The Story Behind the Story – How The Crier Got Its Name
This post is the first in a series of Unveiling The Mereland Chronicles blog articles documenting the creation of my debut novel: The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier. To avoid giving away too many spoilers, I’ll keep narrative details vague or add a SPOILER ALERT where necessary!
So, why The Mereland Chronicles?
Every book needs a title, and since this will be a series of stories, I effectively needed two: the series name and the title of the first book within it. Because the narrative is firmly set in the English Lake District, I wanted something both relatable and unique.
But does a title really need to be unique?
Technically, no. You don’t have to worry about copying a book title someone else has used, as book titles cannot be copyrighted. A quick search on the Amazon Kindle store proves this nicely. Take Twilight, for example, it’s a popular title:
- Twilight (2005) – Stephenie Meyer: The famous vampire romance novel that started The Twilight Saga.
- Twilight (1998) – William Gay: A Southern Gothic crime novel about a young man uncovering dark secrets.
- Twilight (1997) – Erin Hunter: Part of Warriors: The New Prophecy, a fantasy series about wild cat clans.
- Twilight (1984) – Elie Wiesel: A philosophical novel by the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate.
- Twilight (1994) – Katherine Mosby: A literary fiction novel about self-discovery.
So, my reason for wanting a unique title wasn’t about copyright, it was something else entirely. I wanted a title that would stand out. Something fresh. I knew early on that the book would be the first in a series, and I had already decided on Chronicles, but what about the first word? I seriously considered Lakeland. While not especially unique, it ticked the right boxes. However, The Lakeland Chronicles didn’t seem to work for me. I needed something similar, yet different.
How Mereland Came to Be
While mulling over possible titles, I remembered a conversation with someone who pointed out that there is only one actual lake in the Lake District, Bassenthwaite. The rest are technically meres.
“Hmmm,” I thought. “Instead of The Lakeland Chronicles, what about The Mereland Chronicles?”
A quick Google search for ‘Mereland’ only returned one book with the word in its title.
Perfect! The Mereland Chronicles was born – or named at least.
So, why The Crier?
With the series title sorted, I needed a title for book one. This, as it turned out, was much easier. The first book in the series serves as a backstory to an old Lakeland legend: The Claife Crier. A story, first recorded in print in the early 19th century and now in the public domain, has been told and retold countless times. While each version varies slightly, they all weave together the same enduring thread.
And just like that, I had it: The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier.
Don’t you need a title before writing a book?
Not necessarily. Some writers start with a title that inspires the book, while others, like me, discover the title as they develop the story. It’s entirely personal and depends on where your creativity is when the idea first forms.
A useful tip: jot down title ideas as you develop your narrative. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into this process, check out my article [Choosing a Title for Your Novel], where I discuss this in more detail.
This is just the first in a series of posts exploring the making of The Mereland Chronicles. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights as I share the inspiration, themes, and journey behind my debut novel.
As we approach the release of The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier later this year, don’t miss out on exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes content.
The Mereland Chronicles: The Crier – Coming 2025 – See here for latest news.
✨ Watch out for pre-orders in the coming months – don’t miss out! ✨
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Paul J. Scribbans — Author 