Character Naming

As an Author naming your Character is an important step right after coming up with the plot. I am here to help you choose the right character name for you and your story.

Make sure your character name is Genre Appropriate. Make sure if it's a Historical Fiction novel or takes place in a real time period that the name was used then. Or if it's a fictionalized place then you can be as creative as you wish.

Just have fun with naming your character. It is after all your story.



Tuesday, September 9, 2014

E-Publishing Update!!!

So here is an update. It has taken some time but I am so very near to uploading to or attempting to upload one of my novels to be available on the Kindle. I will post a link to it once I do upload. I still have to do the copyright documents. As for cover art, Amazon has free covers but they are sort of dull and brown looking so I was advised to do my own so that is what I have done. Plus I had a wonderful idea for the cover that I have been successful at creating.

It has been hard going and a tad frustrating at times but when I figure something out it is a joyous moment. I have had to spend long nights searching the web for sites to help me. Apparently there are still sweet people out there who have gone through it and posted on their websites and blogs as to how best to do it. So I thought it is better if I try and direct some to their sites as they are way better at step-by-step showing prospective e-book self-publishers how to do it. I don’t remember all the sites but I know a few and I will leave links below to them. I hope they will help any authors out there. All I can say is to research as much as you can. There are so many wonderful sites out there that have helped me a ton. I feel horrible that I took the info I learned and forgot many of the websites so I can’t really redirect others to them.

Do not give up because it will be worth it! I am truly hoping by mid to late-September or early October that I have my first novel available for purchase. I hope that by early 2015 I have one more novel for purchase. I am going to try and do at least one, two, or even three novels a year. Well that’s the plan anyway!


So I will keep anyone who is interested up to date with my journey into the land of e-book self-publishing!

 
Happy Writing Lovelies! Happy Reading Lovelies!

How to Format a Word File for Kindle - by Katelyn Kelley, Demand Media- http://smallbusiness.chron.com/format-word-file-kindle-55438.html

How to format Kindle ebooks – Title Page- Camilla Chafer- http://www.camillachafer.com/2011/07/how-to-format-kindle-ebooks.html

How to format Kindle ebooks – Copyright Page- Camilla Chafer- http://www.camillachafer.com/2011/07/how-to-format-kindle-ebooks-copyright-page.html

eHow has some great articles on making table of contents which are worth looking at but it took me time to remember how I did it in class years ago and reading different articles to remember and get it right.


Editing Services & Cover Art Designers:

Camilla Chafer suggested these editing services and cover art designers that she has used. I have not personally used them but I checked out their sites and they do seem pretty good and professional but before going with any designer or editor do your REASEARCH.

I am not going to be using these particular services on the novel I am uploading but that does not mean I will not research them thoroughly and perhaps use them in the future.

Teri at Editing Fairy- http://www.editingfairy.com/


Robin Ludwig Designs- http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

I Saw My Character at Wal Mart! LOL!

No lie a few days ago I was in line at Wal Mart and this guy came up behind me in the express line and he looked no lie like one or two of my male characters. I was like this is crazy cool! I didn’t tell my mother who was checking out ahead of me what I thought until we were outside. She said I should have told him but I felt he would think I was weird or something.

I think it is so cool I saw someone who looked so much like one of my character and thought it would never happen again but then a few days after that I found a picture online of a gorgeous guy who also looks like one of my characters. This guy is super gorgeous and I will put a picture below.

Has this happened to any other writers out there? Have you too seen someone who resembled one of your characters? If you wish to share leave it under comments section, I would love to hear about your experience.








Surnames

Dumorea

 Durrell

Maroo

Callaway

Crane

Cantrell

Westmore

Winterbourne

Ashe

Meaning: (Ash Tree Town, Ashe name is a variant of Ash, tree name: the ash tree was common both in England and Scandinavia. Ashe is a Yoruba word meaning Power, Command, and Authority; it is the ability to make whatever one says happen. Often summarized as “so be it”, “so it is”, or “so mote it be”.

This surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, is either a topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "oesc" meaning "ash", or it may be a locational name from some minor place so named. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages, and locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The name dates back to the early 13th Century (see below), and further recordings include: John de le Es in the 1273 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk; Ralph de Asche in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex; and Joan atte-Eshe in the 1345 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include: Ash, Ashe, Aysh, Asch, Asche, Aish and Esh, Esch and Esche. Katherine Ash married John Ryce at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, on October 4th 1601. Christopher Ash, an early emigrant to the New World was resident in Virginia in 1622, and John Ash (1723 - 1798) was the first physician of the General Hospital Birmingham and held various posts in the Colleges of Physicians. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard del Eshe, which was dated 1221, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Worcestershire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.


Origin:  (English, Irish, Scandinavian, Yoruba)

Pronunciation: (Ash-AY, AESH, ah-SHAY)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This name I think I saw on Heroes of Cosplay too but not sure. I really do love names with Ash in it so this just added an E at the end that I kind of really like. It at first can look like Ash trying too hard or just a waste of an E at the end but I think it gives it an exotic out of the rain forest, sexy vibe, lol. Though the name has a nice old world flair as well with a nice long history. So either way you look at this name it has a good ability to be a pretty cool characters name.

Indra

Meaning: (Possessing Drops of Rain, Supreme God, Beauty, Splendor, and Indra is the name of the ancient Hindu warrior god of the sky and rain. He is the chief god in the Hindu text the Rigveda. )

Origin: (Sanskrit, Hindi, Indian)

Pronunciation: (IN-dra, IN-drÉ™, AHNDRah)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching Heroes of Cosplay on Syfy a few months back and one of the cosplayers is named Indra. I really came to see, hear and like the name when her name was said or it was on the screen. I like the main meaning of this name but I don’t really pay much mind to it being the name of a foreign deity. The meaning seems very nature oriented which I like a lot.


This name was also used for the name of a city in Kendal and Kylie Jenners’ book, rather they had a ghost writer write the book and they took credit for it but all they contributed was the idea (you can read more about this issue in one of my posts from a month or so ago.) So anyway Indra is a name gathering popularity a bit but it still rings foreign, pretty, strong, exotic, and fascinating all at once.

Finlay

Meaning: (Fair Warrior, White, Fair Haired Warrior, Anglicized form of Fionnlagh, The legendary hero Finn Mac Cumhaill was famous for his wisdom and fairness. He was a leader of the Fenians or Fiannna, a band of warriors about whom many stories are told.

This is an Old Scottish name, from the Gaelic personal name "Fionnlagh", which is composed of the elements "fionn", meaning "white, fair", with "laoch", warrior or hero. The name was early reinforced by the Old Norse personal name "Finnleikr", composed of the elements "Finn" as above, and "leikr", meaning "play, sport". As a personal name "Finlay" is first recorded in circa 1070 as "Fionnlaoich", and in the Book of Leinster, the name of MacBeth's father is spelled "Findlech" (1070); "Fynlai" was provost of Stirling in 1327. The modern surname has a number of forms, ranging from Finlay, Findlay, Finley and Findley, to Finlow and Findlow. In the Western Isle of Lewis, the fairies are called in Gaelic "Muinntir Fhionlaidh", Finlay's people. In Northumberland the name appears in 1609 as Phinley, one John Phinley marrying Isabell Simpson at St. Nicholas' Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whilst on May 30th 1699, Joh: Finlay married Doro: Watson at St. John's Church, also in the City of Newcastle. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Andrew Fyndelai, Chaplain of Brechin, which was dated 1526, Register of the Church of Brechin, during the reign of King James V of Scotland, 1513 - 1542. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/finlay#ixzz3BYyxycL0)

Origin: (Irish, Gaelic, Scottish, English)

Pronunciation: (FIN-lee)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I forget where I first heard this but I believe it may have been the name of a character one of the cosplayers on the Syfy show Heroes of Cosplay may have cosplayed as. I think this is a very good Irish name and looks very Irish or Scottish. The meanings are great and the history of it is good as well. This seems a very hero kind of name. I am not a huge fan of Finn or Fin names but this I don’t mind as much because it adds to the shortened Finn. I can see a character on a great quest in a fantasy novel being named this. Or rather seeing fairies in a particular place are named this perhaps a fairy man could be named this, which may be kind of really cool.

Blakely / Blakeleigh / Blakelie / Blakelee / Blakelea

Meaning: (From the Light or Pale Meadow; From the Dark Meadow, Pale Blond One or Dark, Variation on the name Blake. This interesting surname is both English and Scottish, although the Scottish name holders almost certainly have the same origin. It is locational from the various villages called Blackley, Blakeley, and Blackley, in the counties of Lancashire and the former West Riding of Yorkshire. The place name and hence the later surname, derive from the pre 7th century Old English words "bloec", meaning black or dark, plus "leah", a wood or sometimes a clearing in a wood. The village name is first recorded as "Blakeley" in the charters for Lancashire known as the "Inquisitions post mortem" for the year 1282. The early surname recording in Scotland, suggests that a family emigrated there from Lancashire in the 13th century, probably to the Dumfries region, which was almost an English colony. Amongst the earliest of recordings are those of William de la Blekelegh, in the parliamentary writs for the county of Staffordshire in 1301, whilst the Neubotle Registers of Edinburgh, Scotland, record Radulphus Blackley as a juror on an inquest at Berwick in 1321. John Blaklay was listed in the Register of Freemen of the city of York in 1543, whilst Thomas Blackly aged 20, was one of the first settlers to Virginia, New England, in 1635. He embarked on the ship "Hopswell of London" in that year. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Blakeleye, which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of London. This was during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Blakely#ixzz3BNNE4JOF)

Origin: (Old English, Scottish, Irish)

Pronunciation: (BLAYK-lee)

Gender: Female

I have decided to name a secondary characters daughter Blakeleigh. I know this may look like a weird spelling and throw some off but I love it and she is only mentioned a few times in epilogue so I think people can live with it, lol! I think this name in all its many variant spelling is absolutely fantastic. I love that it is a lengthening of Blake and has this very interesting look. The meanings are great and the over all vibe from this name is amazing. I would love, love to see this name more often.

Rahab

Meaning: (Wide, Spacious, 1. A prostitute of Jericho who became a worshiper of Jehovah. In the spring of 1473 B.C.E., two Israelite spies came into Jericho and took up lodging at Rahab’s home. (Jos 2:1) The duration of their stay there is not stated, but Jericho was not so big that it would take a long time to spy it out.
That Rahab really was a harlot, or prostitute, in the common sense of the word has been denied in some circles, especially among Jewish traditionalists, but this does not seem to have support in fact. The Hebrew word zoh·nah′ always has to do with an illicit relationship, either sexual or as a figure of spiritual unfaithfulness, and in each instance where it denotes a prostitute, it is so translated. It is not rendered “hostess,” “innkeeper,” or the like. Besides, among the Canaanites harlotry was not a business of ill repute.
Rahab’s two guests were recognized as Israelites by others, who reported the matter to the king. However, Rahab quickly hid the men among flax stalks that were drying on the roof so that when the authorities got there to pick the men up she was able to direct them elsewhere without arousing their suspicions. In all of this, Rahab demonstrated greater devotion to the God of Israel than to her own condemned community.—Jos 2:2-7.
At what point Rahab had become aware of the spies’ purpose there and Israel’s intentions concerning Jericho is uncertain. But she now confessed to them the great fear and dread existing in the city because of reports about Jehovah’s saving acts for Israel over the past 40 years or more. She asked the spies to swear to her for the preservation of herself and her whole family—father, mother, and all the rest. To this they agreed, provided she gather all the family into her house, hang a scarlet cord from the window, and remain silent concerning their visit, all of which she promised to do. Further protecting the spies, she enabled them to escape through a window (the house being on the city wall) and told them how they could avoid the search party that had headed for the Jordan at the fords.—Jos 2:8-22.
The spies reported back to Joshua all that had happened. (Jos 2:23, 24) Then when Jericho’s wall fell down, Rahab’s house, “on a side of the wall,” was not destroyed. (Jos 2:15; 6:22) On Joshua’s orders that Rahab’s household be spared, the same two spies brought her out to safety. After a period of separation from Israel’s camp, Rahab and her family were permitted to dwell among the Israelites. (Jos 6:17, 23, 25) This former prostitute then became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz in the royal ancestry of the Davidic kings; she is one of the four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. (Ru 4:20-22; Mt 1:5, 6) She is also an outstanding example of one who, though not an Israelite, by works proved her complete faith in Jehovah. “By faith,” Paul tells us, “Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way.” “Was not also Rahab the harlot declared righteous by works, after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way?” asks James.—Heb 11:30, 31; Jas 2:25.

2. [Heb., Ra′hav, from a root meaning “storm with importunities”]. A symbolic expression first used in Job (9:13; 26:12), where it is translated “stormer.” (NW) In the second of these passages, the context and parallel construction connect it with a great sea monster. Similarly, Isaiah 51:9 links Rahab with a sea monster: “Are you not the one that broke Rahab to pieces, that pierced the sea monster?”

Rahab, a “sea monster,” came to symbolize Egypt and her Pharaoh who opposed Moses and Israel. Isaiah 51:9, 10 alludes to Jehovah’s delivering Israel from Egypt: “Are you not the one that dried up the sea, the waters of the vast deep? The one that made the depths of the sea a way for the repurchased ones to go across?” At Isaiah 30:7 “Rahab” is again connected with Egypt. Psalm 87:4 mentions “Rahab” where Egypt appropriately fits, as the first in a list of Israel’s enemies, along with Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. The Targums use “the Egyptians” in this verse, and at Psalm 89:10 they paraphrase “Rahab” in such a way as to link the term with Egypt’s arrogant Pharaoh whom Jehovah humiliated. *Taken from Insight book Volume 2. 1988 Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses*)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (ray-hab, ray-abb)

Gender: Female

This is one of my favorite biblical female names. A few years ago this family’s young son at the time told me I looked like Rahab, they had been looking over some material that had pictures and apparently I bore a striking resemblance to her. I found it really funny. His mom explained why he said it and about the picture. Some others with us that day laughed and said well to be in the business that she was in she must have been pretty so I guess it is a complement. I laughed about it but when I looked at picture I did look a bit like her, lol.
Anyway the name and the story of Rahab in the bible is a wonderful one. Her courage and strength and love and healthy fear of Jehovah led her to make a wise decision that saved her whole family and had her become the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz in the royal ancestry of the Davidic kings; she is one of the four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. So I think this is a pretty cool name. Most might hear this name and think prostitute but I hear it and think of a woman who risked her life and was rewarded for it by Jehovah God.

Miraval

Meaning: (To Look, Survey, Admire, Valley)

Origin: (Argonese)

Pronunciation: (Mira-vahl, meer-ah-vahl)

Gender: Female

I was watching E News the other day when they were talking about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Their home in France is named Miraval. I like the name a lot probably because I like Mira as it is the name of one of my favorite characters that I have written about. The meanings are good and lovely.

I was unfamiliar with Argonese so I googled it and saw there is a castle in Italy with the Argonese name and I think it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I say meet me there for I am determined to go.

Shera

Meaning: (Light, Brightness, Singer, Plain, Darling, Man, Free Man, Meadow Shire, Bright Meadow)

Origin: (Hebrew, French, Germanic, Old English, English, Aramaic)

Pronunciation: (SHIHERAH, sher-ah)

Gender: Female

Like the name Orly and Orah *see on list of posts* this has a light meaning. At the time I put this name on my list for this blog I was looking for short names that mean light because I wanted that meaning for my characters daughters’ name. Even though the reader doesn’t know the meaning I still like to have a desirable meaning name for my character. I should say I first saw this on my favorite show Heroes of Cosplay on Syfy channel. I love the cosplayers and the cool costumes they make. One of the cosplayers portrayed She-Ra princess of power, so I took out the dash and got Shera.

The meanings are beautiful, I know I use the word beautiful a lot but some names are just really pretty all around and this is one that strikes me as a very beautiful goddess or princess or even Japanese maiden like name. The meanings I really love especially Meadow Shire and Bright Meadow because it has a very maiden of the meadows look.

Arnon

Meaning: (Rejoicing, Sunlight, Rushing Brook, Rushing Stream, Torrent Valley, Place Name.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (AA-RNaaN, ARE-non, ahr-nahn)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was reading in my bible and I read this name. The meanings are beyond perfect, they are beautiful, strong, and uplifting. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite names Aenon *see on list of posts*. Arnon has a decent look and is seemingly easy to pronounce compared to some biblical names. A cute nickname could be Arnie, Arny, and Arnee.  

Alijah

Meaning: (Derived from Elijah (Jehovah is God), The Lord is My God, My God is Yahweh)

Origin: (Hebrew, American)

Pronunciation: (É™-LIY-zhÉ™, aa-LIY-DZ-aa)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I first heard this name after Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett had her baby girl earlier this year. It was a sad business relating around the marriage of Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett and her husband but that aside as relating to the name of their daughter, I really like it. At first I was thrown off by it and like what is that name. Then I researched it. I don’t think it is a name I think would fit too many characters but I would like to see how an author might go with this name. I get a very fantasy vibe from this name.

The meanings are lovely. Alijah to me does seem a female version of Elijah but I heard of someone naming their son Alijah, so what ever spelling you use I think would be interesting and cool to see how it might work out. Elijah is a wonderful biblical name and I think Alijah just brings a different but still similar feel to the name.

Orly

Meaning: (My Light, Light is Mine, You are My Light)

Origin: (Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (OHR-lee, AORLiy)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This was the name I was intending to use for one of my main characters daughters but I went with Orah *see on list of posts* instead. The meanings are so very beautiful and lovely. The look is extremely unique yet has an old world look to it. It is seemingly easy to pronounce and is short. There are a few variants worth noting, Orlee, Orlea (though can be pronounced OHR-lee-uh), and Orlie.

I try to have the most accurate Meanings, Origin and Pronunciations for the names on this blog. It is best though to do research into the names you decide to use for your characters as there can be errors on my blog. Or meanings, origins, and pronunciations I have not seen thus not been able to add to this blog.





Try some of the leading Baby Name Sites and Baby Name or Character Naming books as well.


The baby name sites below are where I collect many of the Names, Origins, and Pronunciations I use on this blog.

Baby Names Sites:

http://www.thinkbabynames.com
http://www.babynamewizard.com
http://www.behindthename.com
http://www.babynamespedia.com