Naming a book character is sort of like naming your unborn child. Oh, the possibilities. You could pick a derivative of your own name, or go with one of your relatives. Maybe there's a religious meaning behind the name you like. Or a city you love (Dallas, Austin, Brooklyn).
It usually takes me a while to come up with a character name. Occasionally, I'll change it. Some are names I simply like, while others have deep personal meaning. Many are nods to fictional characters. Here's how I came up with a few of the names in Gambit:
Not literally, of course. If that had happened, I’d be blogging over there instead of here. And as far as I can tell, I’m still firmly trapped in this reality. It’s probably more accurate to say that my heart and soul were transported.
How did it happen? I’d love to tell you it was by means of a top-secret alien technology or the experimental efforts of scientists in a parallel universe. But it was neither. All I did was drive to my local cinema to watch Terminator: Genisys.
