Just What IS in a Name, Anyways?

In the Introduction of The Long, Slow Summer Sun I mentioned that the book was supposed to be called Fur and Phoenix and it came very close to being called that in the end.  I changed the title in the final weeks of the project because I thought that it would be a little odd, considering no one would understand the meaning.

Maybe that would have contributed to more curious reader interaction?  (Oh no- here goes the Post Published Second Guessing.)

Ok I'm back now.

Why would I have chosen such an odd title for a collection of (seemingly) random ramblings?  I have many reasons for favoring Fur and Phoenix, and I'll begin with the easiest reason for someone who knows me and has been around recently: there are elements in the book that revolve around me and "my person."  She has been present throughout the pages of the book, though I'll not divulge where and to what extent (because that adds to the romance and the mystery of it- no?), and it seemed fitting that the title include us and our tale in some way.

So the point: why the title?  I thought of leaving the reader the task of figuring it out, but after sitting on that thought for a minute or two, I could see that it could potentially lead to the wandering of an overactive imagination (with potentially unsavory results), so I'll say that Fur and Phoenix should be interpreted in the same way as Beauty and the Beast.  Ironically the beast in the latter title is fairly accurate since I've often likened my own character to a wolf, and I am a bit of a hairy guy.

And my mate is a fiery princess, and has hair to match her personality.
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As I finally really hash this title out, I find that there are many reasons that it was fitting, and many layers to it...which doesn't help any.  I may need to continue this in another entry at some point.  Until then- I'll leave a snippet of the old cover here.