The Loss of a Name

We hates it forever! (not really)

Devastated.

Absolutely, utterly crushed.

Last week, a friend of mine posted up about an author he was reading, and posted the title: Blood of Heroes (The Ember War Saga Book 3).  To be fair, Richard Fox, probably had that name kicking around in his cranium for years and years.

I still have to hate him.

The Blood of Heroes was going to be the name of the first book in MY fantasy series.  Gritty, realistic, with some moderate magic, and more brains than brawn—though, no end of brawn, blades, babes, and of course blood.  The first in a series that, by my calculations, would make ba-jillions of dollars and be revered as one of the great fantasy stories of our times.

Alas, I’ve held onto that book—and the title—so long now, that I thought it was my property alone.  Oh, sure, there was the Rutger Hauer movie of the same name—a post-apocalyptic "sports" movie.  The only reason I was aware of that movie, and have watched it, is because I took my own advice when it came to securing the title of my book.  It was the only thing that came up, and the movie had, at that time, only a very small cult following (of which I gladly joined).

Juggers, GEAR UP!

Alas, a quick search now—something I haven’t done in quite some time—reveals that it’s far from the original title that I once thought it was.  A dozen folk have since released titles with similar names.  

The noise and confusion around this title is now complete.

*sniff, sniff*

Goodbye dear friend.  Goodbye, dear title.  Goodbye, perfect summary of my story.  You brought me great joy every time I thought of how perfectly you mirrored the concept of the tale, and how well you would lead the series with similar titles to follow.

I shall miss you.

And to you, Richard Fox, for bringing this to my attention, I shall forever hate and revile your name (but in a good way).  I wish you nothing but success for this unknown impunity.