What an Editor Really Does

Last week, inside the sleek SFBC penthouse high above New York City, we had a dilemma: a new omnibus needed a title. It needed to reference a movie, and have the word "witch" (or something similar) in it. So, SFBC Editor-in-Chief Ellen Asher and I swung into action, and spent several days e-mailing each other suggestions.

Sadly, we still don't have a title. But these are the ones we know we're not going to use...

Me:
THE WITCH WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE
IN THE LINE OF HELLFIRE

Ellen: THE WITCH THAT WON THE WEST
IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WITCH
AROUND THE WITCH IN 80 DAYS

Me:
HAVE BROOM -- WILL TRAVEL
ROUTE 666
30 SPELLS OVER TOKYO

Ellen:
THE DEMON VANISHES
THE MALTESE WITCH
BEAT THE WITCH

Me:
THE WITCH ALWAYS RINGS TWICE
THE THIRD WITCH
DARK WITCHERY

Ellen:
Okay, you've stumped me. Dark Witchery?

Me:
Dark Victory (Bette Davis, 1939)

How about:
IN A WITCHY PLACE
WITCHES WITH DIRTY FACES
THE WITCH WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

Ellen: THE LITTLE WITCHES
ALL ABOUT THE WITCH
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY WITCH?

Me:
THE BEST WITCHES OF OUR LIVES
THE WITCH ON THE RIVER KWAI
THE NAKED AND THE WITCH

Ellen:
THE MALTESE WITCH
WITCHES COURAGEOUS
THE THIN WITCH

Me:
WITCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
TRUE WITCH
THE WITCH BUNCH