I’m terrible with coming up with character names. I’m alright when it comes to naming the leading players but when it comes to the supporting cast, I struggle. I literally pull names from phone books. It’s probably good that I don’t have kids. I can see me agonizing for a month over what I’m going to call Simon Jr. and Simone Jr. and then just pulling something from thin air. People will come up to me at soccer practice and ask me how Ashtray and Shutter Speed are doing at school.
So I’m a liability when it comes to naming people and here I am again, I’m putting the finishing touches on Paying The Piper and I have a whole supporting cast with no names. This is where you come in. I bet you’ve got an interesting name. Want to share it with me?
For the next month, I’m conducting a casting call. I’m collecting names and my favorite ones will become the characters in my next book. I have positions within the FBI, allies to the protagonist and the antagonist. If you’d like to toss your name in the hat, please sign up here at http://www.simonwood.net/newsletter.htm or send a blank email to simonwood-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Feel free to share this email with friends, family and other interested parties. This isn’t meant to be a secret, so spread the word. I’ll be collecting names until the end of March and I’ll announce the winners in my April newsletter. There’s one exclusion though. John and Joan Smiths aren’t welcome.
This is my last Murderati post for a couple of weeks. Troy Cook will be filling my shoes while I’m away. You’ll hear a lot of dirty lies about my absence, ranging from rehab partner to Lindsay Lohan to plastic surgery to increase my height. Don’t believe them. The truth of the matter is that I’m flying back to England for a whistle-stop tour to see family and friends before I hit the roads promoting Accidents Waiting To Happen.
So be good and don’t make a mess while I’m away.
Simon Wood
PS: I’ve finalised my book signing schedule, please check it out.
There used to be a repeat defendant in my local courts named Eroneous McCrae, Jr. Does that help?
I keep telling you…
Scooter McWritealot.
Walter Mosley liked it.
Elaine has the best character name coming out in her next book, but I’m sworn to secrecy.
Here’s some thoughts for you (no charge):
James Clark, Jr.
Chip Hatteras
Clarence Holdsworth
David Montgomery
Kelly McCarthy
Barry Krumble
April May Joon
Candance Kane
Jeremy Krump
Bill Clinton (but not THAT Bill Clinton)
The Turk
Moses Rickards
Shelby Rutherford
Here’s a couple of real names that I’ve come across. I’ll try to think of some fake ones as well:
Ima FoxPorky Umemoto
My husband’s family has a foolproof naming method for boys. (Girls are drowned at birth, though I managed to save our Pomegranate.) The first boy is named straight after the paternal grandfather. Easy enough. The second gets the middle and last names of the maternal father. Thus, my husband is named Pinckney Arthur Benedict–and, yes, he was beaten on the schoolbus everyday, which made him a writer. So poor Pomegranate’s second son is already named Arthur Benedict (insert last name here). But as proof that they don’t actually drown all the girls, Pinckney has a female cousin named Keith Crudgington.
Personally, I spend a lot of time on babynames.com and geneology sites.
Always happy to be (almost) off-topic…
My husband’s family has a foolproof naming method for boys. (Girls are drowned at birth, though I managed to save our Pomegranate.) The first boy is named straight after the paternal grandfather. Easy enough. The second gets the middle and last names of the maternal father. Thus, my husband is named Pinckney Arthur Benedict–and, yes, he was beaten on the schoolbus everyday, which made him a writer. So poor Pomegranate’s second son is already named Arthur Benedict (insert last name here). But as proof that they don’t actually drown all the girls, Pinckney has a female cousin named Keith Crudgington.
Personally, I spend a lot of time on babynames.com and geneology sites.
Always happy to be (almost) off-topic…
I don’t think I could beat Ashtray.
How about James O. Born? That’s guaranteed to sound fake.
I don’t think I could beat Ashtray.
How about James O. Born? That’s guaranteed to sound fake.
Simon,First of all, Have A GREAT TRIP! We’ll miss you, though I bet Troy will do us all proud.
As to names . . . when you’ve got a weird one like mine, you think about them a lot.
Sandhill Marks (could be called “Sandy” for short).
Mirabel Arch
oh, . . . I don’t know.
Ah, yes – I have a zinger of a name in my next book. In fact – he shows up in the first chapter which I played with last night. Couldn’t work him in the new one coming out this September. Don’t ask.
But here are a few you might like:
Jaunty BluetoothMarcel McGuireToby WentawayBilly GoattSammy SominexCheryl CheribumLiza LapisMona Screamatta
I try to name all of my characters after guiatar players if I can, but I get some of my best names from my spammail folder.
Thanks for the wealth of names…but I must admit I like the spam filter directory idea.
There’s the old standby of middle name and street you grew up on. For instance, I’d be Kay Brentwood. Sounds like an actress from the 40s to me. Doesn’t help if you grew up on 4th street. Ask everyone you know and, voila, a cast of named characters.
PK the Bookeemonster