If you've read many of my blogs, you know that i love titles and i usually have my book title before i start writing the story. Sometimes my titles even suggest the story. Like my soon to be released novella, Hearts and Flour. I had wanted to write a story about a health food fanatic for awhile, but when i thought of that title, the whole book fell into place (except for the cross-dressing part. That was a surprise! LOL)
Recently, i had the unusual experience of having a book more than half written and not having a title yet. This is my werewolf book and i asked for help on Facebook and people gave me lots of great feedback. Then in the midst of describing the story to someone who commented on a blog post of mine, the title of the book leaped out at me! I can't share it until i know my publisher likes it. But i'm SO happy to be on track with my title love.
And that brings me to my dilemma. Unless you're brand new to the blog, you've probably heard about my Balls to the Wall Series. These very popular books are titled -- Volley Balls, Fire Balls, Beach Balls, and Snow Balls. I love these titles and people love to suggest the names of new Balls books. BUT, everyone including me wants my surfer turned firefighter, Jerry, from Fire Balls to have his own love story. And that is my plan. To write that book probably next after my WIP. But i don't have a title. We've done Fire Balls. Jerry is a firefighter and there will be another firefighter in the book. The word Balls must be in the title. Jerry is a laid back surfer dude but a good firefighter. Fire doesn't have to be in the title. I have considered:
- Fireman's Balls
- Balls of Fire
So tell me -- Do you like either of these titles? If yes, why? If no, why?
Do you have any other suggestions? If you read Fire Balls, you know Jerry!
If you suggest a title and i use it, i'll dedicate the book to you!
And remember, Hearts and Flour comes out two weeks from today. We'll have a blog tour if i can just think of a fun contest! Have any suggestions for that? LOL : )
Instead of Balls of Fire, what about Great Balls of Fire? Or, was Jerry the sports fan? If football is any part of the story, you could call it Long Balls. Other random Balls titles could be:
ReplyDeleteBouncing Balls
Medicine Balls
Disco Balls
Meatballs (or Meat Balls)
Lightning Balls
Yarn Balls
Ballin'
Blue Balls
Balance Balls
Popcorn Balls
A Kick in the Balls
Balls of Steel
Balls Out
Soccer Balls
Rum Balls
Stress Balls
Growing Balls
Cheese Balls
Ping Pong Balls
I'll keep thinking about balls (ha!) and see if I can come up with anything else.
Becky!! These are so great! I see a possible candidate already. But we'll see what else you and everyone come up with. Thank you so much! : )
ReplyDeleteBuoy Balls
ReplyDeleteHot Balls
High Heat Balls
Steel Balls
Rescue Balls
School Balls
Hose Balls
I'm having to much fun here...snort!
Why can't you use Beach Balls since he's a surfer?
ReplyDeleteoh shit, you already used that one...umm...
DeleteYoga Balls?
still thinking
Bocce Balls?
DeletePOOL BALLS!
DeleteLove it! Yes, i've wished a few times that i saved Beach Balls for Jerry's story but, no go. It has a lovely story of it's own! Bocce Balls. some Italian heroes! : )
Delete~snicker~ melon balls?
Deletegolf balls.
Deletesnot balls!
oh! for some cat lovers! Hair balls!
paint balls!
for a bad joker...corn balls!
DeleteLOL. These are funny but there's some good ones too. : )
DeleteIf you want to keep with fire like titles I would recommend Lava Balls. And perhaps if the characters are sports fans I would say Base Balls. If there's a tough guy he could have Brass Balls. Or if they believe in psychics Crystal Balls. Or if one of the MCs is a little weird Odd Balls!
ReplyDeleteHope these help!
These are great Juliana. And even if ideas don't work for this book, there will be at least one more Balls book in the series and maybe more. So titles are needed! : )
DeleteI guess Tennis Balls won't work here lol. How about F.A.S.T.
ReplyDeleteBalls (stands for Firefighter Assist and Search Team)?
Oooh. Is there such a thing as F.A.S.T. or is that author invention? : )
ReplyDeleteNot an invention. It's a real firefighter term.
ReplyDeleteWould you have to have the periods in the title though?
ReplyDeleteYou are brilliant! I think the periods are good to differentiate from baseball. But then, maybe there's this baseball team... LOL : )
DeleteYou have many books in you LOL!
DeleteWell - for fire, Smoking Balls or Hot Balls come to mind.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe too much double meaning... Steel (as previously suggested) might work.
Unless you want to a dance scene. I don't know about Laguna, but I know that is my city there is a Firemen's Ball. It is a charity event. But that is so similar to Fire Balls...
I like the previous suggestions of Odd, Pool and Crystal for later, you could have fun with those! Now, on the subject of pool, think what you could do with Eight Balls. Just kidding. Probably.
Bowling Balls. Super Balls. Moth Balls (ok I really was kidding with that one, I am going to shut up now).
think keeping it to 2 words w/ balls as the 2nd word works best for continuity btwn books if can manage it. possibilities:
ReplyDeletefiery balls
flame balls (or flaming balls) :)
board balls
blazing balls
surf balls
hero balls
breaker balls
hope these help :)
You guys are soooo great! Seriously, i am looking at Balls books until i'm 90! I'll have great titles if anybody wants to read them. LOL
ReplyDeleteWater Balls...since both surfing and firefighting have water involved.
ReplyDeleteThank you! So true. : )
DeleteI don't think anyone has suggested these yet:
ReplyDeleteJuggling Balls
Wrecking Balls
Brand new! Thank you. Love 'em. : )
DeleteHow about this Plasma Balls: The glass ball that you touch and it generates the lighting that shoots towards your hand.
ReplyDeletehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Plasma-lamp_2.jpg/200px-Plasma-lamp_2.jpg
Yes, i know just what those things are. Cool idea. : )
DeleteWhat's Jerry's eye color? Because if they were blue-green then I thought of "Aqua Balls." That also goes with the color of the ocean and water.
ReplyDeleteOoooh. Pretty. : )
Delete911 Balls
ReplyDeleteRescue Balls
Hook and Ladder Balls
or if you would like something a little more official sounding
OCERS Balls, which could stand for Orange County Emergency Rescue Squad (which Laguna Beach would be a part of)
Thank you so much. I'm going to be doing a lot more fire research for this book. : )
DeleteI keep thinking of the Alex Baldwin SNL sketch about his Shweaty Balls.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Hmm. Creating the plot would be fun! : )
DeleteSwitching Balls
ReplyDeleteCinder Balls
Hard Balls
Four Alarm Balls
Cinders
Might be listed above but I would add:
ReplyDeleteLightening balls
Flaming balls
Blazing balls
Emergency balls
Rescue balls
Explosive balls
Depends on story, this is fun!
I really love a lot of what other people have already listed so far!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of the title Goof Balls--just because everyone sees Jerry as just the good-time guy, fun-loving, etc., but not someone who takes anything in life very seriously. He's great at making jokes, a loyal friend, but not very "cerebral."
At least not until he decides to commit himself to train to be a firefighter. I think we all hope he gets to have a hot romance and an awesome career, too!
Oh, and I REALLY LOVED whoever came up with Blue Balls--I was thinking you could write about a jazz player/singer...
Ann
Kyreadinggirl@yahoo.com
Goof Balls, Cannon Balls, Stress Balls, Super Balls, Dodge Balls, Soft Balls, Tether Balls, appropos of today... inaugural balls and my personal favorite... Donkey Balls
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Jerry gets his own book! I loved him in FB. :)
ReplyDeleteNo title suggestions here, I'm stuck thinking about hot surfer dudes and only words like mellow and swell and loose are coming to mind. *lol* None of those work anywhere near as well as F.A.S.T. Balls, IMO.
Looking forward to Hearts and Flour! :)
I like Balls of Fire, because all of the titles have been actual balls, making them fun, ambiguous titles.
ReplyDeleteLadder Balls? (from ladder trucks...) yeah, not my best.
Water Balls? (water from fire hoses and surf in the water...) hmmmm
Yeah, I still think Balls of Fire or Great Balls of Fire works best (hubby even agreed hehe).
I like Balls Of Fire and, like some previous commentators, I also like Flaming Balls :D However there is also:
ReplyDeleteHot Balls - Kindled Balls - Balls Aflame - Balls Ignited or, final idea, Smoke Balls.
ilona
felinewyvern at googlemail dot com