Monday, August 24, 2009

Guest Post by Sandra Dallas, author of Prayers for Sale



I feel very honored today to be able to welcome Sandra Dallas to Jo-Jo Loves to Read!!! Sandra Dallas is an award winning author that is taking the time today to share with us as to how she came up with the title her latest book, Prayers for Sale.

Here is what Sandra has to say:

I was delighted when I came up with the title Prayers for Sale about half-way through the first draft of the book. It struck me as quirky, and I hoped it would intrigue readers. The working title of the book had been The Quilter, which I didn’t like, because although Hennie, my main character, quilts and quilting runs through the book, Prayers for Sale is not about quilting, and I am not a quilt novelist.

The title came from something I read in one of the WPA slave narratives. During the 1930s, the federal government initiated a make-work program for unemployed writers called the Federal Writers Project. Each of the 48 states was to produce a guidebook. Colorado’s, for instance, was filled with history, folklore, promotional material, and driving tours, and was called Colorado: A Guide to the Highest State. In addition, states gathered material for other works—a ghost town book in Colorado, a history of nursing in Kansas, a history of Galena, Illinois (written by Nelson Algren, as I recall.)

In the South, in addition to the state guides, writer-researchers interviewed former slaves, who were then in their 80s and 90s. It was a shame that most of the interviewers were white, the notable exception being Zora Neale Hurston, the most famous black female writer of the first half of the 20th century. That meant that the former slaves sometimes shaded their stories, telling what they thought the white researchers wanted to hear. Nonetheless, the recollections were often brutal, bitter, and filled with stories that bring you to tears.

I have this file that I call “Stuff,” in which I put clippings and ideas and odds and ends that have no other home, and for some reason, while I was writing The Quilter, I went through the file. I came across a story I’d photocopied from one of the slave narratives about an old African-American man who went about with his pockets stuffed with prayers for every occasion. He carried a big sign that read “Prayers for Sale.” I must have been tickled by the story and tucked it into the file.

When I reread the excerpt, I thought that Prayers for Sale would be a great title for a book one day. Then I realized that Prayers for Sale would be a wonderful title for the book I was writing right then.

Titles, of course, can make or break a book. Sometimes they pop into my mind when I start the book. New Mercies, which comes from the Bible, actually came to me before I wrote the novel. The Persian Pickle Club (originally The Interesting Hour Club) occurred to me when I read about a paisley print being called Persian pickle. Several bookstore buyers told me they first stocked that book just because of the title. Tallgrass, which is about a Japanese relocation camp during World War II, was originally A Vine Out of Egypt, another Biblical reference. But so many people told me, “I’ve never been to Egypt,” that I changed it to Tallgrass. Other titles, such as The Diary of Mattie Spenser and Buster Midnight’s CafĂ© were fall-back titles, chosen because I couldn’t come up with anything better.

I have to say that Prayers for Sale is my favorite of all my titles, and it influenced the book, making it more spiritual. That in turn, has prompted questions from readers about my own beliefs, something I’m not altogether comfortable with. You see, I’m a Presbyterian, and we are somewhat reticent to talk about religion. In fact, there is an old joke: What do Presbyterians bring to the evangelical movement. The answer: Restraint.

Of course, titles can be misleading. When I told my daughter Dana that I was writing a book called Prayers for Sale, she quipped, “What’s it about—selling indulgences?”


I truly appreciate you sharing your insight about how you think of titles for your books Sandra. Thanks so much for stopping by today! I just read a review last week of your book titled The Chili Queen over at Joyfully Retired. After reading the review, the title really made me laugh! But I do hope that everyone who reads Prayers for Sale finds Hennie to be just as special of a friend as I did.

I also want to give a special Thank You to Wiley from @uthors on the Web again for inviting me to participate in this tour. I encourage you to follow the remainder of this tour by checking out these other blogs:
August 24: http://www.fiveminutesforbooks.com
August 25: http://www.abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
August 25: http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com
August 25: http://smallworldreads.blogspot.com/
August 26: http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com
August 27: http://www.rebelhousewife.com/
August 28: http://www.stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/
September 9: http://blog.mawbooks.com/

201 comments:

1 – 200 of 201   Newer›   Newest»
The Reading Momster said...

The title intrigues me too! Love the sound of it. I laughed at what the author's daughter had to say about the title and the book :D

Margot at Joyfully Retired said...

Very interesting post. I've often wondered how authors come up with their book titles. As I said earlier, after Chili Queen I am a Sandra Dallas fan. I have to read all of them now. I have my own personal challenge.

Lesa said...

Prayers for Sale, and all of Sandra Dallas' books are wonderful. I really enjoyed this post to find out how one of my favorite authors picked her titles.

Lesa - www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

Kyra said...

Looking forward to reading more about prayers for sale - especially given the quilting angle!

Best, Kyra
www.BlackThreads.blogspot.com
a quilting blog

Anonymous said...

discount valium sweet valium high lyrics az - buy valium online without rx

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol now - tramadol for dogs price

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription cod buy tramadol online mastercard - tramadol 50 mg narcotic

Anonymous said...

ativan online generic ativan pill identifier - ativan withdrawal and heart palpitations

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol buy tramadol online from usa - tramadol 50mg capsules

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online can klonopin and alcohol kill you - long until klonopin withdrawal starts

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol 180 - tramadol dosage horses

Anonymous said...

klonopin without prescription klonopin 2.5 mg - klonopin dosage for seizures

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol buy tramadol canada - buy tramadol no prescription

Anonymous said...

cheapest ativan ativan dosage ems - buy ativan online mastercard

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 tramadol online us - tramadol hcl 50mg narcotic

Anonymous said...

klonopin mg buy clonazepam online uk - do you gain weight klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with mastercard tramadol 50mg not working - tramadol addiction fda

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol withdrawal in cats - buy tramadol er

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod tramadol 50mg generic for ultram - can you buy tramadol usa

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy generic tramadol - buy tramadol online with cod

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien good for insomnia - generic ambien cost without insurance

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol in florida tramadol online no rx - buy tramadol online dogs

Anonymous said...

online soma discount soma online - soma drug wikipedia

Anonymous said...

buy ativan ativan yellow pill - generic for ativan pill identification

Anonymous said...

buy cheap tramadol where to buy ultram - tramadol dosage dogs

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod overnight buy tramadol for dogs online - buy tramadol health solutions network

Anonymous said...

ambien for sale 10mg ambien while pregnant - ambien dosage for elderly

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online interactions between klonopin and alcohol - can snorting klonopin get you high

Anonymous said...

soma muscle relaxant soma 500mg side effects - soma san diego drinking

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without a script tramadol high good - legal buy tramadol online us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping tramadol online us pharmacy - tramadol high dose

Anonymous said...

generic ambien buy generic ambien same - ambien cr cost without insurance

Anonymous said...

ativan online uses ativan children - many 1mg ativan overdose

Anonymous said...

tramadol online legal buy tramadol online usa - buy tramadol online safely

Anonymous said...

ambien no prescription ambien side effects tingling - ambien cr xanax

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol saturday delivery best buy tramadol - order tramadol cod overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol no prescription buy tramadol from us - high from tramadol hcl

Anonymous said...

buy ambien no prescription generic ambien in u.s.a - 25 mg ambien high

Anonymous said...

ativan online side effects for ativan - ativan withdrawal in elderly

Anonymous said...

klonopin sale what is klonopin for anxiety - klonopin withdrawal reflux

Anonymous said...

online ambien cost generic ambien without insurance - ambien extended release generic

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50mg generic - tramadol 717

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without rx tramadol zolpidem - xymel 50mg tramadol

Anonymous said...

clonazepam online klonopin and suboxone high - klonopin dosage panic disorder

Anonymous said...

buy ambien no prescription ambien side effects high blood pressure - ambien cr 5 mg

Anonymous said...

soma online soma 350 mg vs flexeril - soma online without rx

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping tramadol tv 58 - tramadol dosage equivalent to morphine

Anonymous said...

viagra online legal buy viagra online canada - cheap viagra online canadian

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien buy ambien online no prescription - buy ambien pills online

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien withdrawal hallucinations - ambien cr images

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol side effects high dose - tramadol high forum

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol without prescription soma vanishing bras - order cheap soma online

Anonymous said...

tramadol online 37.5 mg tramadol high - tramadol 4od

Anonymous said...

can you buy viagra online does viagra work if you don't have ed - where can you buy viagra in stores

Anonymous said...

zolpidem 10 mg ambien high heart rate - generic ambien zolpidem side effects

Anonymous said...

soma medication soma intimates costa mesa - soma rx online

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online missouri - illegal to buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

order ambien without prescriptions ambien 5 mg vs 10 mg - ambien cr 6.25 price

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate order viagra online pharmacy - buy viagra condom

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol uk tramadol online 99 - buy tramadol uk no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin side effects tinnitus - klonopin overdose emedicine

Anonymous said...

ambien price ambien cr order - ambien cr breaking

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol qt interval - tramadol 50mg street value

Anonymous said...

soma online muscle relaxer soma flexeril - soma drug cost

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription overnight tramadol hcl apap - how much tramadol dosage

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online viagra 4 pack - buy viagra in uk over the counter

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale buy viagra online tesco - viagra 75

Anonymous said...

can you order viagra online viagra 50mg online - buy genuine viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol without prescription wash soma bras - buy soma online credit card

Anonymous said...

cialis medication cheap cialis sale - buy generic cialis online usa

Anonymous said...

online soma soma muscle relaxer vicodin - soma generic dosage

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra dosage time - buy viagra online from usa

Anonymous said...

order generic viagra where to order viagra online - cheap indian viagra

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra dosage elderly - generic viagra online+overnight shipping

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 100mg order viagra online overnight - order viagra from boots

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tablets tramadol purchase online no prescription - buy tramadol in the usa

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra online overnight shipping - cheap viagra free shipping

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight delivery where to buy tramadol in usa - tramadol hcl 50 mg what is it for

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 50mg dosage for humans - tramadol dosage for people

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra online no rx - quality cheap meds pills viagra

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online tramadol what is it - best high tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia side effects erectile dysfunction - propecia 84 tablets

Anonymous said...

sildenafil online viagra buy online no prescription uk - buy viagra online europe

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis commercial 2012 - cialis daily does it work

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online buy genuine viagra no prescription - cheap viagra online canada

Anonymous said...

propecia online propecia generic alternative - when did a generic propecia become available

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online paypal where to order cheap viagra - cheap viagra online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy discount tramadol tramadol 50 mg vs vicodin - tramadol tablets

Anonymous said...

cheapest propecia buy generic propecia uk - results with propecia photos

Anonymous said...

strattera price strattera prescription cost - strattera 40 mg high

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online without prescription tramadol with tylenol - buy tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod buyer tramadol online - tramadol abuse

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra 100mg buy viagra 100mg - leadmedic. online pharmacy. generic viagra cialis

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol like ultram - tramadol purchase online usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod next day delivery tramadol withdrawal symptoms usa - buy tramadol using mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy propecia buy generic propecia us - propecia regrowth

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a retin a cream expired - buy retin us

Anonymous said...

buy retin a cream retin a micro gel vs retin a - retin a reviews for scars

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol recreational use bluelight - order tramadol online no prescription overnight

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50mg grasscity - cheap generic tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol how to buy ultram - generic tramadol online

Anonymous said...

where to buy retin a micro buy retin a micro gel .1 - is retin a gel good for acne

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol withdrawal opiate - tramadol withdrawal one week

Anonymous said...

buy retin a gel retin a cream hands - retin a micro gel tretinoin topical

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg cheap tramadol online usa - ninth street pharmacy online tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order tramadol - buy ultram overnight

Anonymous said...

buy retin a without a prescription buy generic retin a online no prescription - retin a micro 0.04 pump

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 100mg seizure - tramadol 50 mg to get high

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg tramadol dogs dosage dogs tramadol - tramadol 50mg strong

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol withdrawal length - tramadol half life

Anonymous said...

order propecia online propecia x finalop - propecia side effects irritability

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol for pain - tramadol dosage amounts

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia 2012 - cheap propecia india

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a online retin a micro pump vs gel - buy retin a online in usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap buy viagra tramadol - tramadol 50 mg is equal to

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tablets tramadol 50 mg extended release - tramadol online reviews

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg tramadol hcl prescribed - tramadol withdrawal neurontin

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 buy tramadol 50mg usa - tramadol what is it

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol dosage guide - buy tramadol online usa cheap

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online cod - tramadol online prescription

Anonymous said...

buy finasteride online propecia results 10 years - propecia results for receding hairline

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a online retin a cream generic name - buy retin 0.1 no prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg 100mg of tramadol safe - tramadol hydrochloride buy online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online missouri - high does tramadol make you

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online no prescription tramadol hcl 50 mg abuse - tramadol withdrawal hot flashes

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online buy tramadol online usa pharmacy - xymel 50mg tramadol hydrochloride

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol high drugs - tramadol hcl 50 mg tablet

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra generic viagra fast shipping - viagra-dosage prescribed

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg purchase cheap tramadol online - can buy tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol online bluebook - tramadol hcl capsules 50mg

Anonymous said...

cialis 20mg cialis price drop - buy cialis online no rx

Anonymous said...

generic cialis buy cialis no prescription overnight - cialis 20mg online kaufen

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription purchase viagra on line - viagra 80

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol tennessee - legal buy tramadol online uk

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra viagra 100mg cost - viagra dosage 25mg

Anonymous said...

cialis without prescription cheap cialis australia - reviews for cialis daily

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online checking account - order tramadol no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy generic cialis online no prescription generic cialis available in canada - legitimate online pharmacy cialis

Anonymous said...

sildenafil citrate buy viagra with prescription - viagra youtube channel

Anonymous said...

buy cialis no prescription canada generic cialis professional - cialis daily available canada

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 100mg no prescription - tramadol dosage side effects

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 600mg a day - tramadol drug test

Anonymous said...

cialis no prescription cialis price in thailand - cialis online lilly

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra dosage for women - cheap viagra online fast shipping

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra buy cheap pfizer viagra online - cheap generic viagra online us

Anonymous said...

cialis drug health online cialis - buy cialis euro

Anonymous said...

buy cialis no prescription buy cialis through paypal - generic cialis overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

viagra sildenafil how to buy viagra online legally - viagra 2 chainz hulk

Anonymous said...

tadalafil online cialis buy online - cialis generic comprimes 4

Anonymous said...

generic cialis buy cialis uk no prescription - cialis daily use dosage

Anonymous said...

cialis medication whats cialis yahoo - generic cialis rip-off

Anonymous said...

buy cialis buy cialis online with no prescription - buy cialis no prescription overnight

Anonymous said...

tadalafil tablets buy cialis online europe - cialis 36

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cialis generic no prescription - cialis daily use reviews

Anonymous said...

viagra online cheap viagra generic online - viagra 911 call

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg for back pain - tramadol urinary retention

Anonymous said...

cialis 10mg where to buy cialis online no prescription - buy cialis black

Anonymous said...

generic viagra online viagra buy in usa - viagra dosage options

Anonymous said...

cheap generic soma soma muscle relaxer 350 mg - foster people soma san diego tickets

Anonymous said...

viagra online buy real viagra online us - viagra sample

Anonymous said...

viagra online generic viagra germany - viagra for sale

Anonymous said...

order cialis buy generic cialis online usa - cialis price lilly

Anonymous said...

buy soma online soma tacoma - generic name of soma

Anonymous said...

buy soma online classification of the drug soma - history of soma san diego

Anonymous said...

soma online generic name for soma - picture of soma medication

Anonymous said...

online pharmacy retin a where can i buy retin a cream in the usa - buy retin-a micro online usa

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma ga - soma fab

Anonymous said...

buy soma buy soma online cheap - soma san diego yelp

Anonymous said...

soma online soma medication buy online - soma drug manufacturer

Anonymous said...

order soma what is soma medication used for - soma fm

Anonymous said...

order soma online side effects generic soma - soma prescription pills

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 50mg for dogs - tramadol 93 58 pill

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online without prescription buy tramadol from thailand - tramadol dosage 25mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol online saturday delivery - tramadol hcl 50mg dosage for dogs

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol no prescription purchase tramadol overnight - buy tramadol hcl 50 mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight shipping can you buy ultram online - tramadol with high blood pressure

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription overnight tramadol 50 high - tramadol online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online cod the cheapest tramadol online - buy tramadol money order

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol buy tramadol 200mg online - tramadol online cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight buy tramadol cheap - tramadol addiction

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol for dogs taken by humans - tramadol 50mg for dogs usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without a script buy 200 mg tramadol online - tramadol online rezeptfrei

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tablets tramadol hcl 50 mg get you high - tramadol for dogs dosage per pound

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol the diversion of ultram ultracet and generic tramadol hcl - tramadol hcl 50mg for dogs

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol legal buy tramadol online us - tramadol 800mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol generic tramadol 50mg max dosage - how to buy tramadol

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol hcl how much to get high - buy tramadol generic ultram

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol rx tramadol withdrawal bad - tramadol addiction 30 pills a day

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol what is tramadol hcl 50 mg used for - buy tramadol next day

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight cod buy tramadol online australia - tramadol online buy

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy withdrawal of tramadol - tramadol dosage rat

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol ultram tramadol qt - buy tramadol online bluelight

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod tramadol for dogs for humans - buy tramadol 24x7

Anonymous said...

online xanax no prescription best way order xanax online - numbers xanax pills

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online no prescription overnight - tramadol 50 mg generic ultram

Anonymous said...

buy cialis with dapoxetine buy cialis online now - daily use cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol drug test - cheap generic tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50 mg dose for dogs - tramadol online no prescription overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#44827 tramadol for dogs with liver disease - tramadol 50mg (generic ultram)

Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol hcl muscle relaxer - tramadol hcl prescribed

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 201   Newer› Newest»