Day Sixteen: A Good Title Is Hard To Find

The saga of a title search took place when Brian was still editing.  I thought the title was decided because, you know, I turned in the original manuscript with a title that I was quite fond of.  I thought "It's settled then."  I was wrong. The original title was The Aftermath Of Hope. It's still my favorite, but it's also because it's very personal.  And it's because I discovered a definition of "aftermath" that has forever changed my view of the word.

When you hear the word "aftermath" I'm sure pictures of war-torn villages and disastrous events pop up in your brain.  It did with me, too.  And that's how I felt about hope at the time.  There was- there is- a nasty side of hope, and we saw it firsthand.  But the definition I discovered during the writing process floored me.

Aftermath- n. a second crop or growth of grass in the same season, after the first harvest or mowing.

A second growth crop.  New growth... in the same season! It's what God was doing in me.  He was causing new life to grow, new faith to spring forth out of the destruction.

This title obviously didn't last.  For the rest of the world who hasn't experienced the personal application of the secondary definition, "aftermath" still looks like war, and that probably won't sell books at the end of the day.  And although that's never been something I've concerned myself with in my music, it's something I had to seriously consider with this book.  I am not making money on this thing.  It's all going to the Memorial Fund.  So I want as many people who can to buy it... and I want as many people as possible to hear the story and be affected by the power of God.  If this means my favorite title didn't win, so be it!

The comical thing is knowing how many titles and subs were thrown around on the road to 'the one.' I just went through my emails back and forth and laughed at some of the absurd ones we threw out in desperation, hoping to get this thing named!  There were well over 100 titles and subs.

Even this one I wasn't in love with... until I saw the mock up for the cover art.  That's when I fell in love with it.  Amy did a great job capturing the title and the journey perfectly.  So Desperate Hope was born.

God, simply thank you for the journey. Even if I can't say it in the middle of it, thank you!

- C