Some days you just can’t win for losing. I’ve had several of those lately.
This week I’ve been plagued by being misunderstood. Big sigh. 
A few nights ago I was out with friends having a wonderful seafood botana platter. Yum. Just remembering makes me hungry again. Anyway, the waiters in this restaurant spoke mostly Spanish and very little English, and we do just the opposite: mostly English and very little Spanish. But we’d eaten there before with no problem. Great food. That night was the first time we had ordered the seafood platter to share. It came with all the usual; shrimp, fried fish, oysters, crab legs etc. And all of us dug right in. Within a few moments we realized there were no utensils provided to crack the shells on the crab legs. After a few frustrating moments of trying to do it by hand, one of the guys with us stopped a waiter and asked him for ‘crackers’ to open the shells. After a strange look and several minutes wait, the waiter appeared back at our table with a basket of saltine crackers. Duh.
We did eventually get the shells opened and had a great laugh, but that was just the start of a frustrating week of duh moments for me. The worst of them was a misunderstanding with my editor’s assistant about the name of one of the characters in my latest book. If you don’t know, the setting for my latest series is the Navajo Four-corners reservation. It’s a fascinating place with fabulous vistas and interesting old legends and strange-sounding names. Anyway, this one name was apparently a little too interesting for the assistant. I dunno, Old Goatface Nighthawk didn’t sound so unreasonable for a sweet grandmother’s name to me…
We did get the problem sorted out and I changed the character’s name, but it reminded me of another time early in my career when another character’s name became a huge challenge for me. I was writing then about the Texas- Mexico border area and one of my heroes was a Mexican-American FBI agent named Manny Sanchez. His story was the second book in the series of three and he’d already appeared as a sidekick in the first book. I had finished writing his book and the manuscript had gone off to the marketing department for cover and back cover blurb, when I got a call from an editor in New York, insisting that I change the hero’s name. Huh? I couldn’t. He’d already appeared in the first book. I wanted to know why the late concern about the name. A guy in marketing called me to say he refused to use the name Manny on the back cover because that name was too ethnic. Another ‘huh?’ moment for me. Of course it was ethnic, so was the hero. But the marketing man went on to say that the name reminded him of his old Jewish uncle Manny. Ah ha. I preceded to ask if this marketing genius had ever visited the southwestern U.S. “Nope. Never been farther than New England,” he told me. Uh huh. We finally compromised and the back cover will forever list the hero as Manuel Sanchez. But inside he was still and always will be my rough tough undercover agent: Manny.
It got me to thinking, I wonder how important heroes names are to readers? A lot (I suspect) Or not so much? Further, I wonder if the names I use seem to fit the heroes that have come from my imagination.
So, here’s today’s question and challenge. Are heroes names important to you when you read? Would a man named Chester or Alistair give you the same thrilling image as men named Bret or Riley or Jack? I want to know your favorite all time hero’s name. One of my heroes’ names would be nice of course, but I really want your favorite of all the books you’ve ever read. Do you remember?
A prize of any of my backlist or current books and a little of my favorite ‘feel-better’ Godiva chocolate will go to a random poster, so let us hear from you!
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When I’m buying a book I don’t even think about the names, it’s the story I’m interested in. The names really don’t matter to me. My biggest complaint about names is when there are similar names in the story. Anything that takes away from the story bothers me. If I had to pick a name I would choose Nicholas.
by Maureen
on March 6th, 2006 at 6:43 am
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My Favorite book and heroe’s name:
Karen Robards- “Walking After Midnight” /Steve Calhoun “Frankenstein” nickname
I probably have a sentimental attachment to the name Steve as it’s my father’s and brother’s name. They’ll always be my heroes. Frankenstein because his facial features were so distorted from his beating.
Book was exciting with many surprise elements: surprise beginning when a battered “corpse” comes to life, good guys vs bad (and you’re not sure who’s who), great chase scenario through the mountains of Tennesse, a ghost, and of course a love story between the heroine Summer and Steve. It had it all!!
by Laurie
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:05 am
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I don’t think that the name of the hero is important, but sometimes they are really funny. A few days ago I read a book where the hero was called Link. I didn’t know that was a name.
My favorite hero names a from Celtic origin like Colin, Duncan etc.
by Danny
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:14 am
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Ohhh, I love the name Nicholas, Maureen. My hero in SEDUCTION BY THE BOOK from last year was a Nicholas (Nick) And I absolutely agree that I hate anything that takes me out of the book.
So does that mean you also hate names that are too strange? Some names are odd but I seem to get used to them fairly quickly if I’m engaged in the story. For instance, Susan Elizabeth Phillips ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ heroine, Sugar Beth. It didn’t take me too long to get used to that one.
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:05 am
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Steve seems a good solid name, Laurie. And I love the nickname.
I like to use easy solid names once in a while. It brings the character down to earth for me. Steve, Michael, Thomas, Robert, Richard; all good solid American names.
Gotta love them.
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:11 am
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Oops. I forgot the name Daniel as an example of a good solid American name. 
And I also like Celtic names, Danny. Colin, Duncan, Farrell. Yum. Soo many heroes, so little time. 
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:17 am
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I don’t usually have problems with names.
But as a writer, I’m picky. I’ve been known to go through a dozen name changes in two weeks. 
by May
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:23 am
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When I buy a book, the names don’t influence me. I like the names Cole, Chase, Chance, Tyler, Jackson and Dylan. I also enjoy the Celtic names mentioned by other posters.
by Crystal B.
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:42 am
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This may sound a little odd, but sometimes when the hero has a quirky or “nerdy” name, it just makes him that much more attractive to me! I also kind of like it when they have a physical imperfection, like a slight limp or a scar. Something that makes them not so perfect and more “attainable” in the eyes of an “average” woman such as myelf , I guess! (I told you it was a little odd!)
Not that I don’t enjoy the Mr. Perfects! But having a down-to-earth, everyday Joe name can make the character seem more real and less larger than life.
by Angie
on March 6th, 2006 at 9:19 am
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I love the name Tyson Steele from your book Reflected Pleasures! I also love the aforementioned Celtic names. Some other favorites are Trace, Roarke, Tristan, and Gareth. That being said, I would not buy or refrain from buying a book based on character names. Although, I do think an attractive name can add to a good story.
Hugs, Zara
by Zara
on March 6th, 2006 at 9:29 am
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ROFL. Linda, Danny is in my case the short form for Daniela:smile:
by Danny
on March 6th, 2006 at 9:50 am
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Names by themselves aren’t that important except that they might be nice sounding but once I’m into a story the name becomes the character and the character becomes the name - I hope everyone understands what I mean.
I like Chance, Nick, Steven, Michael.
by Robyn L
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:00 am
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Oh Danny, I KNEW you weren’t a Daniel! 
It just reminded me of the name.
I kinda liked Tyson Steele’s name too, Zara. But then I fall in love with all heroes and the names don’t mean much after I get to know them - like Robyn L mentioned.
Angie, I know exactly what you mean. In the second book in my new Night Guardian series the hero is going blind. He’s a doctor who won’t be able to practice as a blind man and he just ripped my heart out. Loved that guy. Wanted to bundle him up and take care of him.
I don’t buy a book at all based on the names either, Crystal. But I think I do get a picture in my head immediately of what the name means to me. Good or bad. Does that happen to you too?
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:17 am
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The most important aspect for a book is having a great plot…however, to be honest, I do think names can influence the story. The names of the characters help to connect the story as well as help in describing who they are. Although, every time I read a book and the “heroine” is blond I quickly replace that with brunette (like me 
) Will I discard a book completely based on names, absolutely NOT. Some names I have liked are Cole, Nick, Jake, and Connor.
by Kathleen
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:40 am
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Yes, I do sometimes get a picture in my head of the character by the name. I hadn’t thought about that until you mentioned it.
by Crystal B.
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:58 am
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I don’t usually care about the names all that much. Occassionally a name may give me an image different than the character description, but I can usually change the image after reading the character’s description. The only real problem that I usually have is when a name is hard to pronounce. I feel bad for not knowing how to say the name.
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
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I’m here on the right day!
I just read “Ain’t She Sweet” and being from the south, I had no problem believing a heroine named Sugar Beth. 
I think my all-time favorite hero name is Rio Madrid from Kristi Gold’s RENEGADE MILLIONAIRE. And, today is Kristi’s birthday too. Happy birthday, Kristi!
I love hero names that end in a “K” or “X” sound — Max, Luke, Nick, Jack. It’s so easy to imagine the heroine moaning those names in the throes of passion. So I always give my character names the “Moan Test” to see how they sound when whispered breathlessly. Go ahead. Try it yourself.
I don’t really care for “way-out-there” names, but I don’t know that I’ve ever been drawn out of a good story by a character’s name. Ultimately it’s the story and the writing that draw me in and keep me hooked.
by Marilyn
on March 6th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
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not really, it is the story that counts and works for me.
by kim h
on March 6th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
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Marilyn- on the “moan test”
Also, I am with you on the southern name thing! I am also from the south and one of my good friends has a daughter named Honey Leigh.
by Angie
on March 6th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
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The hero’s name is not as important to me as the plot, but I do like to see a hero’s name reflect his heritage and where he lives. Like John Robicheuaux from New Orleans or Chase Landry from Montana or Cole Lonetree from an Indian reservation in California. I think a good name adds flavor to the character and grounds them in their setting.
I am from the South, and I do love some of the southern names. My son has friends named Alyssa Belle and Morgan Lee. Also Dustin Tyler and Ryerson Emmerson!
by Sandra M.
on March 6th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
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Oh, Marilyn! The ‘moan’ test! Wow! Leave it to you to come up with that. I’ll have to use that from now on. (Happy Birthday to my friend Kristi!)
I just love the names Honey Leigh, Alyssa Belle and Mogan Lee, don’t y’all?
And I adore the idea that you can convert the ‘picture’ in your head when you read a description that doesn’t match, Jennifer! I guess I must do that too sometimes.
Only there are ’some’ names that will never fly with me because I knew somebody once with that name and didn’t like the person. Hmm. That sounds bad, I guess, but I can’t help it. Fortunately there aren’t very many names around like that!
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
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I had a friend tell me once that she renames the characters if they have a name she doesn’t care for.
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
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There is one name I remember from a book I read years ago. It was J.D. Holt in A COWBOY’S SECRET by Anne McAllister. The character seemed very real to me and the name just seemed to fit him. So while I wouldn’t say the character’s name itself is important to me, I do think the name needs to fit the character. Does that make any sense?
by Cheryl S.
on March 6th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
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Makes perfect sense Cheryl S.
by Kathleen
on March 6th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
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Character names are not that important to me. It’s the type of person they are that is much more important. Sometimes if a hero/heroine has a unusual name they will use intials or a nickname and part of the story line will revolve around the heroine/hero trying to guess what the name is.
by Joyce
on March 6th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
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I agree, Cheryl S. Makes perfect sense to me. I work hard at getting names that fit. 
I wonder what your friend renames the characters, Jennifer? Names she likes a whole lot better? Now that takes one great imagination!
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
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My first romance and my favorite book is Gone With The Wind! I love the name Rhett! I think it’s important that the name fit the character. The type of story and the location of the story can help decide what the character’s name should be.
by Carol
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
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Character names arent that important to me either. But some names I do like better than others like Jack or Nick.
In regard to Joyce’s remark, I do like it when the character has an unusual name and we have to wait til the end of the book to find out what it is.
As for my fav books: I have have several - here are some:
SEP - Kiss An Angel
Linda Howard - Sarah’s Child
Barbara Delinsky - Three Wishes
Jill Marie Landis - Heartbreak Hotel
by Pat
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
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Hey Carol! I agree with you.
Anyone want to play a game with me? Pick a name, fill in the blanks and then lets make up the last line:
_________ cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, ________ wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
_________ whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
________________________________________, he said out loud.
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
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Some of my favorite names are Jack, Clint, Dylan, and Luke.
by Amy S.
on March 6th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
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Not sure if I am doing this right, but I’ll try!
Luke cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, Callie wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
Luke whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
“What have I gotten myself into?”, he said out loud
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
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I don’t think names are all that important unless you named the hero Helen or something totally out of the normal. Ha! Ha! I honestly don’t like the name Roarke, but I love the hero in the J.D. Robb stories so I suppose that’s why I think it doesn’t matter. My favorite are the celtic names mentioned previously like Colin, Duncan etc.
Jason cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, Delilah wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
Jason whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
“I sure do hope she’s a fast healer”, he said out loud.
by KimW
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
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I’m okay with strange names when the story draws me in. Also, I might not like a name to begin with but as the story goes on I like the character so the name starts looking good.
by Maureen
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
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I”ll play!
Lucas cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, Celeste wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
Lucas whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her. “Forgive me, grandmother,” he said out loud.
by Marilyn
on March 6th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
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Anyone want to play a game with me? Pick a name, fill in the blanks and then lets make up the last line:
__Stone_______ cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, _Samantha_______ wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
__Stone_______ whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
_When you wake up, missy, you are going to need some TLC_______________________________________, he said out loud
by Robyn L
on March 6th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
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Fun, fun, fun!!!! Great names, everyone!
But how would it look with these????
Wilfred_ cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, Flavia_ wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
Wilfred_ whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
But I sure hope she can get rid of those nasty purple boils_, he said out loud
Ha, Ha, ha
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
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LOL!!!!!
Is this from your upcoming book? The passage (not the names)!
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
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Yep, Jennifer. The paragraph is paraphrased from the first chapter in my upcoming April book, SHADOW FORCE. The real names I used in the book are — Kody and Reagan. And I hope the names do match their personalities. Kody is a half-breed FBI agent and medicine man. Reagan is a math geek who ends up in big trouble on the reservation.
This book is the first of a six-book series. And the names are all whizzing around in my head by this time.
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
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I’ll play too:
_Nick________ cursed the cold. He’d already scraped all the rest of the bee stingers he could find on the woman’s uncovered skin. Currently unconscious, ____Grace____ wouldn’t be pleased to know a Navajo medicine man had stripped her down to check her entire body. She had appeared unscathed under the plain jeans and jacket.
________Nick_ whistled softly through his teeth. The black lace bra and panties had been a real surprise. It make him curious about her.
______________I wonder if she would be wildcat in bed__________________________, he said out loud.
by Linda Conrad on March 6th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
by Pat
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
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Sounds like an interesting series Linda!!
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
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Thanks for a great time guys! Anyone who wants to keep playing, feel free to have fun!
I just had my dear hubby pick a number between one and forty. He picked 24. No surprize there I guess. His birthday is coming up on the 24th of March. So… Kathleen is #24 and wins an autographed copy of SHADOW FORCE along with a little Godiva chocolate to savor when she needs comforting the most.:grin:
Kathleen, email me your snail mail address to LindaConradbooks@aol.com
Thanks again all! Enjoy!!!!
by Linda Conrad
on March 6th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
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Congrats Kathleen!
by Jennifer Yates
on March 6th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
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Purple boils.
Congrats Kathleen!
by Marilyn
on March 7th, 2006 at 12:44 am
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Big congrats Kathleen!!!
by Danny
on March 7th, 2006 at 4:04 am
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Congratulations Kathleen!
by Cheryl S.
on March 7th, 2006 at 7:42 am
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Congrats Kathleen
by Robyn L
on March 7th, 2006 at 9:50 am
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Thanks everyone!!!!!:smile::smile::smile:
by Kathleen
on March 7th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
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Congratulations Kathleen!
by Carol
on March 8th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
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When buying a book I don’t think about the names…but when I’ m writing a book, I do. I know readers often love names that convey masculinity in their heroes…so I try to give them that.
Now, I need to read your story about Manny. Sounds delicious.
Denise A. Agnew
www.deniseagnew.com
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Hey, Denise! The title of the book with Manny is DESPERADO DAD, but it’s out of print. Maybe you’ll be able to find a copy in a used book store.
Did you notice the different feelings when we changed names for our game above? Each name made the paragraph change images - from very masculine to neutral and then to wimp with my silly try. I think it’s fascinating how just a name can do that kind of thing. Don’t you?
by Linda Conrad
on March 8th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
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Yes, names count! I had to change Brandy’s (and her hamster’s, Soda’s) names in Sorceress of Faith..and it took a long while for me to feel used to it. Actually, I think that the character (now Marian and Tuck) got used to it a whole lot easier than I did. Or maybe not. About every 1 in 5 books I have problems with the opening, and that was one of them.
OTOH, I never thought in the world that I would consider “Sweeney” a hero’s surname, yet Nora Roberts did that in Born of Fire. She even had the heroine call him “Sweeney.” And the man was cool and sophisticated. **shaking head**
Robin
