Acquisition Syndrome – A Working Subtitle
As y’all know, I’m at work on my second novel, “Acquisition Syndrome.” I’ve had several folks ask, and yes, it is a sequel to “The Mandolin Case.”
Indie is gone of course, but his lessons are not lost on Dr. Bones Robertson. “The Mandolin Case” was a long time ago, and Bones is now up in age himself. In the story of “Acquisition Syndrome,” Bones watches medical practice morph from healing art into a business. It is not a trend Bones likes, or one he thinks Indie would be in favor of either.
But Bones is only one country doctor. As medicine transforms from a mom and pop cottage industry to Board Room control, he has to adapt the best he can.
Back when “The Mandolin Case” was in progress my agent and I bantered back and forth for several weeks about a subtitle. One of us, let’s see now, somehow my often excellent memory fails me for the moment as to which one of us it was ….hmm, oh well, anyway one of us decided the term “honest lawyers” had to be included in the subtitle. It became a byline that caught the eye of many a reader.
They’d pick up the book, read that, give me a sideways look, and say “Honest lawyers? C’mon, Doc. This has gotta be fiction.”
“It is,” I’d reply. “But it’s true fiction.”
It’s way too early ask your advice ’cause you haven’t read much back-story yet, but I have begun to think about a subtitle for “Acquisition Syndrome.” If y’all have any thoughts, send ’em my way. If by chance yours is selected by the publisher, I promise you’ll get a free signed copy if I have to buy it wholesale and ship it out to you myself.
Do keep one thing in mind. Last time the publisher insisted on the symmetry that goes along with threes. In “The Mandolin Case” it was “Country Doctors, Honest Lawyers, and True Music.”
So here’s my first try at a subtitle for the next project. Any thoughts?
“Acquisition Syndrome” – “True Stories, Bad Money, and The Doctor Biz”
Let me know what you think.
Dr. B
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Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
January 8, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Doctor stories, Honest law, and Indie’s chief lessons
or
Breakdowns and Ballads of the medical persuasion
January 8, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Tom Bb,
I like that. I can see this prompt is gonna conjure up some excellent ideas.
Dr. B
January 9, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Just drove through Tupelo, Ms and someone at the Truck Stop was talking about you making a book signing next Saturday at Reed’s — I told them they were crazy.
January 10, 2011 at 7:37 am
Billy,
No, tis true. Like the Pony Express, Doc delivers in the rain, snow, sleet, and hail, and he’s Mississippi bound. Be careful out there, those roads are rough in a 18 wheeler.
Dr. B
January 9, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. Your description The Mandolin Case has peaked my interest. Country doctors, honest lawyers and true music…wonderful. I will have to search for it. By the way, I love bluegrass music 🙂
January 10, 2011 at 7:40 am
Haley,
I liked your blog. Hope you’ll come visit again. Old Doc is having fun.
If you love bluegrass, you almost can’t help but dig the “Mandolin Case,” ’cause it’s the bluegrass truth.
Dr. B
January 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I like your line “from healing art ..to… business”. Maybe that can be incorporated.
January 16, 2011 at 7:27 am
4minute,
“From Healing art to Business.”
I like that so much I’m gonna submit to the publisher. If they accept it, I’m gonna send you a signed copy.
I like that a lot.
Dr. B