Hey everyone, it’s Tuesday and it is looking to be a beautiful day outside. I wish I was sitting on a park bench with the sun shining down and a light breeze blowing through my hair. That sounds great… I might have to sit outside for lunch today. So enough about the weather here in beautiful South Dakota; I would rather know what it’s doing in your neck of the woods. So, talk to me and let me know what’s happening with you…
Today we are going to talk a little about the character names within the series Prime Immortals. I have had a lot of people ask me why I named my heroine Dylan, after my son. Well, I have a confession, I didn’t.
I have always liked the name Dylan and have written several stories with her as my main character, which has nothing to do whatsoever with the fact that my son’s name is Dylan as well. It just goes to show you how much I love the name. I also love the names Lilly and Ella, which you will find in my books as well.
I have also been asked about how I chose the names for some of my characters in the series, such as Golda and Gelmir. Well, Gelmir was a name I just pulled out of thin air one day when I was trying to decide what his name would be. I started out with Shamus and decided it was just not the right fit. Shamus to me is a man much younger and not as wise sounding as the name Gelmir.
As for Golda, I wish I could elaborate more. But if I tell you my reasoning for naming her Golda, I may end up giving you a spoiler. I am dead set against that, though. Let’s just say that Golda comes from my past. She left a very interesting and lasting impression on me. That is where I got her name.
As for the others, such as Mack, Ty, Meda, Ryer and Abbadon, I can only say that they come to me as the characters develop. While I am writing I always start out with a name for an individual but as that character grows, I sometimes have the feeling that I need to change the name. Usually it is for the betterment of the story.
A great example is Ryer. When I first started writing about Dylan’s older twin siblings Willow and Ryer, his name was Chase. After developing a relationship with him, I knew that the name Chase just didn’t fit. So I changed it.
As for where I get the names I choose for my characters, well most of the names come from my own life. Sometimes from my past, but more often than not it is a name that I recently heard and fell in love with.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. For instance, with name Abbadon, I did a little research. What I discovered is that although the name is very unconventional, it fits the personality I was trying to create. The name actually means “evildoer” and “darkness surrounds”. What a great name for the bad guy in my book… So, there you have it folks, the inner workings of my mind when it comes to choosing names for my characters. Not a whole lot of depth to it, is there? Yet it works well for me.
That’s all I have for today, so keep in touch and let me know what you think about the names I have chosen. Maybe we will have a contest to choose the next name for our newest evildoer with in the series. Just a thought. Let me know what you think. What is your favorite name? If you were writing a story, what would your main characters be called? Fill me in I would love to know…
Until we chat again… Read On!!!
H.R. Phillips
