What's In A Name?

When I wrote my first book, MIND PLAY, I started more trouble than expected. I used the first names of family and friends for each of my characters. That wasn’t the bad part. That wasn’t where the problem started.

The problem, you see, came when I informed people of what I’d done.

Unless you are James Patterson (who has ten million books released every year – that he does not write), you cannot write books fast enough to use the names of all your family and friends. Look at my name. Tomasso. Know what that is? Know what that means? Italian. Ever see a small Italian family? I’ve got more aunts and uncles and cousins than Stephen King has fans. See what I’m saying, eh-oh, oh-eh.

Anyway. I try to do my best. I try to incorporate the first names of as many people as I can. The thing is, sometimes, those just aren’t the names I want for my characters. Believe it or not, I put thought into the characters. And they become real to me. I look up the meanings of names. I picture what they look like in my mind. And if they don’t look they’d be named “Jane Doe” because my Aunt Jane Doe is on my butt about using her name, then I can’t in good conscience name that character “Jane Doe.” It won’t work for me. It would shatter the person/character I’d created.

My Uncle Bill used to come to every book signing I had in Rochester. And at each new book signing he’d ask me when I was going to use his name. Finally, I’d sold the manuscript of a novel where I’d used his name, his full first Italian name – Abello (“Bill”). His character was a Mafia Don in the story.

When Uncle Bill got up to the front of the line, he handed me a copy of my book to sign for him. And, of course, he asked, “So, when are you going to use my name in a book?”

So I told him about being a Mafia Don.

You saw it in his face. He was excited. He asked me, “What’s the name of the book?”

I said, “Pigeon Drop.”

He grimaced. “What’s that? That’s crap.”

To this day, I am not sure if he was seriously mad, or just being funny. We Tomassos’ have an odd, peculiar, sense of humor.

My first book was released in 2000. My ninth, Sounds of Silence, will be released later this year – and you know what? I still have not used all the names of family and friends as characters in the stories written.
At work tonight, 2013 – it’s no different. Only, my friends are more aggressive about what they want. Crystal wants me to use her name. Not her last name. Her first name, and … get this – to make the entire novel about her. (You may not realize it – but it was Crystal’s inspiration that inspired my last blog, First Dates & Red Robin Yummm … ).

My point?

There isn’t one. (Is there ever with me?) Except, maybe … be patient. If I can use your name, I will. Promise.

More times than not, I am using your personality. You just may not be smart enough to recognize it’s you you are reading about.

Bada-bing!

Take care,

Phillip Tomasso

PS … Check out my new website:

http://www.philliptomasso.com/
(Still under construction)

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Writing Is Like Having A Baby

Writing a novel is about telling a story; about creating characters and making them real, three-dimensional. The process, I assume, is a lot like pregnancy. You spend months and months getting ready for the manuscript to be completed. You worry about it while you are writing. You try to feed your imagination with with relevant and inspiring thoughts during the process.

You can't help be prepare for the potential results of the finished product. Envisioning book covers; winning awards and hitting coast-to-coast bestseller lists. Your dream and dream as the page and word count grows and grows.

Let's not forget worrying, too. Authors do that. A lot. Before beginning to write. While writing. And once the work is actually published and for sale. Oh, the worrying. It never, never ends. You think it might. You say you won't be "One of those authors," but once the book hits store shelves. You are. You become "One of those authors."

Before writing, you take notes. You make lists. Pro's and Con's to telling the story. You wonder, aren't there already enough stories? Do I really have any business bringing another into this world?

While writing, you are nothing but preoccupied with plot, and setting. With dialogue and ensuring every word moves the story forward. Does the opening grab the reader? Is the middle fluff-less? Is the ending a surprise, and unexpected?

Will people even care what happens to my characters, the way I care!

It's enough to have you pull hair off your head! Have Mercy!

Then, once the book is on sale, and your are in a bookstore, you want to take your novel off a bottom shelf and insert it eye-level next to James Patterson and Stephen King books. It's what's best for your book. Why wouldn't you? You're only trying to be a supportive author. You're only attempting to ensure your novel gets a fair shake at being bought ... by a stranger!

A stranger! If someone you don't know buys and reads your book, you feel like you might throw-up!

This isn't your Mom. Your Wife. Your Kids!

This is a stranger.

They might not like it! They might actually tell you they don't like it!

Worse--they could post a review, publicly, and tell EVERYONE they don't like it!

And yet, despite all the pre- and post-fears of writing, we do it anyway. We know we may never sell the manuscript. Or that the book might not be well received. Or critically destroyed. That doesn't stop us. Because the story is still inside. And needs to be told, for whatever reason.

Writers write.

Have an awesome day,

Phillip Tomasso


Pulse of Evil Book Trailer

Pulse of Evil For Sale

Other titles for sale for Kindle

Other titles for sale for Nook

The Molech Prophecy for sale on Nook/Paperback -- writing as Thomas Phillips