Title Help Needed - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T02:25:29Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/title-help-needed?feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi, Cornelius -- Actually, th…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-12:537324:Comment:2268772010-02-12T07:13:51.169ZTimothy Hallinanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/munyink
Hi, Cornelius -- Actually, there is no novel by the name THE QUEEN OF PATPONG, although I can think of half a dozen writers who could have written one. Actually, considering the notoriety of Patpong, it's surprising that there aren't any -- just nonfiction, including a rather odd sociology book by an American woman who fell in love with one of her subjects and more or less threw objectivity out the window.<br />
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The title is now set as THE QUEEN OF PATPONG -- there's an Amazon page and a release…
Hi, Cornelius -- Actually, there is no novel by the name THE QUEEN OF PATPONG, although I can think of half a dozen writers who could have written one. Actually, considering the notoriety of Patpong, it's surprising that there aren't any -- just nonfiction, including a rather odd sociology book by an American woman who fell in love with one of her subjects and more or less threw objectivity out the window.<br />
<br />
The title is now set as THE QUEEN OF PATPONG -- there's an Amazon page and a release date and everything.<br />
<br />
Everyone who chimed in on this has been helpful. I'm a bit taken aback at all your generosity. Thanks, Lisa. I'm still getti…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-12:537324:Comment:2268752010-02-12T07:06:03.684ZTimothy Hallinanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/munyink
Thanks, Lisa. I'm still getting used to it. It looks okay to me in print, but I hesitate every time someone asks me what the title of the book is.<br />
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But the people at Morrow just sent me some cute little bound galleys about the size of a trade paperback, which they're using for publicity purposes even prior to the ARCs, and I've been picking one up from time to time and opening it at random. And I have to say that the title is probably the right one.
Thanks, Lisa. I'm still getting used to it. It looks okay to me in print, but I hesitate every time someone asks me what the title of the book is.<br />
<br />
But the people at Morrow just sent me some cute little bound galleys about the size of a trade paperback, which they're using for publicity purposes even prior to the ARCs, and I've been picking one up from time to time and opening it at random. And I have to say that the title is probably the right one. People buy books by the cover…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-12:537324:Comment:2268662010-02-12T05:46:51.959ZCornelius Butterfieldhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CorneliusButterfield
People buy books by the cover, the author, the 'Blurb' on the back AND THE TITLE. Every minute you spend on it is well worth every second. Why not 'Patpong' Like Shōgun. (Too much of a copy? Any other books by that name?) Or The Merchant of Patpong. (If that fits your story in anyway?) Honestly, Queen has it's own meaning. Unless again that's part of your story. I'm sure you're wrestled over this. Good Luck.
People buy books by the cover, the author, the 'Blurb' on the back AND THE TITLE. Every minute you spend on it is well worth every second. Why not 'Patpong' Like Shōgun. (Too much of a copy? Any other books by that name?) Or The Merchant of Patpong. (If that fits your story in anyway?) Honestly, Queen has it's own meaning. Unless again that's part of your story. I'm sure you're wrestled over this. Good Luck. I think you've made your deci…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-12:537324:Comment:2268612010-02-12T04:32:14.359ZLisa Fernowhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LisaFernow
I think you've made your decision but in case you're still looking for more validation, yes, use Patpong. If you know the area, it suggests sex, money, danger. Otherwise, it's distinctive, and has a good ring to it. The Queen title sounds more powerful to me, and therefore more exciting. Having spent time there in my Pepsi days, I know that few people leave Patpong better off than when they arrived.
I think you've made your decision but in case you're still looking for more validation, yes, use Patpong. If you know the area, it suggests sex, money, danger. Otherwise, it's distinctive, and has a good ring to it. The Queen title sounds more powerful to me, and therefore more exciting. Having spent time there in my Pepsi days, I know that few people leave Patpong better off than when they arrived. If you can make an agent cry,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264932010-02-07T22:17:19.425ZTimothy Hallinanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/munyink
If you can make an agent cry, you can probably do anything.
If you can make an agent cry, you can probably do anything. Oh, gosh! I'm speechless. :)…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264832010-02-07T21:35:55.454ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Oh, gosh! I'm speechless. :) (Yes, it's the best -- my agent cried)
Oh, gosh! I'm speechless. :) (Yes, it's the best -- my agent cried) Well, you're in good company,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264682010-02-07T18:37:56.159ZTimothy Hallinanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/munyink
Well, you're in good company, IJ. And in case I didn't make myself clear earlier, I not only loved THE CONVICT'S SWORD, but thought it was the best and most deeply felt of all your books thus far, and I've loved every one of them.
Well, you're in good company, IJ. And in case I didn't make myself clear earlier, I not only loved THE CONVICT'S SWORD, but thought it was the best and most deeply felt of all your books thus far, and I've loved every one of them. You're welcome, and if it hel…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264652010-02-07T18:09:44.917ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
You're welcome, and if it helps, THE ROCKS doesn't turn me on at all. :)
You're welcome, and if it helps, THE ROCKS doesn't turn me on at all. :) Well, at the risk of prolongi…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264632010-02-07T17:51:16.051ZTimothy Hallinanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/munyink
Well, at the risk of prolonging this indefinitely, you all were enormously helpful. Seriously -- I had very deep misgivings about using Patpong in the title. I've done everything I can with this series to keep it away from the Me-Love-You-Long-Time school of wish-fulfillment, sexual imperialism Bangkok writing in which beautiful young brown girls fall inexplicably in love with fat, uninteresting, middle-aged white guys, and the use of Patpong in the title really made my hair stand on end. The…
Well, at the risk of prolonging this indefinitely, you all were enormously helpful. Seriously -- I had very deep misgivings about using Patpong in the title. I've done everything I can with this series to keep it away from the Me-Love-You-Long-Time school of wish-fulfillment, sexual imperialism Bangkok writing in which beautiful young brown girls fall inexplicably in love with fat, uninteresting, middle-aged white guys, and the use of Patpong in the title really made my hair stand on end. The people at William Morrow, who are tremendously cooperative, were actually willing to use my title, THE ROCKS, but felt strongly that it was a mistake. They suggested asking a bunch of smart people what they thought, and you were the first smart people I thought of.<br />
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And here I am with a book called THE QUEEN OF PATPONG. And getting used to it. So thanks again to all. Anybody else notice Tim is so…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-02-07:537324:Comment:2264582010-02-07T16:56:42.723ZJack Getzehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
Anybody else notice Tim is so polite, he comes back on every time someone posts to thank us?<br />
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Good luck with this one, TH, and everything to follow.
Anybody else notice Tim is so polite, he comes back on every time someone posts to thank us?<br />
<br />
Good luck with this one, TH, and everything to follow.