Some News First
There have been some interesting developments in my writing career, among which the fact I’m now Editor-in-chief for Azure Fire Publishing (AFP), a US-based non-profit promoting youth-friendly Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Even though the position only offers a nominal fee at the moment, it comes with a perk: AFP has offered to publish my Fantasy/Science Fiction books.
The organization has a large monthly advertising budget to promote its authors’ books, so, after much deliberation, I have decided to accept.
My Books’ Titles
Perhaps, then, this is the perfect opportunity to deal with something that’s been bugging me for a while now: my first books’ titles. I find myself no longer satisfied by “Rise of the Prince” and “The Power of Six,” as I think of them as weak titles compared to my later ones. And since AFP will soon handle these matters, it may be my last chance to rename them.
So, I am now leaning toward renaming The Power of Six to Fickle Futures.
As for Rise of the Prince, that’s harder, as I have come up with 3 choices:
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this:
- Is it OK to change a book’s title after so many years, and
- What do you think of the proposed titles?
Please vote above and let me know which one you prefer–or, indeed, if you have a brilliant suggestion of your own. Thank you for your help!
How exciting, Nicholas, on all counts! I certainly am not an expert on whether or not to change titles. I’ve changed everything except titles. I was always worried that readers might get confused and think its a different book, another book in the series, etc. When I was researching all this, the recommendation was to put the old title in the description so that readers don’t feel misled. Personally, I think Rise of the Prince is fine (I like it because it feels powerful as well as indicates a the start of something and gives a sense of momentum). But good luck with whatever you decide.
Many thanks for sharing that, D! After reading all these comments, I’m inclined to leave the titles alone 🙂
I do think that’s a wise choice. And congrats again!
Congratulations on your new role, Nicholas
Thank you so much, Toni 🙂
Huge congrats Nicholas! You are rockin’ it! 🙂
Thank you so much, D! Whatever “it” is 😀
‘It’ referring to the whole self-publishing/marketing biz! 🙂
Congratulations, Nicholas! Wishing you all the best! I, for one, like your titles as they stand. But do whatever you makes you happy. ?
Thank you so much, Janice 🙂
I’m coming down on the side of keeping the existing names – name recognition/brand and all that 🙂 … are you contractually allowed to change the names? Are they keeping your artwork?
Before I raise the subject, I wanted to check with you guys. If everyone’s happy with the existing names, why mention it?
About time your talent was recognised! I would have given you a job, if I had a publishing company…
I voted for ‘Whispering Planet’, as it is short, so catchy. However, I tend to think you should leave well enough alone, and keep the old titles. Not least because of recommendations, reviews, and such. I also think that if I knew your work, I would wonder why you had changed titles.
Then again, if I was new to your work, I wouldn’t know any different, would I? You ultimately have to bite the bullet, and make the call either way; whatever we say, or the outcome of the poll, and based solely on your own instinct.
Good luck, and best wishes as always.
Pete.
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence, Pete! Your comment prompted me to check how many people have bought Rise of the Prince since I first published it: it’s 7,310 in total. So I’m unsure now as to where I fall in your categories 🙂
You fall in my ‘Wow’ category in that case. If I sold over 7,000 copies of a book, I would pass out with excitement!
As for the previous comment, I think you should definitely stick with the original titles. More than enough people were happy with them, it seems.
I’m seriously considering it now 🙂
Excellent, Nicholas. Advertising is key. Good luck.
Thank you so much, John 🙂
All the best in renaming your book, Nicholas. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you! After so many people said how happy they are with the existing titles, I’m having second thoughts, to be honest 🙂
Congratulations, what an exciting new adventure for you! I really like the original titles, myself. I also worry it might be confusing to have earlier and later versions of the same book have different titles. But as others have said, they’re your babies, so do what you feel is best.
Thank you so much for the feedback, Joy! The clear consensus is that I should keep the new titles for future works and not change the old ones.
Your fanbase has spoken. 🙂
Lol – they sure have 😀
Congrats on your new position, Nicholas!
Thank you so much, Michelle 🙂
Nicholas, I am so excited that you are on board with the rest of us at AFP!!! You’re such a great addition to the team! As for changing your titles… well, here are my thoughts – (1) your book, your choice! If you feel the old title doesn’t quite do what you want then give it a fresh new name with the new look! (2) Keeping the series name is very smart – the readers will still recognize it as your work. Recognition of your brand is important to both the reader and author. (3) I just love the way The Shadow in the Whisper sounds. Its so intriguing! Well that is my 3¢!
Thank you so much, CC! It’s great to be on board–and thanks for your 3c 🙂
Congrats on your new job Nicholas 🙂 Regarding you renaming your books – I actually like the originals and don’t think you should rename any of your books. I’m sure you had a solid reason for naming your short story collection, the Power of Six and an equally good reason for naming the first book in the Pearseus series, ‘Rise of the Prince’. I personally think that renaming Rise of the Prince with something like Whispering Planet or Whispering Shadows, may give a little too much away about the books plot and themes. But they are your book babies and if renaming them with better titles floats your boat, then you should do it – just go with your ‘gut’ as the saying goes 🙂
Thank you so much for the feedback. Catherine! The Power of Six came about because it had 6 short stories. They grew to seven by the time the book was published, then to even more with subsequent updates (I think it now has 10). So, the title is increasingly striking me as a misnomer 🙂
Congratulations on the new position. As for the title changes, I say go for it. The new titles may entice new readers.
That was my thinking, too. Although, seeing how many people seem attached to the old titles, I’m now having second thoughts. Thank you for the feedback 🙂
I like the original titles too! I did choose Stygian Whispers as it means literally very dark. It relates to the Styx River. Congrats on the editor position with its valuable perks! Great news! Christine
Thank you so much, Christine 🙂
The emotional “feeling/sensation” experienced with the “The Shadow in the Whisper” opened unlimited space in my mind about what that might mean. What were the possibilities and what did the weavings of the plot dance look like, who/what was whispering. I immediately wanted to know what the book was about.
Yay! That sounds very positive, indeed. Thank you 🙂
I like the title Fickle Futures, but I say save it for your next collection.
I’m definitely no marketing expert, but whisper strikes me as a soft word, which wouldn’t pull me towards book 1 in a series. Could it be interpreted as a hint that things in the book would be subtle, with limited plot happenings?
Then again, I’m one of those red-blooded Americans, who’d be drawn towards a subtitle like “kicking in the door”.
Lol – red-blooded indeed 😀
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Congrats on the good news. In terms of choosing the titles, just go with your gut. These books are your children and any name you choose for them will be just right 😉 Cheers!
Words to live by. Thank you 🙂
I prefer your original titles. Maybe you’ve looked at them so long you can’t see how good they are.
I am in the process of updating a trilogy that I self-published in 2010, and part of that is a snappier title with four subtitles and four different covers that relate to one another. I’m publishing it as 4 shorter books rather than the original trilogy which had the same cover image in three different colors with the numbers 1 to 3 underneath the title.
These also have to be rewritten to reflect a change in my writing style. And as I created a brand image five-years-ago, that will also benefit the new version.
I think a book face-lift is a great idea. It helps being a graphic designer… or maybe that makes me extra picky. In any case, the new covers are a distinct improvement.
Intimacy breeds contempt, huh? Maybe you’re right! Thank you, Veronica. And yes, the new covers are definitely an improvement 🙂
I read your epic series Pearseus and I think the individual titles in the series are perfectly fine. The reason to change, in my opinion, would be if as a keyword search in Google and Amazon, the results were not working for you. But I am not grasping the reason for the change. Is the title, Whispering Planet, going to result in your book reaching the target audience more effectively? Are you keeping the umbrella title of the series Pearseus? When I first grabbed it up to read (Loved it!! and thought it would be a great TV series for both adult and YA) I mistakenly thought it Perseus, as in the Greek Myth, until I realized it was the planet’s name. Feel free to PM me, because I might miss your reply here.
Thank you, Luna! I would be keeping the umbrella title, Pearseus and only be changing the first book’s name.
That’s fantastic! Congrats 🙂
I would say it’s okay to change a book’s title … I mean, unless we’re talking an international bestseller, in which case that would be confusing. But since I don’t think your books have reached the “millions of fans” mark yet (although they certainly deserve to!!) it would be totally fine to do a quick name switcheroo. I personally like Whispering Planet, as it’s very mysterious but also clearly sci-fi.
Personally, I agree, but a surprising number of people want me to keep the old titles. Interesting–and thanks 🙂
Congratulations!
Thank you, Janice 🙂