Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Liebster Award and Titles

I just came from updating my Goodreads list of books. I was adding Breaking Point by CJ Box to my TBR list since I have it sitting temptingly on the edge of my text. I'll probably start it later this week. When I searched for it on Goodreads, I just entered the title and was shocked to see around a dozen books with the same title pop up. Didn't anyone Google their book title before settling on it?


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.

I want to thank Barbara White Daille for giving me the Liebster Award. We met during the recent A to Z. As part of this, I'm supposed to answer the 11 questions she's provided. Instead of passing this award on, I'm going to just ask for you to share some of your own answers in the comments. That way I get to know a little about you.

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:

Suzanne Furness said...

Titles, like covers, are very important. They need to be memorable.
Congrats on your award.

Maria Zannini said...

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.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

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. :)

The Happy Whisk said...

I think you're a great mother, not just good. I laughed at the cowboys.

LD Masterson said...

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.

Stephen Tremp said...

Love your answer to number eight! Live well and love. They can put that on my gravestone. Hopefully a long time from now!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

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!!

Unknown said...

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!

Elizabeth Sara said...

Congratulations on the book's success! I love the cover.

Ava Quinn said...

You are EXTREMELY kind!

And I agree wholeheartedly. Cowboys over CEOs any day of the week. :)

D.G. Hudson said...

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.

momto8 said...

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

mshatch said...

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.

Arlee Bird said...

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

Gina Gao said...

I really enjoyed your answers! You should definitely make a bucket list.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

Mina Lobo said...

"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

Barbara White Daille said...

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

Bethie said...

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?