Hollows Read-along to AMERICAN DEMON discussion

Ever wonder why the characters are named the way they are?

Some of them have an interesting history. Kisten, for example, is right from the dictionary, meaning a stone coffin that money or valuables were hidden in. Rachel's name was originally Wanda, (because wands and witches go together) and Ivy? Well, Ivy was my choice not because of the garden aspects of her name, but a nod for her need for blood. Ivy-I.V. (I'm so embarrassed . . .)

Do you have any favorite characters you'd like to know the origins of? Ask! I might remember.

I would love to know about how/why you came up with Ceri’s name!

I'm partial to gargoyles and hobs, likely because they have interesting characteristics and are usually helpful to their human friends. How did you come up with Bis's name, and the many pixies, please?

Jenks and Matalina please! Actually the entire pixie clan (what was the inspo for their names) which ultimately became a kinda demon name :)

So glad that you didn't go stick with Wanda!

Hi Kim. Is there any names you regret or wish you could change? Thanks.

You do not need to be embarrassed! I am fascinated by the names you chose. Kisten. How about that? :) I'm glad you did not go with Wanda, even though I had an Aunt Wanda.

Erika wrote: "I would love to know about how/why you came up with Ceri’s name!"

Ceri was one of those names that grew out of need. I wanted an old, Celtic name that had a soft sound, kind of etherial, and Ceri fit the bill. I had no idea she was going to become so pivotal in the series.

Also, I am pronouncing it wrong with a soft C instead of a hard K sound that is actually period correct.

Teresa wrote: "...How did you come up with Bis's name, and the many pixies..."

Hi Teresa.
I wanted the gargoyles to have names taken from musical terms to connect them to the musical side of the church where they live. Bis is a term that means to repeat, but if you take it out of it's musical connotation, repeat can also mean passing gas, so it's an inside joke for Jenks.

Jenks's kids all start with the same sound for two reasons. The first is I though it was a nice bit of world building, but the second is more nuts-and-bolts writing technique. Many long-standing authors try to keep any characters from sharing the same first letter to their name as a way to help the reader keep them straight. I'm convinced that's why so many comic book characters have their first and last name starting with the same letter. It helps speed up the reading, and prevents confusion.
By giving Jenks's kids all the same first letter to their name, I'm telling the reader (even if they don't realize it) that these characters are not important enough to try to remember them other than they are Jenks's kids. Having said that, I did make a few stand out. The youngest, the oldest, and Jumoke, the only dark-haired pixy.

Jess wrote: "Jenks and Matalina please! Actually the entire pixie clan (what was the inspo for their names) which ultimately became a kinda demon name :)"

Hi Jess,
Matalina's name was chosen because it sounded maternal. The mmm sound and general lyrical way it comes off your lips just sounded beautiful and special.

As for Jenks's kids, I've got that one answered in the post right above this one, I think.
:-)

Kim wrote: "Ever wonder why the characters are named the way they are?

Some of them have an interesting history. Kisten, for example, is right from the dictionary, meaning a stone coffin that money or valuab..."

I'm actually far more curious about where you got the story ideas and the environment ideas! However, wherever you came up with character names, each of them is perfect to the character that belongs to them! I am wondering about Jenks and Jax though as far as name origins.

Sharon wrote: "Hi Kim. Is there any names you regret or wish you could change? Thanks."

Hi Sharon.
Not so far. I do lament that I have the perfect name for a new character but can't use it because it starts with a letter that I've already used for one of my main characters. There will likely never be any new characters starting with the letters R, T, I, or J. (Ray was the exception, because she was named after Rachel)

Ree wrote: "So glad that you didn't go stick with Wanda!"

ME TOO! LOL

Kim wrote: "Teresa wrote: "...How did you come up with Bis's name, and the many pixies..."

Hi Teresa.
I wanted the gargoyles to have names taken from musical terms to connect them to the musical side of the c..."

Even though the Pixie kids aren't totally integral to the books, the books would not have been as real for me as they were with Jenks' whole clan in them. Those Pixie babies made the story almost non-fiction for me.

I.V. Hahahahahahaha. I love it!!

Minias, Newt, & Dali wherever did those names come from?

Hi Kim, why did you pick Kim Harrison as our pen name. I must say it's easy to remember but so is Dawn Cook. It's on Wikipedia.

Hi Kim how about Takata and Al?

Ree wrote: "So glad that you didn't go stick with Wanda!"

I know!!!!!

Jessi wrote: "Minias, Newt, & Dali wherever did those names come from?"

If I'm remembering correctly, Minias is Latin for something. Newt is from Alien, (because demons come out at night, mostly) and Dali is from the artist, Dali Salvador, who does some really weird stuff.

Sharon wrote: "Hi Kim, why did you pick Kim Harrison as our pen name. I must say it's easy to remember but so is Dawn Cook."

My editor at the time picked it out! She wanted me to be shelved next to Laurel K. Hamilton, so I was going to be either Lisa Harrison, or Kim Harrison. I picked Kim because I can't make cursive L's look good. Believe it or not!

Evonna wrote: "Hi Kim how about Takata and Al?"

Takata is one of the third master of Reiki, (which I practice) and Al is from the song, "You can call me Al."

Kim wrote: "Jessi wrote: "Minias, Newt, & Dali wherever did those names come from?"

If I'm remembering correctly, Minias is Latin for something. Newt is from Alien, (because demons come out at night, mostly) ..."

Thank you for responding and giving me a new search to perform. Google here I come...

Hi Kim,
How did you end up with the name Rachel? I’m glad you didn’t stick with Wanda as well!

Hi Kim!

Not a name as such, but where did “canicula” as an insult come from?
Also curious about the long form of demons’ names, did you come up with a the shortened version first and then just... start hitting keys at random until something sounded kind of ok?

Christine wrote: "Hi Kim,
How did you end up with the name Rachel? "

I wanted a name that didn't end in a vowel! That was the beginning, but when I was writing it, I was going through a love affair with Blade Runner, and calling her Rachel just seemed right.

Valerie wrote: "Hi Kim!

Not a name as such, but where did “canicula” as an insult come from?
Also curious about the long form of demons’ names..."

Canicula, if I am remembering right, is Latin for little dog. It's not an insult in Latin, but it sounded good, and I went with it. As for the demon names? Al's came from the song, "You can call me Al," His longer name came first, and it's from an internet listing of Demons in the Bible. Minias, if I remember right, is the name of a saint, and the rest are just conglomerations of sounds that seemed to fit. Other than Dali's, which I think I answered above. His long name is nonsense. Hope I answered your question. I feel as if I've rambled.

Oooo do ramble, you say some of the most fascinating things..places I never thought to look for names, things I have never really done when writing, I like people who think differently than most people. Picking through your processes is amazing. Thank you for doing this. It is very insightful and fun to get to know you a bit!
The question...what made you choose to add the horse stables at Trents? Il have to wait for part two of this question because of spoilers...

Your editor was brilliant. That is exactly how I found you.

Hi Tanya!
That is a good question. But, it is for another book. Would you please delete it and save it for later or, if you like, just mark it as a spoiler. Here is how you do it: How to mark spoilers in your comments:

< Spoiler > put your text < / spoiler >

(Take out the spaces around spoiler and the backslash. The spaces are there so they don't engage the code and actually hide the instructions on how to do it.)

Thanks! :)

I used to think horsemen were odd when they say they went riding for exercise. I thought, "well, it is the horse that does the work." Then, I read about how horses are directed not just by the reins but by the legs. yikes! And trotting! Ugh!

I used to ride horses quite a bit and it was a full body workout. I was a walking beanstalk of a teenager.

That’s why elite level riders, cowboys, etc tend to all be so “whipcord thin”. You have to use everything to maintain your balance and control. Dang I miss it.

Hello, one comment was deleted due to spoilers.

Kim wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Hi Kim, why did you pick Kim Harrison as our pen name. I must say it's easy to remember but so is Dawn Cook."

My editor at the time picked it out! She wanted me to be shelved next t..."
Interesting, I didn't even know you had a pen name. It does make sense. I have read alot of Laurell K. Hamilton's books. But I actually started reading your books before I read hers.

I've always thought Trent's middle name Aloysius was a nod to Trisk's middle name Eloytrisk. Is that correct? If so how did you come up with those names?

Trent’s middle name is a nod to his parents wish that he bring the many societies of the Hollows together so to be stronger. Much as an alloy is a stronger metal than a pure one. Alloy-Aloysius.

Eloytrisk was just made up. 😁

Kim wrote: "Teresa wrote: "...How did you come up with Bis's name, and the many pixies..."

Hi Teresa.
I wanted the gargoyles to have names taken from musical terms to connect them to the musical side of the c..."

I just read Into the Woods (to slow down and stay in sync with the re-read) and was delighted with the explanation of pixie children's names being a length determined by (living) birth order. Jax vs Jamoke makes sense now, as Jax is from the first living batch of newlings.