“Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once.” ~Stephen King
Maybe neither do titles of those books. But a book needs a good title. Maybe even better than good. Something catchy. Something that makes a reader wonder and yet know at the same time. The right title can entice you to open the cover.
I’ve had over forty books published. That’s a lot of titles. Many times I’ve had a working title that often changes when I reach the end of the book. With the story finished, I try to come up with not just a good title, but the perfect title. Sometimes I can do that. Sometimes when I think I’ve done that, the publishers aren’t quite ready to agree. Publishers know the power of a good title. They have team meetings to brainstorm and throw around titles. Some the writer may have suggested. Some they come up with on their own.
And sometimes they agree that the writer has already picked that perfect title. That has happened with my books a few times. Angel Sister was the title that I thought fit my first Rosey Corner story perfectly. And it is right there on a beautiful cover that perfectly ties in with the title.
Another title I picked that made it onto the cover was When the Meadow Blooms. I didn’t have that title in mind when I wrote the first line of the novel. It showed up several chapters in and seemed to hold a longing and a promise at the same time.
Other titles that I’ve loved have been adjusted or changed to better fit the story. I don’t even remember some of my working titles. They had never really grabbed me. Others I do remember and still have a little regret that they didn’t turn out to be the right titles for the stories. One was Words of Fire. Another was The Shaker Widow. I thought the first one would stick and knew the second one would not, but they helped me keep my focus on the story. That’s what a working title needs to do.
And now, next year I will have a new book out for readers and a title has been chosen for the story. So, as Stephen King says about a book not giving up all its secrets too soon, I’m giving up the secret of my title a few words at a time.
Where – yes, where indeed? Where is this story going to take place? Is that a place? An emotion? A challenge?
the – an almost invisible word that just gets us to the next words.
Wild – Who or what is wild?
Roots – Roots go deep in the ground for trees. Some plants have shallow roots. But people can have deep or shallow roots too. So, what roots? And why wild roots?
Grow – More to know about this story to come. What or who needs to let those wild roots grow or perhaps tame those roots. And where are they growing?
A new cover will be revealed first in my newsletter this fall. And this title will fit right on it. So if you aren’t signed up for my newsletter, now would be a good time to check out the form in the margin here on my website and sign up.
Do you like the title? Does it or my pictures give you an idea of what kind of story is coming your way next spring?
Comments 17
Author
Janet, I like your suggestion about the shallow or deep roots. Guess you’ll have to wait and see if that plays a part in the story.
Kris, roots do suggest ginseng, but actually ginseng got more mention in my current book, A Chance for Kallie Mae. Your comment makes me wonder if I should go back into the story and dig up some ginseng.
Thanks, Jeanie, for letting my titles and covers pull you into my stories. So glad of that.
Trudy and Arleen, perhaps those wild roots will be settling down.
Author
I’m glad many of you have liked the title. I keep saying every book that I need a one word title so it will be shorter to type out (lol). But that hasn’t seemed to be meant to be. My last six books, including the one to come, have titles with 4 or more words. In the Shadow of the River is the record maker with six. But the right title matters no matter the number of words. And I hope you will all think Where the Wild Roots Grow will be a title that is right when the book comes out next spring.
Of course, many of you figured out that I went back to the Appalachian Mountains for another story. If the title didn’t give it away, I think my pictures did. I love writing stories set in the mountains. This one is special in another way too. I got to go back to Sourwood and see how Mira and Gordon and Ada June and Bo are doing. I hope readers will want to find that out too.
Thank you all for being excited and interested in what the title might suggest.
I will have to read Sourwood so I can be caught up to read your new book.
Author
You could read Where the Wild Roots Grow without reading the first Sourwood story, but it would be better to meet the characters first in The Song of Sourwood Mountain. That way you might already feel like part of the Sourwood community.
I like the title and I hope it will be another one of your great mountain stories. I’m looking forward to reading it already!
A family rooted deep in the Appalachian mountains?? I love the title!!!
Another Appalachian story? I hope so! I love those as well as all of your books! I really can’t pick a certain book or type of book to be my favorite because I think I love them all equally. Each new book becomes my favorite!
I like the title Where the Wild Roots Grow and look forward to reading it. I always enjoy your books.
I like the title; very original and intriguing. Sounds like someone will be settling down. Look forward to reading your new story.
I do LOVE the title!! I’m guessing that someone is going to be setting down “wild” roots somewhere, with the help of someone already there!
Sounds like a great story! Maybe set in the mountains and in the woods where we’ll find out the difference between who grows deep or shallow roots, and how those deep roots are grown. Can’t wait to read it!
I’m guessing it involves ginseng roots grown in the hills and whoever knows where to find them.
No, I can’t imagine. But I’m very curious. I will be waiting..
LOVE the title! Of course I want to know what’s it’s about. I’m guessing it’s an Appalachian story – historical fiction. I’m eager to know more……………
So excited for the new book! And, I LOVE the title!
It is very intriguing! When I see a book by an author I’m not familiar with, either the cover itself or the title tell me whether I want to find out more. Your book and titles have both!
Congratulations on the new book in process!
Looking forward to the cover reveal! Love the title and can’t wait to learn more about those wild roots!