The 'Olders' pick names like Coyote, Jade, Wave, Willow, Sirona, Gaia, Lotus and Doobie. Each member chooses a new name for themselves when they join-except for the children, who are named by the guru. In my next book (CLOVER BLUE/June 2019) the characters live in a spiritual commune in 1970s Northern California. Henry? Really? Pretty sure I'd be a James or a John, good strong names. I sometimes imagined him standing behind me as I wrote. Powerful name god and I got to name the reverend. I knew I wanted him to screw up because it was important to underscore the ego hidden within the act of projecting personalities upon his progeny. I loved choosing the names that Daddy gives his daughters. Given names except for maybe Hope, who is the oldest.' Or maybe God changed His plans, because none of us fit our To tell you the truth, I don’t think Daddy was ' Mama told us that after each baby was bornĭaddy held his fat black Bible over our tiny bodies and the Lord bestowed upon In THIS I KNOW, claiming to be inspired by God, Reverend Carter 'divines' names for his newborn children. There's no way I'd not unpack my Linda baggage if I chose it for a character. All the Lindas in these stories are drop-dead gorgeous, highly intelligent, sexy, hilarious women who've left an indelible mark on these men's version of the ideal women.

However at least three of my long-term relationships have been with men who've longingly recounted the torrid, sometimes-unrequited love affair with their Linda. One of my favorite people in the world is named Linda. Just when I think I've settled on the perfect name I discover (usually through polling friends or from beta readers) that the chosen name doesn't work for them, usually because they have a history with it. One of my favorite parts of writing is choosing character names.

This i know by eldonna edwards