I’m trying (again) to come up with a new title for EEL’S REVERENCE, a science fantasy book which has nothing whatsoever to do with eels. I try this every so often. So far, I’ve had no luck, but this time I’ve enlisted my critique partners in Southern Indiana Writers to help me. And I hereby enlist you.
I’ve posted about it before, including excerpts and short stories based in that world. Here’s a blurb:
For $2.99, you can have your very own eBook with mermayds, evil priests, fire, wolves, a nice ladylike lashing of bloodshed and ABSOLUTELY NO EELS! $2.99.
Wouldn’t you gladly pay TWICE that much for a book with an iron-clad eel-free guarantee?
…No, no, no, that’s not the real blurb. What did I do with the real blurb? ~rummage rummage~
Ah.
When elderly priest of Micah, “Aunt” Libby, goes on a Final Wandering, she’s accosted and then befriended by an amphibious mugger–a mermayd with attitude. The area known as The Eel is infested with worse than minor criminals–it’s under the thumbs of a coalition of greedy, brutal priests. Aunt Libby is a frail barrier to stand between peace and violence, and the worst violence may not come from her enemies…but from her friends.
To me, EEL’S REVERENCE was, is, and maybe always will be the title of this book. But this title puts people off.
So here’s one of the many places at which an author must ask and answer the question: Which is more important to me right now, what I want or what the readers want?
I’ve tried it my way, and people avoided the book in droves. So maybe it’s time to try it the readers’ way. After all, I changed SOME DISPUTED BARRICADE to the current title A DEAD GUY AT THE SUMMERHOUSE with some success. I think I’m ready to give this book a new name, as well.
Any suggestions?
[yop_poll id=”5″]
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Think of five possible titles for your work in progress.
MA
Jane
February 27, 2017 at 8:36amHafta get back with you on this one!
Dan Antion
February 27, 2017 at 9:24amI tried to vote as a WordPress reader but it stuck me in some spinning-circle-of-hell so I tried again as A Nono Mouse.
And now, even though I’m logged in, it tells me it doesn’t know who I am 🙁
Marian Allen
February 27, 2017 at 10:02amWordPress gets kinda funky-headed sometimes. Thanks for trying, Mr. Mouse. What was your vote?
Dan Antion
February 27, 2017 at 10:18am@Marian Allen – I got my vote in, just not attributed to me. I think it should be “The Eel Priest”
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
February 27, 2017 at 4:21pmTo block The Eels (with The capitalized to make it more obvious it’s something’s name)
Defender of The Eels
Micah’s Priestess
Defender of Last Resort
Micah’s Priestess’ Last Wandering/(The) Last Wandering of Micah’s Priest(ess)
To Protect and Defend – The Last Wandering
Renewal at The Eels
For what will you give your life?
The Rescue of …
Marian Allen
February 27, 2017 at 5:37pmWow — Lots of choice, Alicia! Thanks!
Raghu Rao
March 4, 2017 at 1:49amI like harry potter and the amphibious mugger. 🙂
Marian Allen
March 4, 2017 at 5:16pmSo do I, but I think I might have copyright problems with that one. 😉