What’s in a Name?

Names are tremendously important and they can actually drive our imaginations as we plot a course through our daily lives. It’s a way we make a connection with people, places, and things. Different names mean different things to different people. Many wonderful images come to mind with the words hot fudge sundae, Hawaiian Islands, and freshly baked bread. Just as some unsettling images come to mind with the words dentist, taxes, and death.

The definition of “name” simply means a word or words by which an entity is designated and distinguished from others. Names that identify people are a way that we separate one person from another. From a name, we can then create nicknames or pet names. Names are much more powerful than we realize and the beautiful part of it is that everyone has one.

For example, according to the new Urban Dictionary, the name “Robert” means the most incredible guy in the universe, end of story. He's sweet, caring, and truly amazing. “Tiffanys” are usually very loyal and intelligent people who usually don’t trust many guys. These definitions may sound a bit silly and contrived, but it still helps us to imagine what a “Bob” or a “Tiffany” looks like and how we independently interpret these types of names in our mind's eye.

I’ve decided to put a comical twist on the character names when I created the spunky little town of Bucksnort. If a name can help conjure up an image of a person, then the residents of Bucksnort have won several gold medals in the category of madcap character names. Every time you read some of the character names laughter will billow up from your belly from my new novel The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.
What does your active imagination invoke with the names of Priscilla Bunhead, Lucy Lovely, and Ms. Lula Mae Bunsaplenty? Oh my! Not to mention, more hilarious townies with the names of Diddles Dinkledorf and Baby Burpee. And one of my personal favorites, perhaps most flagrant or should I say flatulent, Little Fartly Dinkledorf! You won’t be able to contain your laughter and you’ll learn some positive morals along the way.

But don’t just take my word for it! You’ll just have to find out through Sister Mary Olga’s journey of the many entertaining antics in The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.