I've always liked using her name in the title. It has a nice ring to it, a sort of 'Harry Potter' feel as well, that lends itself easily to series.
On the other hand, two sisters, an 11 year old and a 13 year old, reported back today they both liked the title as it was.
So here's what I'm hoping from you: Vote on the titles. Let me know what you think. Which one would be most successful in marketing the book and the series? Which one would appeal to boys as well as girls? Just boys, or just girls?
I'll post the current teaser copy as well so you have a feel for the content.
Proposed titles:
Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming
or
Legends of Kyreo: The Places of Naming
Here's the blurb:
Lizzie Peterson craves adventure. Well, who wouldn’t if your secret pets—a unicorn and a flying horse—helped raise you to believe you might be a child of prophecy in a far off world? Yes, somewhere beyond her Ohio home is the magical world of Kyreo, where eleven-year-old Lizzie dreams of going someday to meet the cunning gnomes, the mystical faeries, and the hungry hippogriffs, and to see the five moons and the lands of crystal and cloud. And, of course, to find out what that prophecy really is all about.
But when the Shadow Wizard attacks Lizzie’s family, she and her brother Jack must flee to Kyreo just to stay alive. The world they find is not nearly so fanciful and fun as Lizzie had hoped, for the Shadow Wizard has conquered the heroes and champions and enslaved most everyone else.
Dark forces begin to hunt them almost immediately as Lizzie, Jack, and their magical horses set out to find new heroes to defend Kyreo. If they fail, their lives, the world of Kyreo, and even Earth itself may hang in the balance.
Lizzie Peterson (or) Legends of Kyreo is a middle grade fantasy and is complete at 65,000 words. This stand-alone story has series potential and will appeal to readers who enjoy the Fablehaven and Percy Jackson stories.
So, what do you think? Which series title? Lizzie Peterson, or Legends of Kyreo? And don't forget to tell me why!
Next post: the results, and a discussion about Character.
8 comments:
I'm going for Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming, though that title will appeal to girls more than boys. In fact, if I were middle grade it would cause me to avoid that book completely unless there was a dragon on the cover. :) I grew up reading the Hardy Boys, never once did I touch Nancy Drew even though they were the same types of books.
So I change my vote to Legends of Kyreo, which would be gender neutral.
Can I vote for both? Ugh, not easy!
Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming! I've loved it the moment I saw it, and it's about time we had a girl title character with the similar MG flavor of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. The second option is a bit alienative and unattaching (are those word?). When boys read the description and they find out the lead is a girl, it might deter them, regardless of title (having unicorns and such). If the narrative is gender neutral, and well-written, it'll catch on. That's my three cents.
I loved the first title, Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming (Yes, I'm a girl.) And my reason for not liking option 2 as much may sound trivial, but when I saw "Kyreo" I wasn't sure if I was pronouncing it correctly and so playing with the sound of the word lessened the impact of the title. Hope that helps. Can't wait to read it!
I vote Lizzie Peterson and agree with Tamara's comment. I can see people forgetting "kyreo" and saying "legends of something or other... I can't remember the name!" Lizzie Peterson is catchy and memorable. I do think it will be more appealing to girls though. Tough decision! Good luck!
Jill Elies, btw
I gave your blog an award, come check it out - http://abookagirlajourney.blogspot.com/
I like Lizzie Peterson and the Places of Naming. It just has a nice ring to it. :)
The Lizzie title has a nice ring to it BUT
you really might lose part of your audience.
That boy was on to something. Boys don't always want to be seen holding a book with the name Lizzie on the cover. If that's the case you might lose a quarter of your audience by the title alone (albeit, a shallow argument- they are 9-14, they can be shallow if they want to be)
I'm with Jim.
To be brutally honest, I would workshop some new names. You know marketing. Think marketing. Think like your market. Whatever it is make it sound cool! Shadow Wizards sound cool. Prophecies are always cool.
Fablehaven was about a girl and her brother but I think Mull didn't call it Kendra Sorensen for a reason.
Rack that brain! Something brilliant will come out.
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