Friday, May 16, 2014

Celebrating "my own Repenting"

I don't know if one's own regret, one's own pentimento counts as a celebration? But painters change their mind all the time painting over their original drawings, so I thought I would too (again).

It's not that I want to rename my novella "Pentimento." That's already a delightful book by Lillian Hellman (and subsequently others have used it).

Wikipedia defines the word as such:
"A pentimento (plural pentimenti) is an alteration in a painting, evidenced by traces of previous work, showing that the artist has changed his or her mind as to the composition during the process of painting. The word is Italian for repentance, from the verb pentirsi, meaning to repent."

Apply that to my novella previously published as "Clouds of the Heart," aka "Shadow Sanctuary" - and you get a repenting (aka "hotted-out") SHADOW LOVE.


Why? Because I am at a loss why this mysterious love story isn't gaining more traction; it's contemporary, it keeps one guessing, and is also sympathetic to the mature woman (who is still very much a woman). It is something most fifty-ish, independent yet women who still yearn for love can relate to (except perhaps the drowning their sorrow in too much wine).

By the way, there is a brief appearance of our " old friend," the charming Edward in all his conning glory. That cad's becoming quite the celebrity throughout several of my novels; however does he manage to keep popping up?



What do you think?

12 comments:

  1. You have every right to change your mind on the title. As an author, you are a creator...and creations change and morph into what they eventually are. Good luck to you!
    Your fellow "borg",
    Katie

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    1. Katie, Let's just hope all this "power" doesn't go to my head outside of dreaming up new plots.

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  2. I love the cover, Inge! I'll have to read the book to see if you need have any regrets...
    Diana at About Myself By Myself

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    1. Hi, Diana. That little book has given me more trouble than Khamsin, I swear. I might just take you up on your offer to read it (it's only 120 pages - unlike the "real" novels you and I usually write).

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  3. It could be that there are a plethora of books to read.

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    1. thanks for stopping by, Shelly. As you say - and don't forget "to write as well."

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  4. Pentimento--I like that title! How about Repentance for a title? It could work!

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  5. I didn't realize what "pentimento" meant, so thanks for that! Getting people to buy a book is extremely difficult - nigh on impossible. Even books with the marketing of huge publishers do not necessarily do well. There's too much competition -- but check books that are best sellers in your category and see what their titles and covers are like. Have a good week!

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    1. As always, Lexa, you can pull treasures from desert sands. Good advice about checking out the, alas, much better selling competition.

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  6. I saw that cover once again and thought how lovely it is!
    Diana at About Myself By Myself

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  7. Thanks, Diana and Nana. We'll see if the new title/cover resonate better with the readers.

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