Can You Name a Kitten?

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 35 Comments

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’  ~Samuel Butler Have you had the pleasure of naming some kittens? Maybe a dog? Or best of all, a sweet new baby in your arms? With those babies, you have months to debate the perfect name and get …

Names, Names, Names

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 8 Comments

Just because you know my name doesn’t mean you know my story. That is a slightly enhanced version of a quote attributed to Jonathan Anthony Burkett. “You know my name, not my story.” Sometimes that’s where I am when writing a new story. Names are important to me as I try to get to know my characters. I have a …

A Name for Everything

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 66 Comments

  “A name can’t begin to encompass the sum of all her parts. But that’s the magic of names, isn’t it? That the complex, contradictory individuals we are can be called up complete and whole in another mind through the simple sorcery of a name.” ― Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot I’m working on a new book. That means I’m having …

What Would You Name this Puppy ?

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 44 Comments

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ~William Shakespeare Are you ready for a new contest to maybe win a book or two? I wanted to try something different this time. Don’t worry. We’ll do that Mystery Picture one when my new book, River to Redemption, comes out this summer. …

Where Did You Get that Name?

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 22 Comments

I’ve been giving you a behind the scenes look at how I go about beginning a new book. First I let you peek at a character sketch for my new character in Murder Is No Accident, Maggie Greene. Sunday I told you about how an old house in my town was the spark for the new mystery idea. Then a …