Names, Quilts, and Release Day!

 

gr8aunt is the winner of a copy of From Beer to Eternity. Look for an email from me!

I can’t believe it’s release day for From Beer to Eternity! The idea for the series started in an email conversation with my editor at Kensington in February 2018. Holding my book in my hands is a breathtaking experience whether it’s my first book or my ninth. I look at it and think “I wrote this!” So here it is world From Beer to Eternity. Look for a giveaway at the end of the post.

I’ve talked before about how hard it is for me to name characters. Some characters’ names like Scott Pellner from my Sarah Winston Garage Sale mysteries just pop into my head. But most names I have to fight to figure out. Ask Barb Goffman, my independent editor, about the manuscript for From Beer to Eternity. When I gave it to her almost everyone’s last name was Blank because I hadn’t figured the names out yet. And I may have forgotten to mention that to Barb. Her comment: That Blank family is really big.

So how did I come up with the name Chloe Jackson? I turned to a quilt that my paternal grandmother made. I’m lucky enough to have seven quilts that my grandmother and her friends and family made. (My sister has another seven.) I wish I’d asked my grandmother about when she made them and how, but I like to picture a group of women quilting together in her living room in front of the large picture window that looked out at the barn.

The quilt below was probably made in the late thirties or early forties. I suspect the colorful fabric is from feedbags. (I have another quilt that I know is fabric from feedbags.) I love how everyone embroidered their names. I know some of the people – my grandmother Ursula who was always called Zula and my aunt Virginia who was always called Ginny.

Here is the block for Chloe.  Chloe Gates is one of my grandmother’s sisters. I don’t believe I ever met her or if I did, I was too young to remember. But the name just fit my character.

Here is the block for Vivian. I shortened it to Vivi because it sounded more southern to me. I picked Slidell, which is a town north of New Orleans, for the same reason.

I suspect more names from the quilt will appear in future books. How can I resist the temptation of Ora or Rowena or Mazie? I’m sad that one name has been lost forever.

Other names come from friends—Ann Williams, Edith Hickle, Leah Hickle, Michael. And some like Deputy Biffle just pop in as I write about the character.

I hope you get a chance to read From Beer to Eternity and I hope you love it as much as I do. I’m giving away a copy to someone who leaves a comment. I’ll also be doing Seven Days of Giveaways on my Facebook author page. Plus giveaways here:

July 28 7 to 10 pm eastern time Kensington July Mystery and Thriller Launch Party Click here for a link: https://www.facebook.com/events/755932971842445/

July 29 7 to 8:30 pm eastern time Facebook Launch Party with Catherine Bruns! Click here for a link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1256477704727682/

July 29 Jungle Red Writers https://www.jungleredwriters.com/

July 30 Dru’s Book Musings https://drusbookmusing.com/

Dollycas blog tour: https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/?s=from+beer+to+eternity

Thanks to all of you who read and support my books–you help my dreams come true!

Readers: Do you have unique name or nickname in your family or friends?