Stories Behind Titles

I have to admit I love alliteration in my titles.  The WIP I just finished was titled A Bride at Willow Bend.  Love the b's. 

Sam, I love this topic. I HAVE to have a title in mind when I'm working on a book, even if it gets changed. As it frequently does.

My January book is titled DADDY BY SURPRISE. It wasn't my working title, but when I started the book, I thought the heroine got pregnant from their one-night stand. Before I finished the book, however, I emailed my editor and said, "Umm...you might want to re-think the title because the big surprise is SHE ISN'T PREGNANT." 

Luckily, I have a wonderful editor who can see the big picture when I'm in the trenches. She felt the title still worked on several other levels and even had a great idea for the cover art. Whew!

So, tell me, where do you find out that your title has been changed for the UK? Someone on the Supers thread mentioned that LOVE, BY GEORGE (my title, BTW, George is a dog) had been changed, but I never found out to what.

Deb

I'm horrible at titles. When I submitted Wanted Man, it was called Painted Love because it was about...a housepainter. Heh. The editor had to read it for a contest or I bet it would have gotten chucked just because the title was so ridiculous.

His Secret Past was called Truth or Dare which I liked but isn't very Superish. One of my joke suggestions for that book was Stairway to Harlequin because the hero is a rocker.

I have my fingers crossed that I'll get to keep the working titles for my 2009 books: The Boyfriend's Back and The Runner Up. They both work from a character motivation and plot hint point of view. I think they sound a little Superish. We'll see.

By the way, I love Talking in Your Sleep (Sam), The Soldier's Homecoming (Donna), and Baby by Contract (Deb). All great titles for great books!

Ellen

The Way Home  - Supers?

In Bed With the Devil - Blaze or SRS/Intrigue

The Bride's Baby - Romance

Heated Rush-  Blaze

The British Billionaire Affair - Desire

Getting Some - Blaze

The Lawman's Secret Son - Supers or SSE or American (how's that for hedging my bets?)

Hot Zone  - Blaze

Mistress Under Contract  - Presents or Presents extra

My titles haven't changed for releases in the UK and NA, but some of the translations are great.  Marriage at Circle M became (translated) Tell Me Your Secrets in both spanish and portuguese.  It's a PERFECT title.

Donna

Oh, good grief. I really have to hope this is a good thing, culturally, that I simply don't understand. Because my first thought was "Did they use Superglue?"

Thanks for letting me know, Kaelee. I asked the power that be how to get this info...because I think it's interesting and some readers would be tickled to have this inside info. They couldn't tell me, so now I'm checking out Holly's site. Is there anything she doesn't know?

I'm guessing the Love, By George is an American-ism, for one thing. And they might have a rule about not using titles that in any way could be construed as mocking a monarch.

Very interesting, though. 

Deb

Sometimes a great title can tempt me to read a book by an author of whom I know nothing...  Of course, if I already like the author, even a ridiculous title will get a look. 

I'd noticed some of the other houses doing the same thing when bringing British titles to the US (notably for Agatha Christie and D. E. Stevenson novels back in time).  It makes it confusing and expensive for collectors...    However, where there is slang in a title, I totally understand, as the languages, similar though they are, are different!  So far, I haven't had a problem with that.  (Just wait till I'm published, though!!  )

About titles...  that stand out...

Designed to Annoy ...  I thought this was cute.  An older "Postcards" HP.  I love an annoying heroine.  I love a clumsy heroine.  The title made me curious.  In this case, it ended up being a stubborn intelligent heroine who wouldn't let the hero shrug her off, she held onto him like a dog on a bone to get her way.  Her way being that he assumed responsibility for his abandoned/orphaned baby nephew.  She got clever and cheeky with it, and tried to prove his brother could have fathered a kid...  by making the hero desire her at a masked ball and seeing how far he'd take an instant attraction. 

And a funny thing about titles....  if they mention "Greek", "Italian", "Sicilian", or "Spaniard" I'm usually tempted.  If they mention "French", I'm not as interested.  I don't even dislike the French!  France is supposed to have a reputation for romance!  I don't know why I don't find a French hero romantic.  Partly because I think of mimes and twirly moustaches.  I don't know. 

About covers.... dark haired hero, with thick longish hair...  I want to curl my fingers in it.  Short cropped hair?  Not as appealing.  Blonde hair, I'm not a blond girl really. 

Suits....  I read lots of HP/SDs, so there's lots of suits.  I'm not much of a suit girl, unless the hero fills out the suit nicely.  (sometimes the heroes look a little thin and don't fill it out entirely)  I think in those cases it's better to show a little skin.  (suggesting skin? who me??? )  I'm all for faded black jeans and no shirt.  Or an unbuttoned shirt if he wants a little modesty.

I don't know if Anita Mae's story has a cowboy in it or not but my heart went up a notch or more when this young hunky cowboy asked me to "excuse me ma'am" at the Calgary Stampede this year and DH was with me. Yes I can see why the title might not work but I can also see why it might work also. I am really disappointed when the title doesn't seem to fit the story. However I am more disappointed if the blurb on the back doesn't fit and I really, really hate it if the cover doesn't fit.

I am a read-only person or just a reader. I find in my everyday life when I am stuck finding a solution to a problem that I often spend time working on other less important things or even silly things because the problem is so over whelming. I'm thinking maybe you are stuck in your writing now and this is your solution to give your brain the rest it may need. Good luck with your writing. I am looking forward to reading your books in the future.

I know my comment came out of left field but Sam because you write you focused in on what I was trying to say.I know from another blog that Jodie is going through a rough patch right now and somehow I wanted to reassure her that it's okay to lose your focus because sometimes when you do the solution comes to you. An editor would have a field day with that run on sentence.

Sam I love your voice of reason and your thoughtful comments.

Anita Mae, I like that title.  I was thinking maybe Marry Me, Miss? until I found out the H is a cowboy....  And Missy would be a little too cutesie.  

Jodie, with your H Evan, I automatically started thinking of the Evan Evans mysteries by Rhys Bowen... Every title has some variation of Evan or Evans in it, e.g., Evans Above, Evan and Elle, Evans to Betsy, etc.  How about something like Ever Evan or Evan Love ??

Of course, titles are probably the most replaceable thing about a novel, but you can at least try!  (One novel of mine has had at least four, and not been published yet!  )