What’s in a character’s name?
by
Morgan Brice
I use baby name directories so much that even though my children are now adults, I still get social media ads for diapers.
Naming book characters is fun, but it’s also a commitment, especially for main or recurring characters. An advantage an author has over a parent is that since I’m naming an adult character I already know their personality, so I can pick a name that fits them. Parents pick up a name that sounds good and initials that don’t spell anything weird, and hope that little Wolfe or Adrianna grow into their names.
When I’m naming a character, I start by considering the time period of the story, the ethnicity of the character, and the location. Census records provide data on the most popular names for over a century, which is a good way to pick one that matches a character’s age. Ethnicity helps match a name to a character’s heritage and family history. Since naming trends differ by state, region and country, it can be worth a look to see what might link a character more closely to where they grew up.
Then I think about the kind of image a name brings up in my mind. Right or wrong, we all have opinions about who someone with a certain name might be like—jock, nerd, pretty, shy, popular, awkward, etc. Unless there’s a reason for the name to be a mismatch, I try to pick names that line up with those expectations. I choose names with harder consonants for action characters, softer sounds for support characters or characters who are healers/helpers.
I also check to make sure a name doesn’t already belong to a well-known person, or look or sound too much like another character’s name. (This is especially important with audiobooks!)
Beyond that, it’s just fun to pick out names for a character I’m going to bring to life and get to know. I only had three kids, but I’ve got hundreds of characters!
Adult title
by
Morgan Brice
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Cover Artist: Adrijus Guscia
Release Date: January 25, 2023
Genres: Paranormal MM romance, urban fantasy
Tropes: Hurt/comfort, second chance, age gap, friends-to-lovers, misunderstood ghost, lonely lighthouse keeper
Themes: Working up the courage to love, getting over old betrayals, fighting the odds to stay together, forbidden love (medium and ghost)
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 22 000 words/ 74 pages
It is a standalone book and is the prequel to the series.
It does not end on a cliffhanger
Blurb
A shy lighthouse keeper who can talk to ghosts. A lonely ghost mourning the losses of the past and hoping for justice. A love strong enough to transcend death.
Monty Clark is the new park ranger for the Cape May Light. He hoped to find someone to love who can accept his ability as a psychic medium.
Jon Richards was a movie stuntman murdered on the beach in the 1950s. When the new lighthouse keeper strikes up a conversation and invites him in to watch TV, Jon discovers that a beating heart isn’t required to fall in love.
Light My Way Home is an MM paranormal romance with a shy park ranger, a protective ghost, unsolved murders, a dangerous shipwreck, supernatural ninja nuns, vintage movies, old secrets, and love bigger than life or death.
Excerpt
"And that concludes today’s tour of the Cape May Lighthouse. Don’t forget to stop by our gift shop and tell your friends if you had fun today.” Lighthouse keeper Montana “Monty” Clark watched his guests troop toward the shop and followed close behind so he could ring up their snacks and souvenirs.
“What is that big thing out on the beach?” a lady who reminded Monty of his grandmother asked as he ran her credit card for a lighthouse Christmas ornament, some post‐ cards, bottled water, and a bag of gummy worms.
“That’s Battery 223, built to survive an air strike, and back during the Second World War, it protected the coast with guns that could fire shells miles out to sea,” Monty said with a smile as he carefully wrapped the ornament and bagged her purchases. “Of course, the guns have been gone for a long time. It’s part of the park now, but it’s closed up, so unfortunately, no one can go inside.”
“I bet it would be a popular tour if you could get that changed,” she replied. “Is it haunted? Seems like everything in Cape May has ghosts running around, or at least that’s what our last guide said.”
Even more than you know, Monty thought, although his grin never wavered. “People claim to have spotted some ghosts nearby, but I don’t think any of them were soldiers. The bunker’s guns never fired, and it didn’t come under attack.”
“You did a nice job with the tour,” the lady said. “Tonight we’re taking a ghost tour. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see some spooky stuff.”
“Good luck,” he answered and hoped he sounded sincere. Monty had been able to see and talk with ghosts all his life, and he knew that most people had no idea what they were asking for by seeking out restless spirits.
She gave him a cheery wave as she left, and several more customers kept him busy until the last of the cars drove away, and the lighthouse was peaceful again.
Monty liked the quiet. He enjoyed spending time with close friends, but being alone didn’t bother him. When he had read a book about a lighthouse keeper as a kid, he’d known right then what he wanted to do.
Unlike the lighthouse in that book, the Cape May Light wasn’t on a desolate, windswept rocky island accessible only by boat. As part of a state park in a touristy beach town, it had plenty of visitors in summer and lots of walkers and birdwatchers strolling the grounds off-season. School groups and tours came to learn about the town’s seafaring history, and Monty loved showing them around the building, answering questions, and tossing in unusual facts.
But at the end of the day, the quiet grounds and empty beach soothed Monty’s soul. He bustled around the public areas of the building, making a quick check for trash or lost items. Then he locked the doors and headed for a stroll on the sand to enjoy the sunset.
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.
On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.
Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!
Author Links
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4.25 stars
“Light My Way Home” by Morgan Brice is a novella in the ‘Treasure
Trail’ series and features Monty, a lighthouse keeper who has the ability to
see ghosts. This is an unexpected benefit for Jon Richards, a ghost who is
shocked that someone can actually communicate with him. The connection between
the men deepens, and Monty becomes invested in finding justice for Jon, and
searches for a way for them to be together.
This adult gay paranormal romance story is engaging and fun to read, even if you’re new to the series. Even though this is a fairly short tale, each man became distinct in my mind, and I was anxious to see how they could find a way to be together. I was impressed by the excitement generated by Jon’s selfless actions, and loved the twists and turns of the story. I enjoy this author’s interconnected series, and I am always delighted to find out there’s a new story to savor, and this one whetted my appetite for even more adventures.
A copy of this title was provided for review
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