Dewey Four is a heck of a name for a book, yet that's the working title of my latest novel. It's all there in the title. The fourth book in the Quilting Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth quilt shop owner (and Buster's love). I believe that the reading audience--and for sure my wonderful publisher Midnight Ink--expects a little more than that. Like an actual title.
Years ago I heard a lecture by Gillian Roberts who writes a series about a crime solving Philadelphia school teacher. Her titles are all puns like Claire and Present Danger and Helen Hath No Fury. She warned against this, saying it was getting very difficult after a half dozen books to come up with a good title. Her last in that series is called All's Well That Ends. Guess that says it all.
My titles, WILD GOOSE CHASE, OLD MAID'S PUZZLE and OCEAN WAVES are also names of quilt blocks. Now there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of quilt block names. Some blocks have more than one name, like Hole in the Barn Door which is also called Churn Dash. Wild Goose Chase is the name of several variations.
So with thousands to pick from, you'd think this would be a no brainer. Well, no. While I picked the names of my first three books before I wrote the stories, they fit. WGC had Dewey chasing down a false lead before finding the real killer. OMP dealt with several unmarried older women who were being taken advantage of. OW was set down by, well, the ocean.
For the first time, I've written the book without the title. So I'm asking for your help. Name this book!
All I can tell you about is that the storyline involves a shop hop, a drug bust, and a service provided by young men. Does that bring any quilt blocks to mind? Please let me know.
I will give away a copy of D4 to anyone whose name I use. Plus you'll get a mention in the acknowledgments. Plus my first born but he's way past the cute stage.
Just to be fair, a copy of WGC, OMP and OW will be sent to one random commenter. So make some suggestions. Who knows? You might see your idea on the cover of a book next spring.
And you will help a sister out.
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33 comments:
Gentleman's Fancy
Temperance Tree
Facets ( for the many facets of different quilt shops- stretch, I know)
Drunkard's Path
Drunkard's Trail (you might get some unexpected interest from certain sectors with this one) ;-)
Doris' Delight (again for fabric)
Dottie's Choice (again for fabric)
Boy's Nonsense
I looked these up in the Jinny Beyer quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns, just so you know I didn't make them up.
I have all of your books, so if you pick my name, you can toss it aside and pick some other lucky winner.
Hmmm...some interesting choices, Jaye. food for thought.
Forbidden Fruit Tree
Patch as Patch Can
from http://www.blockcrazy.com/blocks_history/blocks_history.htm
Rooster Tails (rooster being a street name for crack)
http://www.oldstatehouse.com/piece-of-my-soul/quilts-types/highlighted.asp?hid=44
Rocky Road to Kansas (aka Kaleidoscope)
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/quilts_a_z/q-t.htm
Wandering Foot
http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/pioneer_patterns/wanderingfoot.htm
Path Through the Woods
Bachelor’s Puzzle
Monkey Wrench
Those seem good for quilt mystery titles. (and I know Earlene Fowler hasn't used any of them yet)
Spin Out
Path Through the Woods
Starry Path
Mosiac
My Lucky Stars
Night and Day
Quills and Arrows
Ruins of Jericho
Scrapbagger
Scrap Madness
Scrap Zig Zag
Gristmill
Heavens A'Blaze
I got mines from The Quilter's Cache
Don't enter my name in the book giveaway since I have all your books.
I'm just so excited there will be a new Dewey book.
How about
Monkey Wrench
Best,
Kristopher
Here are some old-fashion block names:
Trip Around The World
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
Hunter's Star
Path Through the Woods
Gentleman's Fancy was my first thought also!
Well, it published before I could put my name on it. I am Anonymous at 8:41. Carol S
Liz V. - thanks for those titles and the sources. I may have to write a book just to name it Wandering Feet. I didn't know Rooster was another name for crack. Interesting...
Aimee - those are great names for mysteries. Bachelor's Puzzle would be a good follow up to OMP. I start to envision a scenario for A Path Through the Woods. Scary.
I'm liking Monkey Wrench.
Dru, what a fabulous array. I need to write a book set mostly at night so I can use those Starry titles.
I appreciate you own all my books. Do you have a library I could send them to? Same goes for you, Jaye!
Another vote for Monkey Wrench. Thanks, Kristopher!
Another vote for Monkey Wrench. Thanks, Kristopher!
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul has always been a favorite block of mine. And it might work in this book.
This is very difficult because I can't give you enough information without spoiling things.
Looks like I'm going to have to write a book called A Path Through the Woods.
Got you, Carol S. Thanks!
Hum...got my mind to wondering
what would combine a drug bust with a shop hop and just what kind of service are the young men providing? My first thought, like others, was BACHELOR'S PUZZLE. But then I considered:
HANDY ANDY - could be any kind of service, as could...
JACK'S DELIGHT and
LADIES' AID
NIGHT WATCH - for the bad guys or those other young men, or the hoppers waiting for the shop to open!
TURNABOUT - I'm sure you have twists in there
ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL
STRAIGHT AND NARROW - hey, this pertains to shop hoppers seams as well as the caught druggies
COURTHOUSE SQUARE - justice
DUMBBELL BLOCK - just my opinion of some of your bad guy characters
No matter the name, I'm looking forward to the book since I enjoyed the others!!
Great suggestions, Sarah! Straight and Narrow is a good choice for this book, too.
I'm glad I whet your appetite for more Dewey.
Going offline for Agee hours to write. Be back to look at comments around lunch. Keep em coming!
For some drug street names --
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/crack/index.html
There used to be a daily compilation, but it's been removed, at least from public access. Street names for some remain.
From the Stearns & Foster Catalogue of Quilt Pattern Designs:
Cross Purposes
Odds & Ends
Target
I'm going to enter, but since I also have your books, plus perhaps an extra advantage, if you pick one of my titles, I'll donate the books to a library. 'Kay?
Bird's Nest.
Bluebird.
Double Cross.
OOOOH!!!: Grandmother's Cross.
Twist and Turn.
From my two quilt-block-a-day calendars:
Wheel of Fortune
Hovering Hawks
Love in a Tangle
Lover's Knot
Beggar's Block
Dewey's Dream Quilt (!)
Swamp Angel -- I always wonder how a quilt block got this name
I'm so happy that another Dewey book is coming out!!
Pat
Thanks, Liz V. Fascinating resource. Not many street drugs in this book, but you never know.
Becky, Lani, you're both spot on. Lots of cross purposes and twists and turns.
Thanks, Pat. That's a great list, too.
I have enough titles for a dozen more books now. Thanks!
Quilty as Sin.........
i know, it's lame........
cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)con
How about Gentleman's Fancy, Hands all Around, Necktie, Philadelphia Pavement, Workbox or Hands all Around?
Looking forward to hearing more! I'm intrigued.
Not lame, Cyn! I've been using block names as titles, though.
Sarita, good choices. I've made this hard on everyone by not telling you much of the plot. What a tease!
Thrilled there will be another Dewey book!
How about:
All Tangled Up
Boy's Nonsense
Spider's Web
Found these on blockcrazy.com (and I had no idea there were so many pattern names!).
Can't wait to read the new one!
I am so glad to read that a new book will be out, although not sure I can wait until next spring! Thanks for writing a new book!
What about
COUNTRY ROADS or
STORM AT SEA or
FOX AND GEESE or
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
for a title?
Thanks Allison and Celine! these names are conjuring up all kinds of images for me.
I will announce the winner tomorrow night. Stay tuned.
All the suggestions have been very helpful!
I'm so glad there's going to be a fourth one, and hopefully many more, that I don't care what you call it. However, Spinning Pinwheels and Whirlwind come to mind. There's also an obscure pattern I found in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, called Dewey's Victory. -- Mary
Thank you, Mary. I had no idea about Dewey's Victory. Hmmm....there's a book in there for sure.
Thank you, Mary. I had no idea about Dewey's Victory. Hmmm....there's a book in there for sure.
I'm announcing the winner on the blog tonight. In approx one hour. Be sure to tune in.
Thanks for playing!!
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