Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll

[neatfreak]

Louise, how do you arrive at your characters' names? All of them suit the personalities that you have given them, and that is not easy to do. I've read more than one story where the characters' names are artificial and distracting. The names you have chosen are age- and era- appropriate as well. Nicely done!

[louisev]

um. I know this is going to sound weird and hokey but... as a writer, I write mostly from inspiration.  That is to say when I conceive of a character, their character sort of comes with a name.  If that makes sense.  Or when I visualize the character I can hear someone call them that name.  In the case of a newly created character in chapter 19:  Corinne Allen.  I was thinking of a tiny, well put together south Texas girl:  She's got to have one of those names doesn't she?  Like the ones we know, Lureen, Lashawn...

Corinne!

Sometimes I pick names out of personalities I have known myself in the past.  If you ever see a Doreen show up in a story you can rest assured that girl is going to be an A number 1 top shelf bitch queen.  Because that is just how Doreens are.  I hope that er, explains somehow.

As far as being "time appropriate" one reason why I feel a bit at ease writing about the early 1980's is because that is when I was involved in both college and a marital relationship, and was most involved in the culture around me through the university and through work and my relationship with my husband.  Not only this, but I am also not much older than Ennis is at this time period, so I have a feel for what "being this age", and having worked in a profession for 15 or 20 years is like.

For some reason, people who are in their upper teens and early 20's always sound like they are in their upper teens and early 20's when they write their stories.  It is something ineffable and yet unerring.

[neatfreak]

You sure don't need my help, but if you have a beehived bleached blonde who chews big wads of gum, how 'bout Cloreen?

[Lumière]

Morning folks! 

Loving the license plates!

David - cheers for re-posting that pic! 

[David]

Wayne has a little Toyota Corona (the little hatchback that was seen just about everywhere in the late 70's and early 1980's, I believe) and the Prestige plate on that car says:

"ISUKCOK"

Like this?   LOL   

[MaineWriter]

Morning folks! 

Loving the license plates!

David - cheers for re-posting that pic! 

I think we have a new gallery starting....the license plate gallery!

[MaineWriter]

So sweet....

[Lumière]

I think we have a new gallery starting....the license plate gallery!

Something tells me Ennis would never ever use this particular license plate:





lol...

[MaineWriter]

Um, a slighty racier version....Ellery might need a new car for his.

[MaineWriter]

Lucise,

It is the SPANKER one that needs to be on that truck, I think. Ellery was pissed when Wayne got the ISUKCOK plate, but he knew Wes would never approve, anyway...

L