The working title.
When an author starts a manuscript, they usually give it a working title. Inspired by a photo of two elderly lesbians, The Maiden Aunts became my working title. Friends and family knew about the book and often asked, “How’s The Maiden Aunts going?” I was always happy to share news on my progress. After writing the initial draft in three months, it took me another decade before I was ready to publish. Edit followed edit and followed even more edits. Each time the my novel improved. 2015 came and I was nearly ready to publish, but I needed to find a suitable title and cover. I wanted my book to attract readers of all ages and I knew The Maiden Aunts with a picture of two elderly women on the front cover would not have universal appeal.
Title or cover – which comes first?
The artwork on the cover would represent the title and elements of the story line, so I needed to settle on the title first. The Maiden Aunts was out, but what would replace it. One theme in the book is the push for marriage equality in Australia. Love is Love became the next title. I thought it was perfect, but friends said that this catch cry was already overused, so I rejected this title and sought another one. Marriage equality still pushed at me, so I tried, This too is Love, as the next title. It was close, but not quite right. I even did a mock up cover for this one. See below.
And then it popped.
I’d written a memoir about resigning from my principal’s position in Australia in 1999, moving to Bali, coming out of the closet and the eight years that followed as I pursued my dream to paint and live a creative life in Indonesia. The working title for this book, was Flying Free on Rainbow Wings, but I wasn’t sure it captured the full story. I could find a better title.
As I shared coffee with a couple of friends at the coffee shop near my art studio, we talked about our common interest – writing. One of them asked, “Are you sticking with that title, Flying Free on Rainbow Wings?” When someone asks a question like this, it really means, I hope you’ve found a better title for your memoir. I sat, pondered as they patiently waited. The buzz of conversation in the coffee shop surrounded us.
“No.” I paused. “Coffee…” Yes, drinking coffee was a common event every day as I chatted to my Indonesian friends and practiced my newly acquired language. Yes, Coffee would be the first word in a three word title. A short, three word title had worked for Elizabeth Gilbert with her best seller, “Eat, Pray, Love.”
Elizabeth Gilbert had chosen three verbs, but I would choose three nouns. Reflecting on my storyline and themes in my memoir, I slowly said, “Coffee, Canvas and Condoms.” Yes that captured it all, catchy and thought prevoking.
What three nouns work for The Maiden Aunts?
My mind flicked though my manuscript, contemplating main characters, and story lines. Famous Australian Artists pop up in the book, plus three of the characters paint. PAINT was an obvious choice. I love alliteration, so what other P words were suitable? There are romances in the book. PASSION became the second word and of course like in any relationship there are broken promises. PROMISES became the third word.
I had the title, Paint, Passion and Promises. It was decided and I added the subtitle, – Romance in the Outback.
Now it was time to produce the cover.
Using AI, I thought I could design my own cover. I entered the description and the cover appeared on my computer screen seconds later. It showed two women riding horses on an outback property. It wasn’t bad, but I know I could refine it, with a better description. I wanted the women to be holding hands as they led their horses, walking under gum trees. The new cover had one horse with only two legs and a pair of horse’s legs on one of the women. I gave up and sent my specifications to a cover design specialist, 100covers.com. Below are two of the early drafts they sent me.
Each time I viewed the cover sent to me, it made me reconsider what I actually wanted. The gay couple both painted, the women grew up on cattle properties in rural Australia. The land experienced droughts and floods. I needed a cover that represented all of this. Below is the final cover.
Selecting a book title and designing an appropriate cover took almost a year, but I am satisfied with this final product.