Oct 2, 2012

LUMINANCE HOUR's shiny new title!

Titles are funny things.

Sometimes they're the most obvious things in the world, staring you down in the face. Other times, they're impossible.

When I first sat down to write this book I gave it a very functional, practical title. It was about a Faery who guarded a prince, so I called it GODMOTHER. This is the title I queried it under.

But super-agent informed me, as I was working on revisions, that GODMOTHER was not a very sexy or shimmery title. So together we brainstormed.

It went through a few test titles such as AMONG THE NIGHTINGALES, before we finally settled on LUMINANCE HOUR. We chose this title because it encompassed the theme of time and light that plays throughout the book.

But luminance is a hard word for people to say (especially when you can't read it in front of you). Super-editor and the fabulous team at HarperTeen decided that it wasn't the right blend of poetic and commercial. So back to the drawing board we went.

This was a hard, hard book to title. I really wanted something that would capture the poetic and lyrical feel of the prose, but was also relevant and catchy in a commercial way. Not easy to do. Not easy at all.

But we did it. The book's new title is....

(drumroll)

(...)

(...)





I'm really happy and satisfied with what we came up with. I think ALL THAT GLOWS is the perfect blend of poetic and commercial, and really captures the feel of Emrys's story. It evokes sunrises, moonlight, magic, love...

Plus here's hoping it makes a super pretty cover!

Here's to glow!


11 comments:

  1. ALL THAT GLOWS is a beautiful title, Ryan!!!!! So excited for you! :)
    I've had to change the titles to both of my books - Harper chose them both, but I finally got the title right for book 3. Finding the right title is a delicate matter, isn't it? I love yours.

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    1. It's so hard! We chose a title for book 2 as well that I really love, but I'm going to wait a bit to reveal that one. :)

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  2. I love it! Possibly even more than LH. Again, absolutely can't wait to read it, Ryan :)

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    1. Thanks, Kelsey! I'm so glad you love the title!

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  3. It's a perfect match! I'm so excited it's finally got an officially awesome name to match its general awesomeness.

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  4. "All That Glows" is a lovely title Ryan. :)

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  5. Love the new title! It's hard to say goodbye, but I sure dig the new one! :)

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    1. I'm so glad you like it, Lisa Ann! I knew the change was coming for a while so that helped me in the letting go process of the old title!

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