[kellymcclymer]

I have put up four of the five backlist historical romances I wrote in the early 2000s. I'm about to put up the fifth. Those were easy, already titled, and I liked the titles.

Next I'm putting up a short story collection, and I'm dithering terribly on the collection title. The stories are fantasy (one is fantasy-ish, an overtired mom dreaming, but the rest are definitely fantasy).

I'm playing with something revolving around Madness and Motherhood, but that doesn't sound tooo contemporary. Two stories are contemporary and two are historical-feeling fantasy.

Thumbnails of stories in the collection below, in hopes it sparks someone to help me title this collection (then I have to find an image that works! ack, I'm never going to get this thing uploaded  ).

"Diapers, Demons and Dishes" - A mom whose post-partum depression has created an actual real demon that only she can see.

"Napping on Jungle Time" - A mom who has been on sick child duty and is exhausted and starts to dream/wonder how Tarzan is always so good at taking care of others in the jungle and never gets tired.

"Queen of Hearts" - A mom who literally has care of her family's hearts, and is preparing to marry off her daughter and literally hand over her daughter's heart into her daughter's care.

"The Burial" - A mom who is digging the grave of a giant who slew her son at the same moment her son slew him.

Any help gratefully received!

 

[anne_holly]

Those sound pretty darned creepy! Good luck with them.

The first one that came to mind was "Mother Dear," but I will think on it some more.

 

[kellymcclymer]

Those sound pretty darned creepy! Good luck with them.

The first one that came to mind was "Mother Dear," but I will think on it some more.

LOL! I can't do that one, all I see when I hear "Mother Dear" is Joan Crawford, and these moms have absolutely nothing against wire hangers

But now you've got me thinking...

 

[JeanneM]

How about something like:

Mother Knows Best
The Perils of Motherhood
NOT Your Average Mom
Mother Madness

None of those are great, but they may spur some ideas.

Your stories sound so cool!!  Best of luck to you. 

 

[Todd Russell]

You could always try the Random Book Title Generator and see what jumps out at you:
http://www.kitt.net/php/title.php

 

[anne_holly]

LOL! I can't do that one, all I see when I hear "Mother Dear" is Joan Crawford, and these moms have absolutely nothing against wire hangers

But now you've got me thinking...

She was "Mommy Dearest," though, wasn't she? I had that in mind as well - this is a less modern version of that. And, that kind of instant creepiness is actually kind of useful, I think.

 

[kellymcclymer]

You could always try the Random Book Title Generator and see what jumps out at you:
http://www.kitt.net/php/title.php

This is so cool. So far my favorite titles (not for my collection, but for other works: Theft of Wings and The Boyfriend's Force...though I'd change it to The Boyfriend Force and make it about teens who band together to police their boyfriends' behavior )

Oh. The Kissing Streams. Again, not for the collection, but I see a sequence of moony eyed teens on a moonlit night by a clear cold stream. Hmmm.

Okay. The Sleeping Future is a possibility. But that is very obscure. With a picture of a sleeping child, or a child's bed with a toy in it and a blanket pulled back. Maybe.

Thanks for this site. I see many wasted minutes in my future.

 

[kellymcclymer]

She was "Mommy Dearest," though, wasn't she? I had that in mind as well - this is a less modern version of that. And, that kind of instant creepiness is actually kind of useful, I think.

She was Mommy Dearest, but it is still too close for me. Might work for my readers, but...Joan Crawford scares me too much. I'm a big wimp, and my mom loved to watch all her movies on Saturdays when I was growing up. Fabulous actress, but extremely scary personal. And after the facelift... I'm glad older actresses aren't forced to subject themselves to such indignities any longer.

 

[Budo von Stahl]

Daydreams of Darkness?  lol, maybe a bit too dark.

 

[anne_holly]

And after the facelift... I'm glad older actresses aren't forced to subject themselves to such indignities any longer.

Tell that to Rene Zellwegger's new fiberglass mug.

 

[kellymcclymer]

Daydreams of Darkness? lol, maybe a bit too dark.

I like that, though I would tweak it to The Darkness of Daydreams. or The Darkest of Daydreams.

 

[Budo von Stahl]

Sweet!

edit:  Daydreams of Dark Things?  The Darkness of My Daydreams?  Thematic, but a good starting point.  Now you have me thinking, doh!

 

[kellymcclymer]

Tell that to Rene Zellwegger's new fiberglass mug.

Sadly, I think that was self-induced, not studio-ordered. Like those women with the huge lips who are under the impression they look youthful, not cartoonish.

What we women will do to keep that youthful appearance is sad. My mom set a good example for my sisters and I -- she does a little skin care, eats right, gets her sleep and looks fantastic at 72. Of course, she isn't a famous actress who wants to keep working, either.

 

[A_Writer_]

Tales of Motherhood
Mad Mothers
Motherhood Dreams
More Than A Mother
A Mother's Love

 

[Randirogue]

What about a play on "Little Red Riding Hood" with use of "Motherhood."  That would give it a fairy tale feel and infer a sense of caring (i.e. a caring parent reading bedtime stories to their kids) on the part of the mothers.  It would also infer the mother overcoming a danger or obstacle as Red Riding Hood had to do.  It would work best if it had the same cadence as "Little Red Riding Hood."  Thus, "Little Red" would be replaced so it was "Blank-blank Blank Motherhood."  Each "blank" represents a syllable and its inflection.  (Sorry, if I explained that too basically.  Just trying to be clear. ~_~ooo)

Of course, I'm drawing a blank for what could be the replacement words.  Sorry.  If I get ideas, I will share them.

Whether my suggestion here is helpful or not, I hope you figure out the perfect title and that it attracts readers who will thoroughly love your stories.

 

[Randirogue]

Since you wanted to do a play on Madness and Motherhood, perhaps an example of my suggestion would be "Little Mad Motherhood."

~_~ooo

 

[25803]

Kelly: How about something like: Stories from a Wimpy Mom?

 

[kellymcclymer]

Tales of Motherhood
Mad Mothers
Motherhood Dreams
More Than A Mother
A Mother's Love

I like Tales of Motherhood ... maybe Mad Tales of Motherhood...hmmm. Thanks!

 

[kellymcclymer]

Kelly: How about something like: Stories from a Wimpy Mom?

I love this title! It will not fit my stories because they don't have enough humor. But I'm going to see if I can come up with stories that will fit...and if someone else wants to steal this title because it fits their collection -- please do, and let me know. I'll buy a copy!

 

[kellymcclymer]

What about a play on "Little Red Riding Hood" with use of "Motherhood."

Of course, I'm drawing a blank for what could be the replacement words. Sorry. If I get ideas, I will share them.

Whether my suggestion here is helpful or not, I hope you figure out the perfect title and that it attracts readers who will thoroughly love your stories.

I like that. Darkling Daydreaming Motherhood ... let me think on this. So many good suggestions!