tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post1531317829739613771..comments2024-02-04T04:40:23.122-08:00Comments on Harlequin Heartwarming: A Rose by Any Other Name with Syndi PowellPamela Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05834270662017246137noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-28070626297135484662015-07-20T17:48:10.125-07:002015-07-20T17:48:10.125-07:00Naming characters is so difficult for me. It has t...Naming characters is so difficult for me. It has to fit and "click" with the character. I was called Patsy growing up and I always hated that name, so after school, I shortened it to Pat. When I was choosing a pen name, settled on my maiden name for my last. As I was going back and forth on the first name--anything but Patricia. In discussing it with my mom, she quietly said, "If Patricia Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382033674042021556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-67962350901623968782015-07-15T18:11:54.865-07:002015-07-15T18:11:54.865-07:00My friend named her daughter Lauren but changed it...My friend named her daughter Lauren but changed it to Elizabeth, after her mother-in-law, because she cared for the newborn after my friend became sick with toxemia right after the birth and had to stay in the hospital for a month. Her daughter HATES the name Elizabeth for some reason. She prefers to be called by her middle name. I was just told that story yesterday so I wanted to mention it.<Laurie Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05251033150576051700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-36551926733893797472015-07-15T16:03:03.210-07:002015-07-15T16:03:03.210-07:00Names are the toughest for me, although I have als...Names are the toughest for me, although I have also weaved family members into my stories. All three of my kids have been in my books. Sometimes as small characters, but they all have had their moment in print!Amy Vastinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10370234907973582544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-80175015016542457642015-07-15T11:11:08.640-07:002015-07-15T11:11:08.640-07:00Forgot to add congratulations on the book, and tha...Forgot to add congratulations on the book, and that it's so nice to hear from you! You should check in more often.Muriel Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065629068634892645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-64375489340049504892015-07-15T10:52:46.354-07:002015-07-15T10:52:46.354-07:00I get quite involved in deciding character names.....I get quite involved in deciding character names...everything from meaning to the 'sound' of it. Love that you have a family tradition around it!Rula Sinarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01703015110251843280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-58007091323341923142015-07-15T10:40:50.508-07:002015-07-15T10:40:50.508-07:00This is such an interesting subject, Syndi. I know...This is such an interesting subject, Syndi. I know a few people who have changed their names as well. As a writer I feel like you and most everyone above that names are so very important to the character. I change them often until they sit just right... In my first book I had to change a secondary (important one) at the last minute and it kinda broke my heart. I still think of her by the name I Carol Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360417299528882416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-35849429995099569712015-07-15T09:35:11.045-07:002015-07-15T09:35:11.045-07:00I once knew a Shelly, who decided one day to becom...I once knew a Shelly, who decided one day to become an Annette (her middle name). The fact that at age twelve she managed to re-train everyone who knew her says something about the force of her personality. Beth Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02447148196867821907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-40701633316134013402015-07-15T09:33:00.982-07:002015-07-15T09:33:00.982-07:00Like Muriel, I have a bunch of baby names books. S...Like Muriel, I have a bunch of baby names books. Sometimes I make lists of characters' names so no two will begin with the same letter or have the same sound. Other times my story people insist upon what they want to be called. Thirteen or so seems to be the time when girls (or boys, maybe) experiment with their own names. I don't have a nickname now, but as a child my grandmother had Leigh Rikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614965296068207696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-17549272316857105632015-07-15T08:19:09.410-07:002015-07-15T08:19:09.410-07:00I love naming characters. I have every baby names...I love naming characters. I have every baby names book ever written and I make myself long lists before deciding - usually. Sometimes a character is born in my head already named. Sometimes I end up changing the name in chapter six or seven. Like Marion, you can't do much to Muriel to create a nickname. A few relatives call me Mur. The name is odd and old-fashioned (as am I) and I was Muriel Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065629068634892645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-71916807196385097822015-07-15T07:45:06.025-07:002015-07-15T07:45:06.025-07:00I remember when I was younger, my parents told me ...I remember when I was younger, my parents told me they were going to name me Kellie, but they changed their mind at the last minute. I always wondered if I would be different as a Kellie verses a Jill. :) I used several family member names in my book. I love to name characters.Jill Weatherholthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935341991222337363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-53230617145156980412015-07-15T07:12:38.287-07:002015-07-15T07:12:38.287-07:00People’s names change. When I’ve met classmates an...People’s names change. When I’ve met classmates and referred to them by their name from schooldays, I’ve been told, “I don’t go by that anymore.” It’s a hard adjustment to wrap my mind around their new name. I like how you spell your nickname. I’ve never had one, the closest being Mare that a neighbor used. A horse! Ugh! <br />I definitely have to read your book if the hero plays a guitar. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144857256396400731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-90139462580728232302015-07-15T06:48:22.830-07:002015-07-15T06:48:22.830-07:00How neat! I love that you decided to change the wa...How neat! I love that you decided to change the way you spelled your name to reflect your personality. As a "Karen" I've always felt really run-of-the-mill, average, blend-in kind of a person. If only I'd tried Caryen or something unique like that! I love that you use family names in your stories, Syndi! My grandfather's name is Onofrio.... I wonder if I could use that... Karen Rockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736343432643472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-50219082825601957702015-07-15T06:46:59.049-07:002015-07-15T06:46:59.049-07:00Names are a big thing to me and I have to live wit...Names are a big thing to me and I have to live with the character in my head while I'm mulling over what their place is in my story. I spend a lot of time trying out names. The few times I've been asked to change the name of a main character it's painful. But I assume my editor has a good reason. And Syndi, I really like this unique spelling of your name. I actually have had 2 friendsrozdennyfoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06506701706951201107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-60332375992396379702015-07-15T04:55:30.707-07:002015-07-15T04:55:30.707-07:00I was intrigued by the spelling of your name, Synd...I was intrigued by the spelling of your name, Syndi. Thank you for sharing the backstory! <br /><br />In addition to the fun I have naming characters, I enjoy finding the right names for the furry, four-legged characters in my books, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17478912840797103106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-6005683283495750402015-07-15T04:30:51.153-07:002015-07-15T04:30:51.153-07:00I give family names to characters, too, but it'...I give family names to characters, too, but it's interesting how seldom they stick. It's as though the only people who can have those names are my own personal ones! A great post, Syndi!Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.com