Sunday, January 03, 2010

New Year, New Look, New Title

As you can see, I've changed the design of my blog yet again, to herald the start of another year.

I've also got a new title for my next release, a Regency-set historical that will be out from Harlequin Historicals in the summer. It's now HIGHLAND ROGUE, LONDON MISS, which was one of my suggestions. My original title was THE HIGHLANDER'S KISS, but I was happy to change it because I feared people might think it was a sequel to my other recent Regencies, and it's not.

I like HIGHLAND ROGUE, LONDON MISS because I think it conveys something about the characters right away. Yes, my hero is in the rogue category - or so the heroine thinks. And I like LONDON MISS because it rhymes with "priss" and yep, she's a little prissy at the start of the story. So you've got a prissy miss and a rogue who have to work together and of course Miss Priss (aka Esme) secretly has a thing for our rogue (Quinn MacLachlann) and he can't help but try to get a reaction from Esme and heheheee. Let the games begin!

But that wasn't the only title suggestion I had. I also liked SCANDAL IN SCOTLAND, because scandal is one thing our Esme wants to avoid like the proverbial plague. And since I was watching ABOUT A BOY while trying to come up with titles, I also suggested ABOUT A HIGHLANDER. Cute, but I agree it's not quite right for my book.

I didn't submit Daughter's suggestion, because while it made me smile, I was, quite frankly, afraid they'd use it, even though it suggested a much more sexy story than I write.

What was it?

Okay, I'll tell. HOT FOR THE HIGHLANDER.

Sometimes coming up with a title is easy. Sometimes it's not. I've never had a title I hated or of which I was ashamed. I've been fortunate to either suggest titles my editors liked, or being able to work with an editor to come up with one that worked for both of us. So HIGHLAND ROGUE, LONDON MISS it is.

4 comments:

Caroline said...

Can't wait to read it Margaret! Take care. Caroline x p.s. love the new layout!

Anonymous said...

Hi. I'm looking forward to reading the newest book. I guess coming up with a title might be kind of like naming a pet. Eventually you open your mouth and the right one comes out. Years ago, the vet clinic I worked at adopted a stray cat that went by "Black Cat" for weeks. One day, "Damascus" came out of my mouth, and he looked at me as if to say "What took you so long to figure out my name, because I've known it all along?"

Are you going to take up walking again? Mine got put on hold while we were in California, partly because my dog tried to go through a closed patio door. It turned out to have had 50 year old single pane glass, and he required six stitches in his right foreleg. Still, he lived up to the name Lucky, because he could have been much more severely injured.

Now that we are back, I plan to start up again. I just need to buy more pepper spray, because I left mine out there. I used my fanny pack for Disneyland, and forgot to put it back in afterward. Let me tell you, all that walking sure helped whe we got to Disneyland.

Just as a by the bye, do you watch Doctor Who, on BBC? I watched the really old series back in the 70's and 80's (Tom Baker and Peter Davidson), and have been watching some of the latest shows. Also, have you read the Harry Potter books, and if so, what is your opinion of them?

Rosemary

Kimber Chin said...

Ohhhh... You are KILLING me!
I was just telling a buddy yesterday
that I'm waiting for your next release.

Is he going to wear a kilt?

Margaret Moore said...

Yes, I'll be getting back into my exercise regime, because oh. my. word. Christmas treats were too abundant! I'll be more on the treadmill, though, because it's so cold. Also shovelling snow until I head south next week (yeah!). Glad to hear you had a good time at Disney!

No, I don't watch Dr. Who. I'm more of a Star Trek gal. Re Harry Potter: I think the first three books are wonderful and pretty near perfect. Then I think the books got too long and too...serious, I guess, although the first books also tackle some weighty issues.

No, there will not be a kilt in the next book, Kimber. There is a mention of a kilt, on another guy, who's the hero of the next book, and he will (eventually) be wearing one. But there will be Regency evening dress, which is also pretty darn sexy. And, of course, the scene where he's wearing nothing but a coverlet wrapped around his waist. :-)