Holy cow–I HAVE A TITLE FOR THIS BOOK!

Deanna November 26, 2006

I have been so struggling with this.

I’ve played with babies and angels and mothers and wombs and sorrow and birth and all sort of words. I have pages of combinations but they all came off as too television drama, or nonfiction sounding, or just plain overblown.

This morning I lay in bed, stressing over this, trying again to put together a set of words that would both let people know the topic but also not be too melodramatic. I thought of all the terms that are unique to these women–being pregnant, trying to get pregnant, losing babies, stuck in reproduction woes. I ran down the list of the abbreviations and terms on the site and then I saw it. I knew immediately this was the title.

Baby Dust.

What term could both embody the loss (ashes to ashes, dust to dust) and also the hope (we sprinkle each other with baby dust to encourage a new pregnancy.)

It’s perfect. And I’m very happy about it. I checked Books in Print and it doesn’t yet exist as a title. Joy!

I’ll change the blog name shortly.

I am about halfway through my outline. I will push hard each week night until the end of NaNo to see if I can get closer to the end. There are many surprises yet in store!

9 thoughts on “Holy cow–I HAVE A TITLE FOR THIS BOOK!”

  1. Beautiful…nothing more perfect. You must write about online support, sharing this comment because there are people out there that know nothing of our world online. I know baby dust goes onto other sites, but you’d be amazed to hear how many people have no idea.

    I’d like to share a poem I wrote, it’s got a similar title but not the same. Sorry, I just feel compelled.

    Baby Breath

    You were a word
    God whispered in my ear
    His sweet exhale
    I greedily listened
    waiting
    to hear
    the story
    of you
    next
    He took a breath
    drew you back in
    Desperate
    reaching out
    I tried to cover
    His mouth
    impossible
    I am too small
    and you were
    not mine
    so I whispered
    He let me whisper
    your name.

    DML

  2. Oh, and I meant to say you could write about online stuff. I don’t mean to tell you what to write! You’re doing a beautiful job.

    I think the title was meant to be, for sure.

  3. Okay, obviously my earlier comment is gone…don’t know what happened but I did say how beautiful and perfect the title is. I also said I thought you must write about online interaction with the baby dust comment (but you must only write what you want). I then shared a poem I wrote a month ago that is not in any way the same as “baby dust” but it has a simple title like that…

    Baby Breath

    You were a word
    God whispered in my ear
    His sweet exhale
    I greedily listened
    waiting
    to hear
    the story
    of you
    next
    He took a breath
    drew you back in
    Desperate
    I reached out
    and tried to cover
    His mouth
    impossible
    I am too small
    and you were
    not mine
    so I whispered
    He let me whisper
    your name.

    DML 10/02/2006

  4. Congratulations Deanna! I am so proud of you the title is absolutely perfect. It is an auspicious title, I think! Sometimes we just know when something fits just right, don’t we. Like the names we have chosen for our children/angels. I haven’t told you this before, but 3 of the children’s names you have chosen (for middle or other) were also chosen by me and my husband. That is Faith, Grace and Daniel. When I read that on your story I couldn’t believe it. One is a coincidence, but three! I took that as a sign that those names are important and the right choice.

  5. I really like the title. Very appropriate, and I think every woman who has ever had a miscarriage will definitely relate to it.

  6. Deanna,

    I have been a chronic lurker on the boards since losing my angels in 2003. Although I post occassionally, I am able to draw strength from the women who so graciously and freely give of themselves here every single day.

    I read each new exerpt from your book, and although none of the stories mirror my own, I must admit that I see a piece of myself, of my story in every single offering. I applaude your outstanding efforts, not only on the book, but in creating and maintaining a safe place for women like myself, who felt we had nowhere else to turn.

    Thank you, Deanna, so very, very much~finally, our story will be told!!

    AMR

  7. I think the title is very appropriate…and I can relate and I look forward to reading the finished work.
    Only those that go through it can truly understand. GoodLuck!!!

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