We knew from pretty early on that WRECKED would need a new title—although we think it’s great, it’s also already in use, and didn’t communicate everything we wanted to about our story.
So, the search was on for something that would convey a sense of our setting, the romance of the story, and just stand out as something beautiful and memorable.
Oh, how we brainstormed! Our editors and agents joined in, as did our critique partners, early readers and ever our families. Props go out here to the awesome team at Disney-Hyperion, who were really committed to making sure we were happy.
So finally, here we are! The new title for our book will be… (drumroll, etc!)
THESE BROKEN STARS
As one of our early readers said when I told her: “I can’t imagine now how it was ever called anything else.”
Meg and I have decided to celebrate with a competition! The winner has a choice of:
- A query critique from both of us (and though we say it ourselves, we write highly requested queries!) OR
- A first five pages critique from both of us OR
- A pre-order of a 2012 debut we’re excited about – THRONE OF GLASS, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY, STORMDANCER, SHADOW AND BONE, WHAT’S LEFT OF ME or the 2012 debut of your choice!
Here are the ways you can enter:
For two entries, add THESE BROKEN STARS on Goodreads (you earn two points if you’d already added it) and leave us a link to show you did so.
For one entry, comment on my blog and let me know your favourite book title, and why.
For one entry, comment on Meg’s blog and let her know your favourite science fiction book.
For one entry, tweet about the competition and leave us a link (once a day – you can use this text if you like: Come celebrate @amiekaufman and @meaganspooner’s new title, THESE BROKEN STARS, & win books or critiques! http://wp.me/p16S22-eH)
For two entries, blog or FB about the competition and leave us a link.
Total up your entries and leave the number in the comments (on just one of our blogs), and of course make sure we have a way to contact you! Good luck! The competition closes at 11:59PM EST on Monday 9th April 2012.
Though I loved the simplicity of Wrecked, your new title is pretty and magical and great. Well done everyone!
Yaaay!! Congrats on the LOVELY new title! I adore it to bits and can just imagine the beautiful cover they’ll come up with to go along with it
So excited for you and Meg!!
Hey Amie. I love the new title. Wrecked brings forth all sorts of connotations, lol.
Denise
LOVE the new title! Aghhh so excited about this book! Congrats, Amie and Meagan!
Congrats on the new title Amie. I like it.
Off the top of my head, my fav book title is “Sky of Stone.” It is a mystery/thriller based on events in the life of the author’s father, a coal miner, who saw more of a sky of stone than anything.
Titles are the hardest part of writing (at least for me) and I think you’ve nailed it! Great title!
My favourite title ever? Colony of Unrequited Dreams is pretty great, as is Wintergirls. The best thing a title does is intrigue potential readers and get them wanting to read more.
Amie, I can’t say how much I LOVE this new title!!! It’s so rich and poetic. Congrats to you and Meg!
What a MAGICAL title. I loved it–CONGRATS!
My personal favorite title(s): Eve Marie Mont’s unbound series–A Breath of Eyre, A Touch of Scarlet, A Phantom Enchantment. They’re so unique, and beautiful. *Loves how the titles also incorporate the books that inspired them*
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/CAnneFrye/status/186815953303113728
Added to Goodreads (as Cassie Frye)
Just to clarify (about how many entries I have)
+2 Goodreads
+1 Tweet
+1 Comment
I still can’t get over the title, though! Gorgeous.
+1 (comment on megan spooner’s blog)
Oh, WHAT A TITLE!!! I loooove it. I think it captures the book so well–and it captures potential readers’ attentions too.
YAYYYYY! Congrats on the gorgeous, gorgeous title! It fits PERFECTLY!!!
I really love that title! It’s the kind of title that makes you flip a book over and find out what it’s about. Congrats!
I would love to enter your contest! So…
Tweet (+1): https://twitter.com/#!/T_Neithercott/status/186858265550925824
I’d already added it to Goodreads (+2? or +4?): http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4684526-tracey?view=table&search%5Bquery%5D=these+broken+stars
My favorite book title (+1): It’s hard for me to tell if I like a title because I like the book or if I would like the title even if I hadn’t read the book. Still, I’m a fan of The Hunger Games, The Fault in our Stars, Divergent, Under the Never Sky and then To Kill a Mockingbird and The Color Purple.
Commented on Megan’s blog (+1): http://www.meaganspooner.com/title-change-for-wrecked-and-giveaway/#comment-10718
Total: 5, or 7 if you meant that already having it on my Goodreads to-read list gives you 2 additional entries.
Thanks, guys!
THESE BROKEN STARS is a gorgeous title… Congrats to you and Meg! Another title I love is THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. A mouthful, but intriguing and perfect for the tone of the story.
I have added THESE BROKEN STARS to my Goodreads, and I tweeted about your giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/katyupperman/status/186863078414098433
Congrats again, girls!
Oo, I love the new title
It’s really catchy and makes me more excited to read the book
I added on goodreads quite awhile ago, so I’m not sure how to get that link, but here’s the link to my profile http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2366949-erica
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/thebookcellarx/status/186862894540013568
I have so many book titles that I love – I particularly love the simplistic titles like Collision that make you think. And I also really love poetic titles like “Brightly Woven”, that’s another favorite of mine.
And then I commented with my favorite sci-fi novel.
So I think that’s 5 entries?
Congrats again on the new title
Brilliant new title, Amie. It’s gorgeous.
My favorite title might be A Wrinkle In Time–it’s just so damn smart. I also love Martin’s A Feast For Crows–so vivid. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep is pretty wild. Something Wicked This Way Comes is poetic and pays homage to Shakespeare, awesome. Where The Wild Things Are has always gotten to me, too.
I love the title. If I saw it on a bookshelf in a store I’d be immediately grabbed by it.
I love titles of books in general, though one of my favourites would have to be “Of Two Minds” by Carol Matas and Perry Nodelman because in those three words the entire story is captured and even though I haven’t read it in ages, it was a brilliant story.
As for the competition, I’ve commented here and on Meg’s blog. I’ve tweeted the contest and I’ve added the book to my “to-read” shelf on Goodreads and I’ve posted a FB comment about it (via my twitter account). So that’s seven points so far?
I LOVE the new title and this is easily one of my most anticipated debuts. CANNOT WAIT!!!
What a beautiful title! I love it!
I added it to my Goodreads list.
I have added the loverly titled THESE BROKEN STARS to my to-read list on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/716733?page=2&shelf=to-read
(Which I would’ve done even if I wasn’t given 2 entries in the giveaway, but still …)
There are so many fantastic titles out there, it’s hard to choose a favorite. I do love Sharon Cameron’s fall 2012 debut, THE DARK UNWINDING. It just makes me shiver and evokes so many great images–a staircase, the unwinding of a mind, and the dark creepiness of it all.
And yes, I Tweeted about it at http://www.Twitter.com/ClaireCaterer.
Oh yeah, and I bragged about you on my Facebook page (still not an author page, but this is a public post): http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613251883
Do I get an extra entry for ALSO mentioning it on my blog? I love to win stuff:
http://clairecaterer.blogspot.com/2012/04/luckies-giveaway.html
Going over to Meg’s blog now to comment. I get all the points possible! Extra credit! Woot!
Hi aims & meg,
First of all congrats so far the book sounds fantastic.
I really love the new title. I think it’s elegant, romantic and adds a little fantasy.
Very nice! Good work ladies!! can’t wait to read it.
Meagan
Congratulaaaaaaaaaations! I lurve the new title long-time! It’s so catchy. It’s so … right!
Love the new title.
I added it to Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2990915?shelf=to-read
I don’t have favorite books but one I just finished that I loved is: The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison
+2 goodreads
+1 comment
+1 Tweeted
I’d love a preorder of Something Strange and Deadly
Can’t wait to read These Broken Stars!
Yay – I love the new title!
2 entries for good reads
1 for a comment – The Sky is Everywhere … because it is … which makes it even more intriguing.
1 for tweeting
1 for popping over to Megs
x
Squeee! So excited for you, Amie! Freakin awesome news.
And I loves the title.
I am, of course, entering the competition.
Who wouldn’t want your eyes on their first 5 pages?
I’ve done all the entry thingies. Not sure how to post a link to adding the book on Goodreads, and I added it a while ago so I may be a little way down the list. The tweet is here https://twitter.com/#!/SariWebb/status/187055536045428736.
Terrific title. I’ve commented on Meg’s blog and yours. I’ve posted it on FB, but can’t find a way to give you the link (??? Maybe I’m just a technophobe — sigh). Anyway, I think this is a great contest and I hope I win.
Love it!!! I wish it was 2013 already.
And, I can never say no to a good contest, so here we go…
My favourite title is Jasper Fforde’s LOST IN A GOOD BOOK. Actually, most of his titles are pretty fun!
Here’s my goodreads link! http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5531269?shelf=to-read
+2 goodreads
+1 comment
+1 tweet
+1 for popping over to Meg!
= 5 entries.
Not after an entry, but just joining in.
Favourite book title? Hmm… ’253′ is pretty good. “There and Back Again” was perhaps a better title. And of course, one of the other readers grabbed one of my favourites – ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’
Overall though, my winner would have to be “Tyranny of the Airheads and the Retreat from Common Sense”.
Congrats on new title..the book blurb is simply delicious and made want to read the whole book , unfortunately 2013 is late
My favorite title of this year is Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin. As a big poe fan I must say this The Masque of Red Death is detailed and literary remake of the original one.
My goodreads to read link where I added this book : http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6833452?page=16&shelf=to-read
Tweeted : https://twitter.com/#!/SoumiRoy1/status/187510069502554112
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=379074705447721&id=100000355848456
Sum up entries :
added in goodreads : +2
Comment : +1
Tweeted : +1
FB : +2
Pooping over to Meg’s : +1
Total : 7
Love, love, love it, Amie!!! It sounds perfect. What a relief to get the *right* title, too. Me, I’m still searching . . . have pages of possibilities, but nothing is perfect yet. I actually feel a little scared now, that we’ll never find it . . .
Congrats!!!
Hi Amie! It’s a really nice title, looking forward to seeing what the cover looks like.
My favourite title is The Neverending Story, simply because it says it is story that goes on forever.
I also have a post on Meagan’s blog.
Favorite book title?
Like ever? Or do I prefer the new title or the old one for your book?
For the first…sheesh, that would be tricky. I love lots. Today I will say Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You.
As to the second, I like the new title, These Broken Stars. I think it draws my attention more, since it sounds more overtly sci fi.
I love the new title ‘These Broken Stars’! It just makes you think when you hear it “This sounds like it will be amazing! What could it be about?”
I don’t know what my favourite book title is. There are way too many to choose from but one title that I do like is Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Its just so different to the usual book titles.
Thanks for this awesome contest!
Email: fallendream03 AT gmail DOT com
Added These Broken Stars on my looking4ward shelf
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4480053?shelf=looking4ward
Favorite Book Title would be… The Mortal Instruments.
It sounds really great, first time I read it I was really intrigued and when I read it, it didn’t disappoint!
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/dliterarybitch/status/188862546084765697
Blogged:
http://readinghobby2.blogspot.com/2012/04/title-change-for-wrecked-and-giveaway.html
Fantastic! I LOVE the new title, so evocative.
So many excellent titles out it’s hard to choose, but I really like For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, the title alone would have me adding it to my TBL.
I already had you added on goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars
I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/AlexaBarry
So 4 entries
Great title and I look forward to hearing more about the book. On of my favorite titles is The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. It very unusual for a title to be that long, which is why I like it
+1 Comment
+2 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/safaripoet
+2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petrapoet/posts/337332596326148