What’s In A Name?

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):

dual
Dual

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

 

About

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but now live in the woods in southern Indiana. Though I only write fiction, I love to read non-fiction. The more I learn about this world, the more fantastic I see it is.

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One thought on “What’s In A Name?

  1. Buzz Malone

    February 28, 2013 at 10:35am

    Alterius 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?

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      February 28, 2013 at 1:23pm

      Alterius 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!

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  2. Jane

    February 28, 2013 at 12:21pm

    I like Summerhouse Grave. A lot.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author
  3. Jim Hilton

    February 28, 2013 at 2:32pm

    Here 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! 🙂

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      February 28, 2013 at 3:21pm

      …Albert is Looked Peke’d, Gracie? Um … yeah … thanks…. 😉

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply
    • Author

      Marian Allen

      March 1, 2013 at 9:34pm

      Sounds like one of those dark British comedies from the 60’s and 70’s. lol

      Permalink  ⋅ Reply

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