Dang if I know! Every time I sell a book, my mother says, “I never did like that title.” So here I am again.
Hydra has invited me to submit my Young Adult or New Adult or just plain grown-up paranormal suspense novel to them, and it needs a new name. It’s kind of creepy and kind of funny.
Here’s a synopsis and the cover art (by Sara Deurell):
James Michener (Mitch) Franklin is hired out of the Faelin Municipal Children’s Refuge months before his eighteenth birthday. His employer is eccentric and wealthy 72-year-old Amelia Hardesty, who tells him she needs a bodyguard for her two Pekingese dogs. Mitch thinks Amelia is dotty, but plays along.
Amelia’s household includes the remnants of her extended family. Mitch walks in and plunges into a whirlpool of delusion and suppressed violence.
Five years earlier, Amelia brought another young man home with her, hired to take care of her dogs. The man, celebrated author Albert Alaister, was found dead, apparently the victim of accidental drowning.
Corina, the housemaid, is convinced that Albert is back, his spirit battling Mitch’s for possession of Mitch’s body.
Before dawn on the anniversary of Albert’s funeral, an unexpected assailant takes Mitch into the woods at knife-point, determined to kill Albert–again. Mitch saves himself, and the lives of two others, by pretending that he really is Albert.
~ * ~
Okay. What’s the title? I was thinking of DUAL, after the cover art. I was thinking of WHISTLING ALBERT’S TUNE, but Mom says that sounds too jolly. SUMMERHOUSE GRAVE? DEAD MAN’S SHOES? AND I THOUGHT IT WAS TOUGH BEING AN ORPHAN?
HELP!
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Come up with the perfect title for my book.
MA
Jessica Nunemaker
March 1, 2013 at 11:00pmOr maybe something starring Doris Day?
Marian Allen
March 2, 2013 at 8:52amAnd Albert is a Great Dane and comes back as Rock Hudson?
Jessica Nunemaker
March 1, 2013 at 7:42pm@Marian Allen –
ha ha ha! Poor Albert Couldn’t Swim. That makes me laugh. 🙂 Or that could be the lack of sleep talking. 😉
Marian Allen
March 1, 2013 at 9:34pmSounds like one of those dark British comedies from the 60’s and 70’s. lol
Jim Hilton
February 28, 2013 at 2:32pmHere are a few suggested titles:
Peke Adieu
Albert Redux
Albert – Back Again?
Albert of the Two Pekes
Poor Albert Couldn’t Swim
Guarding Pekes
Amelia’s Pekes
Albert is Looking Peke’d
yer wekkum! 🙂
Marian Allen
February 28, 2013 at 3:21pm…Albert is Looked Peke’d, Gracie? Um … yeah … thanks…. 😉
Jane
February 28, 2013 at 12:21pmI like Summerhouse Grave. A lot.
Marian Allen
February 28, 2013 at 1:24pmHmmmm…. Okay, that’s on the short list, then. Thanks! 🙂
Buzz Malone
February 28, 2013 at 10:35amAlterius Phasma, or if you prefer the English to the Latin, Another’s Ghost.
Clearly, neither are great titles, but that’s the best I could come up with on short notice, and all of the perfect fit names appear to be taken already. What is in a name anyways?
Marian Allen
February 28, 2013 at 1:23pmAlterius Phasma sounds like a character in a Harry Potter book! lol! Another’s Ghost is a great title — maybe not for this book, but I love it!