Tuesday, October 1, 2013

[Blog Tour]: Guest Post with Theresa Romain + Giveaway!



WELCOME TO THE BLOG, THERESA! :) 


Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book. This September, she’ll begin a new historical romance trilogy with IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. In October, her third holiday historical romance—SEASON FOR SCANDAL—will be released. 


Where to Find Theresa:



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A Book By Any Other Name

Danielle, thank you for welcoming me to your book palace! (Is there any better kind of palace? I think not.) Today’s the official release day of my third Holiday Pleasures historical romance, a marriage of convenience tale called SEASON FOR SCANDAL.

At least, that’s what it’s called *now*. It started off with a very different title…or four. Ever wondered how books get their titles? Let’s take a look.

1. THE PERFECT COMPROMISE

This was my first working title for the manuscript. I thought it was clever, because the hero and heroine compromise (get it?) on a marriage of convenience after the heroine gets into financial trouble that leaves her compromised (get it?).

See? TOTALLY CLEVER. Except for the fact that it doesn’t really bring romance to mind. Oh, and nothing in the story goes perfectly as planned. The marriage of convenience becomes a marriage in trouble almost at once.

Ok, new title.

2. A PASSION FOR DECEPTION

Working title #2! When my editor first saw the manuscript, this is what it was called. She and my agent both delicately hinted that, yes, though “passion” was a nice historical romance-y word, “deception” sounded like a romantic suspense. And by the way, this was a Christmas romance in the Holiday Pleasures series. The first two books in that series had titles starting with “Season.” Not that this title HAD to start with “Season.” But…something to evoke the holidays, please.

Ok, new title.

3. SEASON FOR DECEPTION

Nice try, Romain. “Deception” still isn’t the best word for a holiday historical romance. No, not even though there is deception in the book.

Ok, new title.

4. SEASON FOR INDISCRETION

This one stuck around for a while. My editor was ok with it, my agent was ok with it, and it actually went out as the title for the earliest pre-orders on this book. “Indiscretion” is a lovely word, all hints and winks at impropriety. It seemed a good fit for a holiday romance in which the heroine never quite knows how to behave in society and the hero never quite knows how to behave with the heroine. Ultimately, though, the publisher’s marketing department thought we should come up with a more streamlined title. This *is* pretty long; it doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue.

Ok, new title.

And this time, we went back to the drawing board. My agent called in the brainstorming troops, my editor put on her holiday thinking cap. Nothing was off the table! As long as it, you know, suggested the holidays. And historical romance.

Some truly lovely possibilities came from this process, like “More Than a Christmas Kiss” and “On That Winter Night.” But those didn’t suggest the plot of the book quite so well as “Indiscretion” had. Oh, for a synonym!

In the end, the publisher went with

5. SEASON FOR SCANDAL

and lo, it was good. There’s a scandal in the story; a pretty gigantic one, as a matter of fact. (No, I’m not going to tell you what it is. That would be a spoiler.) And everyone loved the quick, punchy festivity of the word “Season.”

So beloved is “Season,” in fact, that the working title for the fourth Holiday Pleasures book (out in October 2014) is SEASON FOR DESIRE. Will it stick? We’ll know by next October!


Readers, what are your thoughts on book titles? Has a book title ever caught your interest and convinced you to try a story? Do you have a favorite title? (It doesn’t have to be a romance: one of my favorite titles of all time that of is Larry McMurtry’s Western HORSEMAN, PASS BY.)




~Theresa Romain
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Season for Scandal by Theresa Romain
Publisher: Kensington Zebra (October 1, 2013)
Series: Holiday Pleasures, 3
Genre: Historical Romance



Unladylike Risk

Jane Tindall has never had money of her own or exceptional beauty. Her gifts are more subtle: a mind like an abacus, a talent for play-acting—and a daring taste for gambling. But all the daring in the world can’t help with the cards fixed against her. And when Edmund Ware, Baron Kirkpatrick, unwittingly spoils her chance to win a fortune, her reputation is ruined too. Or so she thinks, until he suggests a surprising mode of escape: a hasty marriage. To him. On the surface, their wedding would seem to satisfy all the demands of proper society, but as the Yuletide approaches, secrets and scandals turn this proper marriage into a very improper affair.


Where to Buy*:
More Info:




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a Rafflecopter giveaway




Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more chances to win, as well as more fun posts! :) 

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Thanks for stopping by today, Theresa! You are right -- I don't believe there is a better kind of palace than a book one. Now if only mine was real... *dreams* Anyway, thank you so much for sharing the title-hunting process with us; I never realized just how much work went into deciding on the perfect title! :) 


Don't forget Theresa's question:

Readers, what are your thoughts on book titles? Has a book title ever caught your interest and convinced you to try a story? Do you have a favorite title?




Enjoy!




Until Next Time,



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  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

7 comments :

Crystal Broyles said...

Season for Scandal sounds great. I love the cover.

Theresa Romain said...

Hi, Danielle! Thanks for hosting me at your book palace today. :)


Crystal, isn't that cover beautiful? I love it too. My publisher's art department does amazing work.

Lori Ha said...

There have been some titles that caught my attention however its the cover that catches my eye first. Usually if the cover isn't attractive than I'll look at the title and author. I always read the blurb or excerpt on the back though.
I really like the cover for this book. I'm tired of seeing the same mans abs on most books of late. It's nice to see something different.
Thanks :)

Glenda said...

I love hearing about the evolution of book titles. I'll admit that there are many books I've either skipped because of the title or only reluctantly purchased because of a bad title...only great reviews or having read other work by the author overcame my dislike of the title. On the other hand, a great title sparks my interest and makes me was to read and buy a book!

bn100 said...

Interesting info about titles

marypreston said...

The title name SEASON FOR SCANDAL trips off the tongue beautifully.

Marcy Shuler said...

I love haring about the evolution of the title, Theresa. LOL It's much more complicated than I'd imagined.

bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com