Category: News from Caridad

I’m suffering this morning as I try to find a new title for my November release from Grand Central Publishing. The working title was TAINTED BLOOD (and the music for TAINTED LOVE keeps playing in my brain as I see that title).

I have to confess that I suck at titles. I would say I’m 0 for 21 on book titles, except that I did manage to work up some of THE CALLING titles on my lonesome. The original concept for THE CALLING titles, however, came from my great Harlequin editors at the time (and I am so sure my great new editor at GCP will also have wonderful ideas to help in this title selection process!)

Now I’m working on this title, trying to find inspiration based on the elements of the story which is one way that many authors find their titles.

TAINTED BLOOD (soon to be re-titled) is about a world-famous cellist who is dying from a brain tumor and opts to undergo a radical gene therapy in order to stop the progression of the tumor and possibly regain her eyesight. The cellist – Caterina Shaw – hadn’t planned on being turned into a human guinea pig and soon finds herself not only losing her humanity, but also accused of murder. Enter the hero, an ex-Army Ranger sent to either solve the problem she’s created or eliminate it (or should we say her?).

Hmmm. . . My friend Irene Peterson suggested GENESTORM and I kind of like that one. But I really do need to have more than one option.

I’ve been tossing around connected titles since there are at least two books in the series. Maybe SEE NO EVIL for the first one and TOUCH NO EVIL for the second, which revolves around an athlete with a bone disease. I’ll definitely put those on the list since that might lend itself to further expansion for future books in the series, such as HEAR NO EVIL, etc.

Some authors rely on literary inspirations for their book titles. You can click here for a cool list of those, which include titles such as TENDER IS THE NIGHT, THE SUN ALSO RISES and other noteworthy works.

Of course, there’s the I NEED HELP route!

My friend Lois Winston ran a contest to help rename her first book. The great title that was chosen in the contest — TALK GERTIE TO ME.

Maybe that’s something to consider?

So, for a spontaneous contest to help me find a new title, why don’t you leave some suggestions in the comments. If I pick one of your titles or feel that it inspires me, not only will you get an autographed copy of my latest release, SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD, and a CALLING T-shirt, I’ll also dedicate the book to you!! How’s that for a prize to show your friends and family!

So sorry guys for not posting, but work has been crazy and on top of that, I’ve got two massive writing deadlines and an upcoming conference this weekend for which I have to prepare.

My apologies for not offering up anything fun today or for the rest of the week. DUTY CALLS (LOL! — I swear I will never use that one as a title in THE CALLING).

Big hugs to all of you and see you on Monday!

This morning’s Guilty Pleasure is Jerry O’Connell.

You might remember him best as the cute little kid in STAND BY ME, a movie classic based on a novella by none other than Stephen King (see the poster for the movie down below)

Jerry has been in a bunch of shows, most of which I’ve enjoyed, like SLIDERS and CROSSING JORDAN though I was always kind of annoyed that the romance on CROSSING JORDAN never went anywhere. He also did cross-appearances on VEGAS based on his CROSSING JORDAN character.

Jerry also wrote the screenplay for FIRST DAUGHTER, which was actually quite a good romance. Jerry served as the executive producer on the film, which was about a young secret service agent (Marc Blucas) who is sent to keep an eye on the president’s college-age daughter (Katie Holmes) and falls in love with her. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.

Guess that makes Jerry cute and talented. What’s he up to now? Expecting twins with new wife Rebecca Romjin

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Hope you enjoyed this morning’s Guilty Pleasure.

Okay, so maybe not sixty seconds. It’s like a minute and a half, but in that minute and a half you get backstory, action, conflict, resolution and a happily-ever-after! A complete romance.

So what am I talking about? The lumberjack ad from HSBC. I especially love that hug and smile at the end that says it all — no matter how we disagree, I still love you.

Thanks to my friend and fellow author Sue McGee for finding the link to the YouTube video for the commercial. Hope you all have a great weekend!

It gives me the willies to hear the words “spreading the wealth” maybe because I’ve had a very personal experience with that concept.

Castro.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s nice to think about spreading the wealth. It’s just that I like to decide to whom to give the money that I worked so hard to earn, namely — family, friends and groups that I like to support, like my writing groups and the assorted charities to which I regularly contribute.

Having someone else decide that bugs me.

And while it’s nice to imagine being the Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor, don’t ignore the operative word in that sentence — steals.

The American tax structure seems to have firmly embraced that concept. When you talk about taxing the top wage earners, consider these numbers from the National Center for Policy Analysis:

According to data from the IRS, the bottom 50 percent of income earners pay approximately 4 percent of income taxes.
The top 25 percent of income earners pay nearly 83 percent of the income tax burden, and the top 10 percent pay 65 percent.
The top 1 percent of income earners pay almost 35 percent of all income taxes.
The top 400 richest Americans paid 1.58 of total income taxes in 2000.

The emphasis added on the second line is mine. Consider those numbers. 25% of wage earners pay 83% of the tax burden. It just doesn’t seem right to me somehow. What will they pay in the future? 90%? 95%? 100%?

When will those top wage earners chuck their papers, work and responsibilities and decide it’s just not worth it? Why would people risk starting up new companies? Why would people invest in stocks and other things? Why do people have to pay estate taxes? Didn’t they already pay taxes on all that stuff while they were alive?

What I feel isn’t just because I’m a child of Castro. It’s also because I’m a child of Reagan. I prospered under his trickle down theories as did most people I knew at all levels of the economy.

When faced with criticism about his tax cuts, President Kennedy said “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Seems to make sense. Increase prosperity and all benefit.

Something for all our political leaders to consider.