Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Anatomy of a Title: FAULT LINE

So I have an on-sale date: 11/12/13! It's an awesome date, easy to remember. And this week I get copy edits. I am not sure what those will look like beyond a lot of post-its and funny marks I'm not sure about.

But, perhaps more importantly, I have a new title. You all know this happens. Because originally my book was called MANHOLE (and even some of you writers/bloggers were a little concerned about my ability to sell that one). So I went back to the drawing board and came up with TRAINWRECK. Which a lot of people liked. But then, Lindsey Lohan happened. There's really no other explanation. For those of you who really loved TRAINWRECK as a title, I apologize. But the smart, marketing-savvy people of Simon Pulse were concerned that the gravity of my book might not come across when "train wreck" is now bandied about in popular culture terminology as much as "hot mess". (Please see media news article entitled "Color us shocked, Lindsey Lohan is Trainwreck on set of Scary Movie 5"). 

So I had to go back to the drawing board again. My editor wanted something that would grip readers but also would speak to the fact that when rape happens, it's not just the survivor who is impacted. There's sort of a ripple effect out to the people around the survivor. And of course, a major theme in my book is culpability and victim-blaming. Add to this a very awesome new blurb:

Ben could date anyone he wants, but he only has eyes for the new girl — sarcastic free-spirit, Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him too. She’s everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want.

But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone.

Now Ani isn’t the girl she used to be, and Ben can’t sort out the truth from the lies. What really happened, and who is to blame?

Ben wants to help her, but she refuses to be helped. The more she pushes Ben away, the more he wonders if there’s anything he can do to save the girl he loves.

And you get the epicness of my new title: FAULT LINE.

Hooray! Next step...the cover. I'll get back to you all with that one. It's a busy month:)
And speaking of busy months, I'm over at the Kindness Project Blog on Saturday to discuss the Gender & Equality speech I'm giving to Peace Corps volunteers. And next week, I shall have news on how my first On The Edge YA Book Club goes. So lots of yay!

17 comments:

gae polisner said...

I love the blurb and I love the new title. I. mean. LOVE.

So looking forward to this read. <3

Suzi said...

Okay, you're an editor, so you know what those marks mean. But do they give writers a legend when they return copy edits like that?

I love Fault Line. That's great. I can understand how Manhole might be tough. And Trainwreck--cool too, but I get the publishers take. It is watered down and to me means more like stupid people/stupid choices. Which isn't your book.

Fault Line is strong. Can't wait to see the cover!

Melissa Sarno said...

Looove the title. Good luck on the copy edits and cover reveals! :)

Carrie Mesrobian said...

Okay, can I just say that I love all the titles! I mean, speaking as a person who cannot figure out her own title and is TERRIBLE at such things. Having the jealousy over here, Desir.

Also love the release date!

Mandie Baxter said...

Best release date EVER! I’m one of those nerds who love dates like that. I got a little giggly over 10/11/12 this year. *shrugs* And I laughed…poor LiLo…but good reason to change the title. I did like TW a lot. It fit (wasn’t a fan of MH…I think it would scare people off). But I do LOVE FL. From that blurb you get the feel that w/ one wrong move and it could all be over. Can’t wait for the cover!!!

Peggy Eddleman said...

Congrats on the release date! And I LOVE the new title. It's fabulous on so many levels!

Rebecca Barrow said...

I love the new title! I also love seeing how many changes happen behind the scenes. So looking forward to actually getting to read this one :)

M.J. Fifield said...

That is an awesome release date. And I'm putting it in my calendar right now.

The blurb is great and so is the new title. Like Rebecca said, it's interesting to get a behind-the-scenes peek.

Brinda said...

If I didn't like this title more than Trainwreck, I'd comment on all the other notes from this post. BUT......Fault Line is catchy, memorable, mysterious, accusatory, I LOVE IT.

Jessica Silva said...

I $@&30(* love it. just saying.

roxanne s. sukhan said...

Love the blurb. And really love the new title.

Katy Upperman said...

Love the new title, LOVE the blurb, and I'm thrilled that you have an official pub date. Can't wait!

Kelley Lynn said...

That is a FANTASTIC title. LOVE IT!

Jessica Love said...

LOVE everything in this post! Yay!

Heather said...

OMG, Fault Line is an excellent title!!! Thank goodness they chose something that could live up to the original two. I can hardly wait to see your cover!

Emily R. King said...

Nice. It fits perfectly.

Anonymous said...

I loved Trainwreck and this new title is awesome, too. It really fits. The new blurb is great. I can't wait to read this.