Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am thrilled to Welcome Dawn Eastman here today!!
What’s in a name?
Thank you, Lori, for inviting me to Cozy Wednesday! I’m glad to be here.
My debut novel, Pall in the Family, was released on August 6. Because I use my maiden name as my pen name, I get a lot of questions about why I chose to use something other than my “real” name. The short answer is that my married name is hard to spell and pronounce. But the questions got me thinking about names, and how they are chosen.
When I was eight years old, I wanted a different first name. Dawn was too simple and too plain for me. I wanted something substantial like Samantha or Alexandra. Something with more syllables. However, I planned to shorten the name to Sam or Alex as a nickname. There’s no nickname for Dawn. It’s probably the same desire to pretend to be a fireman or a princess. What would life be like with a different name?
Now that I am a writer, I get to be all sorts of people with different names – at least in my head. I can be a pet psychic who longs for adventure when I blog as Violet Greer. I have adventures and live in a lovely small town when I write as Clyde.
Reflecting my childhood name-changing desires, many of my characters have changed their own names. Clytemnestra Fortune shortened her name to Clyde, much to her mother’s dismay. Mac McKenzie is actually named Phillip McKenzie. And Clyde’s sister married a man named Proffit after she discovered her talent for predicting the stock market.
Then there’s Diana. A few years ago, when I was working on Pall in the Family, a writer friend sent me a link to a website where you can enter your name (or any phrase) and it will kick out an anagram. Since there’s nothing a writer likes more than a distraction that can be called “work,” I quickly clicked on the link. (Try it for yourself here: http://www.arrak.fi/en/ag – I’ll wait) My married name produced a whole list, but one of them jumped out at me: Diana Moonward.
I loved the way it tied the name Diana to the moon, since Diana is the moon goddess. Moonward, as if she is leaning toward the moon. At the time, Clyde didn’t have a best friend who was a Wiccan and owned a witch supply store. But what else would a person name Diana Moonward do?
One of my favorite authors is JK Rowling. The names she uses in her Harry Potter series are so fantastic and they are like a little treasure hunt. Sirius is the dog star and her character Sirius Black changes into a large black dog. If someone is lupine, they are wolf-like and Professor Lupin turns into a werewolf. Luna Lovegood is a little on the crazy side but loyal to her friends.
What do you think? Do you notice character names and look for deeper meanings? Do you have any favorite character names? Are you happy with your name, or do you wish for something different? I’d love to discuss it in the comments!
~Dawn
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O.K. Dawn, that site is addicting, :p
Result:
My married last name produced
slew lac lews lac well sac well sac sell caw cell was cell saw calls we call sew This one jumped out at me. Before my accident I loved to sew!! Result: First and Last name produced: scowler lila willer coals carlisle low closer willa recoil walls swiller cola wile collars solacer will slier callow collier slaw swiller coal rowel scilla oracles will lollies craw collier laws wiles collar rowel lilacs oracles will allelic rows collier laws lewis collar rowel lilacs rallies cowl oracle wills collier awls slower lilac orwell salic recoils wall oracle swill collier awls roswell laic lower scilla slicer allow coaler wills relic sallow lowers lilac lower lilacs relics allow coaler swill relic allows waller coils lower lilacs relics allow locale swirl cello aswirl willer socal carlisle owl cresol willa recoil walls rollie claws None of these struck me but I do love lilacs. Result: Dollycas Produced: scylla do slay clod as coldly sold clay scaly old sally doc codys all sold acyl clays old sally cod scold lay dolls cay clays old lays cold colds lay dolls cay scald loy lays clod clods lay sac lloyd days coll clods lay sac dolly days coll cods ally sadly col lads cloy solly cad ladys col sad colly sly acold slay cold ads colly sold lacy Nothing here better than Dollycas~ _______________________ Back to business!! Dawn, THANK YOU! I hope you will come back soon and often!!
About Dawn Eastman
Dawn Eastman lived in Michigan for many years, in a house full of animals, unusual people, and laughter. She now lives in Iowa with her husband, son, daughter, and one extremely bossy small dog. Pall in the Family is her first novel.
Links:
http://familyfortunemysteries.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @DawnAEastman
Pall in the Family
(A Family Fortune Mystery)
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (August 6, 2013)
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Daniel Craig – AWESOME COVER!!
Cover Design by Judith Lagerman
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425264270
E-Book File Size: 662 KB
ASIN: B00A6WV6S2
The aptly named Crystal Haven is the destination for tourists seeking psychics, séances, and the promise of contacting the spirit world. In this small western Michigan town, everyone knows the Fortune family. Rose is gifted with tarot card readings. Her sister, Vi, is a self-proclaimed pet psychic. And Rose’s daughter Clyde is …
A cop. She has returned home from Ann Arbor on a “leave of absence”. No one really knows the whole story. Her mom and aunt think she has come home because she is ready to join the family business and use her psychic gift. Clyde would just like to relax and reflectand is happy walking some of her Aunt Vi’s clients and spending time with her nephew Seth. But when a local psychic ends up dead Clyde finds herself right in the middle of the investigation and when the killer thinks she may “know” more than it seems her own life is danger. Her trip home is definitely not a good fortune.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Clytemnestra, oh what a name, (Clyde) is quite a character! Trying to remain “normal” in a family of psychics is tough. It has already cost her one romantic relationship and maybe her job, but she is trying to hold it all together in a town where she is definitely in the minority. Crystal Haven is known for its psychics and is a major tourist destination for that reason.
She wants to let the police handle the investigation but her family wants her to “help””. Her father doesn’t have any “gifts” but he has his police scanner handy and will do almost anything Rose tells him to do. The way he deals with the women in his family just cracked me up. Clyde, Rose, Vi and even Seth are all using crystals, pendulums, and following suspects around town to try and catch the killer. Hilarity ensues!!
From the first pages when a bat is chased around the house and out an open window until the last page when a question asked long ago is answered, this book will have you fully engaged and captivated. I would classify this as paranormal light. You don’t need to believe to enjoy this story but you may believe a little by the end.
This is the author’s first novel and she has created a divine cozy. I don’t need a fortune teller to know this series has a promising future.
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have my review to give away
Plus the author is giving away a copy!!!!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Dawn for 5 Bonus Entries !
What do you think?
Do you notice character names and look for deeper meanings?
Do you have any favorite character names? A
re you happy with your name, or do you wish for something different?
I’d love to discuss it in the comments!
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End September 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”