Eric Forbes, my intrepid editor for the past decade, has suggested that I unleash on you good folk a new collection of short stories as a follow up to 44 Cemetery Road: The Best of Tunku Halim.
I came up with the title: Gravedigger’s Kiss.
As with 44 Cemetery Road, the collection will comprise 18 stories from my previous collections, plus 3 new ones. Compared to 44 Cemetery Road sitting at 335 pages, Gravedigger’s Kiss is going to be a whopper at more that 460 pages. Real value for money!
Keeping to the title structure of 44 Cemetery Road: The Best of Tunku Halim, we thought that Gravedigger’s Kiss: More of Tunku Halim would be great.
But to be quite honest, I prefer Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Best of Tunku Halim 2
Why? I feel that it’s a more marketable title. I’m worried that if you saw read the title of both books you might think that the stories in Gravedigger’s Kiss are not as good as those in 44 Cemetery Road. That’s just not true.
Gravedigger’s Kiss contains some of my best tales including “Mr Petronas” (it’s about an orang minyak and the twin towers!), “Strangling the Soul”, “The Woman Who Grew Horns” and, perhaps my very best, the novella “Juriah’s Song”. “Juriah’s Song” is almost 20,000 words in length, hence this much thicker book.
The only drawback is that only 6 or 7 of my previous stories don’t make it into either collection. Which means most of my stories are “the best”. Is this puffery gone too far?
Which should I go for?
Gravedigger’s Kiss: More of Tunku Halim or
Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Best of Tunku Halim 2
Write Lah! 
May 17, 2007 at 9:56 am
Either or would do but personally I too, prefer the latter because of the same reasons!
May 17, 2007 at 10:10 am
I think the latter rings better. A thought crossed my mind, “Gravedigger’s Kiss: Even Better From Tunku Halim” – so that it doesn’t get overshadowed by book one, and will attract readers to see what’s even better in book two. I haven’t had breakfast (although it’s already 1.15pm here) so apologies if this is a dismissive attempt.
May 17, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I prefer the former. The latter sounds like a movie sequel!
May 17, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I prefer “.. More of TH”. *encores bookmaniac’s reason* 😉
May 17, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Thanks folks! I really appreciate your comments. I’m now of 2 minds about this one.
May 18, 2007 at 1:44 am
Tunku Halim, I understand your concern. It is quite a dilemma, isn’t it. Let me throw in another title :
Gravedigger’s Kiss – More of Tunku Halim’s Best. Kinda convoluted but it offers the best of both!
May 18, 2007 at 2:03 am
Lydia – good one, it’s the best of both worlds. But Eh Poh Nim would want to put something in after the word “Best” like “More of Tunku Halim’s Best Screamers!”
May 18, 2007 at 3:43 am
Why add anything at all. Gravedigger Kiss by itself seems intriguing enough. No?
May 18, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Hello Tunku, I like Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Best of Tunku Halim 2, if I have to choose.
I agree with Obiter Dictum’s comment. Is that possible?
How about Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Optimal Touch, no?
May 18, 2007 at 4:09 pm
It’s this one for me….Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Best of Tunku Halim 2. More class and it makes the first one sound big enough for a sequel! Spiderman, Spiderman 2; not More of Spiderman. Superman, Superman 2; not More of Superman.
So, Tunku Halim 2 sits well with me
May 18, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Obiter Dictrum – Good idea. That’s certainly intriguing. I do want to link Gravedigger’s Kiss with 44 Cemetery Rd though. So that’s why the subtitle. The Best of Tunku Halim 2 provides a stronger link, I think.
JT – Gravedigger’s Kiss by itself is very mysterious, but I’d like both books to be seen together as a pair, which in fact they are. I’m even thinking of using the same cover photo but with a red (bloody!) veneer.
Trulymarsha – That’s an excellent point. The same can be said of Dark City and Dark City 2. So the precedent is there. I did think of 44 Cemetery Road 2 but somehow it doesn’t seem to work! (too many numbers)
May 19, 2007 at 3:00 am
I don’t think it really matters which you picked. Because when I saw the first book’s cover, its the “44 Cemetery Road” that catches the eye, not the smaller words at the bottom. Not that other people would not notice it, but I think people would get the book because of the first title, not the “subtitle”. Also from a reader’s perspective, we know authors would not put in anything other than their best, so, no point pointing that out to us.
It would have been great if it was – from the author to “44 Cemetery Road”. But, my views aren’t worth two cents. Cheers.
May 19, 2007 at 3:01 am
to = of
May 19, 2007 at 4:12 am
Cirnelle – hey your views are worth more than a few ringgit! These are good points. It’s the first title that really counts and also the photo I’m sure. And yes, you’re right – I only put out my best work. 🙂
May 19, 2007 at 5:59 am
How about ‘Gravedigger’s Kiss: More Weird and Tantalising Tales from Tunku Halim?’ Or Gravedigger’s Kiss: The Tunku Halim Omnibus?
May 19, 2007 at 7:35 am
Xeus – I like it! I like it! Especially no. 2
May 19, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I don’t like to word OMNIBUS. It doesn’t sound very consistent with the first book.
May 19, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Sorry, I meant the word.
May 19, 2007 at 11:33 pm
bookmaniac – I think I get what you’re saying. 44 Cemetery Rd is about a specific place whereas Omnibus infers all over the place. Also, it’s not everyone knows its meaning.
May 22, 2007 at 1:24 am
I like “More of Tunku Halim” better.
May 22, 2007 at 8:44 am
‘Gravedigger’s Kiss: Tunku Halim’s Juiciest + 3 new stories’ might be another option — so readers are not mislead into thinking it’s a completely new collection or a complete collection of your past stories.
Not puffery, TH. An author’s got to do what he’s got to do. It’s also a good opportunity for you to pick what you think are your stories worth republishing. Besides, some of your books are not in print anymore?
May 22, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Argus – I really hope I haven’t misled any readers with 44 Cemetery Rd because it’s the same structure – 18 previous tales + 3 new ones! Hmmm . . . juiciest? What does one squeeze? Thanks for reassuring me about the puffery, I pride myself on my honesty! BloodHaze is definitely out of print.
May 23, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Ha ha, Gravedigger’s Kiss is dry or wet? If wet, then juicy. Squeeze all your books for the most creative, thought-provoking and entertaining stories and pour it out for the readers.
May 23, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Dry or wet? Aiyah! The thought of it! Depends on how long Monsieur Gravedigger’s been in the ground. Will definitely squeeze them books for the juiciest tales!
June 4, 2007 at 1:26 am
Tunku Halim, I’m no writer, so I’m just thinking from the point of someone who might be browsing the book shelve. Sometimes I do wonder when author use the word “Best” on the title, I mean isnt the word “best” means it is “The Best”? I mean how much more Best can Best get? Hmm, am I confusing anyone here? If Im browsing a book, I want to see a book title that will “scream out to me”, put me into a mood or give me something that will interest me enough to pick it up.I was just attacted from your post heading, ‘dare you kiss a gravedigger’
Perhaps, “Gravedigger’s Kiss: Dare you kiss a gravedigger?” From the author of 44 Cemetry Road. That might be something that I might pick up 🙂 If I have to choose between the two u given it will hv to be “Gravedigger’s kiss: More of Tunku Halim”
Cheers
June 4, 2007 at 7:04 am
winniethepooh – these are good points you’re making. I hope “Gravedigger’s Kiss” (the main title) screams enough at you. Now that I’ve looked at all the stories going into Gravedigger’s Kiss, I’m beginning to lean towards “More of Tunku Halim”
June 12, 2007 at 8:47 am
well i am just waiting for more to come
June 13, 2007 at 12:04 am
rabinder – it’ll come soon, very soon . . .