What's in a title?

Today I viewed an exhibition of photographs entitled Up the Cross , at the Historic Houses Trust of NSW Museum of Sydney with a friend. This exhibition displayed the work of two then young photographers, who took explicit and very human photographs of Sydney's infamous Kings Cross during the decadent decades of the 60s' and 70s'. One of the photographers, who has since passed away, was the son-in-law of a friend of my friend. His widow wanted his work to be immortalised in history.

Among the many photographs and exhibits was the original letter from the publishers of a book about these two artists' works, in which it was stated the original title Poking about the Cross was too racy and suggestive (although by today's standards I think that was a relatively mild double entendre). The book was subsequently published under the title Kings Cross Sydney: A Personal Look at the Cross (from a marketing point of view not nearly so intriguing, and sounds positively dull to me, belying its contents). The book has been reprinted for sale.

However, it did make me think about titles of books. I am more than happy with the title I have come up with for my book and do not think it will cause any controversy but will attract readers. For the moment, it must remain a secret, but I do have some questions to pose, and must check this out with the tutors on my MA in Professional Writing.

- How does one secure copyright on a title of a book not yet completed?
- How long does the copyright on a title of a book last?
I am thinking, in particular, here of Charles Cumming's recent bestseller Typhoon, which was also the title of a much earlier novel by Joseph Conrad .

Is truth stranger than fiction?

I have just been to the opening of a Japanese photography exhibition. What intrigued me as much as the exhibits was one of the invitees, who reminded me of one of the characters in the novel I am writing. In my novel the female protagonist has a rather colourful drill instructor at 'spy camp', who has tattoos all over his body and who is bequeathing his skin to an art gallery when he dies.

I am not sure whether the person who attended the exhibition has tattoos all over his body, but I suspect he does as they were all over his face, interspersed with studs and piercings, his neck and his hands, which were adorned with rather expensive looking rings. He was probably about 50, and really was a very unusual person. I decided to turn him into a character study and took particular note of how he was dressed: fairly normal dark trousers, shirt and jacket with a purple tie, Doc Martins, dark curly hair held in place with a black bandana, a long pony tail of dreadlocks trailing down his back, and a pair of reflective sunglasses. He made frequent trips to the bar and wolfed down the sushi like it was his last meal. I wish I'd had the nerve to go up and talk to him...

However, what else evolved from the evening was that I learnt there is to be a Tattoo & Body Art Expo in Sydney during March, so I thought I might go along - no not to have a tattoo - I mean I'd love to - but I'm a coward and have a low pain threshhold - henna ones are as far as I will go - but to find some more larger than life characters.