When it comes to nonfiction books, the title and subtitle are almost as important as the contents of the book. A good title/subtitle combination can’t guarantee a best seller, but a bad title/subtitle combo can certainly sink a good book. After much deliberation, I have settled on the book title Spiral. I like it because it refers not only to the upset of TWA 841 and a number of similar rollover accidents, but it can also be applied to the actual investigation and the lives of the crewmembers. But this title alone doesn’t say anything about what the book is about. This is where the subtitle comes in.
For the past two-and-a-half years my working subtitle has been Spiral: The Hoot Gibson Story and The Mystery of TWA 841. As I get closer to publication. I need to make sure that I have the right subtitle. Below is a poll that allows you to vote on a subtitle. But before I get to the poll, there are a few things you should know about subtitles. The most important role of the subtitle is to provide the reader a clear indication of what the book is about. If possible, a subtitle should have one or more keywords related to the subject matter. A good subtitle should make the reader want to read the book.
So with those goals in mind, here are a few ideas. Which subtitle do you thing best meets the above criteria? (Have a better suggestion? Use the comments section.)
Which subtitle do you think is best?
- Spiral: The Hoot Gibson Story and The Mystery of TWA 841 (80%, 41 Votes)
- Spiral: Boeing, The NTSB, and One Pilot's Decades Long Battle to Clear His Name (12%, 6 Votes)
- Spiral: The Mystery of TWA 841 (4%, 2 Votes)
- Spiral: How Boeing and The NTSB Wrongly Accused an Airline Crew of Causing A Near Fatal Crash (2%, 1 Votes)
- Spiral: The True Story of an NTSB Investigation Gone Awry (2%, 1 Votes)
- Spiral: The True Story of an Airline Crew Wrongly Blamed for Causing a Near Fatal Crash (0%, 0 Votes)
- Spiral: Boeing, The NTSB, and an Airline Crew Falsely Accused of Causing a Near Fatal Crash (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 51
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Emilio,
Title “Spiral” is OK…
But what about “Scapegoat” as the title, with the subtitle being “Hoot Gibson and TWA 841”.
Second idea: title could be “Scapegoat 841” and subtitle “Heroic TWA Pilot Battles a Garbled Investigation”.
BTW, I was able to attend Hoot’s memorial service this past February. So thankful to meet some of Hoot’s great family, his outstanding colleagues at TWA, and friends who knew him so well. I had the opportunity to share a few words during the service, including the FACT that Captain Hoot Gibson saved my life that night.
Roger Peterson (TWA #841, seat 21A)
Orlando FL
Actually, I like the name Scapegoat. I think it perfectly sums up the entire premise of the story. Which, by the way, is s great story.
And I also like the subtitle of Hoot Gibson and TWA flight 841.
Subtitle — A Tragedy Averted, A Tragedy Compounded
I would keep Spiral as the title and consider one of the following as the subtitle: The Corporate Destruction of a Heroic Pilot. The alternative would be The Corporate Destruction of the Heroic Pilot Hoot Gibson.
Charles, I like both of your subtitle suggestions. You and Mary take care!!
My mom was Hoots heart donor. i was so lucky to have meet him and had him in my family. He is deeply missed. He was so proud of this book and so happy it was being done. Please honor this wonderful man and include his name in the title
“Spiral: Captain Hoot Gibson and the Miracle of TWA 841”
After reading all of your comments and questions about the title and subtitle…after yo-going back and forth on the various combinations of title and subtitle…my heat goes with : “Spiral: Captain Hoot Gibson and the miracle of flight 841”.
While I understand your thoughts about the number of potential readers that who,either know, or have no idea who Hoot was… I believe that people who are interested in the story behind flight 841 will be intrigued by the name behind the story. Think about it…especially with his unusual name..that will grab attention. As a former flight attendant who,flew with Hoot on many occasions….it was his “name” that always stuck with me….. And, in the end, I know that Hoot would be not only tremendously vindicated by you book, but also that he was “the man” who made the miracle happen. I am convinced that if Hoot had not had experience as a stunt pilot, the plane would have been doomed. He had the knowledge of throwing down the landing gear due to his knowledge from the stunts he did ……something you do not learn in airline pilot training….
I am so happy that you are doing the book. It is a story that needs to be told…
Now if we could get a definitive book proving that TWA #800 was shot down and not an internal explosion…. But that story has been so covered up by the government that I am afraid that the truth will never be allowed to be told.
I am looking forward to the book! Hoot is grinning from ear to ear right now, knowing that he will be vindicated. He deserves his story be told.
Kind Regards, Marge Siegal (flight attendant 1970-2003).