One of the most common question authors receive is, “Where do you get your ideas?” (There are jokes about buying them in Poughkeepsie or Schenectady — two places chosen, I’m sure, for how difficult they are to spell!) I don’t have any trouble coming up with ideas. But I always need help when it comes to titles.
Often, I’ll pose questions on my Facebook page, asking folks to help when I can’t come up with a title, or when I’m trying to decide between multiple titles. Sometimes, the people who answer come up with far better titles than I was considering on my own.
Several months ago, I posted about the first book in my Washington Medical: Vampire Ward Series — The Witch Doctor Is In. Mostly, I wanted to know if anyone found the title offensive, but I also asked if anyone had ideas for an alternative title. One person suggested Fae’s Anatomy.
Instantaneously, I knew I had to write that book. I knew it would include a fae princess. And I was certain it had a vampire (after all, when your series title contains the word “vampire” you know certain characters are certain to appear!)
The idea of a runaway bride came to mind fairly quickly. And I understood right away that my princess was being pursued by her very unsuitable, definitely-not-a-romantic-hero prince. While fleeing, she met the titular vampire.
I wrote a few chapters. I deleted them. I wrote a few more. I deleted those too. I struggled and fumbled and sobbed.
And then, I realized I was using the wrong name for my fae princess. She was actually called Titania Silveroak. And my villain was named Oberon Blackthorne. My vampire hero was clearly Jonathan Weaver (after Bottom, the Weaver, in Titania and Oberon’s most famous tale.)
I grabbed the nearest copy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the rest of Fae’s Anatomy wrote itself.
What’s the book about? Here’s the back-of-the-book blurb:
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Titania Silveroak: Fae princess. Con artist. Runaway bride.
Jonathan Weaver: Vampire. Doctor. Humorless SOB.
When Titania flees her controlling bridegroom, Oberon Blackthorne, she doesn’t have a plan. Arriving unexpectedly in the emergency room at Empire General Hospital, Titania resolves to work one escape-sustaining con—stealing Dr. Jonathan Weaver’s wallet. Oberon ups the ante, though, kidnapping Jonathan’s estranged daughter to bring Titania to heel.
Titania is desperate to avoid her murderous intended. Jonathan longs to rescue his daughter and heal the old rift between them. Oberon would gladly slay one or both of the supernatural creatures damaging his street cred. How will Titania and Jonathan join forces to send Oberon back to the Thousand-Oak Grove?
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You can read a sample chapter here.
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(Print copies will be available soon!)