Shortly after I sold my first romance novel, a story that I called Tender Embrace, my editor called to let me know that they were changing the title to Sweet Lullaby. I sat there in stunned silence. After a minute or so, she said, “I know you’re surprised but we change the title 90% of the time.”
“I’m not surprised you changed the title. I’m surprised you changed it to something that has nothing to do with the story.”
“There’s a baby in the story.”
“But it’s not the main part of the story. And no one sings a lullaby.”
“We can put in a lullaby during revisions.”
To me, the story was about Jake Burnett. He was such a tender hero. To say I was disappointed in the title change is an understatement—until Sweet Lullaby hit the Waldenbooks bestseller list and I had to admit that maybe publishers knew a tad more about marketing than I did.
Still, I keep trying. . .
Parting Gifts was my title—I woke up at 4 in the morning with not only the entire story but the title in my mind.
The Ladies’ Man was the publisher’s title—which was only fair. They’d also given me the outline for the story since it was their concept.
Always to Remember (a title no one seems able to remember ironically; I can’t tell you how many times readers have told me that they really enjoyed that story about the man who carved the statue but they can’t remember the title) was the publisher’s title; my title was Shadows of Honor—which apparently sounded too military thrillerish.
Texas Destiny was originally Texas Reflections. (My thought being that the defining moment was when the hero finally looked at his reflection in the mirror, but my editor said it wasn’t a bold enough title. She was right. I can’t imagine that book called anything else now.)
Texas Glory – my title
Texas Splendor – my title
A Rogue in Texas – my title
Never Love a Cowboy – publisher’s title; mine was A Scoundrel in Texas; they thought cowboy in the title would sell more copies. I was concerned readers would be bothered because the hero wasn’t really a cowboy. Sure enough. I received several letters from readers who wanted to make sure I understood that the hero was not a cowboy. He’s an Englishman for Pete’s sake.
Never Marry a Cowboy—publisher’s title; mine was A Hellion in Texas. (Publisher had a problem with Hellion so I suggested changing it to A Rake in Texas which prompted my son to ask why people would want to read about gardening tools. Hmm.)
The Outlaw & the Lady—publisher’s title. Mine was Untitled. (I could understand why it didn’t work for them.)
And there you have it. A brief look at what was in my mind as a title while I wrote my westerns and how the title changed to what appeared on the cover.
These days, I usually determine a working title that helps me envision the story, but I’m never as attached to it as I was with my first book. Because now I know it’ll probably change. And I’m okay with that.
Oh Lorraine- I love these title stories. Especially your Sweet Lullaby story. That one made me smile - did you put a lullaby in the story after all?
Imagine my joy when I was allowed to keep my first title, Chance In A Million, with my first contemp book. I thought, “Hey, this is easy.” And 20 books later, I’ve yet to have another one really stick. It’s funny how we marry ourselves to our titles. In my first western, Lily Blossoms, I thought it was perfecto. My slender, clumsy heroine who always wanted a garden of her own, blooms into a beauty right before the hero’s eyes. But that title was changed to Lily Gets Her Man.
And just for the record, I’ll buy any story with Cowboy, Outlaw or Texas in the title!!
Love this post, Lorraine. Explaining about titles and all is so important — and you’re right — they mostly change. Wish I were better at titles, but I most often bow to my editor’s judgment — and though I might not always admit it, I do think that she’s usually right.
I will have to keep this in mind when coming up with titles for my books. I’m not published, but I know I have major attachment issues to the titles I come up with, most especially my first 3 finished novels as well as my 10+ novel ideas.
I just hope that I don’t bawl my eyes out the first time I’m told one of my novels is going to be called “This” instead of “That.”
Thanks for the insight.
Great post, Lorraine! And I especially loved the part about your son and the “gardening tools”. LOL! Ah, kids.
I feel your pain for your first title. My first one was nearly changed, but then the eds decided it really did fit. I’ve kept most of my own titles, and those that they wanted changed I got input. My most disappointing change was when The Lawless Miss Hollis was changed to The Lawman’s Bride. I get all the bride titles, lucky me.
Yes, I did put in a scene where the heroine sings a lullaby to the baby.
I love “The Lawless Miss Hollis” !!
And Lily Blossoms did seem perfect for that story.
The name of my first release was Room for God’s Wrath…why? Because it was a story about vengeance and the fairly familiar words ‘Vengeance is Mine’ seemed…well…fairly familiar so I couldn’t go with that. The whole verse is, “Vengeance is Mine says the Lord. I will repay. Leave room for God’s wrath.”
So Room for God’s Wrath kept winning and placing in contests but one comment I got a LOT was, “It sounds like non-fiction.”
My agent suggested we pick a different title, too, before we pitch it.
The only reason by this time I wanted to stay with that title was it had won enough contests UNDER that title that I didn’t want to abandon it and maybe lose any itsy bitsy possible name recognition it had.
But I bowed to his advice and the book–along with the vengeance theme–has a lot of comedy in it…a LOT. So we decided to lighten way up and play up the comedy and I suggested about ten possible titles and he said he thought Petticoat Ranch was good so we pitched it under that name.
One comment from the acquiring editor: I think the title alone will sell it.
So now I just obey, because I have the title instincts of a half wit.
But, in a way, we did get to keep my title, right? Because that’s the title that I was goaded into using and pitching it under.
And I got to name Golden Days, it’s book #2 of a three book series written with three other authors and we brainstormed those titles together.
Golden Dawn
Golden Days
Golden Dusk
about three love stories set in the Klondike Gold Rush.
But somehow when they came out the third book was renamed Golden Twilight, so I don’t know what happened there.
And now I don’t even name them, I usually use working titles of the heroine’s name and wait to see what Barbour comes up with.
I’m working on ‘Cassie’ right now.
I’ve been lucky so far. I did pitch several title ideas to my editor and we came up with “Marshal in Petticoats” And now I have a petticoat series going. But “Gambling on an Angel” and “Perfectly Good Nanny” have been kept when I’ve sent them to my editor.
I’ve heard lots of stories about titles being changed. And I wonder, but I guess the larger powers of publishing know what they are talking about??
I have a friend who writes for Harlequin and they keep putting babies on her covers. Even if a baby is barely mentioned. Kind of makes you wonder.
Interesting blog, Lorraine.
I can only imagine how you felt that first time!
I loved Texas Destiny and I too can’t imagine it being called any other name.
This is a good subject for a blog. Wish I’d thought of it.
Few struggling writers understand the publishing world and realize the little power authors have over their work. I got to keep my “Knight on the Texas Plains” but my second one that I called “Perfect Stranger” got changed to a really looooong one–”The Cowboy Who Came Calling.” Say that real fast three times. (That book won the National Readers’ Choice Award so I can’t complain.) I also got to keep my “Redemption” title. Then the upcoming anthology “Give Me A Texan” was supposed to be “Amarillo By Morning.” Everyone loved it, including the editor, except the art department couldn’t fit it on the cover with Jodi’s, Phyliss’s, DeWanna’s and my name. We offered to just go with our initials but they wouldn’t let us. 
I guess I’ve had pretty good luck with keeping titles. We’ll see what happens with my next single title. I bet it gets changed. I wish you lots of luck and oodles of success. I love your books no matter what titles they stick on ‘em!
Great post! I am always wondering how authors get their titles. Thanks for the insight!
Thanks for sharing the adventures of your book titles! How blessed and cool to have a first book go best seller!
Your title stories had me smiling, Loraine. My January release, which is about the early days of aviation, was originally “Wings on the Morning.” My title and they kept it…until another book came out with a similar title so mine had to be changed. I sent them what I thought were some classy alternatives. The one the editors came up with was, ON THE WINGS OF LOVE. So corny. I only hope it sells books.
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