> I'm trying to figure out why I've been so sensitive about this. The notion > that I might make an artistic compromise for commercial reasons irritates > me enough that I have to wonder if there is something I haven't been > admitting to myself. Well, if so, I still haven't admitted it to myself. Tehe... Yeah. Steven Brust is just another commercial hack. I mean, can't you tell with his interesting writing style and breaking-the-mold originality? Sorry, just can't see it. I wouldn't worry about compromising your artistic merit. It just does NOT look like it's going to happen anytime soon (and doubtful anyway, but we must have the caveat...:) > The reason I'm so happy with Tor is because the people I work with there > actually care about books--all the way from Tom Doherty to the publicity > people--as far as I can tell, this is probably even true of the sales staff. >From everything I've read about Tor, they seem an excellent publisher. > He said, > "Consider a new title. If you think it important, we'll stay with the one > it has, but this is worth thinking about." I thought about it, and decided > to change it, because it struck that me that losing a tinge of Paarfi-ism > (and I agree with those who say the original title is more Paarfi-like) was > a reasonable trade-off for making production people a little happier, and > maybe making the sales people a tich more enthusiastic. I don't see the change as being so major. Yes, the original title was more... interesting, more so for people who've followed the books in the Dragaera world, but I see it as: If you've a chance to gain more readers, new people who will pick up a book and then delve into all the others, the change is for the better. > Okay, that was my choice, good or bad, artist or hack. Besides, it's almost a moot point. It would be near-impossible to judge what degree a changing of title would make. And choices are good, anyway. Gives the chance to grow, and all... > In other news, the Official Title for the three volume novel is-- > > (drum roll) > > _The Miscreant of Cowabunga_ Woohoo!! Where is Cowabunga, anyway? Is that out East? :) Chris