.jpg)
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity! I'm Linda Banche, and I write witty, sweet/sensual Regency romances with nary a rake or royal in sight. Most contain humor, some fantasy, and occasionally a little paranormal. But comedy is my love, and I've created my own wacky blend of humor and Regency with stories that can elicit reactions from a gentle smile to a belly laugh.
Like many other romance authors, I read romances for years before I wrote my own. Once I tried, I quickly discovered how difficult writing is. Did I stop? No, I'm persistent--that's French for "too stupid to quit".
I live in
So, laugh along with me on a voyage back to the Regency era. Me and my ducks. Quack.
Novel Names
In any novel, the names of the characters are important. "George" conjures up a different image than "Slade".
In addition to the connotation, names also should be appropriate to the time and genre. If you're writing an historical, don't name your heroine Britney or your hero Rock. For science fiction and fantasy, made-up names work since the names are supposed to be out of the ordinary, and names from today's newspapers work for contemporaries.
Since I write Regencies, I stick with fairly plain names. The names of British kings and queens were popular during the era, and I've named my heroes Richard (Lady of the Stars), Henry (Pumpkinnapper), Charles (Mistletoe Everywhere) and Stephen (Gifts Gone Astray). My heroines so far don't quite mesh with the monarch theme. Richard's heroine is Caroline, Henry's is Emily, Charles has his Penelope and Stephen, Anne (one queen here).
The most popular name during the Regency was "George", after the king. But I don't like "George", so you won't see any of my heroes sporting the name, although I might use "George" for a secondary character.
Names are one of the last things I add to a story. When I start writing, I call my hero and heroine John and Mary, and my secondary characters Mr. A, Miss B and Lord C. I also tend to use names I don't like for the villains. On the list of names I dislike are
So, in Gifts Gone Astray, my latest Regency novella, I use a lot of monarch names. The hero is Stephen and the heroine is Anne. Anne's brother is John, their uncle is James, and James's son is Harold. One of a pair of brothers is George, although he isn't the villain in this story. On the non-monarch side are George's brother, Percy, Anne's Uncle Horace, her Aunt Harriet (James's wife), and cousins Oscar and Julia. And I won't tell you my villain's name, so I don't spoil the surprise.
Do you like era-and-genre-appropriate names? What names are your favorites?
Thank you all,
Linda
Website: http://www.lindabanche.com/
Blog: http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaBanche
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LindaBanche
GIFTS GONE ASTRAY BLURB:
At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copley, the widow who has caught his eye, is a dream come true.
Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" the positions in it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.
Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr Fairfax--more closely.
Buy Link at The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4545
Also available at your favorite e-tailer, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
