Look very carefully and you’ll see a tiny frog in this picture, spotted in the gorgeous Krka National Park in Croatia. I’m guessing he could be on a fishing trip, but what about me?
I’ve always felt a good title is a clincher for any piece of writing. I have at least two short stories that I think gained immeasurably (and finally got noticed) from having titles that were both eye-catching and also encapsulated the story as a whole. But novels are lots of stories woven into one, and I’ve always found it hard to settle on a title that does the whole thing justice. In fact, having decided to ‘have another go’ (i.e. a rigorous-rather-than-radical edit) with novel no.2, it struck me that the current title, which seemed perfect at the time, now feels a bit bland for a book that I think is quite distinctive and for a heroine who gets herself into some memorable pickles.
But foget onions, Ailsa’s unlikely specialist subject is fish, and flicking through some old notes I came upon a previous idea that now feels like a much better fit. The only problem is, I am loathe to ditch the image that was perfect for The Water’s Edge until I have a new one. And so for the time being, I’ll leave the page as it is. But in my mind (and my submission letters) the title is now A Kettle of Fish. And if Iam ever able to commission a professional artist, here’s an image that might do very nicely.
Meanwhile, a few more holiday snaps for those who are interested.
Ali Bacon / Books and Other Things 
