Monday, December 12, 2011

We Have a Title!

So this afternoon I sent my editor a chatty email in which I mulled over some new title ideas, trying to get a feel for what she might like. I included the lovely Michael Drayton poem "Farewell to Love" suggested by HJ, and the possibility of finding something to draw out of it. I talked about maybe using the word "hope," or "blue," or any of the various other suggestions people came up with. As far as I was concerned, the discussion was only just beginning. But within minutes (literally), I had an answer: they loved one of the suggestions so much that they had already made it official!

So I now have a new title, for which I am completely indebted to my blog reader, Essex, who suggested it. Are you ready? The new title is...

What Darkness Brings.

I still like Who Bells the Cat, but I must say that this new title does fit the story wonderfully. I big thank you to everyone for their ideas!

So what do you think?


(The above photo is of Croxden Abbey and is from the blog The Staffordshire Daily Photo.)

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Brilliant title...
lx

Rachel Walsh said...

Ooooh, LOVE this title! And I seriously cannot wait to see just how wonderfully it does in fact fit this next book ...

Congrats on a mission accomplished, Candy. :-)

Barbara Butler McCoy said...

This is indeed brilliant and makes me itch for the next installment of Sebastian and Hero's story. May I confess that the waiting, the anticipation is half the fun because you never disappoint?

Anonymous said...

LOVE the title. The series keeps getting better, and so do the titles!!! Are we ever going to see a love interest for Gibson?? I have a soft spot for him :)Have a very Happy Holiday and keep up the great work!

Charles Gramlich said...

I like. Darkness is a great and evocative word.

Beth said...

Barbara Butler McCoy said:

"May I confess that the waiting, the anticipation is half the fun because you never disappoint?"

Nah, the never disappointing part is great of course, but you should just write 2x as fast so we have more to read. :-)

Speaking of being demanding, I hope that there are more "Tobie" Guinness and Jax Alexander books are in the pipeline? Please?

And yeah, good title ... :-)

Beth

Anonymous said...

HJ

An excellent title, and I'm looking forward to reading it!

(P.S. I'm so glad you like the poem!)

cs harris said...

Liz, good to hear!

Rachel, it really does fit; and that was the easiest retitling I've ever been through, by far!

Barbara, thank you; it's something I always worry about--disappointing my readers.

Anon, thank you. And yes, Gibson has quite a lady waiting in the wings to straighten him out and help him recover (and clean up that house!).

Charles, I actually was afraid they wouldn't like it because they'd associate it with paranormal--since they associated cats with cozies.

Beth, I really meant to write this one faster; blame my daughters!

HJ, I'm still planning to use that poem somehow; it's lovely. Thank you so much for pointing me towards it.

Anonymous said...

Love it. Although, I still also loved Who Bells the Cat, but this one evokes so much more mystery. Congrats to you and Essex and HJ for great mullings over and thoughts. I'm sitting on pins and needles just waiting for When Maidens Mourn, let alone this one. Any other sneak peaks before March would be appreciated. Happy Holidays to you and yours. Sabena

paz said...

Oh.Wow.
And with that image in the cover... and with Russell Yates figuring prominently...

do I really need to wait a year and a half for this?!

ouch.

Jan Power said...

I absolutely love the title! And I sheepishly confess I am wishing the days away for Maidens to be published, and also am praying that the threat to Sebastian and Hero's growing love referred to in the book blurb is resolved before the book ends, I don't think I can bear it if they are at odds!

How great is your writing that I anguish over them as I would the troubles of dear friends?

Jessica said...

I like it a lot!! I still like Who Bells the Cat, but this one is really good too.

Hooray for titles!!

Barbara Caridad Ferrer said...

Excellent title, and go, Essex, with coming up with the perfect thing!

cs harris said...

Sabena, it does seem to be a hit with everyone, doesn't it? And happy holidays to you, too!

Paz, I wish they would put an image like this one on the cover. And it's really only 14 months! (moment of panic here as it's not quite finished)

Jan, that is good to hear; thank you.

Jessica, and the nice thing is that The Powers That Be like it (always good).

Barbara, I think everyone so far has liked it, which is a really good sign. I do owe Essex!

Essex, if you'll leave me a contact addie, I have something for you.

Jane said...

I like it. It's a very nice title.

I can't wait for the next book. This is one of my favorite series. The character dynamics are multi-layered and interesting.

Have you ever considered writing a short ebook addition to tide us over between the books?

Essex said...

Hello all! I was quickly perusing your blog and read the title, thinking "hey, that is neat", and was shocked when you mentioned that I thought of it. I didn't even remember that! Proves how quickly the little gray cells atrophy. I am surprised that your publishers like it and happy that I can contribute in any way to one of my favorite authors and mystery series. I will happily think of a million titles if it keeps you writing the Sebastian series!

Susan/DC said...

I like it. It evokes not only the specific book but all of the darkness that Sebastian has had to face in his life, both literal and figurative.

Steve Malley said...

SWEET!! :D

RevMelinda said...

It's a wonderful title. Brava to Essex!

RevMelinda said...

It's a wonderful title. Brava to Essex!

Linhie said...

I've read all your books under Candace Proctor, not knowing you also wrote mysteries under C.S. Harris. I was over-the-moon, to say the least, when an online friend suggested the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries to me a little less than 3 weeks ago. Mind you, I've never been big on mysteries, but I have since converted - THANKS TO YOU!

The last few days has been horrid as I've been forced to put "What Remain of Heaven" aside... Oh the irony of the title, it suits my situation splendidly; your books are like heaven, manna, to my hectic life.

I'm a couple of hours away from my last final exam and counting the hours until I can resume reading.


LOVE THE NEW TITLE! But again, I've loved them all.

zina said...

I like it! Perhaps it would be the best title of Seb's book, because he is always near the edge of darkness. And his cases (I mean murders invesstigation) are about the worst and darkest human feelings and behavior.
By the way, thanx a lot dear Candy for your great literature talent! You have many fans in Russia, but we have only 3 books about Sebastian.
Please, write more so interesting books! And if you could, help us somehow to read them (in english or russian). Now I can't find the forth book :-( and it makes me so sad

cs harris said...

Jane, Thank you. My editors actually have suggested the short story, so it may happen if my life ever becomes sane again.

Essex, I wish there was some way for me to contact you, because I really do owe you for this title!

Susan, it does, doesn't it?

Steve, I hear you had another earthquake; y'all gotta stop that!

Melinda, it is a good title, isn't it?

cs harris said...

Linhie, Thanks so much. Hope your finals went well and that you're now enjoying a well-deserved rest!

Zina, I keep hoping my Russian publishers will pick up the rest of the series. I'm so glad to hear you enjoy them. Thank you.

Elaine said...

Been gone a while from the blog. Happy to return to good news. Another book in the works AND a great title. Now, if March would just get here!