Laura Fitzgerald's Blog: Not-Too-Deep Thoughts by Laura Fitzgerald

What does Veil of Roses" mean? heck if I know!

Most common question I'm asked: "What does the title Veil of Roses mean?"

My answer: I have no idea! It doesn't mean anything, really. When I sold the novel, I sold it under the title, First Comes Marriage, because it's a play on that childhood rhyme that opens the novel. First comes love, then comes marriage, etc. But the publisher thought that title was too romance-y and wanted something that was more literary. They came up with a bunch of title ideas, and I did, too, but after lots of back & forth, the verdict came down: We are calling it A Veil of Sky and Roses.

I was like, huh? What does that even mean? I never did get a good answer for that, and I was really stressed out because a. it made no sense, and b. the people I told it to couldn't ever remember it. I'd give the title, and three minutes later they'd say, "What's it called again? A Veil of Sky and What?"

Ultimately, the publisher wants a title that's memorable and so was willing to shorten it to Veil of Roses. I considered that such a victory that I let go the fact that it still made no sense. Then, when I wrote the sequel, I put a little poem-y sort of thing right at the beginning which I hoped *gave* some meaning to what was before completely meaningless:

I did it, Maman.
I am here, now.
I have found a way to stay.
I have even found love.
I was married by Elvis Presley
At the Chapel of the Blue Suede Shoes
In the City of Sin.
If you'd been here, Maman,
I would have been married in my sister's home.
You would have washed my hair with your lavender soap
And laced flowers in my hair,
making for me a veil of roses.
Go, you said. Go and wake up your luck.
But what about you?
At last, Maman––what about you?
Come, I say to you now.
Come, Maman Joon.
Come, and wake up your luck.

What do you think? Does it mean something now? I don't know. It seemed like a good idea at the time!

More questions? Ask away!
Love, Laura

Who says you can't declare your own national holiday?

Hello, reader friends!

Every year for my best friend's birthday, I send her a pound of coffee and a few books I think she'll enjoy. (Two years ago, it was Gone With The Wind, while this year I sent her the first three Flowers In The Attic books by V.C. Andrews -- remember those????) Every year, it gives me absolute, pure pleasure to choose books for her, and I know I love receiving books as gifts, too, and ... somewhere along the way, I thought, "There oughta be a holiday...."

Well, now there is. Last year, I boldly declared June 15 National Give A Girlfriend A Book Day. I and 500+ Facebook friends decided that on that day, we'd give a copy of one of our favorite books to a girlfriend. This year, I invite you to join us.

Here's the pitch:

Which stories have you loved that a girlfriend might love, too?

Has your best friend read Gone With the Wind yet?

Which book would you grab in a fire if you could only grab one -- and which friend should know this about you?

A book is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give. Whether a classic, a favorite from your shelf, or a hot bestseller, when you give a girlfriend a book, you're being an AWESOME friend.

June 15 is give, give, give a book day. It doesn't matter if it's a new book or a favorite from your shelf. The point is -- When you give a book to a girlfriend, you're also giving her permission to relax...to take it easy...and to escape into a good story where there are no dishes for her to wash, no laundry for her to do, no little kids to get to bed. Give, give, give a girlfriend a book!

Make a girlfriend super happy - give her a book on June 15!

That's all for now. Hope you're having a lovely summer.