Not free advice for you. Free advice for me!
We’ve had some fun in the past trying to figure out a book cover or title. Let’s do it again.
In my Two Sisters and a Journalist series, all of the titles begin with the word Murder. The book I’m currently writing will have a lottery theme running throughout as Mama goes overboard buying scratch-off tickets. A murder will be connected to the lottery as well. There won’t be any jackpot drawings; everything revolves around scratch-off tickets. I prefer to keep the word Lottery out of the title.
So far, I’ve come up with these titles:
Murder Is A Numbers Game (However, I don’t really want another title that begins with “Murder Is.”)
Murder Unlucky
Murder Wins the Game
Murder Scratches the Game
Murder by Chance
Murder by Scratch
I’m leaning toward Murder Wins the Game or Murder Scratches the Game. Scratch is a term also used to cancel, eliminate, dismiss, etc., so I think it works physically and figuratively … but I’m not 100% sold on it. Which do you prefer? Or did you think of something else?
As for the cover … There are no people on the covers in this series. The backgrounds are less vibrant colors. I’m leaning toward a dusky green on this one simply because of the money/greed aspect of the story. (You can see all the covers for the series in the right sidebar of my home page.)
I’ve ruled out lottery balls with numbers. Mama has a lucky scratcher with a four-leaf clover in it, so I tried several four-leaf clovers on the 
cover with a lottery ticket that has blood dripping from the top. Even with the blood, it’s cheesy enough to impart a “lighter mystery” feel, which is what I want. We all know I love cheesy!
However, I think I like the idea of a vault in the morgue, with the body pulled out feet first, and a lottery ticket hanging as the toe tag.
It’s hard to know what works until you see it. If you have any ideas, please share!
My standard disclaimer is to ask that you not be offended if I don’t use your idea(s), and please don’t expect anything other than a free book if I do use your idea(s).
Thanks for brainstorming with me!
P.S. – For all the friendly wisenheimers out there, whom I’ve come to know and love, Hunter will not be part of the title. Nor will any body parts. Thank you very much.
Breezy Books 
As for a title, I’m stumped. I really like that lottery ticket with the blood, though. That would make the perfect cover so long as the title text stands out.
All of the covers for the series have the same header and footer with a textured background between. The lottery ticket would be part of the illustration on the background. I like the blood on the ticket, too, and am thinking I’ll probably find a way to incorporate it. Thanks for helping!
Any time. 😀
A slight twist on the ideas perhaps — Murder Wins By Chance?
Adding your title to the list, Kat. I can see how it would work with other aspects of the story, too. Thanks!
Murder by lottery?
Oh yeah, should have said, nice cover
Thanks! I play the lottery … it’s definitely murder! 🙂
Only if you don’t win 😀
I like both of your preferred options – not much help am I 😉
also – Murder Prize ; or Murder by Numbers
I’m not creative when it comes to cover pictures – I like the sound of the ticket dangling from the toe but I need to see options and then flag one if you get what I mean xx
Your titles have been added to the list, Annie. I like Murder by Numbers.
I have three mock-ups I did for my cover artist. I almost posted them here, but they are pretty rough and look way beyond cheesy. If I get some better looking ideas, I’ll share. 🙂
I like the morgue idea with a scratch off as the toe tag, cheesy for you, but it’s in the details.
As for a title. Hm, Murder Takes The Win, or, Murder, A Scratch Away (a play on your titles), or,
Murder Gets Lucky.
Good titles, Jackie. I added them to the list! 🙂
I’m really up in the air with this one. I usually have the title and cover idea right from the get-go. The morgue and lottery toe tag keep coming up in my mind most often, but I’ll have to see what my niece shows me, too. I told her to be creative.
Thanks for helping!
You are so welcome Maddie!
So glad you’re back Maddie!
Four leaf murder
Murder ticket
Murder stub
Murder by luck/scratch/draw/chance
Murder win, lose or dead
Murder gets lucky
murder wins
Murder wins big
Murder for the win
Murder jackpot
Murder uncovered/revealed/
🙂
Thanks, Kevin!
Wow! Look at the creativity that poured out of you!! Lots to think about. I like the idea of doing something with Murder – Win, Lose or Dead. Thank you so much!
Good luck with that, Maddie. I’m not good with titles unless I’ve written the articles myself. (I like ‘the four leaf murder.’ Hugs.
Thanks, Mary. I’m a bit stumped on this one. By the time the book is finished, I’m sure it will all come together.
Sounds like you have a ton of great ideas already.
Love the idea of the lottery ticket toe tag.
I knew I would get good ideas here. The lottery toe tag is my number one choice so far, too. Thanks for the vote of confidence! 🙂
Murder, What are the Odds?
Murder from a Feminine Scratch. No that’s not quite it…
…sorry, I don’t think I am qualified.
Oh my gosh! That is so funny. You’re crazy!
Thanks for chiming in. Murder, What are the Odds? is actually pretty good. 🙂
So I’m still in the running for the new car reward?
Yes! We have a 1986 Chevy Caprice with a dead battery and bald tires in our garage. When you win, the car will be “new” to you!
Well, hi!!! Good to see you! I like the lottery ticket hanging from the toe. That’s good. As for title…this is just off the top of my head…Luck of the Scratch…instead of Luck of the Draw. Ok, that’s pretty cheesy. Hmm..I think Murder by Number is already overused too much. I think of The Police song. 🙂 I like Jackie’s idea…A Scratch Away. Sorry, I’m probably not much help!
Hi Amy! Of course, you are helpful! A vote for the toe tag is helpful, and I must say, Murder – A Scratch Away is definitely a consideration. Thanks!
I like the toe tag idea for a cover too. As for the title, I like Murder by chance, but several of the suggestions are good too.
Thanks for your input Donna Jean! I think the toe tag will definitely be on the cover. 🙂
I thought of Murder from Scratch, because it brings in another meaning of scratch, as in cooking. It sounds like an original murder plot was cooked up from raw ingredients.
I really really liked my idea until I read funnyblogguy’s comment about a “feminine scratch”. Now I’m like, eww.
I know! I liked the “scratch” term for several reasons, but it can have other connotations – as funnyblogguy reminded us. 🙂
I like Murder by Scratch or Murder Wins the Game. Then again, I’m terrible with titles. Whatever you’ve done so far is working well for you, so keep trusting your gut!
Murder Wins the Game is my current working title. I’ll ponder all of the suggestions, and I’m sure I’ll know which one to use once I get deeper into the book. Thanks for letting me know which ones you liked!
Listen to the the doctor (Carrie), and listen to yourself. You got this, Maddie.
Thank you, Tim. I always appreciate how supportive you are!
Sounds like a fun book! I like all the titles, but for me, Murder by Scratch is the catchiest.
I keep vacillating between using Win or Scratch. I like them both. Thanks for your vote!
Well I am late to the party as usual! LOVE the Toe Scratcher idea! Whatever you call it? Count me in….I adore your writing! Cheering you on from OKLAHOMA!!! hugs ♥♥♥ (Ya gotta play to win!)
Murder by Toe Scratcher! That’s the ticket! 🙂
I love the old joke about the man who prayed to God every day for him to win the lottery. He eventually dies and asks God why he didn’t answer his prayer. God informs him he would have, but the man never bought a ticket!
And there ya have it! One of these days….. 🙂
From your list, I like Murder Unlucky … short & sweet for a cover. Then again, when is murder ever lucky? From the comments, I like Jackie’s Murder Gets Lucky. Good luck!
“… when is murder ever lucky?” I thought that, too! Rich and I were tossing around titles with the word lucky, and he suggested Murder (Un)Lucky.
Murder Gets Lucky is definitely in the running. Thanks for your thoughts, Frank!
Murder she scratched?
Ha! I immediately envisioned Jessica Fletcher scratching her … er … never mind.
Murder on the Cards.
Oooh, or Murder in the Cards. A new direction to think about. Thanks!
I think “A Ticket To The Morgue” would work well with your toe-tag cover idea.
Another cover idea: close-up of a scratch ticket with maybe 4 out of 6 boxes scratched off, each of the 4 revealing the black outline of a dead body (cliche “broken doll” shape one often sees in chalk outlines in a TV murder scene). You could have a coin near the ticket, and the upturned palm of a hand with a thin stream of blood running under it. Clear implication: a murder victim who was in the act of scratching off a ticket when he was dispatched.
Good luck, dear Maddie!! : )
If I wasn’t starting every book with the word Murder, Ticket to the Morgue would be perfect! I shall send your idea of the scratched ticket with the coin to my cover artist. If we don’t go with the toe tag idea, this is definitely an idea to consider. Thank you, Mark! Give my regards to Busker!
How about “Murder’s the Ticket” ? Especially if you do the ticket as toe tag cover art.
P.S. So excited to get back online and find out there are more books of yours out for me to read!! Your hard work = a lovely afternoon reading for me 🙂
Oh, that’s good! Murder’s -or- Murder Is the Ticket would work well. I’ll add it to the list! Thank you. 🙂
You are so sweet to read my books. I truly appreciate your support. I’m rebuilding my follow list. A ton of it disappeared while I was on hiatus. I just popped over to follow you again!