Comments on: Saturday Chit-chat

By: Tamara

Tamara — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 23:19:49 +0000

I knew I was destined to be a romance author I have 5 kids their names are all from soaps ashley,blake, austin, nicholas and Taylor lol I guess great minds think alike!

By: Gigi

Gigi — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:02:19 +0000

I think you gals do a terrific job picking our names for your characters.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 13:33:50 +0000

LOL! Nope…the surprise blogger is tomorrow. The Rachel/Rachael surprise is on Wednesday.

By: Rachael D.

Rachael D. — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 04:33:43 +0000

Well I have never seen my name spelled RACHAEL in a book before. It’s always RACHEL. I still associate it with my own name though and that takes away from imagining the character. I did read one book once called Molokai with a character named Rachel and I loved it. The character was very vivid and I didn’t associate it with myself at all. I guess if the author does good character development, the name should take on a whole new identity of it’s own.

Actually I was talking to Laurie Wilde in an email after entering her contest, and she said she’s writing a book and it just so happens that my name and the same spelling is one of the characters. Is Laurie Wilde your surprise blogger? :p

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 03:15:11 +0000

Rachael…this is funny…you’ll see why on Wednesday. Does it count if the name is spelled slightly differently than yours?

By: Rachael D.

Rachael D. — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 01:53:21 +0000

Well first off I will say, if the character has my name or the name of someone I know it’s always a turn off to me. I like to picture the characters and imagine what they look like, and when they have the name of someone I know, it ruins that a little. Just recently in the last THREE books I read, I swear to you, my ex boyfriend’s name was in all THREE books. Ok his name is Dominick and I guess it’s pretty common. But anyway, that’s why I think odd names can be good. Any name where I dont know anyone by that name is good to me. I want to escape into the book with the characters, not be reminded of a nasty ex bf everytime I read the name! I will admit, I have decided NOT to buy a book in the past because of a character’s name. So I guess picking the right name is very important. As an avid reader, I think the obscure names are the best way to go.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 22:25:44 +0000

Jennifer, I have done that sooooo many times with a difficult name in a book. I sit and say it to myself over and over wondering what the heck is the correct pronounciation. LOL!! Glad to know I am not alone.

I do like the original names, but ones that you KNOW how to pronounce.

For male names I love: Zach, Marcus, Noah & Max

For Female names: Kelsey, Isabella, Talia, Alexa & Lexie to name a few.

By: JulieS

JulieS — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 22:16:39 +0000

The Soap Opera Weekly is a great idea – I’ll have to try that. I don’t know where I got my current heroine’s name – completely random. But it suits her personality so I like it.

By: Donna M

Donna M — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 21:53:50 +0000

I like the name to fit the character. Sometimes I’ve read names that were so unusual they didn’t seem to fit. Name that are different are interesting but I want to be able to know how to pronounce it & not spend the whole book wondering if I am right! :) Recently I read a book that had the H as Nicholas Delaney which immediately spoke to me as my younger grandson is Nickolas & his sister is Delaney, the author of the book was Cindi & the mother of the 2 I mentioned is my daughter Cindy. How is that for coincedence? :)
Have a great weekend everyone.

By: Jennifer Y.

Jennifer Y. — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 21:51:12 +0000

WOW! Thanks for answering my question!!

I must admit, I ask this question of authors a lot. That is the first time I have gotten Soap Opera Weekly as an answer. But I think it is a neat and good idea. They have some good names on the soaps. BEYOND JENNIFER AND JASON sounds like a cool book. I love all of your answers!!!

I like all kinds of names, but tend to prefer those that are relatively simple to pronounce. If a name looks too hard I spend too much time worrying I am pronouncing it wrong and it distracts me from the story.