More about Titles: Introducing DEATH OF A SCHOOLGIRL

This week the committee met at Berkley to discuss cover ideas and titles for my newest series featuring Jane Eyre and her husband Edward Rochester as amateur sleuths.  My new editor Shannon Vazquez Jamieson was kind enough to ask for my input. I brainstormed a few titles and book cover ideas.

In the end, the title that everyone loved was...Death of a Schoolgirl: The Jane Eyre Chronicles. Or maybe The Jane Eyre Chronicles: Death of a Schoolgirl. The order is yet to be determined, but either way, the series will be "The Jane Eyre Chronicles." I'm thrilled! My agent Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary Management was also pleased.

All the books will be a variation of "Death of a..." As a reader, I love titles that have some sort of cohesion. As an author, the subtitle with its lead-in also helps me focus on the upcoming narratives. In fact, my sister Jane (!) and I sat around last night talking plot points for the second book in the Jane Eyre series. Jane's a keen reader. Her insight really helped me think through my characters, their motivation, and the themes that I plan to use as the underpinnings of Book #2. Jane helped me go past the obvious and add real depth to my characters by making their motivations more complex. We got some great work done--and had fun, too!

As for cover images, I sent Shannon photos of the famous "Nursemaid's Tunnel" in London. When I began my Jane Eyre book, I didn't know this tunnel existed. While researching the neighborhoods around The Regent's Park, the tunnel turned up.  And yes, the tunnel figures into the mystery. See, that's one of the coolest parts of writing. There's a serendipity at work that you can't predict. I mean, who knew?

Here's another shocker: While we lived in England, David and I were invited to dinner at a private home near the area that I'm writing about. So when I looked up floor plans for houses circa 1850, I quickly recognized they were similar to the house we'd visited. That made visualizing the action much easier.

I mention those happy coincidences in part because many would-be writers think they need to know everything before they sit down to write. WRONG. The unexpected discoveries along the way make writing fun! I have three sparkling characters who just "showed up" when I was at work on the book. One wasn't even invited.

Here's my question: Remembering that my books will be set in the 1850s, whom should I kill off? In other words, help me fill in the blanks: Death of a____________.

The Psychic Predicts a Wonderful New Year

January 1, 2011


1-1-11 Seemed like an auspicious date, so my sister Jane suggested that we have a "New Year's Day Fortunetelling Party." We wound up with about 20 women and one very busy psychic, Karen. After proclaiming the energy in my office to be "good," Karen set up a table and two chairs, then opened her pack of Tarot cards.


I was her first client. Although I do believe there's more to heaven and earth than we know, I was also a bit skeptical. However, when Karen began with a "health" reading and asked me about the tingling in my hands, especially my right hand, I nearly fell off my chair. Yes, I'd been having a strange sensation, like my hand was falling "asleep." Yes, I chalked it up to overuse of my hands, scrubbing floors and painting. But Karen suggested I start yoga again and include daily stretches.


How did she know I was having trouble with my hands? Well, duh. She's PSYCHIC!!


I won't tell you my exact fortune, but I will say that 2011 should be a very good year for me.

Others took their turns, and they came away feeling refreshed and ready to face the year ahead.
Of course, no party would be complete without food. Boy, did we have a gracious plenty: turkey, ham, shrimp, dips, hashbrown casserole, baked beans, cheese dip, cherries, gingerbread cupcakes, herb dip, and a stunning cake featuring a Maneki Neko, the Japanese "lucky cat."

Cheryl, the cakemaker, formed the cat out of Rice Krispie treats, covered it in icing, and wow, isn't it neat?

The Lucky Cat sat on a Red Velvet cake (as shown at the top of this post), which we learned is a lucky cake to eat on New Year's Day. Seems like all the signs were aligned for this venture.

My sister also planned for a door prize. Jane had everyone write her name on a slip of paper. I drew one and my friend and sister Midnight Ink author Deb Sharp won a Maneki Neko cat. Deb was thrilled. See that happy grin?

Today Jane and I decided that the New Year's Day Fortunetelling Party will definitely be an annual event!