Always Happy to Help

I am flattered when my mom the historical romance author asks for my help naming her latest book. Thing is when she's really stuck for a title she canvasses a select group of family, friends, other writers who are friends, her dry cleaner, the postman and all Wal-Mart greeters within a 50 mile radius.

In any case, she needed a title for one she just finished and according to my Gmail, she started asking us all for title suggestions on this one in November. In her words, this is what the book is about: The hero is a prig, his father was a highwayman, and his greatgrandfather a pirate. The hero looks like them, and the heroine is halfway in love with him because of that...

Arghhhh me mateys be lookin' to get Edith a comely title!

On December 1st, the best title they had was "Shady Lady" (yikes!) and I suggested these:

A Pirate's Heart
To Love a Proper Pirate
Gentleman Pirate
Pirate's Promise
Pirate Heart
Pirate Past
A Pirate's Past
Son of a Pirate Man
Dude, Where's My Parrot?
You're a Prig, But I Love You Anyway

Flash ahead over a month later. Still no title. Her editor had some good ones, but they were still searching. When asked, I provided these... if there are repeats, it's because I have a day job and almost two damn months had past. Cut me some slack:

Pirate's Heart
Pirate's Pride
Pirate's Past
Treasured Love
Doubloons in my Pants
Parrot in my Past

The best part? I just found out Mom sent all my suggestions along to her editor. Yeah, including the 'tarded ones. Because she knows her editor is cool like that.

Anyway, they decided on a final title yesterday. The book will be called:

For the Love of a Pirate

I really, really like that one. I think it was her editors suggestion. My only regret? I didn't think of the perfect title until it was too late:

Brokeback Parrot

Possible cover inspiration?

Photo cred for this totally adorable photo: Aikinai

Note: something similar to this post was originally on my other blog. But so what? It belongs and is even better here.