Seeking Input on a Title

Before I start today’s topic, just a reminder that two BookFunnel promos are still live until February 27. One is an offer for free ebook excerpts, samples, and books that are primarily suspense and thriller mysteries. The link’s HERE.

The other is a collection of mystery authors offering full ebooks at discounted prices. Casey Holland mystery #4, The Deep End, is included in this group for $.99. The link can be found HERE.

Pixabay Image by Gerd Altmann

As mentioned in an earlier blog, thanks to great feedback from beta readers I’ve diligently been working on another round of edits these past couple of weeks. My only dilemma is the mixed opinions about the book’s title, which I’ve tentatively titled Man in a Gold Satin Thong (trust me, this piece of clothing is part the story 😊). So, I’m seeking your feedback on the title that most grabs your interest. This novella has a lighter tone than the previous books. To help you decide, here’s the blurb I’ve come up with so far:

Transit cop Casey Holland has never met a bus passenger like the charming artist and exotic dancer, Eduardo. When he’s charged with murder, his friendship with bus driver Lily erupts into a legal mess that could cost Lily her job and custody of her son. Convinced of his innocence, Lily begs Casey to help find the real killer before her life implodes.

Lily’s not only a coworker but a friend, so Casey agrees ask a few questions. Those questions lead Casey and her best friend Kendal to a troupe of strippers calling themselves Man Cave. While the men are busy peeling off their clothes, Casey’s peeling back layers of secrets and betrayal. Nuttier and more raucous than her usual investigations, the risk is just as deadly.

Aside from the title mentioned above, here’s another list I’ve come up with.

The Gold Satin Murder

The Satin Thong Murder

A Gold Satin Killer

The Gold Satin Lover

As readers and book buyers, do any of the above grab your interest, or do you think my original title works best? Titles are so hard to come up with, aren’t they? And thanks for your help!

Votes Are In For Title Choice

I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts about my list of potential book titles. The majority of respondents voted for The Blade Man, followed by Senseless Acts. Dead Set and Hell-Bent also earned a nod each.

So, with this 6^th draft well underway, I’ll incorporate a couple more references to The Blade Man, and see how it reads when I begin the seventh and hopefully finally, draft a few weeks from now.

Slowly, I’m getting closer to finalizing this novel. Of course, there’s the back cover blurb to tackle, which is something I always need help with. I’m grateful that I have a writers’ group to run it by. The blurb will likely show up on this blog as well!

I really appreciate all of the support. Since I shifted my blog to WordPress a little over a year ago, I’ve met a great community of writers, bloggers, and readers. There are so many great blogs and books to read, but so little time. Still, I keep trying.

Do Any of These Titles Grab You?

Two weeks ago, I blogged about my struggle to find a title for my 6^th Casey Holland mystery, I’ve been giving titles a lot of thought since then, especially since I’m closing in on finishing the 6^th draft.

Thanks to all of those who provided helpful comments, and I’ve managed to come up with a shortlist of candidates. To me, each of the eight listed below speaks to the theme and/or crimes in the book, but let’s approach this from another angle.

Suppose you were browsing through the mystery/thriller section in a bookstore, and saw a title on a book that you knew nothing about. Would any of these titles make you want to pick up the book and read the back cover? Maybe flip through a few pages?

1. Senseless Acts
2. The Blade Man
3. Relentless
4. Ruthless
5. Dead Set
6. Hell-Bent
7. Rage
8. Enraged

Please let me know which one(s) capture your attention, or if none of them do, and thanks again for your input!

 

MIA: A Title For My Next Novel

I’m working on the sixth draft of my current Casey Holland mystery. The book’s coming along nicely, except that I haven’t yet found the right title. Titles used to come easily for me, but for some reason the more books I write, the harder it gets.

The sixth installment in the series has Casey’s employer, Mainland Public Transport, (Casey’s a female security officer) under siege by an arsonist. Two of the company’s bus drivers have also been attacked by an unknown assailant who’s been attacking others in the same area of Coquitlam BC. Meanwhile, local thugs hold a grudge after an ugly confrontation with Casey and a driver during a riot. This isn’t the book blurb,  just my thoughts about will eventually be a blurb.

One of the ongoing themes is anger, the way it permeates the workplace, the public, and one’s personal life. Another part has to deal with mental illness issues that drivers in real life face from the public nearly every day.

There’s a lot of action and drama, which should make finding a title easier, yes? I’ve been compiling a list of key words and trying mind mapping, but so far nothing’s working. The title, Under Siege, aptly describes the plot and subplot, but it’s been used in movies and books many times before. So, if anyone has some great tips on coming up with a title, please let me know!