Titles, Covers, and Changes, Oh My: Publishing Industry Updates to Rain Dodging

Those of you who have followed me for months are familiar with my book’s title and working cover, as well as my blog, The Cabbage Patch.

Time for adjustments.

In the last six months I have been learning about the business of writing, as you know. 

Publishing industry guru, Jane Freidman, advises to using key words in headlines to help readers find posts. “There is little room to be ‘clever, cute or abstract with blog post headlines.” (Sorry I couldn’t resist the Oh My: I am a writer after all.) In fact, Friedman also writes, “Is the headline intriguing or provocative? it doesn’t hurt to create mystery, intrigue, or play on people’s curiosity.”  Now I’m confused. I’ll try to walk the line between the two? 

Since The Cabbage Patch only has significance to a few dear friends, my college nickname having been ‘Cabbage,” for now, I have simplified to An Author’s Blog.

Sigh, who doesn’t dislike the word ‘blog?’

As well, my book title now has a working subtitle: Rain Dodging: Memoir and Mystery in a Queen’s Court. The title, Rain Dodging, may eventually disappear but we’ll hold onto it for a bit. To me it serves as both a connection to my travels in Britain and as a metaphor for my life. We’ll see what the pros advise.

In fact, it’s almost time for a design professional to guide decisions but for now my new working cover is one of my oil paintings, Approaching St. Paul’s. 

The colors don’t match the brand colors I love, but this is more related to my subject than my original cover–besides, it’s more rainy looking.

First? My final beta reader has finished, and now, with their notes, off I go, down the revision rabbit hole for final changes before hiring a developmental editor, the last step before making publishing decisions.

Change is good. I’m ready. 

But first, I am binge watching, The Chair.