Thursday, July 01, 2010

Titles

In the last re-writes now, working far more closely with the editor than last time. I'm at that stage where I hate every word in the book. None of it makes sense, everything is juvenile, each comma is like fingernails on a chalkboard...

But it is done, for now. Until the indexing. But David, the publisher, wants to do that as a team effort after the galleys come out. Reprieve.

My choices of title, which included a big, red 7 dripping blood on the front cover or "The Book of Seven Rings" (because sometimes it is funny to tease people who take tradition too seriously) were soundly rejected. The title is official, now:

Facing Violence—
Preparing for the Unexpected
  • Ethically
  • Emotionally
  • Physically
  • Without Going to Prison
It seems tepid to me, but everyone else likes it, especially the marketing department and distributors, and they should know. Scheduled for release in May 2011. I'm a month ahead of schedule on the re-write, but that won't speed up the release. Forward by Barry Eisler. Should have some good jacket blurbs...

On to the next one. And the next. And the next.

------------------------------
Driving to Colorado the week of 12-16 July and returning 19-23. Anyone on the route want to set up a workshop or private lessons? rory@easystreet.net

11 comments:

Patrick Parker said...

Cool Congrats! Personally I like the bloody dripping 7 better than their lukewarm title, but whatever...

Can't wait to read/review the book!

Steve Perry said...

I like the Book of Seven Rings, but marketing people tend to want to avoid such things.

I once co-authored a book I wanted to call The Devil's Harp. The publishers renamed it Breaking Point, which, as far I could tell, had nothing to do with anything in the novel. But if it would help them sell more copies, I was okay with it. Most people don't remember book titles, and much of the time, not who the writer was. They tend to remember the content, which is the most important thing.

More copies they sell, the happier they are. And if you sell enough copies, eventually they will let you call it what you want, once your name is bigger than the title.

Kai Jones said...

We could make promotional book wrappers with the blood-dripping 7 to hand out at your panels. :)

Irene said...

I like the 7 Rings too, but your people are probably right that it's too much of an inside joke.

Master Plan said...

Ah-HA! I knew Violence would work it's way back in to the title!

ush said...

Violence: A tourist's guidebook

Norbert said...

Woo-hoo!
I'm so looking forward to that book! Thanks, Rory.

Norbert

P.S.
The bloody 7 would have been cool.

Travis said...

At least they didn't stick you with "More Meditations on Violence"!

Irene said...

When are you going to write the book about how 'zero tolerance' policies are forcing us our children to grow up into a generation of victims?

Unknown said...

Just "Facing Violence". lose the subtitle. That's what makes it sound wimpy.

Anonymous said...

Denise here, I 'get' the 7 Rings title, but I must admit to liking "Facing Violence"--it tells you what the book IS.
A. being a voracious reader, it'll help me remember weeks, months, and years from now 'What was that book about? Oh yeah...'
B. having been a bookseller, I can say with confidence it'll help them figure out where it belongs in the store. Don't even think that couldn't wind up in Jewelry, or better yet, Fantasy ("Lord of the Rings", anyone?). Ditto libraries. (currently working in a library system)
And new Rory on violence? Yaaaaay!
(Better than violence on Rory :P)