Hazel Edwards's Blog
October 13, 2024
The 'Wasted?' Book Cover
Book covers matter! I think in abstract , so evaluating book covers is a challenge for me as an author and a reader.
But a book cover is the first clue for a potential reader of the story inside. So it needs to suggest the setting, drama , tone, character and maybe the genre. And it needs to stand out from others on the bookshelf or even the digital catalogue.
An author is expected to write an art brief for the illustrator , stressing the essential ideas to be turned into visuals. Dot points are best.
'Wasted?' was a very different #Clific YA novel.
Garbage Patches ,mid ocean , are re -purposed by activist asylum seekers as a new state which trades bio fuel .Can teenager Kit make a difference? He draws ideas.
Not all illustrators read the manuscript. Good ones do. Joh Fitzpatrick had designed my earlier adult mystery cover ‘
Wed Then Dead on the Ghan’ And that had attracted an audio contract.
I prefer to choose a sensitive and technically able illustrator who can capture the essence of the tone. Like Joh. The story is also a tribute to the innovative skills of asylum seekers turned science activists and problem solvers. The protagonist is teen, but its a YA/adult cross over novel for the issues involved. The cover needs to appeal to adults too.
Joh did 6 drafts with varied colour tones. I’d asked for a refugee boy in a life jacket in the colours of the refugee flag. That didn’t work . The boy looked overwhelmed by the orange and black life jacket.
I needed an appealing , sensitive face which could be any culture . Age-wise about 14-ish
The seventh try was perfect. ‘The current cover of ‘Wasted?’ is my favourite of all my covers. And hopefully it will convince a producer to screen it.
Joh added the jellyfish in sneakers to the life jacket, to indicate the sig. which my teen caricaturist uses on his drawings. Only later did I find out that some refugee kids have drawings on their jackets too. And one teen reviewer thought it was a brain in sneakers. Loved that.
'Wasted?' was my 21st choice of title, but the question mark makes the difference.
But a book cover is the first clue for a potential reader of the story inside. So it needs to suggest the setting, drama , tone, character and maybe the genre. And it needs to stand out from others on the bookshelf or even the digital catalogue.
An author is expected to write an art brief for the illustrator , stressing the essential ideas to be turned into visuals. Dot points are best.
'Wasted?' was a very different #Clific YA novel.
Garbage Patches ,mid ocean , are re -purposed by activist asylum seekers as a new state which trades bio fuel .Can teenager Kit make a difference? He draws ideas.
Not all illustrators read the manuscript. Good ones do. Joh Fitzpatrick had designed my earlier adult mystery cover ‘
Wed Then Dead on the Ghan’ And that had attracted an audio contract.I prefer to choose a sensitive and technically able illustrator who can capture the essence of the tone. Like Joh. The story is also a tribute to the innovative skills of asylum seekers turned science activists and problem solvers. The protagonist is teen, but its a YA/adult cross over novel for the issues involved. The cover needs to appeal to adults too.
Joh did 6 drafts with varied colour tones. I’d asked for a refugee boy in a life jacket in the colours of the refugee flag. That didn’t work . The boy looked overwhelmed by the orange and black life jacket.
I needed an appealing , sensitive face which could be any culture . Age-wise about 14-ish
The seventh try was perfect. ‘The current cover of ‘Wasted?’ is my favourite of all my covers. And hopefully it will convince a producer to screen it.
Joh added the jellyfish in sneakers to the life jacket, to indicate the sig. which my teen caricaturist uses on his drawings. Only later did I find out that some refugee kids have drawings on their jackets too. And one teen reviewer thought it was a brain in sneakers. Loved that.
'Wasted?' was my 21st choice of title, but the question mark makes the difference.
February 19, 2024
Acting Out; Alternative Reading for Youth
'I like doing stuff, but not with a lot of reading.'
The 13 year old didn't realise that 'acting out' a script was disguised reading. There was a purpose to it. So he did it. He helped construct a setting, read instructions or directed or recorded the play and got satisfaction from defending why he want it to be played that way,
Recently I've been writing more 'issues' based scripts for and with young people. I learn facts, It's fun. They learn 'stuff' but also enjoy the acting. My responsibility is to craft a mixture of dialogue and humour that challenges with ideas but is accessible. Those who may be having issues at home, can play out a role, which is distanced from their life. Or they can find out about new jobs in 'Workplays' or deal with issues like handling grief and loss.
Used to fast paced computer games, they like drama but not having to read long passages. Other keen readers are happy to improvise around the longer parts. By sharing different skills, they 'act out' the script. The reading has some purpose.
Grief and Loss in Schools: A Resource for Teachers Issues: A Resource of Play Scripts and Activities for TeachersWriting for Young People: 9781922607874 Workplays: Work and Career Play Scripts and Activities for Secondary Students
The 13 year old didn't realise that 'acting out' a script was disguised reading. There was a purpose to it. So he did it. He helped construct a setting, read instructions or directed or recorded the play and got satisfaction from defending why he want it to be played that way,
Recently I've been writing more 'issues' based scripts for and with young people. I learn facts, It's fun. They learn 'stuff' but also enjoy the acting. My responsibility is to craft a mixture of dialogue and humour that challenges with ideas but is accessible. Those who may be having issues at home, can play out a role, which is distanced from their life. Or they can find out about new jobs in 'Workplays' or deal with issues like handling grief and loss.
Used to fast paced computer games, they like drama but not having to read long passages. Other keen readers are happy to improvise around the longer parts. By sharing different skills, they 'act out' the script. The reading has some purpose.
Grief and Loss in Schools: A Resource for Teachers Issues: A Resource of Play Scripts and Activities for TeachersWriting for Young People: 9781922607874 Workplays: Work and Career Play Scripts and Activities for Secondary Students
January 10, 2022
Hazel, What's With the Retro Name?
My real name is Hazel. But I've never named a character that.
As a children’s author I’m conscious of names for my characters and tend to choose either symbolic ones or those which are common with the age group and they can pronounce.
Until now I’ve been in a fairly select name grouping. Ex-PM wife Hazel Hawke and I were a minority with the name Hazel. But there are a couple of other authors called Hazel Edwards, one writes Mills & Boon and another is an English historian. Plus there’s a US trans activist. There’s also a Hazel Edwards’ gravestone image on Google.
To quote from actor Julia Roberts on her twins being called Hazel and Phinnaeus
…Hazel is retro by at least a couple of generations. The world stopped having Hazels around the time it stopped having Berthas and Gladyses and Mildreds. The last time Hazel was heard from was 1961, when Shirley Booth played a busybody maid of that name in a sitcom of that name, based on a cartoon strip of that name. Phinnaeus is even more retro, as in Old Testament retro, and more obscure than such OT running mates as Methuselah and Obadiah.
But that's probably the point. Celebrity baby names these days are very ... different. We say this not to pass judgment, but to point out one more way celebrities are not like the rest of us….’
I’ve never thought of myself as retro nor a celebrity. I was named after my mother who was Hazel Grace, but known as Grace. My father suggested they use one of her names for their only daughter, so I became Hazel. That was lucky because I’m NOT graceful but neither was my mother. Names are not always accurate.
Ironically Grace is the most popular girls name with the under fives. My
‘Hand Me Down Hippo’ character called Mini was illustrated by Mini Goss who has a young daughter called Hazel, so that’s another coincidence and a ‘young’ Hazel.
My neighbour alerted me to the Happy Hazel society which meets annually at Harvey Bay and these Hazels were mainly in their 70s and married to Rons and sing ‘I’m a Happy Hazel’ to the tune of ‘I’m a little Teapot’ . I don’t fit that group either, nor the shortened version Haze which sounds like a fog.
While I was a guest on ABC National talkback on the ‘Hazel’ issue of names, a caller rang with the following anecdote.
At the christening, the Irish priest asked the parents for the baby’s name.
‘Hazel,’ they said.
The priest’s reply was, ‘With 365 saints names available for each day of the year, you have to call your daughter after a nut?’
In the newspaper listing of babies’ names , Hazel was very popular and grouped with other colours like Ruby and Scarlet. I didn’t anticipate that.
My view is that you should ‘lease’ your parent- given name until 21, and then be allowed to trade it in for your own choice. But after 21, that would be your label for life. Luckily authors can have pseudonyms. I do have a shared pseudonym A.K.Aye for some crime writing.
As a children’s author I’m conscious of names for my characters and tend to choose either symbolic ones or those which are common with the age group and they can pronounce.
Until now I’ve been in a fairly select name grouping. Ex-PM wife Hazel Hawke and I were a minority with the name Hazel. But there are a couple of other authors called Hazel Edwards, one writes Mills & Boon and another is an English historian. Plus there’s a US trans activist. There’s also a Hazel Edwards’ gravestone image on Google.
To quote from actor Julia Roberts on her twins being called Hazel and Phinnaeus
…Hazel is retro by at least a couple of generations. The world stopped having Hazels around the time it stopped having Berthas and Gladyses and Mildreds. The last time Hazel was heard from was 1961, when Shirley Booth played a busybody maid of that name in a sitcom of that name, based on a cartoon strip of that name. Phinnaeus is even more retro, as in Old Testament retro, and more obscure than such OT running mates as Methuselah and Obadiah.
But that's probably the point. Celebrity baby names these days are very ... different. We say this not to pass judgment, but to point out one more way celebrities are not like the rest of us….’
I’ve never thought of myself as retro nor a celebrity. I was named after my mother who was Hazel Grace, but known as Grace. My father suggested they use one of her names for their only daughter, so I became Hazel. That was lucky because I’m NOT graceful but neither was my mother. Names are not always accurate.
Ironically Grace is the most popular girls name with the under fives. My
‘Hand Me Down Hippo’ character called Mini was illustrated by Mini Goss who has a young daughter called Hazel, so that’s another coincidence and a ‘young’ Hazel.My neighbour alerted me to the Happy Hazel society which meets annually at Harvey Bay and these Hazels were mainly in their 70s and married to Rons and sing ‘I’m a Happy Hazel’ to the tune of ‘I’m a little Teapot’ . I don’t fit that group either, nor the shortened version Haze which sounds like a fog.
While I was a guest on ABC National talkback on the ‘Hazel’ issue of names, a caller rang with the following anecdote.
At the christening, the Irish priest asked the parents for the baby’s name.
‘Hazel,’ they said.
The priest’s reply was, ‘With 365 saints names available for each day of the year, you have to call your daughter after a nut?’
In the newspaper listing of babies’ names , Hazel was very popular and grouped with other colours like Ruby and Scarlet. I didn’t anticipate that.
My view is that you should ‘lease’ your parent- given name until 21, and then be allowed to trade it in for your own choice. But after 21, that would be your label for life. Luckily authors can have pseudonyms. I do have a shared pseudonym A.K.Aye for some crime writing.
March 11, 2021
Which Book Do You Remember from Childhood?
Authors are often asked, which is the book they remember from their childhood.I admit my secret. I was an Enid Blyton fan.
My grandfather had a private lending library and the children’s section was a wall of Enid Blyton. So I devoured the Famous Five and the Secret Seven, and then moved onto flying with Biggles. Sunday School prize books were the only other option. They were very moral tales of missionaries and far off places like Fiji and China.
But the book which impacted on my early life was Enid Blyton’s ‘The Land of Far Beyond.’ This was my first experience with an allegorical story, which was a quest, and where the characters had the names of their attributes. E.g. Mr Doubt, and the giant’s page boy called Fright. Even the places they travelled matched their names.As an adult, when we orienteered on a real map with Mt Disappointment labelled, it reminded me of ‘The Land of Far Beyond.’
Because I no longer have my own copy, I Googled the title and had a feeling of familiarity as I looked at the cover on the Enid Blyton Society webpage.
Today’s children would consider this cover bland, but I loved the sense of a journey conveyed in the artwork. I liked the economy of a story with several meanings and layers. But the story ALSO needed adventure and danger with eccentric characters to interest me.
My family taught me to read before I went to school. I used to read under the bedclothes with a torch. An aqua- readaholic, I still read in the bath or listen to audio books in the car or when walking.
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell had the same multi-appeal because at one level it’s a children’s story of animals taking over the farm, and the pigs walking on their hind legs, but really it is a political satire . It’s about the cycle of power.
I don’t think I knew ‘The Land of far Beyond’ was based on Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress until much later .I still like symbolic shape and sub-text within a story.
Flying home from Kuala Lumpur, during Ramadan, I watched a translated reading of the Koran on the in-flight screen and decided the poetry was similar to psalms.
Maybe reading ‘The Land of Far Beyond’ contributed to family orienteering, going on an Antarctic expedition and co-writing ;Hijabi Girl’ which is also a puppet musical. And the now 40 year old 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake'?
But mainly it opened the possibility for me that a book could take you into imaginatively structured ‘other’ worlds, beyond suburbia.Which book do you remember from childhood?
August 29, 2020
Complete Your Book in a Year
The Pandemic has given many procrastinators an opportunity to read more widely and to write during Lockdown. Those books they'd always intended reading or writing are possible during the extra, unstructured time.
Many readers wish to be writers, but are unsure how to tackle 'that big book'. Even professional authors procrastinate. (Put off starting for as long as possible).
But the Pandemic and Lockdown has forced many to re-evaluate how they spend their time. And philosophically how they MIGHT spend their time, post-Pandemic after they've re-visited their original youthful dreams during Lockdown and worked out what really matters for them.
Others have been de-cluttering photos and letters and want to pay credit to ancestors who might have been quiet 'ordinary' heroes, but whose story deserved telling. Books give insight into others' lives. And can be shared with younger family whose current world is completely different.
Until the Lockdown forced postponement of the year-long 'Complete Your Book in a Year' masterclass at the Public Records Office Archive in Melbourne, groups met face to face, every month. Zooming online was a substitute but a very practical manual of strategies also helped keep isolated people writing.
'Hazelnuts' are those, mentored to publication , across previous decades with Hazel who have finished their book in a year. And as inspiration to other procrastinators, some of the Hazelnuts covers are included on the back cover. To prove it is possible.
The Pandemic and subsequent library and shop closures has enabled many to be introduced to digital and audible formats they had not used before. But also for many significant stories to be shared as 'procrastinators' overcome their apprehension to write.
Getting started, structuring, themes, characterisation, non- boring description, family secrets, dialogue, how to write about extreme emotions, motives, viewpoints, how many words to write daily, fun, satisfaction of 'getting something down' and admiration for earlier family who dealt with tragedies of war , without Netflix.
'Complete Your Book in a Year' was the manual that grew and therapy of writing during Lockdown has helped many.
October 18, 2019
Literary Tourism & Themed Travel &The Ghan
Themed travel which relates to the real settings of books or films is popular. Have you visited an area on holiday because the author used it in a mystery, came from there, or there's some food or building of literary significance? The Hobbit? Harry Potter experiences attract fans. Re-tracing the French food and wine geography in Martin Walker's Bruno police series?
Passengers all joke about 'The Ghan' train experience being similar in circumstances to Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'. Themed travel is common on cruises. Bridge. Family History. WW2 Military history. The real Ghan train journey of three days from Adelaide to Darwin doesn't offer role-playing Agatha Christie themed tourist travel YET ,but fiction always asks 'What if?' And what if a fictional fake Christie plot, turns into a factual murder in a fictional mystery?
That's the setting of my 'Wed,Then Dead on The Ghan' mini sequel on Kindle with my celebrant sleuth Quinn who conducts weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.
I've travelled the Ghan to Darwin to visit family. An iconic journey outback. Stunning, stark eco-scenery.Celebrant Sleuth: I Do ... or Die
After my Quinn created for 'Celebrant Sleuth; I Do or Die' , became popular ,I decided to let her travel in mini mysteries in Australian locations as short e-sequels. The Ghan is a 'to-do list ' journey for many. And they have had a wedding, in real time,on the train, so it's credible that my celebrant sleuth would be working onboard.
What if The Ghan started 'literary themed travel' using my book on their internal cabin radio? Or as a giveaway?But I'm not wishing any real murders on them.
Fact can contribute to fiction and fiction add to fact, but writing crime and mysteries is a risky business.
Passengers all joke about 'The Ghan' train experience being similar in circumstances to Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'. Themed travel is common on cruises. Bridge. Family History. WW2 Military history. The real Ghan train journey of three days from Adelaide to Darwin doesn't offer role-playing Agatha Christie themed tourist travel YET ,but fiction always asks 'What if?' And what if a fictional fake Christie plot, turns into a factual murder in a fictional mystery?
That's the setting of my 'Wed,Then Dead on The Ghan' mini sequel on Kindle with my celebrant sleuth Quinn who conducts weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.
I've travelled the Ghan to Darwin to visit family. An iconic journey outback. Stunning, stark eco-scenery.Celebrant Sleuth: I Do ... or Die
After my Quinn created for 'Celebrant Sleuth; I Do or Die' , became popular ,I decided to let her travel in mini mysteries in Australian locations as short e-sequels. The Ghan is a 'to-do list ' journey for many. And they have had a wedding, in real time,on the train, so it's credible that my celebrant sleuth would be working onboard.
What if The Ghan started 'literary themed travel' using my book on their internal cabin radio? Or as a giveaway?But I'm not wishing any real murders on them.
Fact can contribute to fiction and fiction add to fact, but writing crime and mysteries is a risky business.
July 1, 2019
Starter Questions for Book Discussion Groups
Regardless of the quality of the book, the discussion can be GREAT. Mistakenly, I believed you had to ENJOY the book. But the test is whether you can say 'That took me into another world'.
After chauffeuring a friend (who temporarily couldn't drive) to the book discussion group, I became an enthusiastic participant.
Useful starters:
1. What is the significance of the title?
2. A theme is an idea thread within a story. Several threads, but which dominates for you?
3. Any memorable characters? Why?
4. Conflict? Within? Between? With society or physical world?
5. Setting: Realistic? Which scenes remain with you? Why?
6. Tone is the writer’s attitude towards their subject.
Style is the way the story is told. Tragedy and humour can be close.
7. Plot is ‘the happens next? ’.
8 A significant work?
• Credible characters with strengths and weaknesses.
• Reader is taken into another world for the length of that story and beyond.
• Compassion and humour juxtaposed with tragedy
• Well chosen words to evoke emotions, situations or characters.
• Unusual viewpoint, setting or style.
• Operates at several layers.
• as a story.
• parallels a real historical event
• explores universal issues like good V evil.
Would you recommend this book?
Of course the most dangerous book discussion group for an author is if they wish to discuss your work, candidly.
After chauffeuring a friend (who temporarily couldn't drive) to the book discussion group, I became an enthusiastic participant.
Useful starters:
1. What is the significance of the title?
2. A theme is an idea thread within a story. Several threads, but which dominates for you?
3. Any memorable characters? Why?
4. Conflict? Within? Between? With society or physical world?
5. Setting: Realistic? Which scenes remain with you? Why?
6. Tone is the writer’s attitude towards their subject.
Style is the way the story is told. Tragedy and humour can be close.
7. Plot is ‘the happens next? ’.
8 A significant work?
• Credible characters with strengths and weaknesses.
• Reader is taken into another world for the length of that story and beyond.
• Compassion and humour juxtaposed with tragedy
• Well chosen words to evoke emotions, situations or characters.
• Unusual viewpoint, setting or style.
• Operates at several layers.
• as a story.
• parallels a real historical event
• explores universal issues like good V evil.
Would you recommend this book?
Of course the most dangerous book discussion group for an author is if they wish to discuss your work, candidly.
June 22, 2018
Icelandic Challenges
]The Icelandic author's name Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is not easy for an Australian reader but her adult crime writing is worth the effort of decyphering the Icelandic character names and locations. Great plotting and insight.
Recently I've been reading Icelandic Noir and become conscious that authors even have different translators on genre titles. I wondered how that might affect the style too?
But I've been enjoying my crash course in Icelandic culture.
So it's been weird proof-reading literacy stories for young Australian readers at the same time as losing myself in icy crime with extreme motives.
As a children's author, I'm conscious of using short sentences, so the beginning reader is carrying just one idea before they can reach punctuation like a full stop, which allows them to pause. And simplifying subject, format and vocabulary as in 'Like me' junior literacy anthology. Even if ghosting from a reading dog's viewpoint...
Totally different from harsh Nordic settings, even with the occasional ghost. And Icelandic phrasing is not easy. However the suspense is very tightly written with short sentences. And well worth it. A totally different readership and style of writing.
Love it when a book crosses cultures.Even if the author can't always read in translation, their own work. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir doesn't have this problem. But I do. I've had my books translated into Finnish, Mandarin, French, Russian, Polish, Braille, Auslan and Indonesian. But no Icelandic offers yet. I'm still hoping.
The Silence of the Sea
Recently I've been reading Icelandic Noir and become conscious that authors even have different translators on genre titles. I wondered how that might affect the style too?
But I've been enjoying my crash course in Icelandic culture.
So it's been weird proof-reading literacy stories for young Australian readers at the same time as losing myself in icy crime with extreme motives.
As a children's author, I'm conscious of using short sentences, so the beginning reader is carrying just one idea before they can reach punctuation like a full stop, which allows them to pause. And simplifying subject, format and vocabulary as in 'Like me' junior literacy anthology. Even if ghosting from a reading dog's viewpoint...
Totally different from harsh Nordic settings, even with the occasional ghost. And Icelandic phrasing is not easy. However the suspense is very tightly written with short sentences. And well worth it. A totally different readership and style of writing.
Love it when a book crosses cultures.Even if the author can't always read in translation, their own work. Yrsa Sigurðardóttir doesn't have this problem. But I do. I've had my books translated into Finnish, Mandarin, French, Russian, Polish, Braille, Auslan and Indonesian. But no Icelandic offers yet. I'm still hoping.
The Silence of the Sea
December 23, 2017
Topicality & Fiction Prediction & Same Sex Marriage
As a reader, I like to learn something new from the background of any fiction, whether it's about a period, a place or someone's job or even about changing social attitudes. Nordic Noir has enabled me to read about socio-political issues in Scandinavian countries as well appreciating the climate as a character. (I wear a jumper when reading Nordic books).
As a writer, I also like to learn from the research needed for a novel. But since most books are 1-2 years in the creating, often social changes become history rather than current affairs for the reader. And may cause a plot to change.
The recent Same-Sex Marriage legislation and discussion has co-incided with the release of my adult mystery 'Celebrant Sleuth: I do...or die'. Two years ago, I'd been intrigued by the idea of a versatile sleuth who was a celebrant because that enabled moving into different cultures and ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and name-days. But also I could learn about the job of a celebrant and gather humorous anecdotes even if I were writing a murder. Part of my plot revolved around a commitment service but that suddenly became dated when legislation changed allowing Same Sex marriage. Many authors face the dilemma of an event or even upgraded technology affecting the reasoning behind a clue in their plot. Or even affecting a motive of a character.
Options are to leave the setting as historical or rewrite even at galley proofing stage. So I found myself changing clues in the final proofs to make the story logical for today. On the very date parliament passed the legislation.
Loved the co-incidence that my cover-designer was also a part-time celebrant. Unique viewpoint.
Fiction prediction is when an author researches and then says 'What if?' , creates the plot and then it happens in real life. It isn't just being blatantly topical
to increase readers.
The bonus for me has been finding that many personable people are drawn to the role of celebrant. And I've interviewed a lot of them. Plus I've created an asexual celebrant sleuth who is still a romantic. Fiction but based on fact.
As a writer, I also like to learn from the research needed for a novel. But since most books are 1-2 years in the creating, often social changes become history rather than current affairs for the reader. And may cause a plot to change.
The recent Same-Sex Marriage legislation and discussion has co-incided with the release of my adult mystery 'Celebrant Sleuth: I do...or die'. Two years ago, I'd been intrigued by the idea of a versatile sleuth who was a celebrant because that enabled moving into different cultures and ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and name-days. But also I could learn about the job of a celebrant and gather humorous anecdotes even if I were writing a murder. Part of my plot revolved around a commitment service but that suddenly became dated when legislation changed allowing Same Sex marriage. Many authors face the dilemma of an event or even upgraded technology affecting the reasoning behind a clue in their plot. Or even affecting a motive of a character.
Options are to leave the setting as historical or rewrite even at galley proofing stage. So I found myself changing clues in the final proofs to make the story logical for today. On the very date parliament passed the legislation.
Loved the co-incidence that my cover-designer was also a part-time celebrant. Unique viewpoint.
Fiction prediction is when an author researches and then says 'What if?' , creates the plot and then it happens in real life. It isn't just being blatantly topical
to increase readers.
The bonus for me has been finding that many personable people are drawn to the role of celebrant. And I've interviewed a lot of them. Plus I've created an asexual celebrant sleuth who is still a romantic. Fiction but based on fact.
October 1, 2017
Choosing Titles
As an author I'm often asked how I choose my titles. As a reader, I prefer short titles which give me a genuine clue about the content and the genre. Not keen on abstract phrases. As an author, I'm aware that despite a descriptive sub title, most people use only the first part of a title e.g. 'Difficult Personalities: A practical guide to managing the hurtful behaviour of others ( and maybe your own) gets shortened. 'Hijabi Girl' was a better title than the original 'The Unforgettable Book Character Parade' or even 'Hijabi Girls' Aussie Rules Team' which we considered.
'Big Little Lies' is a clever title because it contains contradictions. And there needs to be a hint of underlying conflict.
'Almost a Crime' is deliberately ambiguous and provides a clue, as each short story contains a sleuth-narrator who could also be the perpetrator of the crime.
Choosing titles is almost as difficult as naming babies. But they can always change their names by deed poll, later in life. More difficult with a book title.
