Naming Characters for Friends?

Is naming characters for your friends a good idea?

Many would argue no.

But, if your friends are good-hearted and don’t mind, why not?

That’s what I did in The Sunbonnet Bride, part of The 12 Brides of Summer Collection.

I felt a little guilty naming characters after several friends, but when I showed them in the book–no one cared.

Here’s a rundown:

“Her landlady joined them, shaking her fine skirts and spinning with pleasure. The hoops she wore belled out the new dress beautifully and Mrs. Campbell looked lovely on the summer day with rosy cheeks and a spring in her step.”

Matching friends with behavior.

A little surprise on this one:

Char did give away her chickens!

“Charlie from the north side of Fairhope announces he’s got more layers than he knows what to do with. He’ll give one layer to each of the first ten Sterling families who find him.”

Matt  is a fun guy who often finds himself in interesting predicaments for God‘s glory. This generosity reminded me of him:

“A small load when you can get to it out at Brush Creek. Matt Boden said you should concentrate on those who need help first.”

Two ladies in my periodic book club were irresistible customers to the seamstress shop because while they are both always look well turned out, but more to the point, they love to read and are good friends (Note the reference to “bosom friends,” which is a nod to Anne of Green Gables, of course):

“So clever with the framing,” Mrs. Fitzgerald said. “I don’t know how you thought of it.”

Even wearing a hat!

She passed it to her bosom friend, Mrs. Downdall, who nodded. “Could you make me one in my favorite color: sky blue?”

The women took their leave. They’d purchased a copy of The Ladies Home Journal and wanted to read the story together.”

Using friend’s names just for fun, nothing else.

Reverend Cummings appeared in both The Sunbonnet Bride and its prequel, The Yuletide Bride. He’s actually the friend who let me play with his bagpipes:

Mr. Finch had just announced Reverend Cummings the winner of the suckling pig. “Raise him up and you could have bacon next year.”

A clan chief in real life.

The reverend’s daughter Grace began to cry. “I don’t want to kill the piggy.”

Malcolm returned to the back of the crowd after helping Grace Cummings find a spot in the family barn for her piglet,  whom she named Hamlet.”

Who would name a pig Hamlette (corrected spelling–she’s female)?

My niece.

So far, naming characters after people I like has worked out fine. All my friends have loved being part of my novella.

Why wouldn’t they?

I didn’t kill anyone and certainly none of them were the bad guys.

I name my bad guys after . . .

Well, who would you choose and why?

Tweetables

Naming characters after friends–a good idea or bad? Click to Tweet

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Naming characters for friends–just for fun! Click to Tweet