Ask the Author: Amy J. Murphy
Answered Questions (6)
Amy J. Murphy
I have a few different methods. I guess the short answer is: the name can come from anywhere. To be honest, it's one of my favorite things to do. Some times I even hoard the names just because I like them. I squirrel it away in a notebook or in a list on my iPhone. Then, when I get stuck I dig through my stockpile. (The names Tove and Asher were two such names.)
I look for names that evoke a mood or general sense of what I want the reader to get from the character. Even if a reader may not realize what the literal root for a name is, she gets what the character may be like from the sound of the name. I like using a device where a name tells you a clue about that person's character in short-hand form.
Modern story-tellers like George Lucas do this all the time. Sometimes it's pretty obvious too:
For example, consider "Luke Skywalker". The first name is an "everyman" type of name (at least from the point of view of American culture). The surname evokes a sense of hopeful optimism combined with a sense of action and drive. It's an action hero name.
I came up with my other "action hero" name in "Asher Corsair" using Lucas' methodology for inspiration. The origin of "corsair" was a type of sailing vessel that was used by pirates or privateers. It's been borrowed for everything from company names to combat aircraft. (The WWII aircraft, an F4U, was especially badass looking IMHO). I found it especially fitting that the character Asher Corsair came from a planet that was strings of islands where the population were largely sea-fairing. (The fact that Asher had made himself a type of space pirate captain was a happy accident.)
Other times, when I've taken inspiration from a culture on Earth, I look at the naming structure for familiar names and surnames to use. For instance, the culture of the Ironvale in the Allies and Enemies series is losely based on ancient feudal Japan. The Splitdawn have a Norse influence.
Another thing I like to do is look at the Latin root of a word for meaning. (I'm kind of a geek like that.) I build a name (or sometimes even an alien term) based off a Latin root meaning.
For instance, the surname "Veradin". The word "veritas" which is Latin for "truth". So I played with the spelling until I liked the look and sound of it.
Another thing I strive for is naming rules that apply to each culture I invent. It doesn't always work, but I try to keep consistency to fit the theme. For instance, a member of a servant class bound to a particular House will assume that House's surname with the prefix "pra". So, Kelta's full name is "Kelta pra-Corsair." It's a sign of loyalty as well as servitude for a particular class of people. The Earth equivalent would be a valet or lady's maid serving a family of the aristocracy.
I know we're talking about names, but I've also used obscure dictionaries to come up with slang terms. "Bricky" which is a slang term in my book series to mean brave or fearless was borrowed from a 19th-century dictionary of slang used by Londoners.
While on the topic of "made up" words (and names), it used to upset me to see reviews and complaints that I used "made up" words in my books. All words are made up when you think about it. Some you know already because it's your natural language and some you make sense of out of context. To me, that's part of the fun.
I look for names that evoke a mood or general sense of what I want the reader to get from the character. Even if a reader may not realize what the literal root for a name is, she gets what the character may be like from the sound of the name. I like using a device where a name tells you a clue about that person's character in short-hand form.
Modern story-tellers like George Lucas do this all the time. Sometimes it's pretty obvious too:
For example, consider "Luke Skywalker". The first name is an "everyman" type of name (at least from the point of view of American culture). The surname evokes a sense of hopeful optimism combined with a sense of action and drive. It's an action hero name.
I came up with my other "action hero" name in "Asher Corsair" using Lucas' methodology for inspiration. The origin of "corsair" was a type of sailing vessel that was used by pirates or privateers. It's been borrowed for everything from company names to combat aircraft. (The WWII aircraft, an F4U, was especially badass looking IMHO). I found it especially fitting that the character Asher Corsair came from a planet that was strings of islands where the population were largely sea-fairing. (The fact that Asher had made himself a type of space pirate captain was a happy accident.)
Other times, when I've taken inspiration from a culture on Earth, I look at the naming structure for familiar names and surnames to use. For instance, the culture of the Ironvale in the Allies and Enemies series is losely based on ancient feudal Japan. The Splitdawn have a Norse influence.
Another thing I like to do is look at the Latin root of a word for meaning. (I'm kind of a geek like that.) I build a name (or sometimes even an alien term) based off a Latin root meaning.
For instance, the surname "Veradin". The word "veritas" which is Latin for "truth". So I played with the spelling until I liked the look and sound of it.
Another thing I strive for is naming rules that apply to each culture I invent. It doesn't always work, but I try to keep consistency to fit the theme. For instance, a member of a servant class bound to a particular House will assume that House's surname with the prefix "pra". So, Kelta's full name is "Kelta pra-Corsair." It's a sign of loyalty as well as servitude for a particular class of people. The Earth equivalent would be a valet or lady's maid serving a family of the aristocracy.
I know we're talking about names, but I've also used obscure dictionaries to come up with slang terms. "Bricky" which is a slang term in my book series to mean brave or fearless was borrowed from a 19th-century dictionary of slang used by Londoners.
While on the topic of "made up" words (and names), it used to upset me to see reviews and complaints that I used "made up" words in my books. All words are made up when you think about it. Some you know already because it's your natural language and some you make sense of out of context. To me, that's part of the fun.
Amy J. Murphy
How 800 pages? I'm impressed. And, yes, that's most definitely an error.
I'm not sure what you mean by bibliographic info. What's the data you need?
I'm not sure what you mean by bibliographic info. What's the data you need?
Amy J. Murphy
Salvation Day by Kali Wallace
Cry Pilot by Joel Dane
Salvaged by Madeleine Roux
Stars Uncharted by SK Dunstall
Stories and Spilled Tea by Michael J Martinez
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Cry Pilot by Joel Dane
Salvaged by Madeleine Roux
Stars Uncharted by SK Dunstall
Stories and Spilled Tea by Michael J Martinez
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Amy J. Murphy
Right now, I've just completed the first round draft on the third book in the Allies and Enemies series.
I'm looking to change gears a little and try out a trilogy of darker, sci fi horror stories that are likely to end their lives as novellas.
I'm looking to change gears a little and try out a trilogy of darker, sci fi horror stories that are likely to end their lives as novellas.
Amy J. Murphy
My best advice is to never take advice from someone like me.
Amy J. Murphy
I've not really encountered it yet. Because I have ADD, I tend to have something like "writer's inability to focus". I've been experimenting with various techniques, most recently the Pomodoro Technique tends to help the most for finishing first drafts.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more