Title Poll

MarkEsq · Jun 5, 2008

I would love some input with my novel's title, if anyone feels they have an opinion. Here's a blisteringly short synopsis:

Lord Hartley Hare, mid-20s, is sent to America by his father who wants shot of him. But just minutes after landing in Texas, Hartley’s knack for disaster puts his manservant, Miles, in the hospital and leaves him alone in Dallas. There then follows a sequence of adventures for Hartley, including hotwiring a car for two Mexican Mafiosos, a night in jail, and a trip to a strip-club with a judge, who keels over and dies there. It ends with a mad-dash escape from the FBI after Hartley starts blowing up gophers in the Texas desert for a crazy rancher, and finally gets rescued by a DEA agent after accidentially walking into a people-smuggling operation. Both Miles and the police, meanwhile, are trying to find Hartley.

rhymegirl · Jun 5, 2008

How about "Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow"?

Just kidding.

LaceWing · Jun 5, 2008

Looks like a good story! I happen to live in Texas and happen to be reading Frederick and Fredericka, so it's catching my fancy on two counts. Should I look in SYW for a teaser?

None of the titles are quite doing it for me though. How about:

"Hare Raising . . ." something or other

something about a "Wild Hare"

"Jack In A Hat" -- if he takes to wearing a Stetson, and plays off the Hare name as Jack Rabbit, or something? And Jack In A Hat suggests some Dr Seuss absurdity.

IceCreamEmpress · Jun 5, 2008

I like Wild Hare Chase (taking LaceWing's idea one step further). That's a Carl Hiassen-like title, too, which seems to be the market niche you're aiming for.

ToddWBush · Jun 5, 2008

What Ice said... Wild Hare Chase is a good one.

Charlie Horse · Jun 5, 2008

Gotta go with "Beastly Hot". It's the only one that would make me pick up the book to see what it's about.

Shadow_Ferret · Jun 5, 2008

Hare Raising Adventures

gypsyscarlett · Jun 5, 2008

Chasing Lord Hare

Phaeal · Jun 5, 2008

I like Texas Teatime. Nice play on the slang for oil, and neat alliteration. Plus I take it Lord Hare is from the land of teatimes, aka England.

NatJM · Jun 5, 2008

I like Texas Teatime. As an european, it is intriguing, as Texas isn't know for its tea

WendyNYC · Jun 5, 2008

I like Texas Teatime too. Totally.

StoryG27 · Jun 5, 2008

I'm for Texas Teatime too.

CBumpkin · Jun 5, 2008

Reading only the titles, I liked Texas Teatime. After reading the synopsis, I like Chasing Hartley. Short, catchy and descriptive enough to hint at the adventure that awaits the reader. It's meaningful without being "cutesy."

slcboston · Jun 5, 2008

Texas Teatime struck me as a little too cutesy for the book... Plus I'd expect something about oil.

I like either of the two "chasing" titles, but kind of preferred the "Lord Hare" variety. No real reason for that, just gut reaction. Which is what gets me to pick up books in the first place.

Prawn · Jun 5, 2008

Texas Teatime makes me think of the Beverly Hillbillies, which may or may not be the vibe you are looking for. Maybe, Lord Hartley Takes Texas?

C.bronco · Jun 5, 2008

I voted Chasing Lord Hare, but then again, I'm a big Wateship Down fan. Good luck Mark!

Joycecwilliams · Jun 5, 2008

The story sounds great, but I don't like any of the titles.. The don't seem fitting enough for such a great story...

Sunshine13 · Jun 5, 2008

I picked Chasing Lord Hare, but I too like Wild Hare Chase too

RJK · Jun 6, 2008

None of the titles would have convinced me to pick up the book. The synopsis did pique my interest. Perhaps a sub title that gives away some of the plot would help, such as.
Lord Hartley's Tea Time in Texas (a Hare Raising experience).

Remember, when it gets to publishing time, the professionals will take over where the title is concerned.

MumblingSage · Jun 6, 2008

Remember, when it gets to publishing time, the professionals will take over where the title is concerned.

For serious? I mean, I've heard that a few times around, but does that really happen often? Most of the time? All the time? If so, would I get to offer any feedback on the new title?

On the one hand, now I need to stay up late worrying my books will be retitled...on the other hand, I'm less anxious about coming up with good titles.

Righting · Jun 6, 2008

grabbed this from your blurb..."A sequence of adventures for Hartley"? sounds good to me.

wickeddj · Jun 6, 2008

"Losing Hare"

Susan Gable · Jun 6, 2008

MumblingSage said:
For serious? I mean, I've heard that a few times around, but does that really happen often? Most of the time? All the time? If so, would I get to offer any feedback on the new title?

On the one hand, now I need to stay up late worrying my books will be retitled...on the other hand, I'm less anxious about coming up with good titles.

For serious. I just got a call this afternoon from my editor that NONE of the 46 alternative titles for my February release got the stamp of approval from the committee.

46 alternatives. <sigh> So, given some of the "almosts" that she liked, and the words I need to stay away from, now I go back to trying to come up with some more possibilities for them.

The thudding sound you hear is me, banging my head on my desk.

But, it goes with the territority. It's part of the deal of being a writer.

Susan G., off to try to come up with more titles.

MarkEsq · Jun 6, 2008

wickeddj said:
"Losing Hare"

I kinda like this one. Is the pun lost with "Losing Lord Hare"? For some reason I'd like to have "Lord" in the title. Maybe the alliteration, I don't know.

CBumpkin · Jun 6, 2008

Chasing Hartley. I'm telling you... Chasing Hartley is the right choice.

Title Poll

Which title do you prefer?

Texas Teatime

Chasing Lord Hare

Chasing Hartley

Beastly Hot

None of the above

Clever title pending.

It's a New Year!

Hapless Virago

Speaking in metaphors

Court Jester

Ma fin est mon commencement

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

fiddle-dee-dee

Miss Behave

I can do this...

Pasture-ized

Writing is finite,revising infinite

I have plans...

Mom by day, writer by night!

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Inarticulate Herb

Wicked is as wicked does

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Clever title pending.

I can do this...