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The Naming and Timing of Two of My Books

Proinsias-mac-an-bheatha via Unsplash

We have two magpies nesting in our garden, which is marvellous. Two For Joy! Probably not so marvellous for our cloud of sparrows who live in the brambles over the shed. We’re so wedded to the black and white motif, it’s always a surprise to see shimmering blue if the light catches a magpie just so. (Why no photo of two? Welcome to free stock photography. There’s a lovely painting on artvee of four eating a dead bird. I must write a wish-list and buy a Dreamtime splurge of photos during their sale.)

With the clematis out, and the sun shining, 2025 seems to offer some good news. Also bad. I used to belong to Westminster Quaker Meeting whose door was kicked down this week, by 20 armed police to arrest six possible climate protestors.

Two books out next 12 months!?*

The Spooky Victorian Murder Mystery has been bouncing off agents and publishers for over a year. Feedback has been good and I think the world deserves it. So, decision!

I am planning to self-publish this, although I’m still open to the right traditional deal if one pops up suddenly. It’s with an editor and I’m exploring the glory of COVERS.

The novella, Top Tips for Loving a Lizard is with my editor at Arcadia. That has other markets I can try. It is a darling little love of a book and the world deserves it.

The third novella is also on submission but that’s behind the other two in urgency and time.

*I hope

The Naming of Books is a Serious Thing

I’ve known for well over a year that DEAR HEART needed to be called something else. NUMBER ONE VICTORIAN SPOOKY MURDER MYSTERY is OK but doesn’t quite trip off the tongue.

Names are a funny business. Some people claim the name is the biggest marketing call a publisher makes. (As opposed to the cover?) The name is something which makes people pick up the book or click to find more.

Ideally the name gives vibe, genre, and setting. Although one immediately thinks of famous books whose titles do very little of that. Catcher in the Rye, anyone?

My first book used to be called A SONG FOR CORY which is the kind of poetic title which only makes sense once you read the book. Unlike OUR CHILD OF THE STARS which tells you something about the book before you read it.

DEAR HEART doesn’t do that other than radiating a vague old-fashioned camp. The cross-class sapphic relationship between Mrs Ashton and Braddie is one thread of the book, but that name doesn’t even hint at that lovely, grumpy couple.

I have a new title � six words. I tested the new name on a few people and they guessed genre, protagonist, vibe, ‘possible a bit tongue in cheek�, and that it wasn’t set in the modern day. My editor loves it (but not enough to take the book.)

A CROOKED MEDIUM’S GUIDE TO MURDER

Good, innit? The cover add to what the title can’t.

In public I may call this CODENAME CROOKED for a bit. If the book turns into a series � and it was designed to be � I may call them the Dear Heart Mysteries.

Anyone who responds to this newsletter � sharing, boosting, liking, commenting, � goes on into a raffle for a free copy.

What’s your favourite title which really doesn’t explain the content?

An autumn of conventions

I am at EdgeLit in Derby, 7th Sept,

BristolCon, Oct 25-26,

World Fantasy Con in Brighton, Oct 30-2 Nov.

Come and say hi.

If all goes according to plan, I will either have

copies of A CROOKED MEDIUM’S GUIDE TO MURDERor a means to order them.Review copies

I’m collating a request list for review copies which will prioritise

Established bloggers and reviewers, particularly those I already know like my stuff.Suitable figures strong in the new genreBeta readers and others who have helped me work on the text

I can’t promise to send a free copy to everyone, particularly not print copies.

Use the to send name, blog/podcast/other forum, what format you prefer and what you would tolerate (eBook, PDF, print.)

THE SECRET MURDER CLUB

There’s a handshake and a clubhouse and everything. More next time.

Quick point about self-publishing.

Self-publishing evangelists preach its superiority in every way. Traditional publishing snobs dismiss it. I’m pragmatic and in the middle.

Things are happening, more next month

PS, I’m coping with ‘everything� by trying to doing ‘something� every week.