The Quest For A Title

Sharing my titles and the ones you submitted!

Okay, okay. In my opinion, y’all crushed the Title Quest! Thank you to those who sent me a title (or a few) to consider for my book. Two of you even dropped my book details into an AI chat and got some really good and interesting results, which is something I would have never have thought to do. Can AI just write a best seller for me?! Joking! I already wrote my book and its already bestseller vibes ;).

As promised, I’m sharing my book titles with you and also the ones you sent my way. I have yet to receive feedback on the new ones I submitted, but I want to know which ones are the favorite among those I loved, so drop your vote in the poll at the end. It’ll be like “Who’s Got Talent” in blog version, with the prize being street cred among the MS Run Family and a slightly inflated ego that your family and friends have to manage.

Ashley’s Meh Titles

1. Crossing a Great Span

   1. This was my working title for a very long time. I’ve submitted queries to agents with this title, even after my writing mentor, husband, and others said it was too vague. Ha! I love(d) it because it encompasses physically crossing a great span (the running) and emotionally crossing a great span (facing my pain from my mother’s MS). But, alas, it’s been shot down plenty. I can take a hint.

2. Jill Court

   1. Jill Court is the street I grew up on, named after my mother, where I’ve run COUNTLESS training miles. I feel like it captures so much of what’s important in the book (my mother, growing up with her MS, running/roads). When I explained the title to the editor after I got a “Meh” response, they said, “Jill Court, however, sounds like a character in a 1940s radio show about a lawyer.” I lolled, good point.

3. Running East

4. Meaning in the Miles

5. 22 Shoes

   1. I ran through 11 pairs of running shoes during my crossing, which is a question I get A LOT.

6. Between the Miles

7. Behind the Laces

8. And So, I Ran

9. Heart and Sole

Ashley’s New-Not-Shot-Down Titles

1. Highway To Hope

2. A lot of Nerves

3. Sole Power

4. Road Runner

5. Relentless (I secretly really like the idea of a single word title).

The Awesome Titles You Sent Me

1. Purpose on the Pavement, Regan Z & Dawn N.

2. Finding Peace in the Pavement and Joy in the Finish, Curt E.

3. My Highway to Healing: How I Ran 125 Marathons for MS, Regan Z

4. Reckless Pursuit: A Journey of Pain, Purpose & Perseverance Running Across America, Regan Z

5. Why the Hell Am I Doing This? The Pursuit of Healing, Laughter, and Purpose Running Across America, Regan Z

6. The MS Family, Primrose S

7. I Went Out for a Run and Met Steve Honda (and the rest is history).

   1. I’ll let you guess who submitted this one…

8. "Invisible Battles: A Daughter's Journey with a Sick Mother", Tianna L

   1. I would change this slightly to be “Invisible Scars” because multiple sclerosis means “Many Scars” in latin.

9. "Fragile Hearts: A Story of a Mother's Illness and Family Strength", Tianna L

10. "Whispers of Hope: Navigating Life with a Sick Mother", Tianna L

11. "Unbreakable Bonds: A Daughter's Love for her Ailing Mother", Tianna L

12. "Fading Stars: A Tale of a Mother's Illness and a Family's Resolve", Tianna L

13. "Fragile Threads: A Daughter's Memoir of a Sick Mother", Tianna L

14. "Tangled Destinies: A Family's Struggle with a Mother's Illness", Tianna L

15. "Fragile Resilience: A Daughter's Story of Caring for a Sick Mother", Tianna L

16. "Fighting Shadows: A Mother's Battle with Illness and the Family's Journey", Tianna L

17. "Shattered Reflections: A Daughter's Perspective on her Mother's Illness", Tianna L

18. Beyond the Pain, Manoj S

19. “Mike Rules! A novel” (though there is no character named “Mike” in my book, nor is it a novel…)

20. The Unforgettable Journey, Michelle S

21. Miles for Mom, Amy B

22. Words of potential titles to spark thought, which I loved!, Kelly I

23. Dream Hope and Grow, Douglas C

24. Through My Footsteps, Kristin R

25. I Love You Mom: You would have done the same for me., Thomas S

26. MS-My Run for a cure, Nancy J

27. MS-From Loss to Learning: A Journey, Nancy J

28. Re-Calculating- a journey of healing and love, Mary Lynn K

29. The Reasons I Run, Aaron K (Hi bro!)

30. Conquering The Chaos: One mile at a time

    1. Via text (I think) and I can’t recall who sent this one!

31. Broken and Unbound, Peter H

32. Running for Her Life (her being your mom). Theresa M

33. Mother Runner, Theresa M

34. Ashley Schneider: Transcon for Mom, Theresa M

35. Covering the Miles, Theresa M

36. The First Leg: MS Run the US, Theresa M

37. MOM: Mileage to Outrun MS, Theresa M

AI Titles

Regan Z, ChatGPI

1. Uncharted Resolve: Running for a Cause

2. Footprints of Belief: A Marathon for MS

3. Journey of Endurance: One Woman’s Race against Illness

4. From Bar to Finish LIne: Chasing A Mother’s Hope

5. Heart in Stride: A Story of Action and Compassion

Chris W, Open AI

1. "Running from Paradise: A Marathon of Memories and Milestones"

2. "Stride for Strife: A Journey of Miles, Motherhood, and MS"

3. "Treading Triumph: Marathons, Motherhood, and a Mission"

4. "Pace of Purpose: An Odyssey of Struggle, Sacrifice, and Sweat"

5. "Pavement Pilgrimage: Sprinting Through Struggles, Towards Salvation"

6. "Shoe Prints Across America: A Daughter's Run from Regret"

7. "Footprints of Fortitude: A Sprint for Survival and Solace"

8. "Steps of Serenity: A Marathon for Mom, Money, and MS"

9. "Bridges, Blisters, and Belief: An Odyssey of Distance, Devotion, and Dedication"

10. "Running on Resilience: An Unstoppable Journey Across America"

11. "From Docks to Distance: A Daughter's Epic Race for Redemption"

12. "Pacing Against Pain: One Woman’s Cross-Country Quest for a Cure"

13. "Marathon Memories: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Long-Distance"

14. "The Long Run Home: Chasing Hope Across America"

15. "Unstoppable Spirit: Running for Life, Love, and a Legacy"

16. "Mother's Milestones: A Journey of 26 Miles, 125 Times"

17. "Running the Long Path Home: A Daughter's Journey from Caribbean Cruises to Cross-Country Marathons"

18. "Journey of a Thousand Miles: One Woman's Run for Hope, Healing, and Health"

19. "Determined Strides: Running for a Cause, A Cure, and a Commitment"

20. "Relay of Resilience: One Woman's Unstoppable Journey for Love and Legacy"

If you love one I didn’t put in the poll, drop it in the comments! Or if you submitted a title and I didn’t place it here, drop me an email at msrunashley@gmail.com and I’ll add it! I received submissions via text, email, and social media inboxes so I don’t doubt that I could have missed a few.