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Saturday, June 7, 2014

Guest Blog: Vicki Batman: Hi! I’m... Uh... What is your hero’s name?

Soon my romantic mystery, Temporarily Employed, will be released and will it be rockin’. I was thinking back to the days when I first was “prompted” to write and then remembered how I struggled to find my hero’s name. Eventually, I named him Allan Charles Wellborn. It suggested stability and formality to me, and I especially liked the two “L” s in the first and last name.

So how did I get his name? OMG, I nearly pulled my hair out. Nothing spoke to me. Struggling to go forward, I named my guy XXX.

I began writing at the computer in the family room. Also in the same room was the television which served mostly as background noise for me. At that time, the chatter didn’t bother me. Besides, something had to break the day of part time jobs, housework, laundry, cooking, gardening... You get the drift.

So there I was struggling over what to name my hero. I continued to bang away on the story all the while the television blared in the background. Then I heard “Allan.” I checked the TV to find a commercial for a sitcom featuring a character named “Allan.” I liked the sound of that and quickly subbed in the name for the XXX placeholder.

Fine and dandy, but I knew at some point, I’d have to give my guy a last name. Again, I was in the family room working away, the television going on in the background. The word “Wellborn” caught my ear. I stared at a commercial for a door company named “Wellborn.” I put my combo together and said it over and over. I liked.

The name “Allan” means in Celtic: harmony, stone, or noble. Also fair, handsome. Originally a saint's name, it was reintroduced to Britain during the Norman Conquest, remained popular throughout the Middle Ages, and was revived in the 19th century.

The name “Wellborn” means in German: stream. A habitational name from any of several places so named in Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.

Was it the best choice?

So my hero is handsome (:-)) and although his last name means stream, I think just saying “well” and “born” gives a different meaning of born well, like to a manor born. And that fits my guy. He’s pretty much always perfect all his life-or is he?

That by far was the hardest name I worked on. Others have come much easier as my fingers fly across the keyboard.

What is your favorite guy name?

BIO:
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if?"

BLURB: Temporarily Employed, a romantic mystery coming soon:
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

Allan Wellborn has determined there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before time is up?

17 comments:

J.S. Wayne said...

Hi, Vicki!

I don't know that I have a "favorite" name, per se. I try to make my characters' names fit the story, which I freely admit sometimes makes them a stone bitch to get juuuuuuust so. Love the story of how Allan's name came about, and I hope you have lots of sales on this one!

Rose Anderson said...

Fun how that all came together for you, Vicki. I wish you and Allen great success with his story.

Tina Donahue said...

Love the cover and blurb, Vicki. Sounds like a fun story.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, J S Wayne, who must be a cousin to Bruce? LOL. I think it is funny how I was watching tv and heard names in the background which went click in my head. Somehow, all fit together. Thanks for stopping.

Hi, Rose. Thank you so much. It's a funny romantic mystery.

Hi, Tina! I'm so glad you like the cover. I adore red and yes, it has lots of the funny moments, but then I always have funny moments. lol

M. S. Spencer said...

My favorite name is Michael, and I've managed to slip in a Michael somewhere in every book. For my heroes' names I keep a list that has every name I've heard that I like. Choosing names for my characters is one of the fun parts of writing! M. S.

Nicholas Genovese said...

Vicki,
Loved your name story. I obsess over names myself and usually finally select the ones with alliteration, such as Earline Evers or Granny Grace.
Nick

PRM said...

My favorite guy name is whatever one I'm working with at the time. I remember the first time I named a male character and a few chapters into the book just wasn't feeling it like I thought I should. Who he'd evolved into didn't match the name. I was terrified that if I changed his name at that point it'd ruin what I'd written and jinx the rest of it. Silly me :-0

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, M. S. Spencer! That is so funny about you and the name of Michael. I do one fun thing with names - any pets are named after mine. lol Thanks for stopping by.

Hi, Nick! (a favorite name for other reasons. lol) That is so funny, but readers do remember things like alliteration. Geez! I'm going to remember Granny Grace now.

Hi, Polly! I wrote a whole story and was about to send it off when something in my head went huh? The hero's name. I did a search and replace. After another read through (to see if I was crazy or not), I felt the name fit the hero and sent the story on it's merry way. Now, I can't even remember what I had used the first time. hmmm :)

jean hart stewart said...

Choosing names is always tricky. My latest series is about elves, and since the Scandinavian elves are tall and handsome this whole family has Scandinavian names. Kinda fun..

Flirty & Feisty Romance said...

It is always a challenge to name my characters. I always do get a buzz when the name sounds right. I love Logan Blake, the hero in my seventh title; Stolen Valentine Kiss.

Congrats Vicki!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Jean! I love how the elves' background lends to having Scandinavian names. You have fun to play with that.

Hi, Stella! I agree with you that when a name fits it's a great feeling. And thank you. I'm pretty excited about my book.

Melissa Keir said...

I have the hardest time with names. I like to use names of students or friends. It is fun to see their names in print.

I love how your character's name came about. It's almost magic how it happened and was certainly meant to be!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Melissa! I feel fortunate the TV spoke to me on those days. LOL
I have been known to read the obits for names. Is that too weird? Hugs.

Sandy said...

Great story about how you came up with the name for your hero, Vicki.

I usually check a baby book for names, but I like to know the nationality of the name, so it goes with my hero.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sandy! Sometimes, I pick a name and it fits. Other times, my characters tell me their names. I'm just typing along and poof! it appears. I always think it interesting to see what names mean. Thanks for posting today.

Unknown said...

Great way to get your name! I don't have a favorite and sometimes, I just dread having to come up with a name. Thank goodness for name books!!

Cathy McElhaney said...

Awesome! My books are not (finished!) romance, but my hero's names just came as I was typing the story. Seriously. Well, one character's last name I changed, due to a request from someone with that last name, so I was looking around my computer room and saw the "Steeler's" sticker on my computer...and the man became Dr. Gabriel Steele! Ha ha! In this book, most of the surnames are family names. My sister didn't like that I was using them, so I changes a few. Except for the main characters. They are still Anna Stype and Josh McCoy. Stype was my grandmothers maiden name and McCoy was her mothers maiden name. Josh and Anna, just came to me. I tried to give the doctor a different first name, but he wouldn't have it! Some characters are so picky!

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