I’ve been trying to think up a new title for House of Cards since I started the last rewrite in–I guess it was January or February. The card aspect got cut, relegated to another book sometime, so the title was no longer applicable. It’s gone through various totally not serious incarnations since, House of No Cards, House of No Cards In Search of New Title, House of No Cards Needs New Title… Titles, typically, are not my strong suit. There are a few pieces I’ve written that began with a title or something interesting presented itself along the way. This particular one, not so much.
Well fairly recently my husband turned me on to A Fine Frenzy–the music of Alison Sudol. This woman is a brilliant lyricist. She’s done a lot of really interesting stuff with a myriad of disparate influences. Check her out. Anyway, she has this one song that really resonated with me the first time I heard it–Ashes and Wine.
don’t know what to do anymore
I’ve lost the only love worth fighting for
I’ll drown in my tears, don’t they see
that would show you,
that would make you hurt like me
all the same,
I don’t want mud-slinging games
it’s just a shame
to let you walk away
is there a chance,
a fragment of light
at the end of the tunnel,
a reason to fight
is there a chance
you may change your mind
or are we ashes and wine?
don’t know if our fate’s already sealed
this day’s a spinning circus on a wheel
I’m ill with the thought of your kiss
coffee-laced, intoxicating on her lips
shut it out, I’ve got no claim on you now
I’m not allowed to wear your freedom down
is there a chance,
a fragment of light
at the end of the tunnel,
a reason to fight
is there a chance
you may change your mind
or are we ashes and wine?
I’ll tear myself away
if that what you need
there is nothing left to say
is there a chance,
a fragment of light
at the end of the tunnel,
a reason to fight
is there a chance
you may change your mind
or are we ashes and wine?
reduced to ashes and wine
or are we ashes…
There’s a lot in here of my villain but also of my hero and heroine–because against the backdrop of the murder investigation Kensie and Collin are having to see if they’ve got a shot at a relationship again–a reason to fight for one. I won’t elaborate on my antagonist because I don’t want anybody guessing my bad guy! But anyway, it felt apropos, so that’s the new working title. Ashes and Wine.