Anyway, back to what I wanted to talk about. Just so you know, I'll probably post something on this again when I actually have something ready to publish, but a little Amazon link recently found its way over to me on Facebook, and I couldn't stop smiling when I read the title.
Go the F**k to Sleep.
Yes, this is real. Click on the title above for the link to the awesomeness.
A friend posted a link to this not-yet published "children's" book (I use the term very, very loosely, because it should be obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense that it's meant for the parents, not the kid) that's available for pre-order. And, even though I don't have kids, just based on the title alone, I may be tempted to buy it.
What makes the title good? Well, it's unexpected, for one. No one expects profanity in a "children's" book, much less the "F" word. It also plays on the mildly taboo factor that, *gasp*, child-rearing isn't all bunnies, unicorns, rainbows and feetie pajamas. No, sometimes parents want to have some time to themselves, and all they want is for their kid to, well, you know...this. Just based on the title, I want to know more. What the hell did this guy even write about? Are the tigers on the cover going to wake up and eat the kid for breakfast? Just from looking at the cover, I'm all kinds of curious.
Oh, and I tweeted the link out on Twitter late last week, and everyone who commented loved the title. One writer even tweeted back that she (I'm paraphrasing), "Has said that title every single night for the past few years."
My erotic novella is tentatively titled The Curse, but I have already resigned myself to the fact that it will likely be retitled if accepted for publication somewhere, likely by someone who knows better what will help the book sell, and hopefully to be given an awesome title like this one. And what I mean by that is one that will grab your attention and make you want to buy the book, sight unseen (or pages unflipped.)
Thoughts on titles? The book? Life in general? Want to buy a house? Tell me!
xoxo Sarah
Actually, yes, we're trying to buy a house, right now. Can you ship it to us?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out that book. Bedtime, lately, has been... yeah...
@Andrew: Really? It may take a while to dismantle and mail to you, but I'll try. :-P
ReplyDelete@BornStoryteller: Haha, I'm glad people can identify with the book. Titles are definitely a pain, and not one of my strong points, either. It's strange how a title can effect your readership. I scratch my head on that one, too.
No, no! We don't want to have to put it back together! Can't you ship it all in one piece?
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard to put back together. I live in a house built from giant Legos.
ReplyDeleteReally like this article. I remember when the title came up on prepub and we had a debate on whether or not to get it (it would be in our parenting section, which is in the children's area). Loved when I got to post on my own blog that they were optioning it for a movie!
ReplyDeleteOh, well, my younger son would love that! We've been telling him for years that he should make us a house from his Legos. He keeps saying, though, that he doesn't have enough.
ReplyDelete