Chapter Titles: Titillation or Obfuscation
It’s the silly-season so what better than to write about something fun and trivial?
Call me weird but I love everything about chapter titles. When I’m nose-deep in an intense scene and it ends on a cliffhanger, I can’t help sucking in an excited breath when I turn the page and find the next chapter has an obscure title. I immediately start trying to guess what it means, or whom it refers to. Sometimes an author uses a word or short phrase from the chapter and when I land on it I can’t help smiling in glee if I guessed correctly about its meaning. Other times, authors hint at where the chapter is going, or what you’re supposed to be feeling, or what the character is supposed to be feeling.
My biggest enjoyment about chapter titles is making them up myself. I like to mix them up. Sometimes they’re quirky, other times they titillate, but the best is to throw out a red herring. I never plan them. Like an obnoxious jack-in-the-box, they jump out when I least expect them to. I can write a phrase and immediately know it’s the chapter title. Other times, I finish the chapter then comb through it looking for the ideal title. It’s fun! And it’s never a chore—the title always pops out, like text in bold.
Here are my five favorite chapter titles from my new release, Luke’s Redemption, with a supporting extract for your enjoyment.
Chapter 2 – I Just Want To Make Love To You
I get a lot of inspiration from music and songs. This one was perfect to encapsulate the fire between Luke and Katya, as well as the bluesy mood of the jazz club they are at in New Orleans French Quarter.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any hotter, the opening cords of Muddy Water’s “I Just Want To Make Love To You” slid over us with all of its sensual power. Michael turned me to face him and took the empty bourbon glass from my hand. I didn’t notice where he put it because both his arms wrapped around me and pulled me tight up against him. I went up on tiptoes to meet his descending mouth. And then, with the classic blues song thick in the air, he claimed me.
And it was a claiming!
Chapter 3 – Pavlov’s Bitch
Sometimes a phrase pops into your brain and you haven’t a clue what instigated it or where it came from. This was one of those times. Katya is very young when she first encounters Luke, and she is spellbound by his potent sexuality. Calling herself Pavlov’s Bitch, made me sit up and take notice—maybe there’s more to her than the lovelorn sap that fell naively into Luke’s arms.
What he was saying.
How he was behaving.
It was terrifying and my control started to slip.
“Listen to me, babe, please.”
That was the first time he called me babe since I woke up. It cut through the fear like nothing else could.
Yeesh, I was like Pavlov’s dog. Or maybe Pavlov’s bitch! Trained to respond without thought.
Chapter 8 – Skank On Your Six
Okay, I confess, I love the word ‘skank’. It’s completely bitchy, and completely satisfying. It was fun having Katya scramble when she thinks Gray, Luke’s best friend and partner, is referring to her as a ‘skank’.
Gray was in the waiting area when we came out and he swung Lily up into the air making her giggle. It seemed like it had taken no time at all for the Texas charmer to bond with my baby-girl.
“Skank on your six, brother,” he warned Luke.
What? He called me a skank!
I sucked in a breath, ready to give him a mouthful, but before I could get a word out, Luke turned and pushed me behind him.
Chapter 11 – A Bourbon Kinda Girl
I’m most definitely a tequila girl, (and red wine addict but that doesn’t count!) but my best friend is working hard on bringing me around to bourbon. Having Katya prefer bourbon, was a small poke at my friend. To our best buddies, can’t live without them!
“We need a drink, babe. It’s tequila time.” He winked down at me.
My lips quivered, wanting to smile. I squinted back at him. “Uh, Luke. I don’t really like tequila. I’m more of a bourbon kinda girl.” I bit my lip. “Is that okay?”
His head tipped back and he burst out laughing. He still held me close and I felt his laugh rumble through me.
Chapter 17 – Breathing Room!
Luke and Katya’s love story has a condensed timeline. It also develops during a time heightened by violence and danger. It was important to be cognizant of this. Luke insisting on giving Katya space or breathing room, allows the reader this reality check. What I didn’t anticipate is the term developing into a fun theme that continues into the next chapter, and even into my next book in this series, Gray’s Promise.
Sheesh! I got what he was doing, and I even appreciated it. For a while.
Breathing room? I was so over it. Lordy! I missed his heat! But most of all, I missed his warm touch. That always had the power to set my world right.
Are you a weirdo like me, totally titillated by chapter titles, or are you a numbers only reader? Join the fun and comment below.
BIO – ANNI FIFE
Anni Fife closed the door on a successful career in television, to fulfill her lifelong passion, writing. In the space of one month, she shut her business, packed up her city life, and moved to a small seaside village to begin her new life…as an author. LUKE’s Redemption is Anni’s debut novel. She hopes you enjoy reading it as much as she loved writing it. Anni loves to spend hours walking on the beach searching for pansy shells, more hours drinking red wine with her gal posse, and the most hours writing steamy romance novels filled with hot alpha men and the sassy intelligent women they can’t live without. She is currently working on her second novel, GRAY’s Promise.
Anni is published by The Wild Rose Press, and is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA).
BLURB
Red-hot sex. Searing betrayal. A passionate and elusive love…
Chased by her criminal kingpin father, Katya Dalca runs to New Orleans and straight into the arms of Luke Hunter. Sucked into the carnal world of the French Quarter, she succumbs to Luke’s potent sexuality. He not only steals her breath, he steals her heart, and the only leverage she has against her father. She’s left with no choice but to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life alone.
Undercover DEA agent Luke Hunter thought his newest assignment—recover a stolen flash drive to gain the trust of the Russian mob—was like any other. But his target brings him to his knees, and after one taste of her intoxicating beauty, he’s in too deep. Doing his job means walking away, leaving his heart behind with nothing but a promise to reunite. It’s a promise he can’t keep.
When Katya’s past reaches out and her world unravels, her only hope is the one man she is most vulnerable to—Luke.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can read all about me on my website, and join Anni’s Posse to get regular updates and Bonus Treats—www.annifife.com
Or LIKE me on Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/AnniFifeAuthor/
Or follow me on Twitter—https://twitter.com/AnniFifeAuthor
Amazon Author Page— https://www.amazon.com/author/annifife
Bookreads— https://www.goodreads.com/AnniFife
BUY LINKS
Luke’s Redemption is also available from Kobe, Bookstrand, All Romance, iTunes and The Wild Rose Press. All these Buy Links are available on Anni’s website: http://annifife.com/
(Note: Hyperlinks are attached to retailers, but links are below if required.)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lukes-redemption-anni-fife/1124824689?ean=2940156958900
Social
Hi Kate. It’s great to be here with you and your readers today. Thanks for hosting me! Hope everybody has fun with my crazy post. I’m in all day if there are any questions.
Anni xx
Ah, ha! Now I’ll be extra vigilant when I read your chapter titles 🙂 Loved the post!!
I love chapter titles, too. I’m just no good at coming up with them. Best wishes on your debut novel.
I used Chapter titles too and I love yours. I agree they’re fun and usually spring organically for me. Luke’s redemption is bought and on my TBR.
Hi Anni- I honesty never thought about chapter titles- until now. Now Apparently that must indicate I’m more of a skimmer over them? I did enjoy reading these ones though, especially the Skank on your Six, lol.
Hi Anni, I have never thought about chapter titles either so I think I must be more of a numbers gal! Loved your chapter titles esp Breathing Room. Here’s wishing you much success ?
Thank you for being a guest today, Anni!
Maureen and Nicole, thank you for stopping by today!
I might be wrong, but it seems most of the romances I read don’t have chapter titles. Personally, as a reader and as a writer, I enjoy chapter titles, though I admit I have’t written as many books with chapter titles and without.
Hey Maureen and Kate, so glad you stopped by. Happy to see you enjoyed the post.
And Kate, thanks again for hosting me.
Happy holidays. xx
Interesting article, Anni. Ha, I haven’t thought much about chapter titles either, but I don’t care for them. I honestly don’t pay any attention. I’m drawn into the story and if the previous chapter ended with a hook, I’m all in for the next chapter anyway. 🙂 Also, the chapter titles seem a little like author intrusion for me. I want to believe I am living in the story, so that may be one reason I ignore them, I don’t want to be taken out of the story. I’ll have to say, yours are quite clever and titillating!
Hi Alicia. Lovely to have you visit. As I said, I’m definitely a little weird about chapter titles, but they do have to have pizzazz!
Happy holidays.
xx