Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Lauren Clark Guest Blogs!



Welcome readers! I'm so glad you came by today. As part of a virtual tour for Dancing Naked In Dixie, I have the author, Lauren Clark, guest blogging today. I hope you'll leave a comment and check out the other stops on the tour, as there is a giveaway involved.

I asked Lauren about the importance of titles. I think the title "Dancing Naked In Dixie" is really catchy, so when asked what topic I suggest, that's what I thought about.  So, without further ado, I turn the blog over to Lauren.


Lauren says:


First of all, I love this question and I adore the title of your blog -- Storm Goddess Book Reviews is so powerful -- it makes a statement about you and your personality. Likewise, with novels, titles are crucial and just as important as a book's cover art.

The title inspiration for Dancing Naked in Dixie was the opposite of Stay Tuned, my first novel. Since Stay Tuned was about broadcast journalism (and a real-life fistfight between anchors), I needed a catchy title that incorporated the feel of watching TV news.

For Dancing Naked in Dixie, the title came first and I built the story around it. The phrase popped into my head one day as I was thinking about Eufaula and the Pilgrimage. I wanted a title that would stand out and express the unbridled joy and abandon a person can feel when in a particular place or with a very special person.

Without getting too deep, I think Dixie also looks at a woman allowing herself to be vulnerable (and emotionally naked, if you will). While it's scary, it also opens her up to finding love and happiness. Julia's been closed up, hurt, and guarded for so long that it takes visiting Eufaula and being humbled by the kindness of strangers to strip away all that she's built up to protect herself.

Back to the importance of titles (other than Dixie), I attended a writer's conference in which T.R. Pearson talked about titles. Pearson's worked in the TV and movie industry for a long time and did a great presentation about pitching an idea for a new series or show to studios. I didn't realize that the popular series "Friends" was actually first pitched as "The Insomniac Cafe." I don't know about you, but the latter doesn't work for me at all.

Here's another interesting point:  Research suggests that the most popular novel titles are five words or less. (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society being the exception. BTW -- Guernsey is a great book if you haven't read it)

I think title is a bit less crucial for established authors with a huge following (Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green, Jodi Picoult). Sophie Kinsella could call her next novel "Pirate Booty and Pink Slippers," put a skull and crossbones on the cover, and I would still buy it. In my opinion, with an established audience, it's the content that matters more. That said, ALL authors like to attract new readers, so there's never a time that title and cover art aren't important.

When I am looking for a new author to read, I do the following:  Ask my Facebook friends who are avid readers for recommendations, talk to my book club BFFs, look at friends' suggestions on GoodReads, and wander around book stores to find covers and titles that 'speak' to me.


How important is 'title' to you? Is cover art just as important? What are some of your favorite titles?




Dancing Naked in Dixie
by Lauren Clark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


EXCERPT

I’m a travel writer at Getaways magazine. Paid for the glorious task of gathering up fascinating snippets of culture and piecing them into quirky little stories. Jet-setting to the Riviera, exploring the Great Barrier Reef, basking on Bermuda beaches. It’s as glamorous and exhilarating as I imagined.

Okay, it is a tad lonely, from time to time.

And quite exhausting.

Which is precisely why I have to get organized.

Today.

I sink into my chair and try to concentrate. What to tackle first? Think, think.

“Julia Sullivan!”

Third reminder. Uh-oh.

Marietta rolls her eyes and jerks a thumb toward the inevitable. “Guess you better walk the plank,” she teases. “New guy’s waiting. Haven’t met him yet, but I’ve heard he’s the ‘take no prisoners’ sort. Hope you come back alive.”

I grope for something witty and casual to say, but all of a sudden, my head feels light and hollow.

I’ve been dying to find out about the new editor.

Every last gory detail.

Until now.

“I’m still in another time zone,” I offer up to Marietta with a weak smile. My insides toss from side to side as I slide out of my chair.

Marietta tosses me a wry look. “Nice try. Get going already, sport.”

I tilt my head toward the hallway and pretend to pout. When I look back, Marietta’s already disappeared. Smart girl.

“Fine, fine.” I tug a piece of rebellious auburn hair into place, smooth my wool suit, and begin to march toward the inevitable.

Our new editor.

My neck prickles.

I’m not going to worry. Not much anyway.

My pulse thuds.

Not going to worry about change. Or re-organization. Or pink slips.

Focus, Julia.




AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. 

A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.






Lauren is giving away a $25 gift card to Amazon to a commenter in the duration of the ENTIRE book tour. Below is a link to check out the other stops. The more you comment and follow along, the better chances you have to win.  Do check it out!



Where you can find the book:






Barnes & Noble

Smashwords


33 comments:

  1. A great title & cover are very important. They must catch my attention & then I will explore further.

    I can think of a couple of classic titles & of course Dr. Seuss never disappoints.

    Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
    Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
    There's a Wocket in My Pocket! by Dr. Seuss

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Marybelle ~ You are sooooo right! And great examples. The Dr. Seuss book made me smile at 530 am on this very dark morning!!! :) I know that I pick up a book in a store because of the cover ... and then the title is always a consideration. Some of my personal favorites (more recent): Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Good in Bed, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, etc.

      Thanks so much for stopping by Nikki's blog.... xx, Lauren

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    1. Thanks for connecting me with Nikki's blog :)

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  3. Nikki - Thank you so much for the opportunity to guest post on Storm Goddess Book Reviews ... I am so glad to be here! I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on how they choose a book ... cover, title, price, back-cover blurb?

    :) Lauren

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  4. I loved the title of your book, and I loved the cover. The story sounds absolutely awesome. Reminds me of Jennifer Cruisie, one of my favorites. I love romance stories with a little humor.

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    1. Thank you Mom Jane :) It's good to see you here ... and thank you for the recommendation ... I'll check out Jennifer Cruise's books. I've seen them everywhere! xx, Lauren

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  5. I like your book title as well. The book sounds pretty interesting. Perhaps it's wrong of me, but I do check out book covers and titles. I will read a book regardless, but I admit I'm a sucker for covers especially. I've picked up more than one book based on the cover alone. Good luck on your tour, Lauren! :)

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    1. HI Melissa ~ Thank you! I am a "cover lover" as well. I'm drawn to certain colors, images, and designs. I'm reading Gone Girl right now ... and I think I was drawn to the book cover because it is so simple. Thank you for stopping by the tour! xx, Lauren

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  6. I think a good book cover and title are very important. It's what captures the reader attention so they will explore the book further. I love your cover and title and put your book on my TBR list. Good luck with your book.

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    1. Janna - I couldn't agree more! A great book cover is a wonderful tool for attracting new readers ... especially if the content and storyline of the book deliver! THANK YOU for putting Dixie on your TBR list (yay!!!) xxx, Lauren

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  7. A catchy title separates the wheat from the chaff in this day of online book buying, print or electronic. First you catch the title, click and see the cover pic, then the blurb and reviews. You don't get that far if the book doesn't do anything for you.

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    1. Ray - Yes, I think you are absolutely correct! Title and cover ... blurb, then reviews. All are crucial and each has to build on the last! Thanks for weighing in. All the best, Lauren

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  8. Well said! Book covers and titles are the first things that draw me to a book...if they pass the test I pick it up to read the blurb!

    BTW, your cover is wonderful and definitely made me want to read your blurb and excerpt. Congrats on your book...sounds like a winner and is definitely being added to my list :)

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    1. Christine - Yay! Dixie passed the test :) I'm so excited that you added Dancing Naked to your TBR list! I am soooo in debt to my cover designer who very patiently went through about two dozen tweaks (Um, can you add red polish to her toenails? LOL)

      Thanks for stopping by! xx, Lauren

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  9. Tropic of Hockey by Dave Bidini first caught my attention with the title, because it seemed so incongruous (it was, but for the right reasons). It turned out to be one of my very favorites...

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Wow ! Tropic of Hockey ... love it! Sort of like "The Cider House Rules" and "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" -- had to read them -- and both are favorites of mine :) Thanks for the comment! xx, Lauren

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  10. I'm pathetic at titles. My publisher came up with the one for my first book. I think my critique group helped on my second one. My third title was a temporary title and by the time I needed a "real" title everyone was just used to it - so it stuck.

    Interesting about Friends original title! Sounds like something I would have come up with.

    Fascinating blog and excerpt is great.

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    1. Daryl - Now come on ... Three books is awesome :) And you had to 'approve' the first title from the publisher, right? That's participation!!! I think an author has to have some help on titles/blurbs/covers ... you can't do it in a vacuum! It's just too important! Having a critique group who wanted to help you with a title is awesome! I think the indie publishing business is all about authors helping other authors! xx, Lauren

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  11. I love titles. I kind of pride myself on mine. I don't know how important they are, but for me, I have to have the "right" one. Love yours.

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    1. Oh, thank you Ann! I agree that the title has to be just right. They are so important for me :) I am lucky that "Stay Tuned" and "Dancing Naked in Dixie" came pretty easily to me. I have a few others (for upcoming novels) that I'm still debating over. Thank you for coming by Storm Goddess Book Reviews.... xx, Lauren

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  12. I gravitate towards awesome covers! :)

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    1. Leah ~ Me too! I can't help myself sometimes ... I have to go pick up a book and look it over if the cover is awesome! xx, Lauren

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  13. I like titles that are different. Please no more "Greek Tycoon's Baby" or "Marrying His Mistress." If you're talented and creative enough to craft a book, do the same with your titles. Love yours...caught my eye right away.

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    1. Vonnie~ You are cracking me up!! As difficult as it is, I think that it is necessary to come up with a creative title -- and one that hasn't been used a dozen times! I just read a post about titles ... and how "new" books get lost in searches because they're named the SAME as five or six other books. Thank you for your kind words about my title! xx, Lauren

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  14. Great post! I have to admit that a book's title and a book's cover are very important to me - they are the authors first chance to make "an impression" if you will. I know they are very important regardless of genre and some of my favorites that caught my attention are:

    Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
    Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
    Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel
    Surrender by Pamela Clare
    The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

    The covers and titles for these books give you a pretty good indication of not only the genre but also a little bit about the book itself.

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    1. Maria - You are exactly right!! The title and cover are an author's first impression. I like your examples ... and they are proof that the titles don't have to be complicated ad long. Just different ... and something that connects with readers and draws attention to the book! :) Lauren

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  15. Lauren - Nikki is an awesome Storm Goddess, isn't she? I have to say that Lauren Clark is the name of one of my great friends - She is a missionary in Hati right now.

    Plus your book sounds like something I would love to read. It's going on my TBR list now. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Casea Major ~ Nikki is an Awesome Storm Goddess! I loved the name of the blog as soon as I heard it. BTW - Casea Major is pretty wonderful, too! Very fitting for your books :) Thank you for putting Dixie on your TBR list! Would love to hear what you think about the novel! xx, Lauren

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  16. Titles are very important to me. A few months back, a fellow author on a writing group I belong to announced her book Bound By the Mist (written by Lisa Kumar) would soon be released.
    I knew nothing about this book, but the title grabbed me--spoke to me I guess--so much that I wanted to read the book just because of the title.

    Storm Goddess is an awesome name!

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    1. Brenda ~ "Bound by the Mist" does sound intriguing! I'm always looking for the next great title ... like Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed" can't help catch attention ... and I picked up Emily Giffin's "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue" because of their titles and covers.

      Love the Storm Goddess name, too! Thanks for stopping by Nikki's blog :) Lauren

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  17. Sorry for being so late. Great post.

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  18. Just popping in to say HI and sorry I missed visiting with you on party day! Hope you all had a good time!

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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