Thanks for having me on your blog, Josie! I love that name,
mostly because it’s the name of the character in my debut novel, For the Love
of Jazz.
For most authors, the name of their characters or book title
started from a spark. Today I’m talking about names and how they can inspire
not only character’s name, but influence parts of a story like the title, or
place. That was the case with my novel. Don’t worry, I won’t give any of the
story away for those of you, like me, who like to be surprised.
The first time I saw Billie Holiday’s picture, I was shocked
by how much she looked like the women in my family. A dinner party at a
friend’s house in my early 20’s was the first time I heard her amazing voice. I’d
heard jazz before, but it was her voice, and the powerful words of her songs
that captivated me. I was hooked from that moment on, not only to Billie, but
jazz. Billie was born, Eleanora, but it didn’t suit my character, so I stuck
with Josie and took her last name (one of them) Fagan, instead. It was perfect for my character whose has a
family member who sings and a love of jazz music.
The original title of the book was The Haunting of Josie Miller,
but as the story and characters unfolded, I decided to change it. Like me, Josie
is a fan of jazz, but to the point of it being a strong emotional connection
that uncovers a mystery about her family’s past and Patrick (the hero in my
story). That information is part of the
book description by the way, so I haven’t spilled story secrets. Josie
discovers a love of singing, with the help of a family member, who takes her to
places she never expected, and has her doing things outside her comfort
zone.
Ideas for our plot, characters and even titles are all
around us, even in the music we hear and the places we go, so keep your eyes and
ears open to possibilities and I know you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks again, Josie for letting me drop by and talk about
something I love.
To connect with me or find out more
about Josie and Patrick’s story, you can find me at:
4 comments:
Loved this! I can't wait to read "For The Love of Jazz!"
Cannot wait to read your book, Elke!
Aww. Thanks for the love ladies. Josie, thanks for hosting me on your blog.
I'm so looking forward to reading your book, Elke.
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