Tuesday, November 12, 2013

It’s Name that Book Time again...

Aaaaand it’s time to play everyone’s favorite game, help Marissa come up with a possible title for her new book because she’s reeallly bad at titles.

This one is forthcoming from Entangled Publishing some time in the first half of 2014 (the first round of edits is in, and I hope to have a release date for you soon!) There are some slightly different rules in play this time, though. For one thing, this isn’t a young adult story or set in 19th century England—it’s an adult contemporary fantasy set in Boston with some slightly spicy content. Here’s a blurb...

*****
It’s been two thousand years since the fires burned out on the altars in the temples of Greece. So what’s a god to do?

Teach, of course.

Theodora Fairchild has had it with teaching Latin to apathetic middle school students and enrolls in the Classics program at prestigious John Winthrop University to get her Ph.D. and pursue a serious academic career. Falling in love with brilliant but mysterious visiting fellow Grant Proctor isn’t what she expected to find on the syllabus—at least she thinks they’re in love...nor is her flirtatious relationship with the charming head of the department, Julian d’Amboise.

Soon Theo finds she's been assigned a new major—divinity! She’ll need to learn how to be a goddess fast in order to rescue herself and Grant from Julian’s clutches. After all, Julian’s track record with his women was spectacularly bad—they generally ended up turning into cows or burning to a crisp...and Grant’s last meeting with the department chairman left him chained to a mountaintop for thirty thousand years having his liver pecked out by an eagle. Drugged Riesling, power shopping with Aphrodite, and an eerie labyrinth all make an appearance as Theo struggles to win her eventually happily-ever-after fate—with a twist.

*****

So what do you think, dear readers? The tone of the story isn't terribly comedic though it does have its light, tongue-in-cheek moments...but nor is it dark and gritty because I just don't do dark and gritty. I’m trying to avoid titles with the word “god” in them or other overtly religion-associated words since we don’t want the algorithms at on-line booksellers to assume this book should be listed under Christian Romance and possibly offend innocent readers. But mythological or classical references are definitely a possibility.

Anyway, have fun trying...no suggestion is a bad one, because it might inspire the perfect title. And most of all, thank you!

12 comments:

Anna Staniszewski said...

Titles are so hard! Is it weird that I kind of like "Power Shopping with Aphrodite" as the title? It might be too comical for your story, but it sounds like something I'd read. :-)

Cyndi said...

Greek Fire Down Below?

sorry. :)

But it sounds awesome, M!

Anonymous said...

The first thing that struck me was something that ends with "By Jove" -- like, "Theodosia, By Jove" -- which might be a bit too precious and punny but would get across the classical myth connection. I also agree with Anna's comment. Will think some more...

Anonymous said...

Sorry, it's Theodora... :)

Marissa Doyle said...

Maryann, just so you know, the working title of this story WAS "By Jove"! Great minds... :)

Barbara Arent said...

Goddess 101

Anonymous said...

Oh, you're kidding! That's too funny! :D

Leandra Wallace said...

Um..um, um...Not coming up w/anything good so I'll just throw out what my brain's stuck on- Classic Lust. ;)

Marissa Doyle said...

Oh, some goods ones here! Keep them coming!!

Ash Lee said...

I'm thinking "The Fight For Prometheus" since I believe your character Grant is Prometheus given all the clues you left. Plus the synopsis does say that Theo will need to learn how to be a goddess fast in order to rescue Grant from Julian’s clutches.

Ash Lee said...

Or another title I just thought of is "Loveless Thunder." "Thunder" in this case is for Julian/Zeus. And the heroine has no love for him since she is trying to rescue herself and Grant from Julian's clutches.

Marissa Doyle said...

Oh, I like maybe incorporating thunder or lightning into the title...and Goddess 101 awesome too!

You guys are the best!