Writing a book is hard.
Thinking of a title and a book cover is sometimes harder. Especially because those are the first two things that readers are influenced by.
For some of my books, like The Cavanaugh House and The Last Crossing, Boris (my muse) whispered the inspiration for the title and cover in my ear. I knew what they would be from the get-go.
But Boris must have been on vacation in the Bahamas when it came to Buried Secrets and Exposed
The initial title for Buried Secrets was The Mystery at St. Bartholomew’s. It sounded like a Nancy Drew mystery—which I devoured in my teens but was not the vibe I was going for at present. At a weekend writing retreat, my chapter mates in Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America helped me brainstorm, and when we hit on Buried Secrets, I knew that was the title I’d been searching for.
The idea for Exposed came to me during an Amos Lee concert in the summer of 2018. One scene played before my eyes so clearly, I pulled out my phone and dictated it. Quietly. So as not to disturb the audience members around me. And I knew the title would be Exposed. I wrote that book in 2019-2020. Do you see the problem here?
The first thing I must change is the title. Exposed was not a good title for a book that was published in September 2020 in the middle of a pandemic. People needed stories for escape, that would relax them and let them forget about COVID for a while. What was the scariest thing you could say to someone? You’re EXPOSED!
Thus, one change: the title.
The other two had to do with the cover.
Rich followed my exact instructions for creating the cover. His photo matched the image in my mind. But it was too dark, and the main image was too small for a thumbnail. He enlarged the image so it’s more visible online.
Bryan Cohen’s workshops on cover design also made me realize the font for my name was too traditional and the title font needed a pop of color. We made those changes, but with the blue title it looked like Expused. Who would want to read about that? It sounds gross.
So, I am currently brainstorming a different title for Exposed, and I’m not gonna lie—it’s tough going. I’m rereading the book with a mind to a phrase, theme, or motif that will work well.
I will narrow my search down to five possibilities and run them by you soon.
Titles come easier to me than writing the blurb. I think it’s natural to judge a book by the cover. If it grabs my attention, I’ll look further–like read the blurb or back cover, maybe the first page. I agree that your title Exposed creates a weird vibe. Best wishes coming up with a better title.
Diane, you’ve confirmed for me that I need to keep searching for a different cover and title for EXPOSED. It’s a toss-up for me. Titles either come immediately or not at all. Thanks for your good wishes!