My romance publisher, New Concepts Publishing, changed the title of my last book during edits. The title I had selected was too close the title of another book. They asked me to come up with a few choices. I like The Queen's Marine. My publisher suggested The Marine's Queen instead. I won't go into their reasons but they must have been right. It's been my bestselling book ever and has spent the last two weeks in the top 100 for military romance and even had a short stint in science fiction military top 100 for a while. I guess the lesson here is to listen to your publisher if they suggest a title for your book. They know stuff.
1. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? It has to have peanut butter though I'm not a big ice cream fan.
2. What type of book do you like best? Probably epic fantasy but I enjoy so many other things like scifi, romance, suspense, historical and just about anything except celebrity books.
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I really want to live a little closer to the equator. I love the heat and hate the cold. But if I have to be cold give me Ireland or Scotland.
4. What would you do with the money if you’d won a million dollars? Mundane answer but I would make sure my children are taken care of and then I would fund some scholarships for deserving students because I know how expensive college is these days.
5. Which actor would play you in the next blockbuster film? Sandra Bullock though she's younger and much more beautiful. I think she could capture my attitude.
6. What’s your favorite book from childhood? The very first book I owned was the true story of Smokey the Bear. I still have it. The first books I read over and over again were The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley.
7. Would you like to read about a cowboy or a CEO hero? Cowboys!!!
8. What do you want your grandchildren (or friends, if you have no grandkids) to remember about you? That I lived up to the last and loved well.
9. What’s your favorite quote? Kind of a joke in our family but...Plan your work and work your plan.
10. What do you like best about yourself? I'm a good mother and an actually kind person.
11. What’s the most important item in your bucket list Don't have a bucket list. Maybe I'll make one now that I'm retired.
Would you share some of your answers to the above questions. Has your publisher ever suggested you change the title for your book? Have you encountered books with the same title by different authors?
18 comments:
Titles, like covers, are very important. They need to be memorable.
Congrats on your award.
Definitely make yourself a bucket list. It gives you lots to look forward to--and plan.
My lifelong quote is on a plaque in my studio:
There are 10,000 reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.
I love your quote! I don't know that this is my favorite quote but it's one I use a lot - "What other people think of me is none of my business." :)
As for ice cream, chocolate with peanut butter is my favorite. :)
I think you're a great mother, not just good. I laughed at the cowboys.
Favorite quote that leaps to mind: The pessimist may be proved right in the long run but the optimist has a better time on the trip.
I love all the Walter Farley books, Black Stallion and Flame.
Love your answer to number eight! Live well and love. They can put that on my gravestone. Hopefully a long time from now!
A CEO hero? Do they even exist?
That's what I like about my book titles - they are unique. Do a search and that's all you will find. And easy to pronounce.
That's awesome your book is doing so well!!
Awesome! I love peanut butter and my fave is Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby. So addicting. And anything with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. ;)
Cowboys are right up my alley. Perfect heroes!
Congratulations on the book's success! I love the cover.
You are EXTREMELY kind!
And I agree wholeheartedly. Cowboys over CEOs any day of the week. :)
Titles are important. I browsed the bookstore when I settle on a new title and if I see too many, I select another.
I could see where the military audience would prefer the Marine's Queen to the other version. That instantly elevates the interest level in your title.
fun and interesting reading about you!!
ice cream is my weakness..any flavor but covered with syrup whipped cream and nuts!
and I love historical fiction the best...
just started crime and punishment today
I completely concur with you about wanting to be closer to the equator. Every year I like the cold less and less and I never liked it much to begin with.
When I come up with my book titles I always check them out on Amazon and then Google them to see if anyone else has used them. Now I need to write the books.
Enjoyed reading your answers to the questions. When it's hot I long for the cold, but when it's too cold I'm anxious for the summer whether to come. I guess weatherwise I'm in a good place here in Los Angeles.
Lee
A Faraway View
I really enjoyed your answers! You should definitely make a bucket list.
www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
"Plan your work and work your plan" is possibly the best bit of wisdom I've read in a looooooooooong time. I do best when I live according to that idea (though it amazes me how often I "forget" to make the dang plan!). :-)
Some Dark Romantic
Susan - you're very welcome!
It was nice to read more about you. I especially like 3, 8, and 10.
9 is on always on my to do list. Sometimes I even follow it.
Barbara
1.Chunky monkey, 5. Shirly Manson, 6. Andromeda Strain, 7. CEO Cowboy (From Texas, of course) 9. Is the chemical aftertaste why people eat hotdogs or is it some kind of bonus?
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