Janet C. Smith's Blog, page 2
May 3, 2025
Where Do Authors Find Their Book Titles?
Where do authors find their titles? A title is almost a mini synopsis, and it's important to choose well. In addition it must be catchy, and memorable. It's a delight when one stumbles across the source of some well known novel's title, as it was when recently I was deep into my 'Sherlock Holmes' The Complete Illustrated Short Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, when my eyes hovered on a corker. As all of Sir Arthur's work entered public domain in 2023, I can quote from his short story 'Silver Blaze':
'Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
'You consider that to be important?' he asked.
'Exceedingly so.'
'Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.'
'The dog did nothing in the night-time.'
'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The title chosen by Mark Haddon for his novel 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' is a clever one, for as well as being unusual and memorable, it cleverly echoes parallels of characteristics between Sherlock Holmes and Christopher John Francis Boone. Both neuro-diverse, they possess strong deductive powers, and use logic and observation to solve mysteries.
I expect everyone else in the world is aware of these tit bits, but being somewhat late on the scene, thought I'd share it anyhow.
'Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
'You consider that to be important?' he asked.
'Exceedingly so.'
'Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.'
'The dog did nothing in the night-time.'
'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The title chosen by Mark Haddon for his novel 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' is a clever one, for as well as being unusual and memorable, it cleverly echoes parallels of characteristics between Sherlock Holmes and Christopher John Francis Boone. Both neuro-diverse, they possess strong deductive powers, and use logic and observation to solve mysteries.
I expect everyone else in the world is aware of these tit bits, but being somewhat late on the scene, thought I'd share it anyhow.
Where Do Authors Find Their Book Titles?
Where do authors find their titles? A title is almost a mini synopsis, and it's important to choose well. As well as this it must be catchy, and memorable. It's a delight when one stumbles across the source of some well known novel's title, as it was when recently I was deep into my 'Sherlock Holmes' The Complete Illustrated Short Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, when my eyes hovered on a corker. As all of Sir Arthur's work entered public domain in 2023, I can quote from his short story 'Silver Blaze':
'Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
'You consider that to be important?' he asked.
'Exceedingly so.'
'Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.'
'The dog did nothing in the night-time.'
'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The title chosen by Mark Haddon for his novel 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' is a clever one, for as well as being unusual and memorable, it cleverly echoes parallels of characteristics between Sherlock Holmes and Christopher John Francis Boone. Both neuro-diverse, they possess strong deductive powers, and use logic and observation to solve mysteries.
I expect everyone else in the world is aware of these tit bits, but being somewhat late on the scene, thought I'd share it anyhow.
'Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
'You consider that to be important?' he asked.
'Exceedingly so.'
'Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.'
'The dog did nothing in the night-time.'
'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The title chosen by Mark Haddon for his novel 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' is a clever one, for as well as being unusual and memorable, it cleverly echoes parallels of characteristics between Sherlock Holmes and Christopher John Francis Boone. Both neuro-diverse, they possess strong deductive powers, and use logic and observation to solve mysteries.
I expect everyone else in the world is aware of these tit bits, but being somewhat late on the scene, thought I'd share it anyhow.
March 17, 2025
Groundhog Day. Spring.
Groundhog Day, 2nd February
A bit like the famous Pennsylvanian groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, who came out of his burrow, saw his shadow, and went back to bed for another six weeks, our neighbour opened his garage sale on a sunny morn, and has withdrawn from public view since, keeping his garage door firmly shut. Similarly to the groundhog, we expect a return from hibernation soon, and his irregular garage sales of old novels, maps, prints (it's a Picasso madam; he painted it last week), oddments of furniture lining the narrow road, and dusty and 'what is it' things to to continue.
In my shopping bag from my last 'burrow' visit is 'Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters - Seymour an introduction' by J.D. Salinger; 'Blessings in Disguise', a memoir by Alec Guinness; and 'Bouncers' the fun, and rumbustious artwork of Beryl Cook.
A bit like the famous Pennsylvanian groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, who came out of his burrow, saw his shadow, and went back to bed for another six weeks, our neighbour opened his garage sale on a sunny morn, and has withdrawn from public view since, keeping his garage door firmly shut. Similarly to the groundhog, we expect a return from hibernation soon, and his irregular garage sales of old novels, maps, prints (it's a Picasso madam; he painted it last week), oddments of furniture lining the narrow road, and dusty and 'what is it' things to to continue.
In my shopping bag from my last 'burrow' visit is 'Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters - Seymour an introduction' by J.D. Salinger; 'Blessings in Disguise', a memoir by Alec Guinness; and 'Bouncers' the fun, and rumbustious artwork of Beryl Cook.
March 13, 2025
'Murder at Cliff House' murder mystery. Honley Players, Holmfirth.
Break a leg to Honley Players, who are performing the murder mystery ‘Murder at Cliff House’ at Southgate Theatre, Holmfirth, from Friday 28th-Saturday 29th March. Tickets have disappeared like hot cakes, well a pie and pea supper actually!
‘A group of internet book influencers receive invitations for a weekend away by a new publishing house. But who is the mystery author, and where is the mystery publisher? In a decaying old mansion perched on a crumbling cliff, surrounded by a treacherous sea fog, the guests bicker and backbite. Before the end of the story, one character will be deleted!’ Can the audience work out who dun-it?
‘A group of internet book influencers receive invitations for a weekend away by a new publishing house. But who is the mystery author, and where is the mystery publisher? In a decaying old mansion perched on a crumbling cliff, surrounded by a treacherous sea fog, the guests bicker and backbite. Before the end of the story, one character will be deleted!’ Can the audience work out who dun-it?
March 11, 2025
'Happily Never After'. Carrie Leigh's Dream Come True Fundraiser Prom Saturday 29th March.
Good Luck to Carrie Leigh’s Dream Come True’ Fundraiser prom ‘Happily Never After’, the murder mystery pantomime, on Saturday 29th March. Featuring local celebrity guest actors, the audience are invited to dress as their favourite Disney or fairy-tale character. The venue is the fairy-tale waterside setting of Castle Ridge, Centralia, Illinois, US, and a delicious sounding meal is included in the ticket price.
‘The Ugly Sisters run a retreat for down and out pantomime characters. Goldilocks’ wish for a happy ending to her story is granted by her Fairy Godmother, but when Goldilocks wishes for happy endings for other characters, the Wicked Witch is having none of it! What follows is a recipe for (family friendly) mayhem, murder and a happily never after! Can the audience guess who dun-it?’
‘The Ugly Sisters run a retreat for down and out pantomime characters. Goldilocks’ wish for a happy ending to her story is granted by her Fairy Godmother, but when Goldilocks wishes for happy endings for other characters, the Wicked Witch is having none of it! What follows is a recipe for (family friendly) mayhem, murder and a happily never after! Can the audience guess who dun-it?’
March 6, 2025
'And Now The Shipping Forecast' by Peter Jefferson
Subtitled 'A tide of history around our shores', the book does just what it says on the tin. Written interestingly and accessibly by actor, presenter and newsreader Peter Jefferson, who has vocalised weather on the BBC for forty years, its importance to shipping is rivalled only by the hordes of people who ritually stay up just to listen to the final forecast of the day which follows the musical prelude 'Sailing By', and who might fail to sleep without his dulcet tones intoning its reassuring rhythmic mantra. A voice sounding like, perhaps in a crazy world, things are under control.
'And Now The Shipping Forecast' by Peter Jefferson
Subtitled 'A tide of history around our shores', the book does just what it says on the tin. Written interestingly and accessibly by actor, presenter and newsreader Peter Jefferson, who has vocalised weather on the BBC for forty years, its importance to shipping is rivalled only by the hordes of people who ritually stay up just to listen to the final forecast of the day which follows the musical prelude 'Sailing By', and who might fail to sleep without his dulcet tones intoning its rhythmic mantra. A reassuring voice in the darkness of the night, sounding as if perhaps, in a crazy world, things are under control.
March 3, 2025
'Shepherd of Another Flock' by David Wilbourne
David Wilbourne writes humanely, interestingly, and amusingly about his days as cleric of Helmsley, North Yorkshire and beyond, as his career blossoms. A patchwork quilt of anecdotes, gossip and history. Rather like 'All Creatures Great and Small' but with people rather than animals.
March 2, 2025
'The Santa Trap'
Amongst the flotsam that ebbs and flows with the tides of stuff seeking refuge in our house, is 'The Santa Trap' by Jonathan Emmett, illustrated rather wonderfully by Poly Bernatene. First published in 2009, it's great fun, and I don't worry a jot that bad Bradley Bartleby gets up to bad things, dangerous things, beastly things, because unlike Pippi Longstocking, he is obviously a fictional character. A satisfyingly strong story with a satisfyingly bad character, who of course gets his well deserved moralistic comeuppance at the end.
March 1, 2025
'The Best of Pippi Longstocking'
'The best of Pippi Longstocking' by Astrid Lindgren. Three books in one, illustrated by Tony Ross. What a very unusual and refreshing character Pippi Longstocking is. I did enjoy her somewhat anarchic and dangerous adventures, particularly as she is so warm hearted, brave, kind and generous, not to mention a consummate liar, but worry a little about passing the book on. Pippi is definitely on the neuro-diverse scale, as is her father, King Ephraim Longstocking, King of the Canny Cannibals of Canny-Canny Island. There is something a little Peter Pan like about Pippi, who like Peter Pan, doesn't want to grow up. In fact she persuades her friends, Tommy and Annika next door, to take 'Awfully good pills for people who don't want to grow up.' The pills resemble yellow dried peas, and they all swallow them. She also jumps from great heights, eats fungi to see what happens, and drinks an assortment of medicines and embrocation as a sort of prophylaxis. But being the strongest girl in the world has its advantages. Tommy and Annika adore her, and they have the best sort of fun. First published in 1945, when the world was a very different place, there are themes in the book that belong to that time. But predominantly it's the really dangerous antics that presently hold my hand from depositing it back onto the charity stall.
