Pauline Rowson's Blog, page 83
May 22, 2010
A hot day and a red hot Crimefest 2010 - my appearance on a panel with other crime writers
A boiling hot day in England (the first of the year) and being closeted inside a stuffy Marriott Hotel in Bristol was not the best place to be. But Crimefest, an international convention of crime writers and crime fiction fans, beckoned and I was delighted to be asked to appear on a panel on 21 May 2010 with other crime writers to talk about my crime novels and answer questions from the delegates.
I met my fellow crime writers; J.D. Goodhind, Neil White, Linda Regan and Lindsey Davis, in the Green Room, a rather dark basement room in the hotel, prior to appearing on our panel. For a moment I thought I'd stepped into a murder mystery scene from Midsomer Murders and half expected Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) to appear from the gloom. But there were no dead bodies’ only live and lively authors, and it was good to meet up and get to know one another a little before the public appearance.
I very much enjoyed participating in a panel discussion entitled No More Heroes: Today's Sleuths & Crime Solvers. (Apparently the title is a punk song, but that by-passed me). However, we quickly dismissed the title because all our main characters are heroes. I was asked why my hero is a man and not a woman, or rather why I write from the male point of view, which I've discussed on this blog before. I don't know why, it's just the way I write and all my crime novels are written with a male lead character. My hero is Inspector Andy Horton, an extraordinary guy fighting crime in the Solent area on the south coast of England. He should follow proper procedure, as his bosses demand, but it never quite works out that way! I just love heroes (perhaps that comes of being married to a fireman!) and I adore Andy Horton.
There was a difference of opinion between me and Linda Regan. She likes a lot of sex and violence in her novels whereas I prefer to write novels that do not contain gratuitous violence or explicit sex. OK, so there are gory bits in my Inspector Horton marine mystery crime novels and there is a bit of sex in my crime thriller In For The Kill but nothing that could be classed as hard boiled.
It was a lively discussion with some good questions from the audience many of whom had travelled from as far as Canada and America. One lady asked the question, 'Do you ever get bored with your characters?' The answer to that is no. If you do then you need to stop writing about them.
I met some lovely people after the event and had a chance to chat to them about what they like about crime fiction. A puzzle to solve, great characters, atmospheric settings, action packed novels it varies as much as the genre does, and that’s what’s so exciting and fascinating about both writing and reading crime fiction.
A very enjoyable time was had, and now it's back to putting the final touches to the next Inspector Horton Marine Mystery crime novel, number six in the series, before I embark on fleshing out the ideas I have for number seven. http://www.rowmark.co.uk
I met my fellow crime writers; J.D. Goodhind, Neil White, Linda Regan and Lindsey Davis, in the Green Room, a rather dark basement room in the hotel, prior to appearing on our panel. For a moment I thought I'd stepped into a murder mystery scene from Midsomer Murders and half expected Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) to appear from the gloom. But there were no dead bodies’ only live and lively authors, and it was good to meet up and get to know one another a little before the public appearance.
I very much enjoyed participating in a panel discussion entitled No More Heroes: Today's Sleuths & Crime Solvers. (Apparently the title is a punk song, but that by-passed me). However, we quickly dismissed the title because all our main characters are heroes. I was asked why my hero is a man and not a woman, or rather why I write from the male point of view, which I've discussed on this blog before. I don't know why, it's just the way I write and all my crime novels are written with a male lead character. My hero is Inspector Andy Horton, an extraordinary guy fighting crime in the Solent area on the south coast of England. He should follow proper procedure, as his bosses demand, but it never quite works out that way! I just love heroes (perhaps that comes of being married to a fireman!) and I adore Andy Horton.
There was a difference of opinion between me and Linda Regan. She likes a lot of sex and violence in her novels whereas I prefer to write novels that do not contain gratuitous violence or explicit sex. OK, so there are gory bits in my Inspector Horton marine mystery crime novels and there is a bit of sex in my crime thriller In For The Kill but nothing that could be classed as hard boiled.
It was a lively discussion with some good questions from the audience many of whom had travelled from as far as Canada and America. One lady asked the question, 'Do you ever get bored with your characters?' The answer to that is no. If you do then you need to stop writing about them.
I met some lovely people after the event and had a chance to chat to them about what they like about crime fiction. A puzzle to solve, great characters, atmospheric settings, action packed novels it varies as much as the genre does, and that’s what’s so exciting and fascinating about both writing and reading crime fiction.
A very enjoyable time was had, and now it's back to putting the final touches to the next Inspector Horton Marine Mystery crime novel, number six in the series, before I embark on fleshing out the ideas I have for number seven. http://www.rowmark.co.uk
May 17, 2010
Just finished the penultimate revision of next Inspector Horton crime novel
I've just finished the ?nth revision of the new Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel - the sixth in the series to feature my flawed and rugged detective whose patch is the Solent area on the South Coast of England. My office looks like a bomb's hit it with notes and paper strewn all over the place, and I have e mails piling up in my in box needing answers, and blogs to write, but I had to crack on and finish it. Now I'm almost there. Yes, almost because I need one final read through before it goes off to my editor.
I've also been struggling to find a title for this crime novel but have now come up with one and tested it on a couple of readers without revulsion. I'll tell you it later. Book title and blurb on Andy Horton number six to follow... soon.
The Suffocating Sea
I've also been struggling to find a title for this crime novel but have now come up with one and tested it on a couple of readers without revulsion. I'll tell you it later. Book title and blurb on Andy Horton number six to follow... soon.
The Suffocating Sea
May 7, 2010
Some tips for writing a novel
Many people love writing and many would like to tackle writing a novel but are not sure how to do it. The Internet is packed full of writing advice and there are conferences and courses where you can pick up some valuable tips. Of course, this is no substitute for actually doing it. So here are a couple of tips for anyone wishing to dip their toes in the water.
Start writing
No excuses. Start writing. Make time to write. That could be early morning before you go to work or get the children up, lunchtimes, evenings or just a couple of hours at the weekends, but you must write. Rather obvious, I know. When I was working full time and running my marketing and training business I could only write on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. But I was fortunate to be doing that and religiously I would write, because I loved doing so. I didn't have a word count. I just did the best I could for that day. I also carried a Dictaphone with me while working, and when stuck in traffic jams travelling between client appointments I would dictate my ideas, plot outlines etc. into it and would jot down characters and plots in a notebook during my lunchbreaks. I still always carry a notebook with me and now have the luxury of being able to write every day.
Write the first draft quickly
The first creative draft is often the most enjoyable and the most painful because you have so much in your head that you want to get down on to paper or computer screen and yet you might have gaps in the plot and in character development. I also like to research as I write my marine mystery crime novels so that will hold things up a bit. However, the key is to get an outline down as quickly as possible probably within four months. This will be a very rough draft with incorrect spellings, missing words and the character motivations and descriptions not fully formed. The key is in letting the creative juices flow, just brain dumping them on to the page.
Don't give up on it
You'll have good days and bad days but don't give up. Set yourself a goal to finish that first draft no matter what. Also give yourself a time frame to work to: four months, a year, two, whatever suits you. If you get stuck either write through it, go for a walk, do some gardening or cleaning, knitting, sewing or anything you enjoy but which also lets your mind continue working in the background. Then return to your writing. And keep writing.
Blood on the Sand
Start writing
No excuses. Start writing. Make time to write. That could be early morning before you go to work or get the children up, lunchtimes, evenings or just a couple of hours at the weekends, but you must write. Rather obvious, I know. When I was working full time and running my marketing and training business I could only write on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. But I was fortunate to be doing that and religiously I would write, because I loved doing so. I didn't have a word count. I just did the best I could for that day. I also carried a Dictaphone with me while working, and when stuck in traffic jams travelling between client appointments I would dictate my ideas, plot outlines etc. into it and would jot down characters and plots in a notebook during my lunchbreaks. I still always carry a notebook with me and now have the luxury of being able to write every day.
Write the first draft quickly
The first creative draft is often the most enjoyable and the most painful because you have so much in your head that you want to get down on to paper or computer screen and yet you might have gaps in the plot and in character development. I also like to research as I write my marine mystery crime novels so that will hold things up a bit. However, the key is to get an outline down as quickly as possible probably within four months. This will be a very rough draft with incorrect spellings, missing words and the character motivations and descriptions not fully formed. The key is in letting the creative juices flow, just brain dumping them on to the page.
Don't give up on it
You'll have good days and bad days but don't give up. Set yourself a goal to finish that first draft no matter what. Also give yourself a time frame to work to: four months, a year, two, whatever suits you. If you get stuck either write through it, go for a walk, do some gardening or cleaning, knitting, sewing or anything you enjoy but which also lets your mind continue working in the background. Then return to your writing. And keep writing.
Blood on the Sand
May 1, 2010
Announcing the winner of the Southern Area Young Crime Writers' Competition
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of presenting certificates to the shortlisted entrants in the Southern Area Young Crime Writers' Competition, organised by the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain and supported by the Library Service. I was delighted to present certificates and a signed and dedicated copy of one of my Inspector Andy Horton Marine Mystery crime novels: The Suffocating Sea to the ten shortlisted entrants.
It was so lovely to meet so many young people who enjoy writing and reading and it was an incredibly difficult task choosing a winner. In the end I was forced to choose between two stunning entries.
I awarded a Highly Commended to the runner up George Neame, a hugely talented young writer whose command of English was superb. His entry was entitled "The Secret of Seven West Street". It was extremely well written and I expect to see his novels on the bookshop shelves and Internet some day in the not too distant future.
George’s story is a police procedural. Police officers Jones and Redwood are called to investigate the murder of a young man in a dark alley only to discover that behind his death is a terrible secret that his killer dare not have exposed.
And the Winner was Natasha White for her excellently crafted short story with a unique sense of time and place and a wonderful twist in the tale. Natasha White’s entry is called "Anything for Money." It is beautifully written with a great structure by someone who clearly has an eye for story telling. It has humour and style and flows in an incredible and impressive way.
The Reverend Beadle trips over a body in his church and is horrified to discover it’s his sister. He rushes out to call the police but on his return to the church finds the body has vanished. The bell ringer and grave digger deny ever seeing it but the Reverend knows that the theft of money his sister has raised to repair the church roof is behind her death. When he discovers her killer he is silenced forever... or is he?
I wouldn't dream of spoiling the ending by telling you.
Congratulations to them both and to everyone who was shortlisted. Fingers crossed for Natasha White, winner of the Southern Region, who will now compete with the other regional winners for the national prize, which will be announced during National Crime Fiction Week ( 14-21 June 2010)
It was so lovely to meet so many young people who enjoy writing and reading and it was an incredibly difficult task choosing a winner. In the end I was forced to choose between two stunning entries.
I awarded a Highly Commended to the runner up George Neame, a hugely talented young writer whose command of English was superb. His entry was entitled "The Secret of Seven West Street". It was extremely well written and I expect to see his novels on the bookshop shelves and Internet some day in the not too distant future.
George’s story is a police procedural. Police officers Jones and Redwood are called to investigate the murder of a young man in a dark alley only to discover that behind his death is a terrible secret that his killer dare not have exposed.
And the Winner was Natasha White for her excellently crafted short story with a unique sense of time and place and a wonderful twist in the tale. Natasha White’s entry is called "Anything for Money." It is beautifully written with a great structure by someone who clearly has an eye for story telling. It has humour and style and flows in an incredible and impressive way.
The Reverend Beadle trips over a body in his church and is horrified to discover it’s his sister. He rushes out to call the police but on his return to the church finds the body has vanished. The bell ringer and grave digger deny ever seeing it but the Reverend knows that the theft of money his sister has raised to repair the church roof is behind her death. When he discovers her killer he is silenced forever... or is he?
I wouldn't dream of spoiling the ending by telling you.
Congratulations to them both and to everyone who was shortlisted. Fingers crossed for Natasha White, winner of the Southern Region, who will now compete with the other regional winners for the national prize, which will be announced during National Crime Fiction Week ( 14-21 June 2010)
April 12, 2010
Choosing names for characters in a novel
Getting the right name for characters in a novel can be a tricky business. Sometimes they come to me completely out of the blue as I am creating a character, other times I will struggle to find the name that best suits the character.
I have always had this thing that people should look like their names. When someone is introduced to me I will think yes, you are a Jacqueline or a Malcolm. Other times I will think, oh no, you're definitely a Karen or a Wayne. And so it is with the characters I am creating. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have exceptions.
So where do I get names from?
When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up a web site of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down. Working on the current Inspector Horton marine mystery I was stuck for one particular character. He had several incarnations before trawling through the A-Z of names I hit on it. Ashley. Yes, he is definitely an Ashley.
As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. And the more novels I write the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I am building a database in order to double check this.
And where did Andy Horton come from? I've no idea. He just sprang to mind both the name and the character and long might he thrive.
For more information visit my official web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk
I have always had this thing that people should look like their names. When someone is introduced to me I will think yes, you are a Jacqueline or a Malcolm. Other times I will think, oh no, you're definitely a Karen or a Wayne. And so it is with the characters I am creating. The name has to fit. If it's not right then the character isn't right. The name also needs to fit with the age and nationality although you can have exceptions.
So where do I get names from?
When seeking inspiration for first names I turn to my little book of baby's names or I will look up a web site of baby's names. I also keep an ear out for any unusual or interesting names when meeting people and will jot these down. Working on the current Inspector Horton marine mystery I was stuck for one particular character. He had several incarnations before trawling through the A-Z of names I hit on it. Ashley. Yes, he is definitely an Ashley.
As to surnames, I let my finger do the choosing and tend to pick these out of an atlas or street map. Then I see if it fits with the first name and the character. And the more novels I write the more I am in danger of repeating names, (it's easy to forget what you have already used) so I am building a database in order to double check this.
And where did Andy Horton come from? I've no idea. He just sprang to mind both the name and the character and long might he thrive.
For more information visit my official web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk
April 6, 2010
The London Book Fair 2010
April is here and that means one of the major events in the book trade calendar, The London Book Fair at Earl's Court. It runs from Monday 19 April to Wednesday 21 April and I will be there on 19th and 20th April. It provides me with a great opportunity to meet up with my agents as well as with my publishers and to attend some interesting and informative seminars. You can find out more on the London Book Fair web site. It is well worth a visit for authors and anyone working in and interested in the book trade.
If any of you are visiting then you can ask for me on Stand J205.
If any of you are visiting then you can ask for me on Stand J205.
March 20, 2010
A very successful and enjoyable book tour in the North East of England
I’m back from a highly successful whirlwind mini tour of the north east of England, my second in six months and I’m delighted to say I was met once again with very friendly people and some avid fans of my marine mystery crime novels.
The first stop was Washington Town Centre Library, yes, home of George Washington the first President of the United States of America, 1789 to 1797, whose ancestors settled in Washington, England, then called Wessyngton, in 1183. Here was my smallest audience but an extremely lively and appreciative one nevertheless.
Next up, on the following morning, was Ingleby Barwick Library. Ingleby Barwick is a large private residential estate and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees. At one time it was reputed to be the largest Private Housing Estate in Europe. The audience of adults was joined by several talented and gifted students from the adjacent All Saints Secondary School, who took lots of photographs, which means I could end up all over Facebook, and the Northern Echo also turned up to take photographs.
Then it was on to Hartlepool for an afternoon talk organised by Hartlepool Library but this time on board a beautifully restored paddle ship, the PSS Wingfield, in the Hartlepool Maritime Experience Museum; an appropriate setting for talking about marine mysteries. Through the portholes I could see Hartlepool Marina. I wondered if perhaps Inspector Andy Horton might sail into it one day…
After this it was across country to Cockerton Library in Darlington. Opened in 1970 the library won an architectural award for its unusual saw tooth shape and wonderful wooden ceiling. It’s a tardis of a library that looks small on the outside but is deceptively large inside with a computer suite in the centre and one of the most splendid crime sections I’ve seen in a local library – obviously Darlington residents enjoy a good crime novel.
I was made to feel very welcome in all the libraries I visited. Huge thanks to all for organising these talks for me.
Thanks also to all the lovely people who turned out to hear me talking about how I write my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers and for buying my books. I will return…
The first stop was Washington Town Centre Library, yes, home of George Washington the first President of the United States of America, 1789 to 1797, whose ancestors settled in Washington, England, then called Wessyngton, in 1183. Here was my smallest audience but an extremely lively and appreciative one nevertheless.
Next up, on the following morning, was Ingleby Barwick Library. Ingleby Barwick is a large private residential estate and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees. At one time it was reputed to be the largest Private Housing Estate in Europe. The audience of adults was joined by several talented and gifted students from the adjacent All Saints Secondary School, who took lots of photographs, which means I could end up all over Facebook, and the Northern Echo also turned up to take photographs.
Then it was on to Hartlepool for an afternoon talk organised by Hartlepool Library but this time on board a beautifully restored paddle ship, the PSS Wingfield, in the Hartlepool Maritime Experience Museum; an appropriate setting for talking about marine mysteries. Through the portholes I could see Hartlepool Marina. I wondered if perhaps Inspector Andy Horton might sail into it one day…
After this it was across country to Cockerton Library in Darlington. Opened in 1970 the library won an architectural award for its unusual saw tooth shape and wonderful wooden ceiling. It’s a tardis of a library that looks small on the outside but is deceptively large inside with a computer suite in the centre and one of the most splendid crime sections I’ve seen in a local library – obviously Darlington residents enjoy a good crime novel.
I was made to feel very welcome in all the libraries I visited. Huge thanks to all for organising these talks for me.
Thanks also to all the lovely people who turned out to hear me talking about how I write my marine mystery crime novels and thrillers and for buying my books. I will return…
March 1, 2010
A busy month for writing and speaking engagements
Aside from putting the finishing touches to the Inspector Andy Horton novel I’m writing there are a clutch of events in March.
Firstly, my crime thriller novel In For The Kill is being featured in Read an E Book Week 7-13 March 2010. In For The Kill is set on the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England and is a thriller about what happens to one man when his identity is stolen. For Alex Albury, the hero, the nightmare that destroyed his life will only end in death; his or his tormentor’s. With its twists and turns the reader is sucked into a frightening world of deception, betrayal and revenge in a highly topical story that has its roots deep in the past. For one week only during Read an E Book Week people will be able to download a free copy of In For The Kill
On 15 and 16 March I’m off to the North East of England to talk about my marine mystery crime novels at Washington Town Centre Library, Stockton-on-Tees Library and Darlington Library and I’ll be on board the PSS Wingfield, a beautifully restored 1934 paddle steamer, at the Hartlepool Maritime Experience giving a talk. This event is being organised by Hartlepool Library. You can find more details and booking information on my official web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk on the Appearances Page.
On 24 March I’ll once again be talking to Julian Clegg on his Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent at 6.45 a.m.
In addition, Deadly Waters, the second Inspector Andy Horton crime novel is being featured in a British Arts Council Initiative in conjunction with Legend Press, called Exclusively Independent until 10 March.
And I believe one of my thriller novels, either In Cold Daylight or In For The Kill (don’t know which one) will be published in Turkey. I will let you know when as soon as I hear.
Oh, and I almost forgot The Suffocating Sea is released in mass market paperback on 12 March.
So plenty there to be getting on with.
The Suffocating Sea
Firstly, my crime thriller novel In For The Kill is being featured in Read an E Book Week 7-13 March 2010. In For The Kill is set on the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England and is a thriller about what happens to one man when his identity is stolen. For Alex Albury, the hero, the nightmare that destroyed his life will only end in death; his or his tormentor’s. With its twists and turns the reader is sucked into a frightening world of deception, betrayal and revenge in a highly topical story that has its roots deep in the past. For one week only during Read an E Book Week people will be able to download a free copy of In For The Kill
On 15 and 16 March I’m off to the North East of England to talk about my marine mystery crime novels at Washington Town Centre Library, Stockton-on-Tees Library and Darlington Library and I’ll be on board the PSS Wingfield, a beautifully restored 1934 paddle steamer, at the Hartlepool Maritime Experience giving a talk. This event is being organised by Hartlepool Library. You can find more details and booking information on my official web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk on the Appearances Page.
On 24 March I’ll once again be talking to Julian Clegg on his Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent at 6.45 a.m.
In addition, Deadly Waters, the second Inspector Andy Horton crime novel is being featured in a British Arts Council Initiative in conjunction with Legend Press, called Exclusively Independent until 10 March.
And I believe one of my thriller novels, either In Cold Daylight or In For The Kill (don’t know which one) will be published in Turkey. I will let you know when as soon as I hear.
Oh, and I almost forgot The Suffocating Sea is released in mass market paperback on 12 March.
So plenty there to be getting on with.
The Suffocating Sea
February 23, 2010
Ten Rules for Writing
The Guardian has been asking writers for their ten rules for writing, so I thought I would add mine here.
1 Always have a pencil and paper with you, in every handbag, shopping bag or pocket.
2. Travel by public transport, you see and meet some great characters for novels.
3. Earwig other people's conversations in cafes, bars, buses, trains. You can collect some wonderful ideas for stories and some fantastic anecdotes.
4. Watch people's body language, it adds colour to your characters.
5. Write for yourself first, it will help you to find your own distinctive voice, rather than trying to write to suit your publisher, agent, readers and ending up with something watered down and weak.
6. Don't read reviews, or if you do learn to take the rough with the smooth and then carry on writing for yourself and for enjoyment, not to please a reviewer.
7. Back up everything, regularly.
8. Have a spare computer, laptop or netbook and if one fails, and you've backed up, you can always continue writing.
9. If you get to the stage in your novel where you're bored with the story, then your reader will most certainly be bored too.
10. And to echo Maragaret Attwood, writing is hard work. You don't get a pension plan, and you don't get a regular salary cheque. Nobody is forcing you to do this: you chose it, so don't moan, enjoy it and if you don't enjoy it, don't do it.
Needless to say I love it.
http://www.rowmark.co.uk
1 Always have a pencil and paper with you, in every handbag, shopping bag or pocket.
2. Travel by public transport, you see and meet some great characters for novels.
3. Earwig other people's conversations in cafes, bars, buses, trains. You can collect some wonderful ideas for stories and some fantastic anecdotes.
4. Watch people's body language, it adds colour to your characters.
5. Write for yourself first, it will help you to find your own distinctive voice, rather than trying to write to suit your publisher, agent, readers and ending up with something watered down and weak.
6. Don't read reviews, or if you do learn to take the rough with the smooth and then carry on writing for yourself and for enjoyment, not to please a reviewer.
7. Back up everything, regularly.
8. Have a spare computer, laptop or netbook and if one fails, and you've backed up, you can always continue writing.
9. If you get to the stage in your novel where you're bored with the story, then your reader will most certainly be bored too.
10. And to echo Maragaret Attwood, writing is hard work. You don't get a pension plan, and you don't get a regular salary cheque. Nobody is forcing you to do this: you chose it, so don't moan, enjoy it and if you don't enjoy it, don't do it.
Needless to say I love it.
http://www.rowmark.co.uk
February 20, 2010
Book titles are like buses
Book titles are like buses, you wait for ages for one to come along and then they all come together. I've been working on the new Inspector Horton marine mystery crime novel (number six in the series) and have been struggling to find a title for it. Now I've got two.
They came to me last week, one while cleaning my teeth, and the other during the early hours of the morning. I like both of them and now have the dilema of deciding which one best suits the novel. With the Andy Horton series the title also needs to contain a 'marine' element because the novels are all set against the backdrop of the sea.
I won't reveal the chosen title yet because I need to mull them both over and check out who else, if anyone, has used them. There is no copyright on novel titles, and many are duplicated, but I want to make sure that they've not already been used by someone writing in my own genre. I have a vague suspicion I've heard one of them before, but that might just be my imagination. And where to check? Well Amazon or Google seem to be the font of all knowledge, and Goodreads, of course, so that's where I'll look.
They came to me last week, one while cleaning my teeth, and the other during the early hours of the morning. I like both of them and now have the dilema of deciding which one best suits the novel. With the Andy Horton series the title also needs to contain a 'marine' element because the novels are all set against the backdrop of the sea.
I won't reveal the chosen title yet because I need to mull them both over and check out who else, if anyone, has used them. There is no copyright on novel titles, and many are duplicated, but I want to make sure that they've not already been used by someone writing in my own genre. I have a vague suspicion I've heard one of them before, but that might just be my imagination. And where to check? Well Amazon or Google seem to be the font of all knowledge, and Goodreads, of course, so that's where I'll look.
