The title battle
Apologies for not posting much recently ... the massive rewrite necessary for book 1, as well as the deadline pressure to keep book 2 on track and flowing has meant I have had little time for anything else.
But, with the copy edit for book 1 done and the first page proofs to be read, plus book 2 about a week away from the first draft being completed, I have a little time to tell you about the long and winding road that has been the title struggle for this new series.
I can officially announce the mucking around with titles is over and we have everything set.
The new series will be The Black Book Of Elves.
Book 1, due out in August 2012 in trade paperback, will be Bridge Of Swords.
Book 2, due out in May 2013 in trade paperback, will be Valley Of Shields
Book 3, due out in February 2014, in trade paperback, will be Wall Of Spears.
I'm happy with those titles now but it has been a somewhat arduous journey!
Much of the action takes place in Vales, a hilly land that bears a passing resemblance to Celtic Britain.
With that in mind, I initially thought about a series of titles based loosely on the Mabinogion, a series of ancient texts that give us many heroic folk tales. Two of the most famous are the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest - the Black Book Of Camarthen is sometimes also included in this list.
I wanted to base my titles on these three but, ultimately, could not find an evocative title beyond the Black Book of Elves. The Red Book of Vales and the White Book Of Forland did not cut it.
Then I looked at taking inspiration from the Dylan Thomas poem the Dying Of The Light. Obviously I could not use that title, because George RR Martin used it for a science fiction novel but there are many equally powerful phrases, such as the Cursed Tears.
Ultimately, however, these were not strong enough.
So I turned to other Celtic themes and came up with Bridge Of Swords.
Now that was the first book sorted - but finding the next two titles became a real struggle.
Pass Of Arrows was deemed too soft - although it is a real place, according to legend the site of a battle victory by King Arthur.
Then we had Wall Of Shields, Tower Of Shields, Forest Of Spears, Valley Of Spears ... seemingly going round and round!
I had a few facetious suggestions as well ... Spears Of Asparagus is one that springs to mind!
But, finally, we have something that both myself and HarperCollins are happy with and that, hopefully, will draw the eye on the bookshelf.
A long road but a worthy one!
But, with the copy edit for book 1 done and the first page proofs to be read, plus book 2 about a week away from the first draft being completed, I have a little time to tell you about the long and winding road that has been the title struggle for this new series.
I can officially announce the mucking around with titles is over and we have everything set.
The new series will be The Black Book Of Elves.
Book 1, due out in August 2012 in trade paperback, will be Bridge Of Swords.
Book 2, due out in May 2013 in trade paperback, will be Valley Of Shields
Book 3, due out in February 2014, in trade paperback, will be Wall Of Spears.
I'm happy with those titles now but it has been a somewhat arduous journey!
Much of the action takes place in Vales, a hilly land that bears a passing resemblance to Celtic Britain.
With that in mind, I initially thought about a series of titles based loosely on the Mabinogion, a series of ancient texts that give us many heroic folk tales. Two of the most famous are the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest - the Black Book Of Camarthen is sometimes also included in this list.
I wanted to base my titles on these three but, ultimately, could not find an evocative title beyond the Black Book of Elves. The Red Book of Vales and the White Book Of Forland did not cut it.
Then I looked at taking inspiration from the Dylan Thomas poem the Dying Of The Light. Obviously I could not use that title, because George RR Martin used it for a science fiction novel but there are many equally powerful phrases, such as the Cursed Tears.
Ultimately, however, these were not strong enough.
So I turned to other Celtic themes and came up with Bridge Of Swords.
Now that was the first book sorted - but finding the next two titles became a real struggle.
Pass Of Arrows was deemed too soft - although it is a real place, according to legend the site of a battle victory by King Arthur.
Then we had Wall Of Shields, Tower Of Shields, Forest Of Spears, Valley Of Spears ... seemingly going round and round!
I had a few facetious suggestions as well ... Spears Of Asparagus is one that springs to mind!
But, finally, we have something that both myself and HarperCollins are happy with and that, hopefully, will draw the eye on the bookshelf.
A long road but a worthy one!
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