We Have a Title (Maybe)

~ rhondakalkwarf

As I’ve worked on my novel, I’ve struggled with the title. I realize the title and the cover will be a big part of selling the book. You may not be able to tell a book by it’s cover, but if the title and cover aren’t appealing, I know I probably wouldn’t pick it up, or download it on to my Kindle.

My first working title was Lost at Sea. One problem with that title is it gives away too much of the story. Another problem is there are several books by that name already listed on Amazon.

So, I decided the boat name would be the title of the book. At that time, the name of the boat was Leanan Sidhe. In Celtic folklore, Leanan Sidhe is a beautiful fairy who takes a human man as a lover. I liked the symbolism for my protagonist and I like the Irish touch since one of my characters is Irish. But the problem with Leanan Sidhe is that no one would know how to pronounce it, making it a very bad title for a book. Incidentally, that also makes it a bad boat name for the same reason. Boat names need to be easy to pronounce and understand on a radio. Scratch that!

The seaFor a few weeks, the book was titled Come Sail Away. I had the Styx song stuck in my head for quite a while and some of the lyrics kind of went with the story, I mean except the part about the starship. Ultimately, though, I decided Come Sail Away is an invitation to someone and there is no such invitation in my book. Pity, because I really like the song. Maybe I could even have worked aliens into the plot . . .

I’ve been working with the current title long enough now I’m ready to share it. That’s not to say it won’t change down the road, but for right now, I like it. The title is The Sea Beckoned. Let me know what you think.

Thank you for following the journey! I welcome feedback and suggestions.

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11 thoughts on “We Have a Title (Maybe)”

  1. OK, I like your chosen title and I know you can make it work, but I LOVE the story of the Irish fairy. What if you spelled it phonetically? Or what if you chose a different Irish fairy name? And then, either way, explain why the name is what it is in the story. It’s fiction anyway so you make up reasons, right? Not being able to pronounce it on the radio justifies why the character would adjust his boat name.

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  2. Thanks, Monica! That’s an idea. I actually had a scene about renaming the boat, but I took it out when I changed the name. Renaming boats is considered bad luck, because it offends the gods of wind and sea, but someone came up with a ceremony which is supposed to appease them. Maybe it will find its way back in!

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      1. Sorry I’m obsessed with this, but I have to add that one of my favorite Chronicles of Narnia is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I like “The Voyage” because it conveys “ship” no matter what name you go with. “The Voyage of the Leaning City.”

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  4. I like the title too. I was told though not to fall in love with the title I attach to my novel-in-progress, because publishers often change them. Still, you have to have something in mind, even if only so you can send out queries.

    On renaming boats, though. We renamed our sail boat when we bought it from Swagman to La Gitana, and we experienced no bad luck. Spent a wonderful 6 1/2 years circumnavigating the globe.:)

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