Monday, July 26, 2010

And We Have a Winner . . .

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who offered an opinion or suggestion for my hero's name for my IMPROPER GENTLEMEN novella. I really appreciate your time and thoughts. They all gave me something to think about.

I was leaning toward Aidan going into the weekend, but not sure about it. Then JennJ gave me the history of the saint of that name. And four of you indicated Aidan was your pick. When Alfke suggested the surname Danaher, it seemed to fit for me. A couple of you liked Patrick as well.

So, my hero's name will be Aidan Patrick Stonemere Danaher (Stonemere is his English mother's maiden name and the title he'll inherit from her!)

If I didn't choose your name, I hope you won't be disappointed. I'm a bit of a name collector, so the name you suggested may turn up in a later story or as one of the secondary characters for this one. Each name set my mind churning in fresh directions and helped me flesh out some of the plot points for the story as well. So thank you, thank you, thank you one and all! I appreciate you very much.

I have some other exciting news. Jennifer Ashley, USA Today Bestselling author of Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, has given me a dynamite cover quote for my debut Mia Marlowe title TOUCH OF A THIEF:

"Mia Marlowe proves she has the “touch” for strong heroines, wickedly sexy heroes, and love scenes so hot they singe the pages. Throw in a magical diamond and nail-biting suspense, and readers score a winner with Touch of a Thief!"

~Jennifer Ashley, USA Today Bestselling author of Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage
Jennifer Ashley is a romance powerhouse. She's hit the USA Today Bestsellers list for her historical titles. Her paranormal Pride Mates made the New York Times list. She won a Rita for her straight historical title. Jennifer writes mysteries as Ashley Gardner and erotica as Allyson James. She does it all with style and grace and a writing schedule that makes my 6 books and a novella in a year look like slacking.

Be sure to check out her latest release Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. It's a keeper!

I'm thrilled that Jennifer carved some time from her busy schedule to read Touch of a Thief and even more excited to have such a wonderful cover quote from her. The best way for me to thank her is to urge you all to make her books an auto-buy like I do.

Enjoy!

16 comments:

Glynis Peters said...

Aidan Patrick Stonemere Danaher, what a great name. It has a real Irish tone to it, congratulations on finding him. :)

Nynke said...

I really like the combination of all of these names! And I'm a proud sister :).

Congrats on the cover quote! I'll check Jennifer Ashley out (although I suspect I've already read a lot of her books in translation).

Alfke said...

I'm sort of pleased I helped pick this name :D I like the combination of those names too. Have lots of fun writing!

EmilyBryan said...

Alfke--Since your post suggested Danaher and endorsed Aidan, I'll be giving you a nod on my acknowledgement page for IMPROPER GENTLEMEN. Thanks!

Deb said...

Great name! I like all the names together and how they roll right off the tongue.

Alfke said...

Thanks! Glad to help :)

EmilyBryan said...

Thanks, Deb! And I just got the nod from my editor as well. Alicia Condon likes the name too.

EmilyBryan said...

Alfke--You're welcome. I'll have to fashion an acknowledgement that recognizes all the Blog Touristas (you know who you are!) since everyone who left a comment helped me decide on the name, but I will be naming you individually as well.

Jennifer said...

Awesome name!

EmilyBryan said...

Thanks, Jennifer. Now all I have to do is write a hero worthy of it!

JennJ said...

OOO I love it!!!!!! I think that is a great name and can't wait to see what he is like and does! :)

Too cool on Jennifer Ashley's quote she is a great author! And so are you!!! :)

Marcy W said...

Great name ... I think your singing background gives you a strong sense of rhythm and flow, since all your names seems to do that well. And I really enjoyed your asking for help, so am glad it broadened your horizons a bit. (I have friends who became grandparents for the first time this weekend, and I have to admit I was more eager to find out your hero's name than that of their grandbaby ... is that awful of me?!
And big congrats on Jennifer Ashley's cover quote ... I didn't know she wrote under so many names, and so have read more of hers than I knew until now! I admire her talent, so can just imagine how you feel reading that ... pretty cool, Emily/Mia!!

EmilyBryan said...

Me2, Jenn!

EmilyBryan said...

Marcy--I do look for cadence and assonance in a name. So Aidan's name is like a string of three eighth notes punctuated by a triplet.

Congrats on your friend's grandbaby!

Yes, as a longtime Jennifer Ashley fan, I'm thrilled with this quote. She's terrific.

Barb H said...

Oh My Gosh! My head's been buried in the sand for a week and I just now saw the name-the-hero competition. And the gorgeous hero :) Yum.

Congrats, Alfke. The name you suggested is great.

All the names suggested were inspired and I love the one(s) you chose, Emily. Can't wait to read the finished product.

And Jennifer Ashley gave a great quote *but true*. She's another author whose books I snap up as soon as they're out.

Barb Bettis

EmilyBryan said...

Barb--The Help Me Name a Hero thing wasn't really planned. Necessity and the Mother of Invention and all that. I needed a name and I needed it quick and I knew my readers would help me out!

Thanks again everybody!