Beginnings & Endings

I am way overdue for a blog post—although I’ve been participating in a fun weekly “Medieval Monday” nature-themed fall blog fest. I usually end the year with a best-of list or recap (and that may come January 1st). This time, I want to talk about beginnings and endings with books…simply put: how to name this darn thing I’ve poured my heart into?

Ah, choosing the perfect book title.

This FINALLY happened a few days ago:

Woo-Who! I FINALLY typed those magical words on my latest manuscript after over 6 months of writer’s block and the rocky coaster that has been 2020!

But with the end, comes the beginning all over. The title. I have a working title but it doesn’t feel right. How does an author find the perfect title to convey the mood and plot of her story in so few words? I’ve yet to even write my blurb or query, so how can I describe my story in 5 words or less? I know what my story is about, but how to convey it in a few magical words to my readers? Here are a few words that come to mind with my latest book (which is a sweet contemporary romance meets women’s fiction, a genre I call “love story”).

Words, words, words. I am a word lady. I love to write out words when coming up with a title. Just like searching on images evokes my cover ideas (and is far easier for me, TBH!), word bubbles help me create the title.

Some titles have come naturally and stuck. Some took more puzzling out. When it comes down to it, a title should:

• Convey the mood (is this a story of hope? loss? mystery? suspense?)

• Hint at the plot (what is this story about?)

• Follow the market (has this been used before?)

• Fit with genre trends (romance, suspense, fantasy)

• Use simple, descriptive language

• Be relatable to readers

  It may: use character name or occupation, lift words from the story, play into theme, hint at intrigue/mystery, use famous phrases, use hooks, be formulaic/use punctuation, or be as simple as one word

Uh yeah, so no easy task! A title can make or break a book. Obscure or confusing titles may confound readers or intrigue them. Some of the simplest titles are mind-blowing amazing. I am sure we can all rattle off a few of our favorites, new or classic.

My visual inspiration for the newest book…just a snapshot into key elements. Some authors have Pinterest boards for their visuals.

SO here I am, having written “THE END” and yet, back to the beginning I go! My biggest hurdle seems to be convey the mood (sad, but hopeful), without using an overused or cliché title already out there.

How did I get my other titles?

The “Hundred Trilogy”

A Hundred Breaths, A Hundred Kisses, A Hundred Lies

Admittedly, I wrote the middle book first, and it was meant to be a stand alone, based on this curse of a hundred kisses. Being romance, I wanted something romance-y. What is not more romantic than “kisses?” Add in the curse of a “hundred” and there we had it. My heroine is also a Feeler, using touch to sense auras/life bloods. Kissing is a very touch-y word. Next came the prequel. I wanted to keep the hundred. Breaths came to mind as it plays deeply into the plot line (the heroine loses “breaths” of her life with every healing she does, and to heal her loved one might take every last “a hundred” breath). Breaths can also be sensual. Lastly, book three. I was torn between using “lies” or “truths.” I chose lies, again, because it tied into the plot (a fraudulent fortune-teller who tells lies for a living, who meets a true Seer, and his own visions have become murky lies). Lies packed more punch that truths.

Soul of the Storm

This one took lots of reworking but in the end, I LOVED it. I had a dozen titles I ran by my beta readers. Words that bobbed in the brainstorming sea included: peaks, mountain, healing, past/loss, remembrance, courage, yesterday. This title plays into plot (a past winter storm that caused the loss of a loved one, and a current winter storm that puts my heroine to the test), as well as mood and play on words. The soul is the heart or center of the metaphorical storm. There is both the literal storm in the book, but also the heart of a storm raging in my characters. They need to find their center, their heart, true self.

Will Rise from Ashes

Ah, the one I call my book baby (though as authors we are not supposed to refer to them as thus). This story is about a mother on a journey with her son, Will, in the wake of a devastating volcano that leaves her other son’s whereabouts unknown. She is widowed and cannot lose another loved one. She must overcome. I wanted to play on the name Will in the title. I also wanted to convey the road of grief AJ Sinclair’s walked in her life: her past, her present, and her future. I wanted to show a world that would rise up out of the ashes of mother nature, out of our own fraught journeys, while also showing that her son, who is autistic, will also overcome his challenges. It is a story of heartache, healing, hope, and acceptance. My first title was Will Not Fade Away. I still like it. But, under editorial advisement (it has a double negative —“not fade”— which might take longer for brains to process; it also has a darker tone) we chose Will Rise from Ashes: AJ, her son, and the world all will rise from literal and metaphorical ashes.

There you have it. Am I any closer to my new manuscript’s title? NOPE. Will I get there? Eventually. With my word bubbles, brainstorming, researching, and beta feedback? You betcha.

Readers — share with my your favorite titles and why!

Authors — share with me how you have come up with some of your fantastic titles!

Medieval Monday, Week 11

Medieval Monday, autumn-style

WEEK 11

Another week of Medieval Monday! Almost to the end. How are you hanging in there?

This swampy area on a nearby trail never ceases to bore me. Each time, the reflection is calm and clear, the colors and shadows varied. The photos are from the same spot, taken just weeks apart. Left: yesterday, sun shining. Right: 2 weeks ago, overcast sky.

Check out Medieval Romance Lovers as we share in the fall theme of "Nature" in our excerpts from our medieval stories. You’ll see weekly snippets each Monday on our blogs. And since I live in New England, home to memorable fall foliage, I will continue to try to post some photos! This week, though, is a map from my book. The trilogy spans across northern England, the Highlands, and west to the isles.

Read last week’s scene snippet here.

I encourage you to follow along with all the other Medieval Monday authors on the Facebook page here. You will find the links to their blogs where they are sharing their snippets. There may be even be some giveaways on the page…

You can also find us on Twitter at #MedMonFall20

This week’s snippet…

Set-up:

Domhnall is a Seer who descends from powerful Ancients with mystical abilities. He suffers from terrible visions of the Sight, an affliction that comes with each touch, except with Rosalie. He is taking Rosalie on a stroll through the village. They come upon the loch shore and he suggests they collect pebbles for her necklace-making. Rosalie is a crafter and fortune-teller, scrimping to make ends meet and support her uncle and aunt, but she is also on the run from a vengeful noblewoman not pleased with her readings. She tells lies for a living. Domhnall believes her to be a true seer.

This week’s snippet…

“Her sons are dead?”

She nodded. “And she still plots to see her husband dead. She is with child. It’s not his. She knows I know this.”

“Hmm.”

“I believe now she wanted all of them to die. She is sly, Domhnall. She doesn’t usually confront people. Quiet. Keeps to herself. I believe she only came to me for readings out of desperation. She exploits others to her causes. She has naught but one friend in court, and from what I hear, her standing is shaky with nobility after the revolt. She avoids making a scene, as it would soil her reputation.”

“So she wouldn’t just confront you?”

Rosalie shrugged. “Not likely. She wouldn’t engage with me in public unless she must. She’d find another person to do her bidding. I should return to Edinburgh. I’ve brought trouble to your home.”

Stay Tuned….

Universal Link ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Bookbub ~

Goodreads ~ Kobo ~ Google ~ coming out in audio book format on Audible and iTunes soon!

Medieval Monday, Week 10

Medieval Monday, autumn-style

WEEK 10

Another week of Medieval Monday!

Inspiring pond nearby.

Check out Medieval Romance Lovers as we share in the fall theme of "Nature" in our excerpts from our medieval stories. You’ll see weekly snippets each Monday on our blogs. And since I live in New England, home to memorable fall foliage, I will continue to try to post some photos! This week, though, is a map from my book. The trilogy spans across northern England, the Highlands, and west to the isles.

Read last week’s scene snippet here.

I encourage you to follow along with all the other Medieval Monday authors on the Facebook page here. You will find the links to their blogs where they are sharing their snippets. There may be even be some giveaways on the page…

You can also find us on Twitter at #MedMonFall20

This week’s snippet…

Set-up:

Domhnall is a Seer who descends from powerful Ancients with mystical abilities. He suffers from terrible visions of the Sight, an affliction that comes with each touch, except with Rosalie. He is taking Rosalie on a stroll through the village. They come upon the loch shore and he suggests they collect pebbles for her necklace-making. Rosalie is a crafter and fortune-teller, scrimping to make ends meet and support her uncle and aunt, but she is also on the run from a vengeful noblewoman not pleased with her readings. She tells lies for a living. Domhnall believes her to be a true seer.

This week’s snippet…

Illumination filled his mind. His thoughts had been elsewhere during Aileana’s celebration, but he recalled an Englishwoman among the guests. She had been in the castle. “Tell me about her.”

Rosalie bit her lip. His legs fought him, told him to pace, untangle the mess by movement, but he made them stand still.

“Aunt Nelda used to work in her castle—a tower house on the border—in the kitchen. She came to our shop a few times, for readings. She’d heard of my abilities. Are you familiar with the Despensers?”

“No.”

“Many barons with powerful allies led a revolt against King Edward and Hugh Despenser after the king took their land. There was, and still is, much strife in England. One of the men in the opposition was Warden Brantingham of the marches, the lady’s husband. The lady, hmm, she’s not on amicable terms with her husband either. There’s no love in their union. My vision showed him dying in the conflict. Instead, his sons died in battle, and he returned home. She was furious. Came to our shop, hurt Os.” She lowered her voice to but a whisper. “We left and moved to Edinburgh.”

Stay Tuned….

Universal Link ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Bookbub ~

Goodreads ~ Kobo ~ Google ~ coming out in audio book format on Audible and iTunes soon!

Medieval Monday, Week 9

Medieval Monday, autumn-style

WEEK 9

Another week of Medieval Monday!

Check out Medieval Romance Lovers as we share in the fall theme of "Nature" in our excerpts from our medieval stories. You’ll see weekly snippets each Monday on our blogs. And since I live in New England, home to memorable fall foliage, I will continue to try to post some photos! This week, though, is a map from my book. The trilogy spans across northern England, the Highlands, and west to the isles.

Read last week’s scene snippet here.

I encourage you to follow along with all the other Medieval Monday authors on the Facebook page here. You will find the links to their blogs where they are sharing their snippets. There may be even be some giveaways on the page…

Catch Medieval Monday this fall on Twitter with the hashtag #MedMonFall20

You can also find us on Twitter at #MedMonFall20

This week’s snippet…

Set-up:

Domhnall is a Seer who descends from powerful Ancients with mystical abilities. He suffers from terrible visions of the Sight, an affliction that comes with each touch, except with Rosalie. He is taking Rosalie on a stroll through the village. They come upon the loch shore and he suggests they collect pebbles for her necklace-making. Rosalie is a crafter and fortune-teller, scrimping to make ends meet and support her uncle and aunt, but she is also on the run from a vengeful noblewoman not pleased with her readings. She tells lies for a living. Domhnall believes her to be a true seer.

This week’s snippet…

Her visions. His visions. Did he believe her? Yes. “You think she’s behind your attack? The drink was indeed tainted? She infiltrated the castle help?”

She shrugged. “Who else would it be? I doubt your thieves have any interest in harming me.”

He mulled over the idea for a long moment. The thieves—clearly the MacDougalls—would have no reason to harm Rosalie or Oswell. Perhaps he had two sets of evildoers on his hands.

“I should’ve told you sooner.”

“Aye.” He needed to hit the problem head-on.

Uproot all the miscreants, let them see justice. Keep Rosalie safe. “Do you think she was behind Oswell’s assault, too?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. He was robbed. Lady Brantingham wouldn’t have done that. She prefers to send messages in other ways.”

“You think she is capable of…murder?”

“Very. I know too much about her.”

Stay Tuned….

Universal Link ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Bookbub ~

Goodreads ~ Kobo ~ Google ~ coming out in audio book format on Audible and iTunes soon!

Medieval Monday, Week 8

Medieval Monday, autumn-style

WEEK 8

Another week of Medieval Monday!

Check out Medieval Romance Lovers as we share in the fall theme of "Nature" in our excerpts from our medieval stories. You’ll see weekly snippets each Monday on our blogs. And since I live in New England, home to memorable fall foliage, I will continue to try to post some photos! This week, though, is a map from my book. The trilogy spans across northern England, the Highlands, and west to the isles.

Read last week’s scene snippet here.

I encourage you to follow along with all the other Medieval Monday authors on the Facebook page here. You will find the links to their blogs where they are sharing their snippets. There may be even be some giveaways on the page…

Catch Medieval Monday this fall on Twitter with the hashtag #MedMonFall20

You can also find us on Twitter at #MedMonFall20

This week’s snippet…

Set-up:

Domhnall is a Seer who descends from powerful Ancients with mystical abilities. He suffers from terrible visions of the Sight, an affliction that comes with each touch, except with Rosalie. He is taking Rosalie on a stroll through the village. They come upon the loch shore and he suggests they collect pebbles for her necklace-making. Rosalie is a crafter and fortune-teller, scrimping to make ends meet and support her uncle and aunt, but she is also on the run from a vengeful noblewoman not pleased with her readings. She tells lies for a living. Domhnall believes her to be a true seer.

This week’s snippet…

She seemed on the verge of tears, but he’d never seen her shed one. She formed fists at her sides, halted in her fretting.

He stepped closer. “I’ll listen. Tell me.”

“I think I know who attacked me.”

Didn’t expect that. He approached, took her hands, unable to control himself anymore.

She sniffled, eyes filled with unrest. “I told you about my ways. Well, they’re not always perfect. Fates can be hazy.”

He nodded. “Mine, too.”

“Lady Brantingham was awfully chafed by her reading.” She didn’t elaborate. “She wishes me harm.” She lowered her gaze. “Or she wishes to abduct me and exploit my—my ability.”

“An English lady?”

Her lower lip trembled.

“She’s followed you all the way here?”

“I saw her in the marketplace earlier this week. Didn’t think she saw me.”

Stay Tuned….

Universal Link ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Bookbub ~

Goodreads ~ Kobo ~ Google ~ coming out in audio book format on Audible and iTunes soon!