Okay, nothing like going back on one’s decisions to freshen the air in one’s head.

Yes, I’ve changed my mind completely, as related to my my previous post, and plan to return to my original naming conventions.

I don’t consider myself a wishy-washy person, but more of someone who takes influence from his peers and those he trusts. And I think time brings clarity of perspective too.

“Mother Russia” is a fine name for my first book, but a much better name for the series.

The story of how John D. MacDonald used colors in his titles to differentiate his Travis McGee series (at the suggestion of his publisher actually) has stuck with me like a bug on a windshield for some time now. The publishing business, like anyone will tell you, is a marketing-based industry. Whatever makes your books stand out and connect with your name and brand is a good thing. Also there’s no such thing as something completely original when it comes to book titles and the like.

Alma Katsu’s two books Red Widow and Red London seem to be doing well and I wish her all the success in the world. I don’t know her future writing plans, but here we are a year after they came out and I haven’t heard if she plans more installments with those characters or not. I’ve come to the conclusion it doesn’t matter. I have every confidence in my manuscript (and it’s already written sequel) so I plan to stick with my original naming conventions regardless of any similarities. The patterns may be similar, but the names are all different, and for me, that’s enough.

So . . .

Book 1 of the Mother Russia espionage series will be entitled “Red Moscow” . . .

Book 2 will be “Red Eagle” . . .

And Book 3 (which I just finished my initial scene-by-scene outline for) will be “Red Belfast”.

There. As Robin Williams once said, I feel so much better now.

(The photo featured here is the dining room at the Savoy Hotel in Moscow, where something very important happens in Chapter 10 of Red Moscow. Tease, tease, tease!)