Recycled Heroes

Yesterday, I blogged about my disappointment in not being selected as a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. I really thought I would at least make that cut. I went through all the thoughts and emotions that probably most other entrants did. I was angry, disappointed and of course started to blame Amazon for having their “unprofessional” reviewers be the sole judges.

But I thought about it. There’s nothing wrong with Amazon’s approach in that regard. Their reviewers are the people who would be buying the books, right? Why not have your audiences be judges? Really, the only lingering anger centers on Amazon’s delayed communication to me when many others received theirs pretty close to the time they were told they would receive it.

But now, I am thinking about the whole book. I have told many of you that I truly feel God gave me many elements of the plot and even the exact words in some cases. I guess you might say I take a certain sense of pride in that fact . . . I mean whole wouldn’t be proud to carry something sent from God, right?

But as I look back on it, I think I made other errors in judgment on many fronts.

First, I never marketed Distant Replay in a way that truly represents it. When I have queried agents and publishers, I always held back certain elements and never really told them what it was about. That changes starting now.

Secondly, the title is all wrong. One of the central thematics is the idea of popular culture respecting the wrong heroes as false idols. Distant Replay doesn’t really say that. Then, there’s the fact that Distant Replay is the name of a non-fiction title about the Green Bay Packers published years ago. That coincidence is absolutely crazy to me and it would be to you too if you have read the manuscript and can connect some of the minor elements (think “Bart Star”).

So, last night at Appleby’s, I was trying to put all this into perspective. I was trying to develop a new title for this book and kept coming back to “heroes,” “rage,” “passion” and other sorts of words and phrases. For a while, I had almost settled on “Designer Society” but didn’t really like it – especially because that is used in the book. Finally, I went back to “heroes” and thought; ‘that word must be in the title’.

Moments later, I am pondering the possibilities and the title “Recycled Heroes” stands out in my head. I liked it, but wasn’t sure. Then, I realize the song being played throughout the restaurant was “Heroes” by the Wallflowers.

That settled it. Whether coincidence or divinely confirmed, Distant Replay has become Recycled Heroes. I’ve updated the title in my WordCage and will be revising some of the marketing information to better position the title before I resume querying agents and publishers.

So, despite not making the ABNA cut, I am more confident than ever that this novel will soon get the greenlight from a publisher.

[note: I do realize there is a band called Recycled Heroes. However, I think that further solidifies my decision after considering the whole process. When you read the book, you'll understand ]