What’s In A Name?
By
Leigh Riker
I admit it. I have a thing for character names—meaning the absolutely perfect name. Nothing else will do. I have several name-the-baby-type books, and I even used them to name my own two real-life boys. Those books are a bit dog-eared by now but still come in handy. And whenever I see a list of current favorite names in a magazine or the newspaper, I always save it. Right now Charlotte seems to be very popular, presumably after Prince George’s baby sister, the adorable new little princess in Great Britain.
Oh, and what about movies? TV shows? The rolling credits often contain some really interesting names that just might fit into a story someday. I like to jot them down.
But sometimes serendipity also plays a big part. Recently, I had to come up with the just-right name for my hero in this year’s A Heartwarming Holiday and voila, there was Asher Kincaid. Easy-peasy. Ash just popped into my head. My heroine was even easier; Jill Morgan appeared last year in A Heartwarming Christmas as the best friend of my heroine. Right away I knew Jill, a young widow, needed her own story.
But then, I hit a snag. Serendity doesn’t always save the day, and it failed to provide names for some of the secondary characters who weren’t being cooperative. This time I renamed several of them more than once to finally get the effect I wanted.
In my story, Thankfully Yours, Jill and Ash, a wounded former Navy SEAL, struggle to find their new place in the world and, along with those supporting players now under control, I had such fun helping them work things out. Through the renovation of a rundown ski resort, they come to deserve their happy ending and I was more than happy to give them one.
Like all the stories in A Heartwarming Holiday mine takes place in Christmas Town, Maine. I hope you’ll enjoy it and the other two novellas in our pod called Holiday Heroes (more Navy SEALs!) by authors Tara Randel and Cari Lynn Webb. These should certainly get you in the mood for the coming holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas to a New Year’s wedding. Enjoy!
Christmas Town, ME Series
Publisher: IndieWrites, Inc
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 1200+ pages
There are five connected books in A Heartwarming Holiday. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually.
A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters.
Book 1: Once Upon a Holiday by Anna Adams, Anna J Stewart & Melinda Curtis: Three former college roommates start a business to bring the magic of the holidays to everyone in Christmas Town.
Once Upon a Thanksgiving by Anna Adams, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Once Upon a Christmas by Anna J Stewart, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Melinda Curtis, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 2: Holiday Heroes by Leigh Riker, Tara Randel & Cari Lynn Webb: Three former Navy SEALs come together to restore an outdated resort.
Thankfully Yours by Leigh Riker, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Cooking Up Christmas by Tara Randel, Barnes and Noble bestselling, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 3: 24 North Pole Lane by Carol Ross, Amy Vastine & Cheryl Harper: Romance is being delivered to 24 North Pole Lane this holiday season.
Hers by Thanksgiving by Carol Ross, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Peace, Love, and Baby Joy by Amy Vastine, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Never Say Never on New Year’s by Cheryl Harper, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 4: Magic Moments by Tara Taylor Quinn, Shirley Hailstock & Liz Flaherty: Three different times, three different stories. They all bring magic to Christmas Town.
Christmas Past by Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
It Only Happens in Christmas Town by Shirley Hailstock, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
The Magic Stocking by Liz Flaherty, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 5: Nutcracker Sweethearts by Dana Mentink, Roz Denny Fox, & Amie Denman: As the stage production of the Nutcracker unfolds in Christmas Town, three couples find love with the help of a little holiday magic!
Thanksgiving Duet by Dana Mentink, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Christmas Curtain Call by Roz Denny Fox, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Set for New Year’s by Amie Denman, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
If this boxed set appeals to you, look for our previous holiday anthology: A Heartwarming Christmas.
Purchase Links: Amazon * Google Play * iTunes * Kobo
And don’t forget, included in A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY is an exclusive coupon worth $1.00 off any Heartwarming title from Harlequin.com. Who doesn’t love heartwarming romances?
Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author Leigh Riker began her career with short stories then novels, and she still loves to write romance. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she likes to read, watch movies (funny or sad), dig in the garden, travel, and play the piano—with gusto if not finesse. At home in the Southeast she is (of course) working on a new novel for Harlequin Heartwarming.
Thanks so much for having me here today, Kathy! Love your site.
You are very welcome. And thank you, too 🙂
Leigh, love your blog post. I, too, have to find the exactly right name to fit a character or I find it hard to write about them. And the more books I write, the harder it gets to pour over baby name books and get what feels right. Your novella is great.
Thank you, Roz! I’m so ready to read your novella and the rest of those in the set that I haven’t read yet. Good times ahead!
Thanks for sharing
Naming characters is one of my favorite things about writing! Unless they fight me on it. 🙂 Great post, Leigh. Can’t wait to read all these amazing holiday stories!
I know, Anna! And I love getting that perfect name. Always makes me fall in love with a hero. Now if only titles could pop up like that.