Comments on: Title Trauma

By: Prunella

Prunella — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:58:19 +0000

I tend to avoid the duke ones, unless it’s part of a series , which it always is. I like fun titles. Or titles I don’t need to have a cloth book cover. I think that is how I started reading Susan Phillips, respectable cover and fun title. I don’t usually read modern romance .

By: Krista Bee

Krista Bee — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:48:43 +0000

I hardly ever pick a book by the title, tho I know I’m probably not in the majority. First and foremost I pick a book by the author. If there isn’t a new book by an author I’m familiar with, I’ll then go to the blurb on the back. Very rarely does a cover sway me, although I do appreciate the wonderful artistry of some of them. It never hurts to have a handsome hottie either. But usually that isn’t something I see until I get home and read the book. It’s nice to put a face to the name, if I like the face. If not, I just dig into my imagination for a suitable one.

I had always assumed that the author was the creator of the titles. Though it makes sense that it isn’t always so. Thanks for the insight. I already read the book and loved it. Cheers!

By: Cassie

Cassie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:44:59 +0000

Ohhh yes, Madeline, By Design was extremely emotional. When Joan is leaving the castle and Rhys steps up to fight for her. Wow!!!!! And the part where they part ways, and when she turns around and he’s no longer there. I could feel her desperation and I ached with her. I don’t think I have ever been so lost in a book the way I was with that one. So full of poignant, raw emotion. That story was just so wonderfully perfect that it’s surprising that you had so much trouble writing it. You did a magnificent job though!!
Your medieval heroes are some of the best heroes I have ever read. I really like Addis too. His story, too, made me cry. When he got the documents to release Moira and were about to part ways when he asked her to stay with him, but she left anyway. The emotion between the two was just unbearable. ::sigh:: That’s the good stuff. :0)
Do you think you will write another medieval series, Madeline? Please say you will!!

By: Shu

Shu — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:18:16 +0000

I like simple titles also, and agree that titles are important. I remember I bought my first romance (The Bride by Julie Garwood) because the title caught my eye. I don’t really like overblown titles such as Lord So-and-so’s Affair with the Mistress. I guess I don’t like titles that are too “evident”? I don’t want the story in the title – that’s for me to discover. But if the title belongs to an author that’s already an auto-buy for me, then I will get the book regardless.

By: Brenna

Brenna — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:29:50 +0000

I do find that overblown or ridiculous titles are off-putting. For example, “Lord of A Thousand Nights” is one of my least favorites – especially because it seems to be the kind of thing that was written into the book rather than coming from the story. I am not drawn particularly to Dukes, and really enjoy the titles for Sherry Thomas’s novels – “Private Arrangements” and “Not Quite A Husband” especially, because they aren’t slap-in-the-face obviously romance titles. Similarly, I appreciated the “By Arrangement” and “By Design” series from your past work.

That said, I’ll buy a bad title if it’s from a good author. I try not to judge too much by the cover, you know.

By: Patricia Barraclough

Patricia Barraclough — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:01:09 +0000

Titles are important. They can tie a series together, like the titles in your current series. I like the title to tell something about the story. Overblown or cheesy titles are a turn-off. There is a difference between cheesy and fun & catchy. The title must go hand in hand with the cover art.
I still think authors should have more input. After all, who knows the story and characters better.

By: Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:41:27 +0000

E.R. Dark Prince was a great title. To the point, and it evoked the whole approach of the book. It also kind of alerted the paranormal fans that it was a book for them, I think.

colinfirthfan, lots of people have great fun with Presents titles. Some like the one you mention are over the top. But they work! At least they don’t seem to be hurting. That line is kicking ass, and from all the readers posting here who read them I can see why. I am intrigued. I’ve read some, but I’m going to read some more of them.

Angelique, now this is valuable. The cheesy factor. Cheesy titles catch your eye because they stand out, right. But you do check them out, out of curiosity. Which means they work. I’m thinking I really should use Maudlin in Mud!

willaful, blame her editor. Really, it is all the editor’s fault, LOL.

Lisa G, thank you! And also for the example of a turn off in a title.

By: Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:23:33 +0000

Aw, Pesky, that is sweet.

Stacey, The doesn’t count! It just is not a real word in titles. Really

Pamela, Now, that is true. “Duke” will make it very clear it is an historical. Spine out comes up again. If that is all you have, Duke says a lot.

Judy F, I think there are some really cool titles in contemps, like you mentioned.

Chelsea B, Hmmm, I think sparkly letters is cheating! Any of my discarded titles would have worked in sparkly.

Honey, The way you describe your tea and title/book choosing sounds so wonderful. Like a nice, relaxed moseying through the options.

By: Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:18:54 +0000

Jane, there is a whole group who think that genre book covers should have covers that make it very clear what is inside the book. They are called booksellers. They keep saying this. Don’t get cute, make it clear it is a romance or whatever. Like in romance, lost of people don’t like clinch covers but the truth is they work, which is why they are still around.

Barbara E, I don’t think duchess would work like duke. It should. There is nothing wrong with duchess but I just don’t think publishers see it as the same “sure thing.”

OMG, cories, you raise a major point. If the book is shelved spine out, all you have is the title. It has to do it all, doesn’t it? Convey it is an historical, give a sense of the story–no pics, just those letters. Ok, now I’m intimidated and will probably be even worse at titles.

MisMacgyver, hello! Julia Q has so many good titles like that. I think she comes up with them herself too. sigh.

By: Madeline Hunter

Madeline Hunter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:00:14 +0000

Tal—:) Oh, he will get a story. I have already written some of the dialogue. It just came to me one day so I jotted it down. And he is the baddest, even badder than Ewan. Although I had a reader write to scold just a little about how bad he is when we first meet him in Ravishing in Red.

Stephanie P, I’m so glad you liked RiR so much!

Julie, your story about the belated naming of your daughter reminded me how when I was pregnant with my first, we picked the boy’s name but not the girl’s. I was in labor and no girl’s name yet. Good thing it was a boy, I guess.

Well, Freshechelle, when our books don’t sell well, we sure hope they are blaming the package and themselves. We sure don’t want them blaming us!

chey, I think titles just have a life of their own most times. Many of them really don’t say much, if you think about it. They just sort of evoke a type of book.