Just Contemporary Romance: Name Thief!
Congratulations to "Jonetta" and "Julie O", the winners in Barbara's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
I don’t know how it is for other writers, but it’s difficult for me to come up with new and unique character names for my books. I’ve developed this…habit. I steal names. There. I admit it.
I used to work for the American Red Cross recruiting blood donors. I loved the job because pages and pages of names would pass before my eyes on a daily basis. I kept a tiny notebook beside me at all times, and when I read a name I liked, I’d write it down. (No other personal information, I swear. Just names.) This took place while I was an aspiring writer. Now that I’ve graduated to published author, my obsession with name theft has grown exponentially.
I take names wherever I can get them. Driving to Indiana this past summer, I saw a great name on the side of a building. I took it. Not the sign, mind you, just the name. And yes, it’s now in one of my books. I have pilfered names from co-workers, students, friends and family. When I feel it’s appropriate, I ask for permission. Lots of times though, the names just pop up in my stories and the pilferees are none the wiser.
In book #3 in the Perfect, Indiana series, A CHANGE OF HEART, which releases November 26th, our heroine’s therapist at the VA center got her name from one of my coworkers. She granted her permission in exchange for a copy of the book. A bus driver in THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES got her name from another coworker of mine, and the family who owns the butcher shop in Perfect got their name from a neighboring farm family from my youth. I did change their name slightly. Our neighbors were the Offermans, and I changed it to Offermeyer. Webers, Maurers and Hoffman also come from my Haubstadt, Indiana days.
I collect names like some people collect figurines or collectibles! Life as a writer gives rise to unique quirks, I guess. Or is it just me? Beware! I’m a name thief, and yours might be the next name I steal.
Cory Marcel worked tirelessly over eight grueling years to develop a successful military career. After her commanding officer violently assaulted her, she lost everything—especially her ability to trust. Despite the emotional damage threatening to sink her, Cory agrees to accept a new job at a furniture manufacturing business in Perfect—a job that could offer the fragile brunette the chance to start over.
*Barbara will be giving away a signed ARC of book 1, FAR FROM PERFECT, and a signed ARC of book 2, THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES to one lucky person leaving a comment or email entry.
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Nov. 27th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway. US residents only.
Thanks so much for hosting me on RELEASE DAY! The site is gorgeous, and I'm thrilled to be here!
Congratulations, and happy Release Day wishes to you, Barbara!
Hi, Barb! Congrats on release day!
Thanks for stopping by, Naomi! And thanks, Maureen!
I read the description of the first book in this series and was immediately drawn in. Thanks for the post and the information about your series. Keep on stealing!
Jonetta...I'm gonna have to steal your name...I love unusual and unique names. :0) Thanks for stopping by!
Naming characters is tough. Especially if you write series. I tend to go too generic, in naming my characters.
I do have to share how the hero in my upcoming book got his name. My husband was the youngest cousin on a family road trip when he was five or six. His older cousin Mike teased him saying he wasn't really a Mathews, his real name was Johnny Scottsdale. He's teased him about that name ever since. Well, I decided to show him, and turned Johnny Scottsdale into a romance hero.
So now my husband gets teased for being the inspiration behind my books.
I am an avid reader, not a writer. But, I had a dream I wrote a book and the heroine's name was Sassy Stephens. Now, I can't get the darn name out of my head. If I had more disciplne I would write the book and hopefully be able to move on.
You may be a writer. We all start somewhere.
Exactly! Most of my ideas begin with a single character. Write it, Julie!
Thank you for the encouragement but, I can't seem to put the books already written by others down long enough to write one myself. Guess Sassy and I are stuck with each other. Its ok ...she tends to crack me up. Is it normal for a character to become your invisible friend?
Kristina Mathews, do you want to be in the drawing? I need an email address. I won't use it for anything other than the drawing.
I used the name of an ice cream place near where I lived in Massachusetts as the name of a ranch in Wyoming. Steal names? Not me!
I'd so do that, Abigail! If I like the way the name of business sounds, it's MINE! Ha!