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.
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Published on May 03, 2025 04:24
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