More Title Trauma
Aug242009
So how much impact does a working title have? Not much. It’s probably more significant that’s it’s imprinted on readers’ minds than it has on mine. For example, Tell Me Lies was originally called Frog Point Wallow. Nobody misses that title. On the other hand, I still loathe What the Lady Wants as a title and much prefer the original, Whatever Maebelle Wants. Bad titles just stay with you, like bad shellfish.
The real key to titles is that they give the buyer a feel for the book. The real problem for all of us here is that we’ve been living with Always Kiss Me Goodnight for over a year and, the vast wealth of alternate suggestions not withstanding, we still don’t have anything as good, or at least anything that doesn’t contain the same problem. SMP wants something that sounds like a Crusie, i.e. Welcome to Temptation, Faking It, Bet Me, none of which would fit this book. The stuff that fits this book, i.e., Always Kiss Me Goodnight, doesn’t sound like a Crusie. So what we’re really looking for is an impossibility, a ghost story title that sounds like a romantic comedy. Well, there was Wild Ride, but that doesn’t exactly scream “Demons!” I suppose something like “Welcome to the Nightmare,” but that could be offputting. Seriously, I’m stumped at getting those two things together. I like the idea of the cover art making the point, though, or at least underscoring it but again, it’s romantic comedy with ghosts. And not that much comedy, really, because these are serious ghosts. People die.
No wonder my publisher wants to strangle me half the time.
Oh, and for those who asked, the antagonist is the one who says, “Always kiss me goodnight.” The protagonists wouldn’t dream of it.
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188 Comments to 'More Title Trauma'
On August 24, 2009 at 7:16 pm Allie said...
Always Kiss Me Goodnight did sound like a Crusie title to me, so this is all very confusing to me. What Maebelle wants sounds TOO specific, but that could be because I’m used to the title that was used.
On August 24, 2009 at 7:39 pm Marta said...
So, there’s a trail of discovery before the reader determines what bump in the night Emmaline should worry about the most. Which means you can’t be more specific in the title ’cause it would i.d. the villain too soon. Do you do this to yourself on purpose?
On August 24, 2009 at 7:47 pm Jenny said...
Yes. I feel that writing novels is so easy I must make it harder in order for it to be a challenge. ARGH. Actually, I didn’t know which ghost was the villain for a long time. I kept writing it one way and thinking, “No, that’s not it,” and then writing it another way and that wasn’t it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got it now. Pretty sure.
The hero and heroine talk about how the house is supposed to be haunted in the first scene but neither one of them believes it. I’m assuming most readers will read that and think, “House must be haunted,” but then I do want to give rational explanations for the stuff that happens before the heroine knows there’s something bad coming out of the walls. There’s still controversy over whether or not there are ghosts in Turn of the Screw, so I didn’t want it to be too obvious up front. Although I am often too clever with this kind of thing for my own good.
In other news, I now must also change the heroine’s name since it’s so similar to the Corpse Bride’s name and the Corpse Bride is a big deal in the book.
So I’m going to go lie down now.
On August 24, 2009 at 9:48 pm Marta said...
Well, I’ve started to say this three times now, then waffled for fear of giving offense. But, when I saw you were changing the name, I immediately thought of Krissie’s sister.
On August 24, 2009 at 7:53 pm Merry the CB said...
A romantic comedy ghost story?
Dead sexy.
Except that doesn’t sound like it would fit your storyline even remotely.
Turn of the Screwed?
On August 26, 2009 at 8:14 pm Jenny said...
Well, SOMEBODY should use the title Dead Sexy.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:09 pm Jim said...
So if the ghost factor isn’t supposed to be blatantly obvious, “Ghost Kiss” won’t work as a possible alternative title. Sigh.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:19 pm marly said...
Himself is really getting into this. Says it would be easier if this was another co-write with Bob Mayer and that then he could suggest “Spirited Force” or “Spectre Vector”. Hmmm. Between us, though, we came up with “In the Shade”, “Shades of Emmaline” (or whoever she turns out to be) “Beyond the Wall”, “Behind the Door”, “Watchers in the Wall”, and I’m making him stop now, because he’s really creeping me out. This title business is a lot harder than we thought.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:25 pm Slave Driver said...
I was at a “Craft” mall today and saw the AWMG and thought “Creepy”, which I’m sure was not the intention of the crafter.
Poor crafter. I see a plethera of leftover AKMG signs in his/her inventory…
On August 24, 2009 at 8:37 pm marly said...
Last one tonight, he promises – “Raising the Shades”.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:48 pm Beki said...
Turn of the Screwed made me laugh right out loud. Though I’m not sure that’s what you’re going for either.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:51 pm Marta said...
Crusie titles are all references to something significant in the book. Almost all, at least. A few words that cut straight to the core but also suggest there’s more going on. Like Lewis Grizzard’s southern slant on the difference between the words naked and nekkid: Naked means you don’t have any clothes on; nekkid means you don’t have any clothes on and you’re up to something.
The problem we may be having with AKMG is that we don’t have enough of the flavor of the book to come up with a good scary nekkid title for it. Hint. Hint. So far, I’m thinking of it as somewhere between the original 13 Ghosts and Beetlejuice, with a touch of Mrs. Muir.
On August 24, 2009 at 8:56 pm Marta said...
Made by the Shade
On August 24, 2009 at 9:07 pm tennis41 said...
Jenny maybe the problem isn’t the title but the brand. It’s changing because you’re changing. Lori Foster wrote paranormal under LL Foster. People still knew it was Lori (the titles said Lori Foster writing as…) but were expecting a different story because of the name change.
On August 26, 2009 at 9:48 am Micki said...
True. Maybe it could be a J.S. Crusie?
On August 24, 2009 at 9:23 pm Library Linda said...
Bump in the Night (and the cover words could include Beevis and Butthead style “huh…huh-huh….huh…she said, “bump”)
On August 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm Gina said...
When I think of possessive obsessive creepiness I always think of the woman on Wedding Crashers saying “I’d come find you!” Just a thought.
On August 24, 2009 at 9:39 pm Kristen said...
This is the opposite of helpful, but all I can think of is: Always kiss me goodnight…OR ELSE. Or else, of course, would be in dripping, red lettering a la R.L. Stine.
Yes, I know, horribly unhelpful!
On August 24, 2009 at 9:53 pm Becky said...
How about Spooky Little Girls, with a tag line of “Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.”
That references the kid(s) who see the ghosts first, and the tag line clarifies that it’s a romantic comedy.
On August 24, 2009 at 10:04 pm Jenny said...
I did suggest Spooky Alice. Nobody liked it, and it’s not really about the little girl. But if I ever do her book, I’m coming back to Spooky Alice.
I think the brand is part of it, and part of it is that it’s just a really uneasy hybrid. I personally don’t think it’s funny, but then I don’t think most of my stuff is funny. It’s not meant to be comic. Well, Trust Me On This was a farce, but the rest of them, the humor was just supposed to be a byproduct of the characters. I don’t do Wacky. I don’t think.
So the hero and heroine have senses of humor and crack wise with each other, but I’m not seeing pratfalls into wet cement. They’re the fairly normal ones surrounded by whack jobs of varying degrees of benevolence and malevolence, and then there are the ghosts. They all end up trapped in the house together . . . yes, I have a tone problem.
But the book is about do-overs, about people who screwed up in the past and want a second chance, some of them dead, and it’s about community, of course, and connecting. It’s a Crusie in that sense. And belief in the things you can’t see or quantify.
A lot of these titles are excellent creepy titles, but they need to have that romance tilt to them. Creepy, funny romance ghost story. With a maybe on the funny because I really don’t do that on purpose.
On August 25, 2009 at 8:20 am JulieB said...
I don’t think it sound “Crusie” perhaps, but what about “Turn, Turn, Turn” — a play on trying again and “Turn of the Screw?” I know it has the song connotations too, but I think the harmonics in that part are erie.
Also, when I think of it in terms of branding, I think people might think it _is_ a Goodnight family book. So that would lead to some major dissapointment.
On August 25, 2009 at 10:13 pm JulieB said...
OK — got interrupted and realized the previous made no sense. I meant AKMG might be confused with the Goodnight family. But “Turn, Turn, Turn” is not funny. Even I see that.
On August 26, 2009 at 10:03 am Jackie said...
Turn About?
A Turn of the Screw
One More Time with Feeling
….OK, I’m done now…
On August 26, 2009 at 8:34 am Jo Walton said...
Would it be really boring to call it “Second Chance”? Or “Second Chances”? Because that sounds like a Crusie title and it sounds thematic.
If it makes you feel any better, I went through hundreds of titles on my last novel. I was sending my editor emails every week with a list, and he hated all of them. Eventually he loved one that my next-door neighbour suggested as a joke.
On August 24, 2009 at 10:07 pm Ellen said...
Could you just 86 the “Always” and make it “Kiss Me Goodnight”? Fits the rhythm of “Bet Me” and so on, and you could have “Kiss Me” on the first line with fun Crusie-ish lettering, then “Goodnight” on the next line in nightmare scary lettering.
On August 26, 2009 at 9:50 am Micki said...
Yeah, I was going to suggest plain ol’ “Kiss Me” too. Or maybe “Kiss, Kiss” but I think that’s been done . . . . “A Kiss Before Midnight” (that’s been suggested, hasn’t it?)
On August 24, 2009 at 10:17 pm jenifer said...
I thought I remembered your saying it was your take on “Turn of the Screw” and you’ve confirmed that here.
What about something like “Another Turn”? Fits revisiting that classic and also works with the idea of do-overs. Or maybe “One More Turn” has better rhythm and sounds a bit more ominous. I don’t know, but I keep feeling like having turn in the title would work.
On August 25, 2009 at 4:58 pm Briana said...
Ooh….I kind of like One More Turn. Could be creepy, but also has a sense of romantic possibility.
On August 25, 2009 at 9:55 pm MJ said...
Oh, good idea to play with “turn.”
“Turn Around, Emmaline” (or whoever she ends up being)
Or maybe “Don’t Turn Around.”
On August 24, 2009 at 10:56 pm pina said...
death, love and other disasters… (already seems to be a book out there with that name though)
return to sender
fools rush in… i seem to be channeling elvis long titles.
not another night (from my favorite celtic lullaby cd: “Night night sleep tight don’t let the bed bugs bite and if they do, squeeze them tight so they won’t come another night”.)
On August 24, 2009 at 11:25 pm Jay said...
Butterfly Ghost Kisses.
On August 24, 2009 at 11:44 pm carolyn said...
I just wanted to add my name to the list of people who love the title as is. I think it totally sounds like a Crusie title (of course the “Goodnight” reference helps there). And I think most Crusie readers are smart enough to get it. Eventually. And I’ve read all the other suggestions and I don’t think any of them are as good as AKMG…….
On August 25, 2009 at 2:05 am M said...
This Time Around (?) Or, This Turn Around (?)
On August 25, 2009 at 2:20 am Reb said...
Crusie titles are phrases with a meaning of their own that also pick up the key event/theme of the book (Faking It, Bet Me, Welcome to Temptation, Fast Women etc). That’s a pretty impressive achievement for 2-4 words.
So this one’s about second chances. Hmmm. And it’s like TotS.
How about “Turn Around”?
You could solve it with a tag line you know. “AKMG – it’s a ghost story, dammit!”
On August 25, 2009 at 3:16 am Venus Vaughn said...
Crap, I’ve been meaning to post this for days, and it always slips my mind when I’m near the computer. But I meant to suggest, “The Better To Kiss You With” as an alternative title.
It comes from a kind of creepy place, but I don’t think it’s so off-putting that it won’t work for you (aka: The Crusie Brand).
On August 25, 2009 at 3:33 am Nic said...
*de-lurk*
Done over
Shades Dancing
Over and Done in
Glimpsed Sideways
Reason’s Edge
Chained Reaction
Butterfly Kisses
Bumpy Road
Crash Bang
Creaky Walls
Watch Carefully
Watch Me, Watch Me
Upstairs Staging
On August 26, 2009 at 8:17 pm Jenny said...
I like Crash Bang, too. Not for this book, but I’m loving some of the titles you’re all coming up with.
On August 25, 2009 at 4:23 am CatScott said...
Cole Porter really had a great title with “Kiss Me, Kate”. It’s a total KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) title. That’s what you need….a KISS title. There has got to be some thread in that book of yours, and if it’s AKMG then that’s your title.
If you have to rename Emmaline then perhaps you could go with a name that goes along with Kiss Me, ______ or Save Me,_______.
Of course I also like something like Shrew You but I don’t see your publishers falling in love with that one
On August 26, 2009 at 7:39 am Crystal M said...
LOL If I ever saw a book with the title Shrew You, I would immediately pick it up and read it!
On August 25, 2009 at 6:45 am Marta said...
Coming Back to Haunt You
As in what mistakes like to do, since the only reason anyone needs a second chance is they screwed up the first one. Also what ghosts like to do.
On August 25, 2009 at 7:11 am Savvy2 said...
Bad Stuff
Check It Out
Crazy In Here
Not Happening
Second Take
On August 25, 2009 at 8:28 am Mary Stella said...
So the h/h are the sane ones surrounded by wacko spirits. They’re the Marilyn in the Munster family?
Hmm — Ghost of a Chance? Love After Life (afterlife?) Okay, I’m not serious about the second one but it made me laugh. Haunted Hearts. (Not comedic)
Key to brainstorming – voice even the bad ideas to keep the energy flowing in hopes something good comes out.
I remember my folks used to talk about visiting the old haunts, meaning places where they used to hang out and not specifically haunted houses. This Old Haunt of Mine.
This is hard but eventually someone will come up with the perfect name or an idea that will lead to someone else creating the perfect name and it will be the Best Title Ever.
On August 25, 2009 at 8:34 am tennis41 said...
Kissing the Ghost
Second Chances
Beyond the Kiss
Kisses and Graves
Kisses, Death and all that Jazz.
Romancing the Ghost
Relationships are Murder
Ok. I got nothin’
On August 25, 2009 at 8:36 am Ashley said...
I really don’t what to tell you, I’m horrible at titles too. Maybe you could use “Wouldn’t Dream of It,” seeing as you said the characters never would dream of saying it? Just a thought.
On August 25, 2009 at 8:54 am Terrie said...
Boo!
On August 25, 2009 at 9:05 am Electric Landlady said...
Hm. Too bad Kazuo Ishiguro already took Never Let Me Go. Never Leave Me? Love Always?
On August 25, 2009 at 9:09 am Electric Landlady said...
(I meant to add, there is a similar divide over Robert Munsch’s story Love You Forever. Some people find it really sweet and touching, some people find it appalling and creepy. Not that this helps.)
On August 25, 2009 at 9:36 am robena grant said...
Do Over
Stir Once, Stir Twice (although that sounds like witches)
You only Live Thrice (instead of twice like 007)
On August 25, 2009 at 10:15 am marly said...
“Earthbound”, “Eyes On Me”, “Cold Spots”, “Seeking Light”, “Stay With Me”, “Bound to Be” – this is really difficult – a ghost story with some menacing aspects, a romance, characters with a sense of humor, and all this tied up in a title that is identifiably Jennifer Crusie. I agree with Mary Stella – just keep throwing things out and hope something resonates. There’s a song by Evanescence, I think, that’s about ghosts. A line in that is “Long Lost Words”.
On August 25, 2009 at 10:15 am Melissa Blue said...
So, it’s a Crusie with a Ghost, which just means it’s a paranormal instead of a contemporary. You’ve done Dark before. I still laughed with those books. I think that’s where your humor shines through.
So, what you and the publisher are looking for is another “Crazy For You” type of title? Because anyone who read that book had to think at least twice “This is creepy.” And the title ties into that thread of the book even though on the surface it shouts “I’m a contemporary, hear me roar.”
That’s a hard one. This title change may have to come directly from the book. ‘Cause all of your titles make sense and have a deeper meaning after reading the book. Well, not What The Lady Wants, which is a direct quote and that’s about it. Unless I missed it.
At this point I’m no help ’cause all I need to see is Jennifer Crusie and I’ll buy it.
On August 26, 2009 at 5:44 pm Sierra said...
Ditto on the last sentence. There are two urrent authors I’ll buy regardless of what it is – Jennifer Crusie and Terry Pratchett. A common exchange between my friends and I at bookstores –
“Oh, it’s a new Jennifer Crusie!”
“What’s it about?”
*odd look* “What do you mean? It’s by Crusie. Who cares what it’s about? It’ll be fantastic!”
On August 25, 2009 at 10:36 am Electric Landlady said...
That’s true — “Crazy For You” was nicely ambiguous!
On August 25, 2009 at 10:56 am Debbie said...
I really like the title Always Kiss Me Goodnight. With the right cover art, it should come across as appropriately creepy. People see/hear what they want to anyway…Every Breath You Take by the Police and One by U2 being prime examples.
“In the Arms of a Ghost”; or, “The Ghost in My Arms”?
I keep thinking of old Hollywood movies like Topper. “I Can See Right Through You”?
On August 25, 2009 at 11:02 am Jana said...
To expand on Marta’s suggestion, how about “Haunting You”?
On August 25, 2009 at 11:03 am TerriO said...
I usually lurk but thought I might throw some ideas in here.
The Walls That Bind
Chance Encounters
Trapped In Love (Oh, that’s bad, huh?)
Sharing Spaces
Breaking Down the Walls (I’m sure that’s been done.)
Finding Peace
I don’t think this is much help. But as someone else said, if it has your name on it, it’s pretty much an auto-buy.
On August 25, 2009 at 11:03 am laura said...
6oodnight, Goon (like goodnight moon) on the lighter side.
Hold Me Tight
One More Night
Lovelife or Nightlife for short one with a play on “life”.
Haunt Me (might be too much like bet me)
Sweet Dreamz
Deadly Mistakes (maybe too dark) or Deadly Wishes
Just a few thoughts… I can see the dilemma; a creepy and romantic comedic tone is definitely tough to acjieve with only a few words!
On August 25, 2009 at 11:06 am Marta said...
Exorcising Love
Exorcise in Love
or just Bad Lovin’
On August 25, 2009 at 11:08 am Cindy said...
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Spirit Me Away
Rescue Me
Groom & Doom
Hopscotch (from the Corpse Bride)
Freaks & Creeps
On August 25, 2009 at 11:23 am Marta said...
Love Gone Dead Wrong
On August 25, 2009 at 11:24 am robena grant said...
I love Frog Point Wallow. : ) I have to stop playing/procrastinating and get to work.
Whack-a-Ghost…
you clobber one, another pops up.
On August 25, 2009 at 11:36 am Mrs.MJ said...
I thought I remembered reading here a while back that it’s not so much a romance, but a “darker” Crusie? So it’s kind of a dark romance with ghosts and stuff, a haunting love story? My 2 cents: Never Let You Go, which to me is possesive and creepy. But I still think of this book as AKMG, which to be honest at first I thought was sweet, until I read more of your commentary. Whatever you end up naming it we will still be lining up to grab it!
On August 25, 2009 at 11:54 am Bonnie C said...
My vote is still firmly on keeping AKMG, but in the interest of playing along…
Return to You/Me
Love, American Gothic Style
Kiss Me Deadly
Once, Twice, Three Times a Poltergiest (just kidding! it’s awful, I know!)
Dark Kisses
Kisses in the Dark
On August 25, 2009 at 11:56 am Bonnie C said...
Oh, and many apologies if I repeated anyone else’s suggestions… my coffee hasn’t quite kicked in yet.
On August 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm Kelly said...
“High Spirits” leaps to mind, although I realize that it was the name of a movie back in the 80′s.
On August 25, 2009 at 1:03 pm Kelly said...
Or “Dream A Little Scream” – I like that too. : )
On August 25, 2009 at 1:31 pm Meggrs said...
Something like “Before I Wake,” that has creepy connotations (“…if I should die before I wake…”) could be countered by cover art that plays on the “wake” concept with humor, such as live and dead characters interacting in darkly funny (oh, heck with it, even wacky) ways.
Of course, it may only be in my family that wakes are darkly funny, and “Before I Wake” without any other context sounds very Romantic Suspense. This is where the cover design would need to do the heavy lifting to convey the book’s tone.
On August 25, 2009 at 1:36 pm Absolute Cherry said...
I’m sneaking online at work and haven’t read all of the comments so apologies in advance if I’m repeating somebody else’s idea, but if the characters are people living and not so much living who are seeking redemption (and the usual love against all odds) how about Ghost of a Chance? Not creepy enough?
On August 25, 2009 at 1:36 pm robena grant said...
Broken Pieces
Cross my Fingers
On August 25, 2009 at 1:56 pm McB said...
Huh. My comment went ‘poof.” And I’m sure it was one of my most scathingly brilliant comments ever. You know how that works.
Mostly I pointed out that you do “wit” as opposed to “comedy.” It’s the difference between old school stand up comedy and SNL. They are very different and neither is as easy as the pros make it look.
I also had some fun with wordplay trying out titles. Which were all really bad so it’s just as well they were lost. Does the house have a name (I think haunted houses must; it’s a rule or something)? Or what about putting a twist on the name of the house/town – like “Dispossessing Hill House” (I did say they were all bad) or “Exorcist Wanted, Apply Within”
On August 25, 2009 at 2:00 pm robena grant said...
How about some of your sayings?
Just Sayin’
But Still…
It Could Happen
Now There’s a Thought
On August 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm Briana said...
It Could Happen….that one I like too.
Hey, I figure if I don’t have any good ideas of my own, I can at least be supportive, right?!
On August 25, 2009 at 2:20 pm Marleen said...
I saw quite a few people in the thread under the previous post suggesting “Never let me go” as an alternative to AKMG.
“Never let me go” is also the title of a 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, an important UK writer (Japanese born, hence his name). I don’t know if it ever sold well in the USA, but is very well known in Europe and was nominated for the Booker prize.
It is a creepy and menacing book, about a future world where everybody has a spare clone of him/herself for spare body parts, but very literary. I’ve read it, it is very good, but not at all like a Crusie, whether romcom or creepy.
For me, this would make Never let me go very confusing as a book title.
Don’t know about you on the other side of the Atlantic though?
On August 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm Briana said...
Yeah, no. I immediately thought Ishiguro too. And his book isn’t so old or unknown that others would not make that same leap. Which would be not so helpful for this book.
On August 26, 2009 at 2:15 pm PG said...
Ditto on thinking Ishiguro (also the author of “Remains of the Day”), so the book must have been reasonably well-known in the U.S. If this is a publisher-nudged change, might as well start each option by Googling and Amazoning to see what the competition is.
On August 27, 2009 at 8:55 pm Slave Driver said...
That sounds like the plot to a movie called “The Island” about clones kept around for spare parts. Also kind of like a Bruce Willis movie coming out called “Surrogates”.
On August 25, 2009 at 3:28 pm misspiggy don'twannabe said...
Tonight and Every Night
Don’t Say Goodbye
I had some other thoughts but people are acting as if I should be working.
On August 25, 2009 at 3:36 pm Diane L. said...
I really like Ghost of a Chance (by a poster above; I’m not nearly creative enough to think of a title on my own).
On August 25, 2009 at 4:35 pm Jules said...
How about “Truly and Madly”? It has a bit of a romance, Crusie style, title to it, and “madly” could imply some spookiness. Also, kind of a reference to Turn of the Screw since the governess goes mad. There it is. A day spent thinking about this rather than about how soon school starts for the kids (not soon enough) and
that’s my contribution. Maybe I should have just done laundry instead….. I’m new to reading the blog, but I’m enjoying reading what everyone has to say…
On August 27, 2009 at 2:18 am Venus Vaughn said...
Oooh, I do like “Truly, Madly”.
On August 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm Bridget said...
Trouble is there is a movie with Alan Rickman called Truly Madly Deeply about ghosts. (and if you haven’t seen it, rent it – it’s wonderful)
Can I ask when did the ghosts die? You might be able to use songs from their time period.
On August 25, 2009 at 5:05 pm leuce7 said...
I just went through a long list of romance/romantic films to try to mine ideas. Don’t know if any of them are any good but I figured I’d throw them all out there anyway. The more the merrier. Hmm, that might work, too…
Talk of the Town
Spellbound
Encounters
Lover Come Back
Forsaking all Others
It Happened One Night
Nostalgia
Wistful Thinking
Wish I Had an Angel
Night Wish
Love Me or Leave Me
Better Wed than Dead
I’ll Be Right Here
Loving Dangerously
Where We Belong
Coming Home
Haunting My Dreams
Come With Me
Goodnight, Sweetheart
Where Have You Been All My Life?
Outside Your Window
Something About You
More Than You Ever Wanted
I know, I know. But I’m on vacation, I can do this for HOURS. Never realized quite how ridiculously hard it is to come up with a solid title.
On August 25, 2009 at 5:17 pm Absolute Cherry said...
Okay, props to Mary Stella who came up with Ghost of a Chance first. I like that one more and more – it’s like Crazy for You in that readers will catch the double meaning only after they’re into the book.
On August 25, 2009 at 9:01 pm Merry the CB said...
Chance of a ghost?
On August 25, 2009 at 5:27 pm Edie said...
Boo Hawaii
Love Me Dead
On August 25, 2009 at 5:45 pm Marta said...
Ghost of a Chance is the title of Kate Marsh’s 2008 paranormal, and Jayne Anne Krentz’s 1985 romance, to name a couple. Popular title over the years.
On August 26, 2009 at 8:16 am Absolute Cherry said...
Well shoot. Back to the search for a nekkid title!
On August 26, 2009 at 8:56 am Marta said...
I know! This would be soooo much easier if we could read the book first.
On August 25, 2009 at 5:48 pm Marta said...
I swear I don’t know where that ‘e’ on the end of Ann came from! I hope someone can make it disappear. . .
On August 25, 2009 at 5:53 pm jessie said...
I am having a lot of trouble with the preview function so I hope this doesn’t turn out to weird.
Welcome to Bedtime
So Scare Me
What’s that Noise
This is why authors have theme titles like “A is for …”, “One …”, “Two…”. It’s easier and doesn’t necessarily have to relate too closely to what is happening in the book. On a lot of these titles, when I try to visualize genre, what pops up is mystery or horror or straight romance and the ones I come up with are a lot worse. Oh well.
On August 28, 2009 at 12:14 am Jennifer Carroll said...
It’s a winner! (But drop the ‘you’)
My vote is for ‘Scare me’
On August 25, 2009 at 6:05 pm marly said...
“Love the Nightlife” from the Alicia Bridges song or “In Your Dreams”, if the ghosts happen to have the ability to influence dreams. “In Your Dreams” has that nifty double meaning.
On August 25, 2009 at 6:19 pm jessie said...
All those who have been saying the cover art will fix the title ambiguities have brought me around to their point-of-view. I started looking at cover are for ghost stories and if the artwork is good, there is no question what the genre is. Case in point, take a took at the cover for Cherie Priest’s “Four and Twenty Blackbirds”, you don’t have the feeling this is going to be a kid’s story despite the ambiguity of the title. And if “The Turn of the Screw” had a pink cover with lime and white lettering, the reader would be really not expecting what he got. So Always Kiss Me Goodnight could work.
On August 25, 2009 at 6:59 pm marly said...
My other half suggests “Something Wicked” from the line “something wicked this way comes….” from Macbeth and lines from one of his favorite oldies – Deep Purple, “Though You’re Gone”, “Still of the Night”, “Breathing My Name”, “With A Sigh”, “Hold You Tight”, “Wander on Back” – and “Now You See It” and he doesn’t know what that’s from other than “now you see it, now you don’t”.
On August 27, 2009 at 11:13 am Bonnie C said...
“Something Wicked” immediately brings to my mind Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Phenomenal book and the Disney movie scared the s**t outta me when I was a kid… so did <Watcher In The Woods from that same late 70′s oeuvre… of course this doesn’t help in the title search much…
On August 25, 2009 at 7:51 pm Jill said...
Good Night Moon, Good Night Ghost.
On August 25, 2009 at 9:56 pm MJ said...
Darling Possessed
On August 25, 2009 at 10:04 pm helen said...
Creepy, romance ghost story?
I hear creepy and romance together and immediately that old Tommy James and the Shondels song with the spooky bass line starts playing. Every one of the lines is half-creepy, half-sexy, and might make a title:
I Think We’re Alone Now
and
The Beating of Our Hearts is the Only Sound
and
Trying To Get Away Into the Night
and
Doesn’t Seem To Be Anyone Around
On August 26, 2009 at 8:24 pm Jenny said...
I love that song. I Think We’re Alone Now is a great title. But I don’t think it’s right for this book. Damn.
And giving you the first scene would not help you at all since it’s in the normal world, in a lawyer’s office.
Great, great titles on here.
On August 25, 2009 at 10:22 pm JulieB said...
A Spirited Debate.
On August 25, 2009 at 10:30 pm Camanoah said...
How about “Something There” with or without a question mark. Could be talking about a relationship or a ghost… or the dog accidentally shut in the closet.
or these gems (cough, cough):
“So Not Into This”
“Don’t Turn Your Back on Love… or the Wall Either”
On August 25, 2009 at 10:31 pm LB said...
“Wake Me Up”
“No Time for Sleep”
(You can) “Sleep when you’re dead”
“You only live once”
“Spirit in the Night” or “Night Spirit” or “Soul Mates” or “Awakened Visions” (with a double entendre on the soul/spirit/vision)
‘Grave’ would be a good play on words… “a grave pair”? or “Grave choices” about their past mistakes?
Maybe something about “My Heart Beats for You”? or “(Be) Still My Heart”?
In keeping with the AKMG theme:
“Kiss of Death” (maybe too much on the horror side) or “Kiss of Life”
A Lifetime of Kisses
Kiss Me Breathless
On August 26, 2009 at 1:20 am Lisa said...
Hi Jenny,
Reading more on what the novel is about, this is what came to mind:
If These Walls Could Talk
Although, I also liked a truncated version of what helen (10:04) said –
Away Into the Night
Good luck – this stuff is not as easy as it looks.
On August 26, 2009 at 1:34 am Caryn said...
Second Chances
catch a shadow
deadly shades
chasing shadows
not afraid of ghosts
On August 26, 2009 at 8:51 am Marta said...
Once More With Feeling
In homage to Buffy the Musical. As a book title, though, it’s been used in every genre. Still, Spike’s song, “Rest in Peace”, Buffy’s “Going Through the Motions”, great tongue-in-cheek pathos.
On August 26, 2009 at 9:12 am helen said...
Wait a minute!!!!
If I’m ripping-off song titles, how did I overlook Dusty??? With a slight modification doesn’t this speak to both romance and haunting?
Always Wanna Be With You
On August 26, 2009 at 9:54 am Kim said...
The title of a book has never influenced my purchase decision–covers on the other hand … If I wasn’t already a rabid Crusie fan, I would have had to buy Agnes and the Hitman because of the cover. I also am the proud owner of a first edition hardback of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I still remember skimming through the bookshelves and seeing its amazing cover.
On August 26, 2009 at 10:06 am Micki said...
Bump (lots of one-word titles in fiction these days . . .)
Bumpin’ with the Ghouls
Demon Bumpkiss (sheesh, I don’t even know what that means)
To Kiss A Demon in Disguise
Last Chance
The Second Chance Ghost
Another Ghost in the Attic
Demons Under My Bed
OK, utterly random stuff, and I could spout it all night, but I better get to bed. I’m OK with AKMG, but obviously, it’s niggling you, so listen to the niggle. There might be something better out there . . . .
On August 26, 2009 at 10:07 am Jana said...
As long as we’re ripping off song titles, how about “Ghost Me Baby, One More Time”.
1. The play on “Kiss Me Baby, One More Time” says this ain’t no normal RomCom, cause ghosts are a-coming.
2. “One more time” speaks to the theme of do-overs.
3. It hints of a relationship, so ties in with your community and connection theme.
4. It has a contemporary, catchy, witty feel to it (I can hope!), so it sounds like a Crusie
On August 26, 2009 at 10:30 am Theresa said...
Ok, here are my contributions:
Bump in the Night
Ghost Kisses
Never Kiss Me Goodnight
Or how about just, Kiss Me Goodnight or Kiss Goodnight
Hmmm…
Goodnight or Goodbye
All right, that’s all I’ve got.
On August 26, 2009 at 6:36 pm JulieB said...
Wasn’t there an old song with the lyrics, “Kiss me once and kiss me twice and kiss me once again…?”
On August 27, 2009 at 7:34 am Naked Under My Clothes said...
Yep, it’s from the forties. A veritable treasure trove of “you may be gone but I’ll be thinking of you” songs, thanks to (??) WWII.
http://www.geocities.com/grandmak33/itsbeenalonglongtime.html
On August 27, 2009 at 7:39 am JulieB said...
I’m really curious to find out how old Jenny’s ghosts are.
On August 26, 2009 at 11:32 am marly said...
“Passing Through”, “Don’t Come Back”, “One Foot In”, “Grave Expressions”, “Grave Danger”, “Grave Beauty”, “Grave Conditions”, “Knocking Down the Walls”, “Ghost Of A Smile”.
On August 26, 2009 at 12:28 pm robena grant said...
Dead, Not Gone
Ghost de Jour
On August 26, 2009 at 2:10 pm tennis41 said...
Things that go Bump in the NIght.
On August 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm marly said...
More ideas from songs – “Walk Right In”, “No Solid Ground”, “Now That You’ve Gone”, “Waking Up to You”, “Still Here With Me”, “You’re Gonna Love Me”, “Under Covers”, “No Locks, No Keys”, “Walk On By”, “Still Here With You”
On August 26, 2009 at 3:52 pm robena grant said...
I like “Walk on By”.
Good Gravy, it’s Grandma’s Ghost!
A Mother of a Ghost
Knock Three Times
On August 26, 2009 at 4:52 pm Lou said...
I really like Don’t Turn Around as suggested by a previous commentor.
On August 26, 2009 at 5:31 pm tennis41 said...
Off Topic: When does Wild Ride come out?
On August 26, 2009 at 8:25 pm Jenny said...
March 2010.
On August 26, 2009 at 8:53 pm Jenny said...
There’s some really great stuff on here. Some of those titles I’d like to write books for.
I almost think I’m stuck on AKMG just because I’ve been thinking that’s the title for so long, although the plaque is in the book and the phrase is used several times. Mollie suggested I use You Again for this book, but I think it’s too lighthearted and besides, that’s stuck to the other book for me. Otherwise, that would work.
You know, it going to come to us. All of a sudden, somebody will get it. But it’s really, really difficult.
Oh, and Jen’s been reading these and the last time I talked to her she liked Bump in the Night. Problem is, when I read “bump” these days I think pregnancy bumps, so that’s off for me.
The macguffin in the book is really the little girl, Alice. I thought of something like Alice’s Mothers, but that’s terrible from both the creepy and the comedy point of view. Butterflies are a motif, and I like Butterfly Kisses, but again, not creepy and probably too romance-y.
I looked at the music I’m using for the book. I love Imogen Heap’s version of Spooky, but I don’t think it’s a good title. Just My Imagination (the Cranberries version) might work. Nine Million Bicycles has I Will Love You Till I Die and I Will Always Be With You, but I think that may be spookier than I want. Katie Melua’s Piece by Piece has some great stuff in it, like Your Kiss Went Deeper Than My Skin, but that’s kind of corpse-y. Whispers in My Dreams is in there, too, but it’s not quite right. Melua’s Closest Thing to Crazy is a good title, but not for this, along with a line from it, Break My Dreams.
I love the music from this book. It has the mood I want. I just can’t translate it to a TITLE. ARGH.
But I do appreciate you all playing. And lord knows, there are probably authors on here right now saying, “That’s IT! That’s MY TITLE!” And good for them, too.
On August 26, 2009 at 10:14 pm Melissa Blue said...
After scrolling all the way back down again *with the blocks of lists* I got the same thought of other authors might find these titles great. A title database for authors…hmm, has potential.
On August 28, 2009 at 7:48 am JulieB said...
How about “Love you ’til” to shorten it up. Then, when you reference the song in the book, if people go and listen, it will click. But by then, they’ll already be in the story.
It doesn’t scream romance, because of the qualitative last word.
On August 26, 2009 at 9:24 pm Courtney De said...
Songs: you should take a listen to “All This Love,” by Jennie DeVoe, and “The Girl & the Ghost,” by KT Tunstall. I could be off, but I think, from your soundtrack, that one or both of those might fit right in. Not sure you can get a title out of wither of them, but who knows…Oh, and another Jennie DeVoe song that is completely unrelated in content, does have a title that strikes me as apropos: “No Such Thing.”
On August 26, 2009 at 10:16 pm marly said...
He’s promised these are his final ideas – we’ll see. “What Alice Knows”, “Only For Alice”, “What Alice Heard”, “Alice in the Mirror”, “Watching Over Alice”, “Waiting For Alice” and “Been There, Done That” – I’d ask where that last one came from, but he’s laughing too hard to answer. My only contribution is that sort of funny, sort of eerie little poem:
Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there.
He wasn’t there again today,
Oh, how I wish he’d go away.
When I came home tonight at three,
The man was waiting there for me.
But when I looked around the hall,
I couldn’t see him there at all.
Go away, go away, and don’t you come back anymore.
Go away, go away, and please, this time, don’t slam the door.
On August 26, 2009 at 11:35 pm Jay said...
Enchanted Shadows
Enchanted Echos
Spiderwebs and Echos
Whispers and Echos
Spiderwebs and shadows
Shadows of Spiderwebs
My Haunted imagination
Echos of whispers
Echos of Goodbye
Echos of my memory
Dreams of whispers and echos
Echos of you
Fading shadows
Fading Echos
Fading memories of you
Fading echos of your voice
Fading echos of your face
Haunted Echos
Haunted memories of your face
On August 27, 2009 at 2:06 am Jenyfer Matthews said...
I feel you pain – I hate having to come up with titles. I was going to suggest you go back to your book soundtrack and look for phrases / themes there but it seems you’ve already done that.
The only suggestion I can make is put the matter aside and go do something else and as likely as not, the right title will just hit you between the eyes. I kind of like AKMG myself. The only title I could think of that I (don’t think) has been suggested yet is “Kiss Me / You to Death” which probably isn’t a very good fit anyway.
On August 27, 2009 at 5:53 am Marilyn K. said...
“A Whisp of a Kiss”
“Whispering Kisses”
I didn’t check to see if these have been suggested.
On August 27, 2009 at 7:24 am Marta said...
Don’t Spook Alice
Who Spooked Alice?
On August 27, 2009 at 7:40 am Naked Under My Clothes said...
Alice Blue Gown? It’s a song from the early 19-teens. Here’s a link: http://www.geocities.com/dferg5493/alicebluegown.htm
On August 27, 2009 at 8:27 am BCB said...
I’ll Be Seeing You
or
All The Old Familiar Places
(love that song)
Good luck finding one that fits!
On August 27, 2009 at 9:20 am PG said...
Feeling John Hughes (is that about the right generation for the main characters?)… if you want obsessive, possessive love, there’s nothing like teenage angst.
“Please Don’t Take My Heart Away”
“We’ve Got to Make It Last”
“I Touched You Once, I Touched You Twice”*
“Like Time Was Standing Still”
“You Always Said We’d Meet Again”
“Won’t You Come See About Me?”
“Don’t You Forget About Me”
“If You Were Here”
“Since You’ve Been Around”
“If You Want Me, You Can Find Me”
“They Just Want To Hold Me”
* Too “bad touch”?
On August 27, 2009 at 9:25 am PG said...
Still, that photo I linked in the prior thread has really cemented “Always Kiss Me Goodnight” as the right title in my mind. It’s so Alice in Wonderland kind of creepy.
On August 27, 2009 at 11:47 am Marilyn K. said...
“Alice Is In the Attic”
“Alice and the Attic”
“Alice’s Secret Attic”
On August 27, 2009 at 11:50 am Becke Davis said...
I have to agree about the plaquiness of the original title — it doesn’t shout “Crusie” to me. Of course, my thinking is along the lines of Turn of the Screwed, but that has nothing to do with the book. Within These Walls was a long-running British TV series about a women’s prison, so I’m shying away from that one. I like the song idea — what about the Beatles’ I’m Looking Through You? I’ve Just Seen a (Ghostly) Face? The Ghost and Ms. (fill in heroine’s surname here). I love The Uninvited, but that’s been done. Three Degrees of Separation (or however many a ghost is from the present). Beatles again: You Won’t See Me. Here, There and Everywhere. Henry James Slept Here. MC Hammer: You Can’t Touch This. Okay, clearly I’ve had too much caffeine.
On August 27, 2009 at 12:07 pm Becke Davis said...
The more I think about Beatle-ish titles, the more I like You Won’t See Me and I’m Looking Through You. Haven’t read the book, though, so who knows if those even relate. I tend to think of Crusie titles as short, sharp and catchy. Laying the Ghost probably gives the wrong impression.
Giving Up the Ghost. Unquiet Graves. The Ghost of a Chance. Ghost Walk.
On August 27, 2009 at 12:49 pm Gabriella Papic (WRW2005) said...
-If Only
-Time and Again
-Love Shadows
-Shadow of Time
-Shadow Dance
-Spectre of Love
-(A) Whisper of Time
-Whisper of Chance
On August 27, 2009 at 1:15 pm robena grant said...
Don’t Squeeze the Poltergeist.
Okay, cut me a break, I just came from the market. Ha.
On August 27, 2009 at 2:12 pm Lyn said...
Go ask Alice (I think she’ll know).
On August 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm Marilyn K. said...
Yes, That was the song by Jefferson Airplane. Very 60′s acid rock.
On August 27, 2009 at 3:23 pm Katie Mack said...
Off topic: I love the cover for Wild Ride.
On August 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm JulieB said...
Cover for Wild Ride? Where??
On August 28, 2009 at 12:18 am Jenny said...
I love the cover for Wild Ride, too. I don’t know where it is on the net, but I can scan the ARC in tomorrow.
On August 28, 2009 at 8:06 am JulieB said...
Kewl!
On August 28, 2009 at 8:53 am McB said...
Bob has a copy of the cover up on his site. And I agree it’s a very snazzy cover.
On August 28, 2009 at 12:06 pm JulieB said...
Thanks McB!!
On August 28, 2009 at 10:55 pm PG said...
While being off-topic: I checked Bob’s website for the first time to see the Wild Ride cover (love!), and I’d forgotten how cute he is. Does he deck women who tell him he looks like an American Colin Firth?
On August 29, 2009 at 12:35 am Jenny said...
Bob does not deck women who tell him he looks like Colin Firth. He says, “Who’s Colin Firth?”
On September 4, 2009 at 7:38 pm Katie Mack said...
Whoops, didn’t see these replies until now. I saw the cover because I follow Bob on Twitter and he tweeted the picture.
On August 27, 2009 at 3:24 pm marly said...
There’s that WWII song, “We’ll Meet Again” – one of the lines in that, if I remember correctly, is “It Won’t Be Long” or “Not Long Now”. A friend suggests, “Since I’ve Been Gone”, and “Waking Up To You”.
On August 27, 2009 at 3:28 pm marly said...
I’m told I left one out – “Past Perfect” – Sorry, Angie.
On August 27, 2009 at 4:49 pm Flamingo Cherry said...
I like Always Kiss Me Goodnight, here’s another vote for keeping it.
Of the other suggestions, I liked Dream a Little Scream and In the Arms of a Ghost.
Somebody suggested a connection with Something Wicked This Way Comes. What about “A Wicked Turn”? Which references Turn of the Screw as well as SWTWC.
I have been trying to listen to an audiobook of Turn of the Screw and failing miserably. There seems to me to be so much descriptive angst that my mind wanders and then when it snaps back I’m never sure if there’s been any plot or if it’s a continuation of wailing and moaning. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten as far as ghosts yet.
I’m definitely looking forward to a ghost story from you, Jenny!
On August 27, 2009 at 5:52 pm Katie Mack said...
I asked Dear Boyfriend to come up with a title for a “creepy funny romance ghost story.” His immediate response was: Dead Men Don’t Make Love.
Sorry, that’s not exactly helping.
On August 27, 2009 at 7:55 pm tennis41 said...
The earlier mentioned “Not Long Now” is funny.
Double entendre obvious but funny
On August 27, 2009 at 9:20 pm ineed3 said...
Here’s another vote for keeping AKMG. Totally down with the cover art idea. However, if you want to play up the second chances motif, I also like the previously suggested “Once more, with feeling” – again, would probably need some cover art to make the potential reader get the correct vibe.
On August 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm marly said...
I could be wrong, but I got the impression that Ms. Crusie might be calling for a cease and desist on the title suggestions. However, our little group is having way too much fun, so, under protest, and as the designated typist, (we just read the grammar blog and I’m certain I’m using too many commas – and parentheses – and dashes) I’m giving in to the pressure. Tonight’s offerings are: “Be Mine, “Make Me Yours”, and the universal favorite for it’s triple threat, “Blowing Hot and Cold”. The cold breath part for the ghosts, the regular meaning for the highs and lows of love, and the naughty implication that has certain people rolling with laughter. Honestly. P.S. I would use the underlining feature if I could figure it out without deletions, and ditto for the italicize feature. I don’t feel too bad since the other three geniuses here can’t figure it out either.
On August 28, 2009 at 12:19 am Jenny said...
Nope, no call for cease fire.
On August 27, 2009 at 11:18 pm inkgrrl said...
I Dream of Deja Vu
Deja Vu Kisses
A Kiss for Deja Vu
Deja Vu Redux
Yes, I am stuck on Deja Vu, no idea why, not sure if any of these make sense for any story, much less yours. I’ll see if I can come up with anything less stuckish.
On August 28, 2009 at 12:00 am Heather said...
I can understand where certain individuals would prefer you to have a “Crusie title”. The problem I have with it is your fan base is going to read you no matter the title of the book–we love you, we aren’t going anywhere. It only makes sense for you to take an alternate route, going with ghosts and deaths. You’re a superstar at romantic comedies, but you’re also a writer, with an imagination as vast as a canyon. The general public’s interest in paranormal stories is at an all time high (thanks to YA novels like Twilight and Vampire Academy, plus the success of authors like LKH and Jim Butcher). I think if you stayed with Always Kiss Me Goodnight, you’d get not only your already loyal fan base, but you may pick up those people who dig the paranormal thing. It could be a kick a** marketing strategy!
Just my two cents
On August 28, 2009 at 1:10 am Concord cherry said...
Wellllll. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is what I think of when I see the word “demons” but that’s just because I just finished the series this morning. And frankly, Jenny, that is just so NOT your genre, least aways, nowhere near what you’ve written that’s been published so far (that I’ve read) – partly because of a (very) ICKY subplot, which I don’t think ICKY when I read your writing. However, it’s got the cool, and slightly creepy cover and it’s an interesting story about demons and the people who remove them, etal.
And then I can’t help think of “Topper” – I’m sure you know the movie I’m thinking of…Constance Bennett, Roland Young, and Cary Grant… and that’s pretty much all romantic comedy, which seems right up your alley…
Immortal Remains of the Day (and Night?) Sorry. No help here.
*guffaw*
On August 28, 2009 at 4:03 am colognegrrl said...
When I hear “Alice”, I am reminded of three things:
- Alice’s Restaurant (can’t remember much about it)
- this song where they always scream “Alice? Who the f*ck is Alice?” (no go)
- Alice in Wonderland
So if Alice is in the center of everything, would “Alice in Blunderland” work?
On August 28, 2009 at 9:56 am Terrie said...
high spirits
On August 28, 2009 at 10:09 am Terrie said...
Ask Alice
On August 28, 2009 at 10:33 am LilyC said...
There was a song by Smokie in the 70s called Living Next Door to Alice (covered more recently by an alleged comedian in the UK – that’s the “who the f*ck is Alice?” one) which is about unrequited love, but not really connected. However, I just finished re-reading Dogs and Goddesses, and there’s already a book out there by that title (the original, I don’t think the newer one would sell), advertised on the last page. Spooky.
On August 28, 2009 at 10:49 am Mallory J. said...
I’ve always thought that “I Only Have Eyes for You” is a bit on the creepy/possessive side of love if that helps at all…plus, it was used in a Buffy episode
On August 28, 2009 at 11:12 am robena grant said...
Seeing is Believing
See Who’s Near You
From Love to Obsession
What do you wear when visiting a ghost?
Alice Brought the Ghost to Breakfast
And the invitation said…with ghost.
On August 28, 2009 at 11:33 am Diane L. said...
Watch No More
Wait No More
On August 28, 2009 at 1:34 pm Kathryn said...
Okay – so I remember see “Faking It” for the first time on the shelf in Target and I was so caught off guard by the title that I LAUGHED OUT LOUD (and I have a very loud voice) in the middle of the store, startling the unsuspecting shoppers.
So I just thought – okay, this is a romatic comedy about dead people, what about . . .
“Getting Offed”
I mean, I know it verges on the vulgar (maybe?) but I got the same kind of smile as soon as I thought of it so I had to atleast put it up for giggles! Matter of fact, I may just use it myself!
On August 28, 2009 at 1:44 pm Kieran said...
I should be doing other things!! But anything having to do with titles always pulls me in. Down South we call ghosts “haints.”
So I like HAINT MISBEHAVIN’.
:>)
On August 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm Melissa Blue said...
I vote for Getting Offed.
LOL.
On August 28, 2009 at 2:31 pm Kristin said...
I haven’t read all of the comments, but do love Dead Sexy, which someone threw in above. Along those lines, what about:
Dead Heat
Dead Right
Dead Wait (twist on dead weight)
Truly, Madly, Deadly
Kiss of Death (OK, maybe too morbid and used elsewhere, but I like all the double meanings with it.)
Jenny, I do love how your book titles tie into the themes of your books. Faking It and Crazy For You are two of my favorite, perfect titles. Love the books too, of course.
On August 28, 2009 at 2:48 pm Kieran said...
One more. What one-word phrase can inspire terror or thrills–or a mix of both? Associated with monsters under the bed OR a playful lover?
GOTCHA.
On August 28, 2009 at 3:27 pm Christine Rimmer said...
Grave Expectations
Undertaking Emmaline (is Emmaline the heroine’s name?)
On August 28, 2009 at 3:32 pm McB said...
“Blythe’s Spirits” I don’t suppose you want to rename one of the characters Blythe?
“High Spirits”
“The Spirit of the Thing”
“Getting With the Spirit”
On August 28, 2009 at 3:36 pm Kelly said...
“Ride the Whip” maybe?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost-riding
Sort of references roller coasters, has a sexual implication, and refers to “ghost riding”
On August 28, 2009 at 4:08 pm Kelly said...
Dark Amusements
On August 28, 2009 at 5:17 pm Kate said...
Last Night
One Last Night
On August 28, 2009 at 6:12 pm Janet Hill said...
“The real problem for all of us here is that we’ve been living with Always Kiss Me Goodnight ”
“Kiss to Chill”
or
“The Chill of Your Kiss”
because when I think about ghosts kissing me, I think “ah- that would give me chills”
On August 28, 2009 at 7:35 pm Karin said...
I agree that I will buy (and LOVE) any Jennifer Crusie book!
Keeping with the song theme…..what about:
Oops I Did It Again?
Back in Black
Forever Young
Kiss Me Baby One More Time
Stuck in the Middle With You
Tainted Love
Never Going to Give You Up
On August 28, 2009 at 7:36 pm marly said...
“After Glowing”, “Up Every Night”, “Earth Moving”, “Heavy Breathing”, “Rock the House”, “Bring Me Home”, “House Party”, “Raised Spirits”, “Stroke of Midnight” or his favorite, “Stroked At Midnight”. Obviously, some people have one-track minds.
On August 28, 2009 at 7:54 pm Mary Connealy said...
I love naming books. All except my own.
You said they were the eye of the storm.
How about Eye of the Storm
or
I of the Storm
or
Storm of the I
Forget it, I’m only making things worse.
I wanted to name one of my next romantic comedies with cowboys, Cowboy in Petticoats. I Tom boy, get it? Who falls in love when she wants to be riding the RANGE.
Except now I think that sounds like cross dressing. We aren’t trying to go that way. If we were, then SURE.
But we’re not.
On August 28, 2009 at 10:10 pm Mary Stella said...
Has anyone suggested “Always and Forever”?
Long week. That’s all I have tonight. *g*
On August 28, 2009 at 11:04 pm PG said...
I haven’t read Turn of the Screw (just downloaded the 99 cent version to my Kindle), and was reading the Wikipedia entry about it.
‘Throughout his career James was attracted to the ghost story genre. However, he was not fond of literature’s stereotypical ghosts, the old-fashioned ‘screamers’ and ‘slashers’. Rather, he preferred to create ghosts that were eerie extensions of everyday reality—”the strange and sinister embroidered on the very type of the normal and easy,” as he put it in the New York Edition preface to his final ghost story, The Jolly Corner.’
Embroidered, y’all. I tell you, Henry James is screaming from the grave, via Wikipedia, for Jenny to use “Always Kiss Me Goodnight.” Jenny has created her corner of Ohio in her readers’ minds — her Yoknapatawpha County, if you will — as the seemingly “normal and easy” on which this “strange and sinister” is embroidered.
Also, I heart that James’s little ghost story made critic Edmund Wilson go nuts: adopting a theory, then recanting it under pressure from the other critics, then recanting his recantation when someone else pointed out how his theory was viable. These are the things that warm an English major’s nights, at least while her husband is absorbed with the new Batman video game.
On August 29, 2009 at 12:11 am Jenny said...
James’s ghost story has driven a lot of critics insane, another reason I love it. I went nuts doing the critical work on it.
I’m closing the comments here and putting up a new post but this stuff is all gold. I’m going to be finding titles on these last two posts for decades.
On September 1, 2009 at 9:58 pm Eve said...
I love the title.
It is very much like Sting’s “Ever breath you take”.
I say keep it. And let the cover art explain the double meaning behind.
On September 3, 2009 at 4:47 pm LolaMac said...
what about… “After Love” — a play on afterlife and the charaters wanting to get to some lovin’.
On September 4, 2009 at 6:36 am Mel said...
I’m probably not the first to say this – can’t find a record of anyone else commenting – but AKMG made me think it was a Crusie novel – but only because I linked it to the Goodnight Gallery in Faking It.
On September 15, 2009 at 5:13 pm Sylvia said...
Never Look Away
In return I’m nabbing “Kiss Me Goodbye” which might suit a short story I’m working on.