Today I'm kicking off the Blog Tour for Eve Devon's latest book, The Little Clock House on the Green, which has just been published. To celebrate so, Eve is sharing with us how she chooses the names on her stories:
The Little Clock House on the Green - What’s in a Name?
Hi Everyone and thank you so much for joining me today.
I have to admit one of my favourite things about plotting a new book, is coming up with the names of characters and places.
From the age of nine, my bestie and I would sit in my room with piles of my mum’s Mills & Boon books and read out all the hero and heroine names and choose our favourites. They were always gorgeously exotic names like Cadence and Carluccio or Farrah and Farouq and somehow I’d form an impression of what the person would be like based on their name. Bit weird or totally know where I’m coming from? Have you ever been introduced to someone and privately thought, ‘Huh! You don’t look like a (insert given name, here)’?
There’s probably a special science-y name for this to do with ascribing personality traits or looks to sounds, so if any of you out there know what it is, I’d love to know.
When it came to naming characters in The Little Clock House on the Green, I got really lucky. As soon as they started ‘talking’ and as soon as I learned a little more about them, their names made sense.
These are the initial notes I made that helped me find their names:
Kate Somersby – Resourceful, impulsive, determined – and with much to prove to herself and the village. She has long brown hair, emotive eyes, flirtatious smile, and striking bone structure – think Anne Hathaway!
Daniel Westlake – Jaded, proud and looking to bounce back from a failed business venture and start afresh. He is tall, athletic (runner), nut brown hair. Two words: Henry Cavill!
Juliet Brown – (Jules). Shy and unassuming, still waters run deep. She’s arty, creative, sweet-natured, caring. She has luscious red hair, sweetheart shaped face, gentle/sunny/arty look. Think: Emma Stone!
Oscar Matthews – locked down. Quiet. Intense. Huge soulful/puppy-dog eyes. Two Words: Jeremy Renner!
Whispers Wood – a British Stars Hollow.
I wanted something that would roll off the tongue and make people think of a village where secrets lived. My wonderful editor came up with the name and right away I knew it was perfect. Believe me I researched a lot of names before we arrived at Whispers Wood. The UK has some priceless village names and I’ve listed The Little Clock House on the Green’s favourite’s here:
Thanks so much to Eve for stopping by and sharing such an interesting post with us! I'm always fascinated by names myself so I loved reading what there's behind the choosing of names for characters.
About the book:
Title: The Little Clock House on the Green
Author: Eve Devon
Published: March 27th 2017 by HarperImpulse
Blurb: An absolute must-read for fans of Gilmore Girls!
Welcome to Whispers Wood, a cosy little village in the heart of the English countryside, where everybody knows everybody and rumours are spread thicker than jam on a scone…
When a rival village is awarded Best in Bloom, the residents of Whispers Wood are determined to regain their former glory – and with Old Man Isaac finally selling the clock house on the village green, with two potential buyers, operation ‘Summer Fete’ is on!
For Kate Somersby, the very bricks that make up the clock house hold precious memories of her childhood. Now she’s finally returned home after years of running away, she’s here to make Isaac an offer and ensure her and her beloved sister’s dreams come true. Only entrepreneur Daniel Westlake is standing in her way.
To prove they have the village’s interests at heart and in turn become the proud new owner of the clock house, Kate and Daniel must compete to raise funds for the Whispers Wood Summer Fete.
Over one glorious English summer, friendships are forged, secrets are revealed and romance delightfully bursts into bloom.
About the author:
My name’s Eve Devon and I write sexy heroes, sassy heroines and happy ever afters…
I kind of secretly believe it’s not too late for me to train as a professional dancer, MMA expert, or win an Oscar. I know! This is why writing fiction is for me!
Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venezuela gave me a taste for adventure and my love for romances began when my mother shoved one into my hands in a desperate attempt to keep me quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals.
When I wasn’t consuming books by the bucket-load, I could be found pretending to be a damsel in distress or running around solving mysteries and writing down my adventures. As a teenager, I wrote countless episodes of TV detective dramas so the hero and heroine would end up together every week. As an adult, I worked in a library to conveniently continue consuming books by the bucket-load, until realising I was destined to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense myself. I live in leafy Surrey in the UK, a book-devouring, slightly melodramatic, romance-writing sassy heroine with my very own sexy hero husband!
Where you can find me:
Webpage: http://www.evedevon.com/
Twitter: @EveDevon
Facebook: Eve Devon Author
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