Choose a tentative book title

Uncarved · Jan 26, 2006

I'm torn between two and want you to decide for me:

Either
Morse Decoded: America's DaVinci

or
Closing the Key: The Life and Work of Samuel Finley Breese Morse

Tina

AdamMac · Jan 26, 2006

Hi. I'm not particularly fond of either really. There's definitely a nice title in there somewhere though. The da Vinci title seems too much of a stretch while the second, particularly "Life and Work" is a bit dull. Perhaps a combination of the two, starting with Morse Decoded:

alleycat · Jan 26, 2006

Isn't it Samuel, rather than Samuels?

Anyway, I'd have to chose the second title if those were my only choices; the first one is just too confusing.

Personally, I would prefer something along the line of Samuel Morse followed by a sub-title if you need one:

Samuel Morse / An America da Vinci

Samuel Morse / American Genius

Or something like:

Down the Wire / The Life of Samuel Morse

Decoded / The Life and Work of Samuel Morse

ac

Uncarved · Jan 27, 2006

Yes its Samuel. I'm so used to writing Samuels that it comes out that way.

And he was America's DaVinci and has been called that throughout time. He painted, was a photographer, innovator, inventor, politician, and really stirred things up as a Northern Pro-Slavery Anti-Jew Anti-Catholic crusader. I know that between the Code thing, his name (I mean Davinci Code, Morse Code....ahhh the similarities, lol), and what it all ties together with is the key. I just need help finding the blessed thing, lol..

Tina

alleycat said:
Isn't it Samuel, rather than Samuels?

Anyway, I'd have to chose the second title if those were my only choices; the first one is just too confusing.

Personally, I would prefer something along the line of Samuel Morse followed by a sub-title if you need one:

Samuel Morse / An America da Vinci

Samuel Morse / American Genius

Or something like:

Down the Wire / The Life of Samuel Morse

Decoded / The Life and Work of Samuel Morse

ac

AdamMac · Jan 27, 2006

OK. Pardon my ignorance. I didn't know he was commonly referred to as an American da Vinci. The first one might work then. It seems you're writing a biography so how about:

Samuel Morse: Decoding America's da Vinci

AdamMac · Jan 27, 2006

Or cut it to only famous words:

Morse: Decoding America's da Vinci

AdamMac · Jan 27, 2006

Ok. Last, last post before you reply. Your titles intrigued me and I did a bit of searching. A few authors have written biographies but nothing very recent, from what I can tell. Nothing has been written on him, from what I see, since da Vinci surpassed the mere status of "household word" to become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. So, leave the "da Vinci" in.

aka eraser · Jan 27, 2006

I prefer the first one but unless you're self-pubbing, whatever choice you make is only the working title. Unless you negotiate that part of your contract, the publisher will select a title.

My publisher was loathe to give up this right but I negotiated the clause to read that the title had to be mutually agreeable.

Uncarved · Jan 27, 2006

Oo I like that.

Publisher will have the final say, just that luckily I tend to suggest titles that end up being the used ones, so I want to have a mini arsenal handy.

Adam Mac said:
Or cut it to only famous words:

Morse: Decoding America's da Vinci

JenNipps · Jan 27, 2006

alleycat said:
Decoded / The Life and Work of Samuel Morse

This one is the best, IMO.

TheIT · Jan 27, 2006

I chose the second title, though I like some of the suggestions others have made. Having the words "code" and "DaVinci" in the same title makes it sound like you're trying to jump on the DaVinci Code bandwagon with Dan Brown, which might not be an association you're looking for.

expatbrat · Jan 30, 2006

Or perhaps jumping on a bandwagon spilling millions is just the ticket.

"Morse: Decoding America's da Vinci" is my fav. It will get readers who are unaware of the "Samuel" in "Morse Code".

biotales · Jan 30, 2006

Da vinci is a bit overdone... Let him rest... I voted for the second one.

veinglory · Jan 30, 2006

The first one seem too unclear, there are many Morses and many of them better known than Samuel.

huntwriter · Jan 30, 2006

Either
Morse Decoded: America's DaVinci

or
Closing the Key: The Life and Work of Samuel Finley Breese Morse

How about this one: Morse Decoded - The Life and Work of Samuel Finley Breese Morse

In my humble opinion "America's DaVinci" would come very close to an insult on this true - once in a thousand years genius and multi talent. The likes of which we may never see again.

Sure Morse was a genius too in his own right and the Morse code has improved communication across the world but he is not of a DaVinci stature, not even close, who has influenced so many different ways of life and science right up to the present day.

Good luck with your work on Morse.

Uncarved · Jan 31, 2006

Thanks for your input.
I'm thinking of promo-ing it as Morse Decoded: The life and work of samuel finley breese morse. I think it incorporates all the elements I like, and its easier to tell who I'm talking about.
Tina

huntwriter said:
Either
Morse Decoded: America's DaVinci

or
Closing the Key: The Life and Work of Samuel Finley Breese Morse

How about this one: Morse Decoded - The Life and Work of Samuel Finley Breese Morse

In my humble opinion "America's DaVinci" would come very close to an insult on this true - once in a thousand years genius and multi talent. The likes of which we may never see again.

Sure Morse was a genius too in his own right and the Morse code has improved communication across the world but he is not of a DaVinci stature, not even close, who has influenced so many different ways of life and science right up to the present day.

Good luck with your work on Morse.

Choose a tentative book title

Name the book

Morse Decoded: America's DaVinci

Closing the Key: The Life and Work of Samuel Morse

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave

AdamMac

Back for more

alleycat

Still around

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave

AdamMac

Back for more

AdamMac

Back for more

AdamMac

Back for more

aka eraser

Fish Whisperer

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

expatbrat

Look what we made:

biotales

veinglory

volitare nequeo

huntwriter

Uncarved

I aim to misbehave