Originally the first book in our series debuting in Spring 2011 was called GMAIL.
Turns out that was a lawsuit waiting to happen. Oh, and Editorial Anonymous thought the title was totally cheesy.
When we queried we called it FINDING GRACE. We even went so far as to change one of the character's names to Grace to really make it work. When our agent offered representation she called the title "wet" (we're pretty sure that's Australian for totally cheesy) and said it absolutely had to change.
We went through about a bazillion different titles before Catherine finally agreed to THE HAUNTING OF PEMBERLY BROWN: A KATE LOWRY MYSTERY. Aside from being the longest title ever it also sounded like a long lost Jane Austen gothic, which for those of you familiar with the book, it most certainly is NOT.
Enter editor Dan. He has grand ambitions for our book and said we needed the perfect title. We tried everything...THE ACADEMY, PEARL ACADEMY, PEARLS DON'T LIE, FIRED UP (I wish I was kidding about that last one...), but nothing stuck. Truthfully they all sort of sucked.
And then it happened...We came up with the perfect title. Seriously. We're in love. Dan is in love. All of the peeps at Sourcebooks are in love. Even Catherine "that title is wet" Drayton is in love.
Now we just need to hear what you guys think...
So, without further ado. Our debut novel will be called...
This title will also double as the title of the series as a whole. And you guys will be so proud, we've already got a title for the second book in the series! But we're keeping that one a secret for now...
Now it's your turn to sound off in the comments. Do you love it? Hate it? Will you miss THE HAUNTING OF PEMBERLY BROWN? We most certainly will not.
74 comments:
Awesome! It makes me think of Ally Carter's Heist Society, which can only be a good thing!
I love Liar Society. It sounds awesome, and even though I wanted to read your book anyway, now I really want to read it. Also, I think it sounds more YA than The Haunting of Pemberly Brown.
I am in the title change boat myself, and now find myself hesitating whenever someone asks what my books is called. I am not 100 percent sure at this point, but hope it becomes officially official soon.
Much better title!
Especially since there are already a bunch of "The Haunting of..." titles out there (type it in at Amazon, you'll see!).
Love, love, love it!!!
GREAT!!! Love it. Love it.
sf
Great title! It sounds both like high class (society) but alludes to something wicked (liar). Perfect!
I like it! Short and snappy. It's mysterious and malevolent at the same time. Nice!
I love it! Can't wait to read it.
I love Liars (see occupation as evidence).
Congrats, Ladies.
Yes totally love it! Wow amazing how a title can change the whole mood of a book. Go editor Dan!
i LOVE it. it's PERFECT. i'd pick up that book any day of the week!!!
congrats you guys!!!! :D :D
That's definitely a great title! Congrats!
LOVE IT. Anything with "liar" in it pretty much is a must read for me.
*squeeeeeeeeeeee* Wowee--love it ladies!!
I can already see the whole CW/Bravo spin off. It's Brill!!!
Sounds great! Bravo! Titles are pretty tough sometimes. Y'all nailed it! ;)
I love the new title. It seriously rocks!!!!
I can't wait to see the cover. Now that's going to be super exciting. :D
It is very intriguing and already makes my brain ask a hundred questions!
Well done.
Can't even imagine what they are thinking for the cover.....
(Bet you girls are just Dying To Know!)
Definitely not a WET title....does that make it.... DRY?
Shelley
I love it I immediately want to know more!! I'm so intrigued and curious!!!
I'm now dying for a snippet!!! Please *on knees begging*
Love Love Love THE TITLE! And yeah - I am having a similarproblem titling mine!!!
Ooh, I like this new title! It would definitely get me to pick up the book in the bookstore even if I knew nothing about it!
That is the total opposite of suckage and cheesieness!! Congrats on a stupendous new title!! I love it!
LOVE it!!!! It's snappy and its fits you guys (not that you're liars because you're not, but you know what I mean--it's hot!) ;)
liar society is the title of a book that i would see on a book shelf and buy.
That title has a certain je ne c'est quoi to it (I tottaly took French in middle school, high school, and college- and I don't think that's spelled right). Anyway, I like the new title and it sounds like a promising novel. I did have a question, how do you two write together? Me and my cousin are both writers, but we don't know how we could write together- do you each take on one character, determine a plot and then come up with alternating paragraphs? Just curious! Thanks :)
I love it! I immediately thought of Heist Society too. Being grouped in with Ally Carter can only be a good thing!
Perfect.
Now THAT strikes a pretty wonderful balance, AND has me totally curious about the lying part. And curiosity, imho, is one of the best things a title can foster!!
I like this title, especially as a series title. Though I thought "Pearls Don't Lie" wasn't bad either. Glad you found your title. I know how hard it can be. :) Congrats!
Very catchy, LOVE it!!!!!!!
Liar Society already has me totally hooked, whereas The Haunting of Pemberly Brown really didn't. That's a stupendous change!
I actually liked the Pemberly Brown title. Is that a bad thing? Ha ha. I like Liar Society even better though! :-)
Liar Society... I love it! I would pick it up. To be honest, I liked Pemberly Brown too. But Liar Society is very cool. Now I'm curious what the second book's title is!!!! I can't wait!
Sounds great! Liar Society sounds older and (weirdly) even more mysterious than The Haunting of Pemberly Brown. (Have I mentioned how much I adore the name Pemberly? I truly do.) Congrats! : )
AWESOME. Intriguing and descriptive all at once.
Oh, I cannot wait to buy this book. :D
Love. Love. Love it!! Great title!! I have such a hard time with titles too ;o)
Can't wait to buy it and gush ;o)
Full of awesome! I can't wait to see it in print. ;)
Love it! Just the title would make me pick it up, without even knowing how awesome you guys are!
I've been calling it The Haunting of Pemberly Brown for so long, it'll take a second to remember that it's now LIAR SOCIETY. For the record, I love the titles so much I think you've broken the title suckage spell.
Congrats, guys! <3 it, <3 you!
Love it! I'd read the book based on that title alone. Yes, I'm just that shallow!
You know I'm going to read anything with the word "Liar" in the title. Sounds awesome! Good job to everybody who pitched in on that one.
Can't wait to see it on the shelves! I will go ahead and tell everyone in the store that I know you guys. It'll be embarrassing, but at least you'll be two states away. :P
It's brilliant like you guys are. And series? I know we've talked about this before, but I need news. Good news. Email me.
Let the lie's begin. Lovely.
It's short. And it has enough intrigue that I'd want to read that kind of book just by the title! Great choice!
That's great - wishing you the best of luck!
Love it! And a whole series! How cool is that?! :) Congrats!
Very intriguing ... love it!
I love it guys--awesome!
I think it's funny how drastically different each of the titles are. It's like, can these really all be for the same book? :)
I LOVE IT! Now I want to read it even more... Liar Society. I can just see it now =)
Though to be HONEST I do also like the Haunting of Pemberly Brown--but the new title's definitely even better!
Awesome! Short and Sweet!
I'm really glad you didn't end up using 'gmail'.... lol
I love the title. Very intriguing, makes me definitely want to pick up the book.
LIAR SOCIETY - Brilliant!!! Congrats Ladies! I'm picturing a fabulous cover to match this great title!! Hope things are moving right along with the second book in the series...
Short. Powerful. Love it. Go Sisters!!!!
Oooh, intriguing. :) I like it.
Love it! I prefer short catchy titles and this one fits the bill. Makes me feel like a know a little about the book already. Good choice :)
I Freakin' Love IT! I mean it. It is wayyy better than the other titles. I am sorry, but it is.
It must be awesome to have a team that comes up with perfect details for your work.
Super title!
I kind of liked THE HAUNTING OF PEMBERLY BROWN, it sounded cool. But the new title rocks, too. And more importantly, I know that the story is going to be awesome! Can't wait to get a copy!
Such a fun title! I have to admit, I did enjoy Pemberly Brown because it had a nice ring to it -- but this feels much snappier and Roecker-esque. Yayyy! Congrats.
Yes! You nailed that title! You know it's good when the title alone makes you want to read it.
i surely love your posting type, very charming,
don't give up and also keep writing seeing that it simply well worth to follow it,
impatient to browse more of your current content articles, regards :)
love it! and love the trials and fun cheezey originals too!
SB
Perfecto!
(And FIRED UP just gave me a giggle...)
GREAT title! Two thumbs up.
Love it. Makes me curious!
Liar Society sounds super...I did like The Haunting of Pemberly Brown (without the rest of the uabove named title.)
'Liar Society' makes me want to read it so I think you've cracked it with the title! x
Liar Society is fantastic!
Just gonna add my kudos to everyone else's. Liar Society is a *great* title!
yep, add me to the "love its."
and to the fan list of the cutie sisters. :)
I have been out with a killer sinus infection but am so glad I didn't miss this post -- wow, I love this new title. And, as a fellow sucky-title-writer, I can't comment on the previous versions. But, the Pemberly Brown one did seem a bit stuffy. I kept thinking tweed and loafers and wondered if you ladies had really written a tweed and loafer book.
not that tweed and loafers are bad
man, I'd better stop before I dig myself any deeper ;)
I like it! HAUNTING *did* actually remind me of Jane Austen (I originally thought this was a historical, before I saw the email link), but LIAR SOCIETY is much classier. And lots more marketing angles, me thinks.
I'd buy it on title alone.
LOVE. IT. Brilliant, girls! Although I like anything to do with haunting and ghosts which is what the other title made me think of. :-)
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