too. As Chap notes, the Solomon imagery is rather scattered. In this instance, the reference is biblical.
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