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The publisher has emailed me asking what I intend to call the third book in my current trilogy. "You were thinking of a title change for this one weren’t you?" she says. "The other two titles are more dramatic and ‘dark’ and Waking Every God does sound a bit too light in sounds and intention."
The trilogy is called Husk (The Broken Man in the UK/USA when it comes out). The first book is Path of Revenge, the second Dark Heart. I was intending to call the third Waking Every God, but the problem is by the end of Dark Heart the gods have already awoken.
Now I'm scratching my head. So this is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna run me a competition. Anyone's eligible to suggest a name for the third book. I'm going to offer a prize for the best and another prize for the funniest. Both prizes (boringly) will be a signed book. Should I actually use someone's suggestion they will get a clear credit in the acknowledgements and a complete set of my novels to date.
You'll probably need to know something about the story, so maybe have a read of the first book. The story is dark, so the title will need to reflect that. It's about widespread mayhem. So here are a few starters:
- The Broken World
- The Shattered World
- Rack and Ruin
- The Coming Void
- Death of an Empire
etc etc.
I'll let this run for a few weeks. My (faulty) judgement is final.
Comments
Wrath of God would have been good but its taken.
My initial suggestion is "I forgot to make coffee for the Gods when they awoke and they've turned brattish on me." This leaves no room for your name on the cover, so I may well appear with more suggestions as useful thoughts occur.
Sounds of a Shattered World
OK, so I didn't give you any serious suggestions. I was going to, truly. I would hate for you to assume I'm not trying to be useful. How about "Bitter truths" or "Bitter realities" or "Bitter dreams"? (I'm inspired by the beer can candles on Mike's birthday cake last night.)
Hey, why does all this sound familiar??
I prefer Fractured to Shattered. "A Fractured Land". "Fractured Futures". "Fractures Across the Land". "Fractured World". "Immortal Fractures". "Fractured Immortals". Hey, this is more fun than doing my own... How about "Cracked Up"?
I prefer Fractured to Shattered. "A Fractured Land". "Fractured Futures". "Fractures Across the Land". "Fractured World". "Immortal Fractures". "Fractured Immortals". Hey, this is more fun than doing my own... How about "Cracked Up"?
Or, inspired by Gibbon "The Dying Empire."
all those fractures sounds far too much like maths *g*
If Russell used them, though, he could use fractural theory in his mapping and make the title and the maps and the book all beautifully consistent. Mind you, if he used 'chaos' in the title, he could map using chaos theory, which would be much more exciting.
I am totally in love with you people, at least as much as a dreadful blocked sinus and associated breathing difficulties allows me to be. 'Bitter' something is good. I do like Gillian's coffee title, but think it ought rather to be 'I forgot to make coffee for the Gods and they are consequently quite narked with me.'
If you like 'bitter' then why don't you try it as an adjective in front of all the interesting nouns so far. (If you end up using "bitter" I'll have to buy you a beer next time I see you!)
Rack and Bitter Ruin
The Bitter Void
Bitter Empire
The sounds of a Bitter World
A Bitter Land
Bitter Futures
Bitter Immortals
Immortal Bitters (the new Carlton advertising campaign)
And the truth behind those suggestions? My virus came back and I feel a bit unwell and that means I'm spending a happy hour annoying people. What's the use in feeling queasy if I don't share the experience?
Rack and Bitter Ruin
The Bitter Void
Bitter Empire
The sounds of a Bitter World
A Bitter Land
Bitter Futures
Bitter Immortals
Immortal Bitters (the new Carlton advertising campaign)
And the truth behind those suggestions? My virus came back and I feel a bit unwell and that means I'm spending a happy hour annoying people. What's the use in feeling queasy if I don't share the experience?
Annoy away, Gillian. Anything to keep you happy. An unhappy Gillian is not a pleasant thought.
Hi Russell,
In my mind the two series has been heading towards a confrontation that resolves the whole the Undying Man issue.
Given your penchant for geography and the fact that the reader has only had tantalising glimpses of the place I would have thought the title would have had to include the name 'Andratan' and depending on the outcome of the book 'The Fall of Andratan' might be of sufficient weight to finish the story.
Then again, if you don't want the geography element then it has to include those characters who have been present in all the books, namely: Kannwar, Stella and Phemanderac. If none survive then 'Fall of the Immortals' is apt or perhaps 'Kannwar's End' would be a just epithet for one of your major characters. Facetiously, I would also put in a plug for 'Father Knows Best', but it would never get past the editors.
Looking forward to seeing the story.
Phill.
In my mind the two series has been heading towards a confrontation that resolves the whole the Undying Man issue.
Given your penchant for geography and the fact that the reader has only had tantalising glimpses of the place I would have thought the title would have had to include the name 'Andratan' and depending on the outcome of the book 'The Fall of Andratan' might be of sufficient weight to finish the story.
Then again, if you don't want the geography element then it has to include those characters who have been present in all the books, namely: Kannwar, Stella and Phemanderac. If none survive then 'Fall of the Immortals' is apt or perhaps 'Kannwar's End' would be a just epithet for one of your major characters. Facetiously, I would also put in a plug for 'Father Knows Best', but it would never get past the editors.
Looking forward to seeing the story.
Phill.
Andratan Through a Fractured Spyglass?
Andratan Through a Fractious Spyglass?
Andratan Shattered?
Splat?
Yeah, silliness abounds *g*
Andratan Through a Fractious Spyglass?
Andratan Shattered?
Splat?
Yeah, silliness abounds *g*
Russell liked 'Bitter," remember, Sharyn? So you should add "Bitter splat" to the list. I really love Bitter Splat as a title, though I have to admit it doesn't fit high Husk seriousness. Maybe if Russell were to write a comic ofshoot novel?
I rather like Widespread Mayhem.
Shattered Dreams,Fractured Dreams or Mangled Dreams
A Dirge for Dreams or All Dreams Must Die.
Trudi, of course you like Widespread Mayhem. When your bio is written it will have to be entitled "Widespread Mayhem with wool."
No, you got that wrong, Gillian. Trudi's biography will be entitled "Widespread Mayhem ~ Why Chocolate and Wool Do Not Mix"
Heh, my favourite of those is 'Splat,' Sharyn.
Short and catchy. *winks*
Short and catchy. *winks*
You people are seriously out of control - I love it! Hmm, Craig, how does 'The Death of Dreams' sound?
I like it, it could defintely work.
I have absolutely no suggestions to make, but the conversation is incredibly entertaining - keep it up folks!
What about: "To the Bitter End"?
Victoria Bitter?
Donkeys of the Caribbean
Good Donkey Hunting
Robal and Donkeys excellent adventure
Donkey the terminator
How to lose a donkey in 10 days
Donkeys of New York..................
Good Donkey Hunting
Robal and Donkeys excellent adventure
Donkey the terminator
How to lose a donkey in 10 days
Donkeys of New York..................
Linda has forgotten the dire and dread nature of the novel. She would have replaced 'donkey' with 'Linda' in all cases, otherwise.
Death of Dreams sounds dull. Sundered dreams is better.
Quite hard to pick a title when we haven't read book 2 yet...due here in March.
"In the hands of an angry god."
"Awakening to Nirvana"
More clues to the plot please.
"In the hands of an angry god."
"Awakening to Nirvana"
More clues to the plot please.
Those are good titles, Linda. Clues to the plot? Hmmm.
"Where Gods fear to tread"
I thought Linda was suggesting as a title "More clues to the plot." "The plot finally fully revealed" would be a cool secondary title.
In fact, what your book should be called is "Splat; or I forgot to make coffee for the Gods and they are consequently quite narked with me: The Plot finally Fully Revealed. An Agony Containing many Fits, Much Bitterness, Chaos and a Sufficient Amount of Woe."
The remaining tiny fraction of the cover should include a donkey.
In fact, what your book should be called is "Splat; or I forgot to make coffee for the Gods and they are consequently quite narked with me: The Plot finally Fully Revealed. An Agony Containing many Fits, Much Bitterness, Chaos and a Sufficient Amount of Woe."
The remaining tiny fraction of the cover should include a donkey.
This suggests a tiny bit more whimsy than my story actually contains, Gillian, wonderful suggestion though it is.
Gillian a lady after my own heart....with that enormous title she enclude moi in there too :-). Russell I think you are going to get more funny suggestions than serious!
Darkness Upon them
Death is not the end
Omniscience
Darkness Upon them
Death is not the end
Omniscience
But it's the perfect title. It has woe and chaos and the gods and *much* bitterness. What can be more serious than *much* bitterness?
PS If you'r really serious about misery, you should call it "Loss." I don't know why simple titles are more evocative than the more ornate ones, but they always are.
"Shards of a broken world" "Shards of a broken dream"
Craig's pouring on the pressure ...
Are the titles allowed to be "ripoffs" of other peoples books???
The fun ones, yes. The serious ones probably should be original!
Remind us - which ones are serious?
Dare I suggest...none so far????
Don't say that! I racked my brain for *seconds* to come up with my 3 serious suggestions. I might have to go into a decline. (Mostly I'm scared that Russeelll will get even with me, so I'm hiding in the corner of my flat that's furthest from New Zealand.)
Husk Leaf Green
Husk Sapphire
Husk Emerald
etc etc.
Husk Sapphire
Husk Emerald
etc etc.
Ravaged Earth?
Heart of a Badger?
Moses has nothing to do with this book?
Heart of a Badger?
Moses has nothing to do with this book?
Hi Owen, I'm liking the 'Ravaged Earth' suggestion. Don't know about the badger though.
I have a clear picture of Gillian huddling in the far corner of her library. You can come out now, Gillian, I don't want you to starve.
I have a clear picture of Gillian huddling in the far corner of her library. You can come out now, Gillian, I don't want you to starve.
"How to kill an immortal in ten easy steps"
As well as 'Ravaged Earth', here's what else I'm thinking about:
The Broken World (or Land or Sky)
Shattered World (Land or Sky)
Fractured World (Land or Sky)
The Fall of Andratan
Hole In The Sky (World/Land)
Sundered Sky/Land/World
Immortals' End
Thoughts?
The Broken World (or Land or Sky)
Shattered World (Land or Sky)
Fractured World (Land or Sky)
The Fall of Andratan
Hole In The Sky (World/Land)
Sundered Sky/Land/World
Immortals' End
Thoughts?
Killing immortals...isn't that Jenny Fallon's job? I like The Broken World, for what it's worth!
I think you need a new competition on what not to call your book.
Do you want to know how I find titles? Probably not, but I feel like telling you :). I read my writing and somewhere in it is the phrase (or something very close to it) that says what needs to be said. I was assuming you has already done that check, but I realise tonight that assumptions are not a good thing. For instance, you and Trudi asssumed I was ignoring you tonight, when I was out teaching. I can ignore either or both of you if you want. It only takes a little careful bribery.
Do you want to know how I find titles? Probably not, but I feel like telling you :). I read my writing and somewhere in it is the phrase (or something very close to it) that says what needs to be said. I was assuming you has already done that check, but I realise tonight that assumptions are not a good thing. For instance, you and Trudi asssumed I was ignoring you tonight, when I was out teaching. I can ignore either or both of you if you want. It only takes a little careful bribery.
It's a good theory, Gillian. The only problem is the book isn't written yet. The publisher needs the title now for marketing purposes, however.
We had an excellent time ignoring you tonight, thanks very much.
And Jo, that's why I said it was all clear.
We had an excellent time ignoring you tonight, thanks very much.
And Jo, that's why I said it was all clear.
My new suggestion is almost serious. You really, really need to link to "Dark Heart."
Some thoughts:
Dark Realities
Bitter Dark
Black futures
Into deeper dark
Some thoughts:
Dark Realities
Bitter Dark
Black futures
Into deeper dark
"World's devastation"
"The fall of an empire:The death of Andratan"
"Empire's/Andratan's/World's death knoll"
"The devastation of Andratan"
"Empire's end"
"Blood of an empire"
"The fall of an empire:The death of Andratan"
"Empire's/Andratan's/World's death knoll"
"The devastation of Andratan"
"Empire's end"
"Blood of an empire"
If you add all the suggested titles together, you end up with 'Dark Confusion.'
'to the bitter end'
ta
ta
"Calamity of the Gods"
"The Immortal(s) Regret"
"The Bane of the Immortal(s)"
"The Dejected Sun"
"Sun over a futile land"
"Malady of the Gods"
????
"The Immortal(s) Regret"
"The Bane of the Immortal(s)"
"The Dejected Sun"
"Sun over a futile land"
"Malady of the Gods"
????
Soon you'll have to have a fourth volume, just containing titles!
Yes, but what will I call it?
'The Harrowing'
which is most likely taken by someone else.
'The Harrowing of Husk' then.
or
'The Barrowing of Husks' which would need to be a story about the guy who moves the charf around after a harvest/threshing.
'The Bitter Threshing'
'The Harrowing Hand'
'The Hand of the Harrower' (The Hands of the Harrowers) if there is more than one.
or
'The Threshing of the World'
It's a bit like that fridge poetry, just keep moving the words around until they sound cool, and pretty soon anything sounds cool!
fun
cam
which is most likely taken by someone else.
'The Harrowing of Husk' then.
or
'The Barrowing of Husks' which would need to be a story about the guy who moves the charf around after a harvest/threshing.
'The Bitter Threshing'
'The Harrowing Hand'
'The Hand of the Harrower' (The Hands of the Harrowers) if there is more than one.
or
'The Threshing of the World'
It's a bit like that fridge poetry, just keep moving the words around until they sound cool, and pretty soon anything sounds cool!
fun
cam
How about
the Bitter Divines?
the Bitter Divines?
Cos the gods would be pretty bitter about everything going on down there eh?
Scourge of the Divine
Scourge of the Immortals
Scourge of the Immortals
Yoann, I like that. He can turn it round, too, and call it the Divine Bitters and get sponsoring from that beer company I was referring to earlier.
I do like all this harrowing and scourging.
In the next day or so I'm going to put together a list of the best suggestions, and a few of my own, and get your opinions.
In the next day or so I'm going to put together a list of the best suggestions, and a few of my own, and get your opinions.
You know what? I'd be a little cautious about a title that seems too downbeat. We seem to be heading towards something that says, "Well this is the end of the trilogy, and gosh darnit, there ain't going to be anything left standing by the time I write the last word on the last page."
Is someone about to embark on book 1 going to be impressed if the final book is called e.g. "The Bitter Threshing"? Just a thought.
Is someone about to embark on book 1 going to be impressed if the final book is called e.g. "The Bitter Threshing"? Just a thought.
With you on this, Glenda. The title needs to be threatening rather than apocalyptic, though something catchy yet apocalyptic would work :)
I am all agog to see how "catchy yet apocalyptic" will look...
It will be an all-singing, all-dancing cover, the first mass market paperback with video of the catchy yet apocalyptic tune that's the signature peice of this amazing, doomed musical.
Am I in enough trouble yet?
Am I in enough trouble yet?
As my suggestion "The Fall of Andratan" made it to your short list it still gets my vote.
Also, I don't think Glenda's point about the title being too apocalyptic is necessarily a problem. For example, if you were to change 'Andratan' to 'Hell' this give the title a triumphant note.
Then again I suppose this depends on how sympathetic your readers have become to the Undying Man ;-).
Keep writing.
Phillberrie.
Also, I don't think Glenda's point about the title being too apocalyptic is necessarily a problem. For example, if you were to change 'Andratan' to 'Hell' this give the title a triumphant note.
Then again I suppose this depends on how sympathetic your readers have become to the Undying Man ;-).
Keep writing.
Phillberrie.
I think "The Fall of Andratan" would give away too much of the plot. I'd rather not know whether or not Husk succeeds in his revenge until I get to the end of the book. Also, I am a reader who is sympathetic to the Undying Man, so I hope that Andratan does not fall ;)
One that is a little more ambiguous is "Last Breath" - this could allude to the death of either Kannwar OR Husk. Also it addresses the immortality theme that was strong in "The Path of Revenge" - and I assume will continue throughout the trilogy.
Or perhaps "Revenge is a dish best served Old"
"More Adventures of Robal and Cone"?
One that is a little more ambiguous is "Last Breath" - this could allude to the death of either Kannwar OR Husk. Also it addresses the immortality theme that was strong in "The Path of Revenge" - and I assume will continue throughout the trilogy.
Or perhaps "Revenge is a dish best served Old"
"More Adventures of Robal and Cone"?
The Wrath of the Gods
Shattered Empires
Russel said he liked harrowing and scourge -
The Harrowing Scourge =D
The Hallowed War
A Hole in the World, because in Path of Revenge, there is a hole in thw world, I dunno what happens to it in Dark Heart, but maybe it has a central role in the third book.
Shattered Empires
Russel said he liked harrowing and scourge -
The Harrowing Scourge =D
The Hallowed War
A Hole in the World, because in Path of Revenge, there is a hole in thw world, I dunno what happens to it in Dark Heart, but maybe it has a central role in the third book.
The Coming Scourge
Death of a God, if a god actually does die
By the way Linda, isn't the donkeys name actually Lindha or something like it?
Death of a God, if a god actually does die
By the way Linda, isn't the donkeys name actually Lindha or something like it?
It is, Yoann, and was actually named after the Linda who posts here. She's very proud of this.
I'm now reviewing all the entries ...
I'm now reviewing all the entries ...
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