I
consider names to be of primary importance in a story. Just look at Harrison
Ford. What if Han Solo was named Mike Mansfield, or Indiana Jones was actually
Steve Donaldson. No offense to Mike Mansfield or Steve Donaldson but those
names don't really have the kick necessary for an action hero.
In
Mortimer Townes I had a lot of fun
with the names. The setting makes it necessary to tweak things a bit. After all
it all takes place on another planet that is similar to Earth as is the time
period; similar to Earth's 1960's. So the names needed to be similar, but still
unique. In the story there is a boy named Chalo. Some folks may be able to recall
a TV series called Happy Days. Well Happy Days had a character in it called
Chachi. Some may argue that this character was the ultimate spin-off cheese of
that era, and I would have to agree, but it was the archetype that I was going
for in the character of Chalo. He's a bit too sure of himself and maybe a bit
shallow. So I got a Chachi, but he's a bit shallow...see where I'm going with
this?
The
example of Chalo isn't a hard and fast rule. Sometime I just make up a name
from scratch because it sounds funny. One of my favorites is Shanti Shar. My
partner used to have a dog named Shandy. He was a blond wrecking ball. Change
the gender and you get Shanti. Maksey is also the name of my adorable niece and
Spencer is my nephew. Shaley is a name that is kind of like canned lunch meat,
I actually have no idea where it came from. Mortimer's wife Aga is actually the
name of a premium quality, old style cooking stove - go ahead, look it up.
They're really nice. Bosco Sharf is a play on words. My old Bass player used to
call the local cops 'Bosco' from the abbreviation on their cars. So 'Bosco
Sheriff' became Bosco Sherf, though in Mortimer
he's an Army recruiter.
The
more obvious a name is, the more it takes center stage. The annoying military liaison
antagonist is called Pom Debry. I could have called him Drone Strike but I'm
saving that one for when I write a story about past US vice-presidents.
Chugtang is a throwback to the 1960s space program. All of us kids used to chug
Tang. Mim is obviously mom, and Pal Tember is friendly and tall -
'timber!' (Yeah I know. It's not very creative). Seargent Bemis is kind of
gross. It's actually the name of a toilet manufacturer. Halkus Moore is twist
on a description. I wanted a 'hulking man' so I initially switched some letters
around and got Halking Moon. You just don't name a character Moon, unless
you're Frank Zappa of course (no offense Ms Unit). And finally we cone to
Mortimer Townes.
The
best ones are inexplicable. They come from guardian angels I think. I'm one of
these writers who believes that the good stuff is more channelled then created.
I know my brain, and clever though I can sometimes be I am also the one who
leaves my hot cup of coffee in the refrigerator when I'm making breakfast.
'Honey...have you seen my coffee?' The story started with Mortimer. My partner thought
it sounded like a Sherlock Holmes kind of character, and truthfully she was
right. But Mortimer was already cast as a loveable old farmer. Who knows what Mortimer
was up to in his younger days. A detective for Scotland Yard might not be such
a stretch though I’d have to do something about the agency’s name. Kiltie Lawn
perhaps?
No comments:
Post a Comment