Laura Fitzgerald's Blog: Not-Too-Deep Thoughts by Laura Fitzgerald - Posts Tagged "sequel"

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