Finding the perfect name, with author Lisa Fox

Finding the Perfect Name

First, a HUGE thanks to Lisa for inviting me to be a part of this Extravaganza. I am so excited to be here today!

Finding the perfect name for your characters can be a lot of work. I know I have scoured numerous baby name books, websites and name generators in my time trying to find that perfect fit, the one name that will say it all in just the right way, with all the right syllables and inflection and meaning. And though I still spend my time searching all those places whenever I start a new project, I’ve never found any of my names that way.

My character names come from the oddest places. Let me give you an example. I write this serial soap opera free read paranormal romance every week on my blog called Moonlight and Merlot. Recently, I decided to introduce a demon-type bad guy. His name is Aster.

I’m sure I could have consulted all types of websites with ancient Greek or Latin or whatever type names and pronunciations to get a good, solid, believable demon name but I didn’t do any of that. I happened to be playing a really awesome video game called Dragon Age when I stumbled across the name. In the game, there are these priests who speak whenever you enter a certain city. They are preaching the equivalent of the bible in that world and one of the passages starts out with, “As there is but one world, one life, one death, there is but one god…”

Pretty straightforward stuff, but at first, I didn’t hear it that way. In fact, it was only when I turned on the subtitles that I learned what she was actually saying. For the longest time I thought it was, “Aster is but one world…”

Aster. It was so perfect. So I stole it. Even though I didn’t really steal anything at all.

A similar thing occurred when I needed a name for my hero in Santa’s Sleeping Beauty. Nathan isn’t an unusual name, but still. It isn’t so much about the uniqueness of the name for me, but rather about finding the right one. Anyway, I happened to be visiting New York at the time I was writing it. I took the train into the city and if you are familiar at all with New York, you’ll know that the Amtrak station is right on 34^th Street, about two blocks from Macy’s—where my characters meet on Christmas Eve night. I actually had to walk past Macy’s to get to the subway I needed and as I walked by, a woman was standing in front of the entrance calling for “Nate.” The whole coincidental nature of the situation just seemed too perfect and I couldn’t pass up that kind of gift. Obviously, the gods of writing were talking to me, right? I had no choice but to listen.

Since I wrote Santa’s Sleeping Beauty in July last year, I think it is only fitting that I give it away this scorching hot month!

Blurb: When Jordan takes a break from her last-minute Christmas shopping to have a cup of coffee, she meets a handsome Santa with a twinkle in his eye and a sinful smile. He offers her a special Christmas treat that Jordan is more than happy to accept.

Naughty never felt sooo right as together they share an outrageous night of love that is supposed to end with the coming of dawn.

Or so they thought…

Find Lisa Online:

Website: www.LisaFoxRomance.com

Blog: http://lisafoxromance.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @LisaFoxRomance

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This giveaway will be open until the end of the month!