Secrets About the Book You’re Reading by Dick Wybrow – Guest Post
Secrets About the Book You’re Reading by Dick Wybrow – Guest Post
Today on the blog we welcome author Dick Wybrow, with his guest post ‘Secrets About the Book You’re Reading Right Now #17: Names‘ Post contains affiliate links.
Dick Wybrow is a novelist living in Auckland, New Zealand. He’s been featured on global outlets like CNN and the Discovery Networks. The author of three books, his latest The InBetween comes out in July.
Secrets About the Book You’re Reading Right Now #17: Names
When you see a character’s name leap from the page of a book, it comes with a sort of unspoken aspiration. A hope from the author that this unknown person in their head might be cherished by you the reader like a Lisbeth Salander or Jack Reacher or Stephanie Plum.
For a novelist, crafting a character’s name is central to what we do. These are the heroes and villains of our epic tale, the champions who will carry this story from deep within our heart out to the world!
But, in truth, actually naming characters can be a real pain in the ass.
Some writers– I would wager very few of them– will spend a fair amount of time coming up with the perfect name. I don’t “perfect” in the sense that the square-jawed hero should be Rock Johnson. Or the villain should be Baddy Badderson.
No, some auteurs take full-on THC-fueled safaris through the Wiki forest looking for a name that will evoke their character’s personality, profession or deepest desires.
The Hunger Games heroine archer’s name “Katniss” is actually named after a plant, which is also known as “arrowhead.” George Lucas may have had a proclivity for splinter-causing-shoes as a kid because his series’ big Luke-I’m-Yo-Daddy reveal was foretold by his character’s name—Vader is Dutch for father.
But, here’s the biggie: many if not most of the names in the book you’re reading right now are basically just the author’s friends and family. And the guy at the tire shop. And the woman at the dry cleaners. However, don’t assume the evil villain is named after a bully who used to stuff the author into a middle school gym locker. That blood-thirsty, homicidal maniac could just as easily be named after their rabbi.
And, in truth, Rabbi Malka probably got a big kick out of it!
On rare occasions, I have poured long-held, deep-seated angst onto a page. The dumb groom who got busted cheating on his bride during the wedding reception might just be the name of the guy who once stole my prom date (the night before prom!).
It could be. Who knows? These things happen. Probably a totally subconscious move (but it wasn’t).
As a final resort, after we’ve run out of loved ones, many writers will grab any inspiration we can. Whatever’s present.
I recently was beta reading a novel for another author and stumbled across a name that actually made me lol out loud. When I asked about it, she insisted that Kallax was named after a town in Sweden.
But, you and I know better. (Kallax if you don’t know is a brand of shelving)
We know… somewhere in her writing room… this baby sits, lurking, nay brooding, in a corner.
In fact, occasionally, character names can clue you into what’s on the author’s desk. This can become clear when, in the big climax, Fanta and Funyun speed away from the clutches of the hardnosed– but effervescent– detective A.K. Seltzer.
I wish I were joking.
Painter Mann Series Book One
Publisher – Dee Dub Publishing
Pages – 399
Release Date – 1st July 2019
Format – ebook
Painter Mann is a one-of-a-kind private investigator. He may even be the world’s best, but mainly that’s because he’s dead.
Assisted by his “Temps”— a select few of the very old who are so close to death they can actually hear him— Painter has sworn to help the murder victims stuck in The InBetween by revealing their killers so they can move on.
But, a new mass murder case threatens everything after Painter recognizes the killer’s face as the person who murdered him.
Exposing them will free dozens of ghosts but will also clear Painter, leaving no one to help the souls trapped in The InBetween.
Also, he’s really into the whole private investigator thing. When alive he was never really good at much. Dead? He’s a hell of a PI.
Is Painter willing to risk it all to save those he’s sworn to help?
Purchase online from:
Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.com
You can find out more about Dick Wybrow by visiting the website/social media sites below.
www.dickwybrow.com
@42FordPrefect
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
I remember hearing Dick Wybrow on the radio. Is this the same guy? I love his humour! Is there somewhere I can find the rest of this list?
It certainly is the same person. You can find more of his list coming on the blog soon.