Monday, May 25, 2015

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

In case you didn't know, my name isn't real.  Well, it's sort of real, in that RO is a shortened version of my actual name.  When people greet me for the first time, they want to add more to those two letters, but I just laugh and change the subject in most instances.

As a kid who happened to be a tomboy and a nerd, I hated my name.  It wasn't until I joined the Air Force that I embraced the romance of it with drastic and sometimes funny results.  Eventually, to avoid the total butchering of my name, and to make it easier, I just took the liberty of shortening it.  I think my name suits my personality and my height - short. (lol)


In the book world, we see names all the time.  We see writers who use their real names for some books and pseudonyms for others.  Some writers just use initials, or initials and a last name. As readers we've grown attached to characters with over the top names, scary names, simple names, memorable names or names that may not make much sense until we delve a little deeper into their stories.  No novel comes without someone who doesn't become personal to us or someone we can talk about with others.


Many years ago, I read a book by Jennifer Blake called Southern Rapture, that was published in 1987.  The hero of the story was called Ransom.  Oh my goodness - everything about him oozed sexiness, strength and sensitivity. His name fit him perfectly and totally rocked. He was all I could talk about for months!    I ended up writing a letter raving about that novel, telling Ms. Blake that I wanted my son to have that cool name! (lol)   We weren't sending e-mails back then, so imagine my surprise when she wrote me back 2 weeks later thanking me and sharing cool tidbits about her life.  

http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Rapture-Louisiana-History-Collection-ebook/dp/B0098O4X84/ref=pd_sim_351_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=04CHN0S6T8V63PG7HHXV
Even though he is internationally known, we're used to reading about "E. L." Doctorow, the guy who wrote Billy Bathgate. not Edgar Lawrence. 


When we think about the classic Lady Chatterly's Lover, D.H. Lawrence comes to mind.  Who in the heck is David Herbert Richards Lawrence?


Jessica Rowley Pell Bird is nowhere on our radar when reading all about the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  To us, she's just J.R. Ward.


Romance authors definitely have neat names that suit the nature of their books, and that's really fun.


Something about a person's name is important to me.  Even if it isn't real.  I think it says something about you.



But what about you?  Do you love your name?  Does it reflect who you are as a person?  Do you care about the names of your characters in a novel?  Does it matter that your favorite author may be using a make believe name?









16 comments:

  1. I always hated my name growing up, everyone made fun of it, teachers couldn't say it right and it was just embarrassing. Now that I'm older though, I like the fact it's unusual and not so mainstream. Everyone always asks me now if Lanie is short for Elaine, which it's not but its funny to see how things change when your an adult.

    I like unusual or creative names in books, as long as I can figure out how to say them or they're not just a bunch of letters strung together.

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    1. Ah...with age comes wisdom and the acceptance of our coolness. (lol) I like your name, and it seems to fit. I love an unusual name, too, as long as it's not too out there! I've heard some crazy ones! Hugs...

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  2. I wrote a short screenplay once. I named the main, fun, and flirty female character Jethro. She went by Ro for short. Guess I've always liked that name, glad to see you're wearing it proudly :)

    --BoysAVsociety.com/blog/

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    1. Now that sounds like a really neat character who dared to be as different as her name. Kudos to you for having the talent to write a screenplay. No way could I even begin to figure that out. (lol) I'm blushing that you like my fake name. (lol) Hugs...

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  3. It actually used to bother me that I'd find an author that didn't use their real name. I remember reading an author blog post years ago where they author said she had to make sure no one knew her real name because in her day job she worked for the government and they had no idea she wrote romance novels and they would be angry if they found out. I found that quite odd.

    I've always used my real name. Back when I was writing articles for Yahoo Contributor Network I heard a few horror stories from fellow writers where they used their real names and started getting stalked. The ended up moving and never wrote under their real name again. I never had any problems putting my name out there and doubt I would change that now.

    I've read some really interesting mes in romance land and the heroes names that have always stuck with me are Aidan, Rafe and Rio.

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    1. When I first started reading as a kid, I don't think I cared who the author was. I was just into the actual book. As I matured in reading, I noticed that the name seemed to fit that particular writing style. Then when I reviewed, or intereacted with more writers, many came clean. Some wrote hardcore BDSM and definitely did not want that to get out to the masses! (lol) Some reviewers used made up names because some of the authors would bash them, and turned into a nightmare. There's always a story to tell in every situation, huh? (lol) That's what makes life so interesting. Love Rafe and Rio. Looks like I'm seeing a pattern with these "R" characters. (lol) Hugs...

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  4. Hmm. Well, if I had a choice, my name would be different. I mean, the name has its pros and cons. For one, I hate Christmas. Everyone sings my name to get my attention. Also, sometimes, the name doesn't fit my personality. You know, when I have no joy to give. Lol.

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    1. Lol! Ah...to be a fly on the wall at your house during the holidays. Hugs...

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    1. Thanks for the kudos Angela and Wonderful Wednesday to you! Hugs...

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  6. I can definitely understand you wanting to shorten your name. I love mines but folks do butcher it, I've gotten to the point where I don't even correct them (unless they're in my face, lols). love the post Ro and gah, Ransom?! that is a totally cool name :)

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    1. Your name is very lovely and unusual, and I really like it. Based on what you write and what I see on video review, I think it totally fits you. I know, right? Something about that name is so really neat that I can't believe I'm still thinking about it a zillion years later! (lol)

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  7. I don't mind my name. I don't have a middle name though which kind of sucks sometimes. I do go by a shortened version of my first name just for ease because it's way too long and only used when I'm in trouble or official things. lol

    I don't mind authors using fake names but I also like transparency. I don't like it when like recently it was exposed a blogger was actually an author and straddling that line and lying to people pretending she wasn't both of them.

    I do love character names. Sometimes they're just so off though or so hard I have to make up names for them I can actually pronounce lol. I do like Ransom as a character. I've read that a couple times and loved it :D

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    1. Anna Cade sort of sounds like a model's name with all the glamor associated with it, and I must admit I'm intrigued by what your real name is. (lol) I'm okay with the made up names, too. I think it fits the persona attached to the novel in most instances. Yeah, that can be a little tricky, particularly when blogger groups are set up specifically for bloggers where we can seek advice, vent as needed about books/authors, etc., without fear of repercussion. I like a memorable name for a character. Even though the depth is there, if I can't remember that dang name, I tend to forget about the person. Crazy, I know. (lol) Be still my heart! I was just telling Sharonda that I can't believe I still remember that from so many years ago! (lol) Hugs...

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    2. LOL that's much better than what a guy told me in high school. He loved my name because to him it sounded like a bad ass super hero. Anna CADE!!! and he did the whole flexing his arms thing. It was so funny.

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    3. Ah...to be a fly on the wall when that conversation occurred! (lol)

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