The title of my novel is No Tea For The Fever. I heard my dad and my mother-in-law use the expression to describe a brave, tough, no-nonsense person and I fell in love with the phrase.
Yeah, chile. She’s something else. She don’t take no tea for the fever!
I googled it and found the phrase used in one of Langston Hughes’ Jesse B. Simple stories. Fell in love with the phrase years before I even started writing the novel.
And this morning, I got an email from my wonderful editor Sulay Hernandez:
That will not be the title of my book.
[Insert sob here]
[Insert wail here]
[Insert wall slide* here]
Sulay loved the title. The higher-ups did not. Case closed. It’s a wrap.
I’ve heard from published authors that this is how it goes. And there’s not much you can do about it.
So why do I feel like crap?
It’s because I feel the sting of rejection. They don’t like my title? What else don’t they like?
And also, it frightens me because I know this is only the first of many battles that will be waged. What happens when it’s time to design the book cover?
I’d love something simple and artistic:
Will I instead have a cover like this?
Of course, I mean no disrespect to Keisha Ervin or Triple Crown Publications. But it’s not what I envisioned for my book.
But what do I know? I’m not even sure how to categorize my book. Is it street lit? Sure, some of it. Is it highbrow literary fiction? No. Is it Terry McMillan-esque. Yup. Unabashedly.
I don’t want the cover of my book to be animated. And I don’t want the title to tell you specifically what the story is about.
And I know I have zero control on how it all goes down.
This is frightening.
I have to remind myself that these are luxury problems. A year ago, I would have jumped for joy at the thought of having someone reject a book title for a book that will be published.
Gotta have faith that it will all work itself out the way it should.
And now, I’m off to think of new book titles.
[Insert heavy sigh here]
-A
P.S. I’m feeling a tinge of regret for shutting down aliyasking.com. I would have gotten tons of feedback on this issue. But I’m not advertising this blog the way I did before. So there’s a good chance that the people I really need to hear back from on this might not see it. Alas, if you’re a published author, please share your thoughts/experiences on the title process. And if you’re not, just tell me some of your favorite book titles….
*wall slide: stolen from LuvvieIG: Click here for an explanation.
I have self-published a poetry book, but I do not have experience in the industry. I have heard many times at writing workshops that you should try and not get too attached to your title because it is usually the first thing to go. So in that regard, this is common. Are they asking you to submit other titles? Or do they have a replacement in mind? I do think it was a really dope title, but just tuck it away to use it later, and think of something even better for this project. (And to be honest, as dope as the title is, it does seem to lend itself to the type of cover you don’t want. Maybe because it makes me think of Dickey’s Milk in My Coffee. *shrug*)
Like I said, I don’t know anything about the company, but my guess is that it’s too abstract. I’m a Langston fan but truth be told, I never heard the phrase and wouldn’t have understood it if you didn’t explain it. So I think they’re looking at it more from a marketing standpoint, not necessarily a creative one.
Off the top, some titles I dig: The Bluest Eye, The Invisible Man, Native Son, Manchild in the Promised Land, If Beale Street Could Talk…
I think the best bet would be to find a title that really captures exactly what the book is about in a way that’s simplistic. You hear the title and instantly you know what it is. Morrison is probably the minimalist master of this (Jazz, Love, Paradise, etc.) I don’t think it has to be so spare, but it should say what the book is about. That’s my two cents posing as 25 cents. You got this.
@mr. nichols: What a lovely response. Thank you. Much to think about here.
Dag, I loved that title. Did they tell you what they didn’t like about it? Granted, I work in children’s publishing, and our house isn’t full of ump-teen marketing/sales/promotions execs, but if we want to make a major change like that, we give authors our reasoning and welcome their feedback. Some authors want to dispute any edit, but a title change is big.
Sometimes a different approach to the cover art can assuage their concern about the title. Flap copy works magic. Do they know about the title of your blog? Lots of advance promotion. People will be looking for the book under that title.
Guess I’m just assuming you will fight it. But if it’s a done deal already, sorry.
Um, I typed this long reply and it didn’t post so just call me and I will break it down. My title got changed twice and i basically concepted and sourced the image for my own cover. I am happy to help you with new ideas or feedback…but I have some serious tips for you so HOLLA! DM me your number via Twitter and I will call you..sorry they did that to your baby!
Dang Aliya! This sucks. But, I’m sure you’ll come up with something that will encapsulate everything you want this book to be.
Some of my favorite book titles off the cuff: Wearing My Halo Tilted, Song of Solomon, Nothing But The Right Thing, God don’t like Ugly, A Change Had to Come, The Next best Thing, That One Moment. I like titles that are literal but tell a story.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. When you see your book on shelves you’ll be able to look back on this and it will just be water under the bridge.
I feel like a stalker for finding this new blog of yours so quick. Blame it on Twitter. But I can understand your concern. As a control freak myself, I’d be imagining all types of “arabesque” covers.
Wait… I’m not helping.
I guess you just have to come to terms with the fact that you lack control in certain areas by putting some kind of faith in the editors to do right by you. Or am I just being an optimistic fool?
Oh and I like “No Tea for Fever” and the concept behind it. I feel like telling folks “No Cast for Fracture.” No??? Fine.
*sigh* I wish I was deep.
all in perspective my dear. years from now, when you’re working on your seventh novel, the title of your first won’t mean so much. therefore, i say continue to think and act big – you’re doing the damn thing A.S.K.!!!
the cover thing is a popular battle with all authors, so u just gotta make it do what it do. as for the cover, there could be more drama with that since there is a theory that books with black folks on the cover don’t sell. hence the whole dustup surrounding the book liar by justine larbalestier. long story short: the main charc is black and the book featured a white girl on the cover. the author balked and the publisher didn’t listen. it wasn’t until the public @ large got into a collective huff that the cover was changed to feature a black girl. i say this to say: head up, ’cause the new title might inspire some amazing art.
http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/
Aliya!!! I loved “No Tea For The Fever”.
My stomach dropped when I learned it no longer was. Literally. Seriously. It affirmed my love/hate/dig/loathe relationship with book publishing.
Ok, this is so not helping.
I got to keep my title, yes, but I think I almost gave myself an ulcer worrying about the cover… the design & the look of it all. I was readying myself for a good cry (sue me I’m a Cancer).
And you’re right. You’re so right. It’s the powerlessness of it all. I had say as a magazine editor. Came up with some great heds & deks. I even gave input @photo shoots & voiced my opinion on fonts & designs on my layouts. I work well w/art departments. Hell, I even had some say as a freelance writer. But no say as an author? WTF?!
I’m being a tad dramatic. But honestly that is how I felt.
I empathize w/you… But I know your brain & your writing. You will come up w/something that more than satisfies everyone.
Whoooo-saaaah.
@everyone: I so appreciate your words of support. For real. Whooo-saaah indeed.
Hi Aliya,
I had never heard the phrase “No tea for the fever” until I read “Platinum” (which I love by the way!!!!!!!). I too decided to look up the phrase and found this site! I read one entry and then realized it was your site!!! Please know you have a life long fan!! I like “No Tea for the Fever” as a title
– especially for a book that is mostly about Alex!