I am
delighted to welcome Mae Clair, back to the blog, today, as she reveals how she
came up with the characters’ names in her latest release, the captivating Myth
and Magic romantic suspense.
Names, Myth, and Legends…Woven with Halloween by Mae Clair
I’m grateful to be here today on Carmen’s wonderful blog with my most recent release, MYTH AND MAGIC, a romantic suspense novel set during Halloween, now available for just $.99.
One of the elements I enjoyed most while writing this book was the ability to play on my love of myth in a rather unique way. Regular visitors to my blog know I have a passion for most things mythical and odd, including folklore and legends.
In MYTH AND MAGIC my hero’s mother has given all of her children (four sons) names from legend: Galen, Aren, Merlin and Caithelden. All four boys grew up surrounded by their mother’s love of things mythical, but as adults the glamour has faded. Especially for Caith who became estranged from his family, due in part, to a tragedy that occurred when he was a young teen.
The names Galen, Aren and Merlin are (mostly) well-known names from myth, but I have had several early readers ask about Caithelden. It’s an odd name, which is exactly what I wanted for my hero. One reviewer even Googled it, stating the only reference she could find was a link back to my book.
Probably because I made it up—after experimenting with several different variations. I wanted my hero to be called Caith, but I also wanted a more formal sounding name that he would be addressed by occasionally (Caith-el-den).
But you can’t have a name from myth without a legend, right? J So I invented the “Myth of Orlen” about a raven that gathers the souls of the dead from battlefields. As Caith’s brother Merlin tells him early in the novel: “You know all about dead things, don’t you?” That slight (and yes, it is a slight) is not a reference to folklore but to a tragedy that occurred in Caith’s past.
Intrigued?
I invite you to discover the mystery, romance, and Halloween suspense of MYTH AND MAGIC, on sale now for just $.99 cents through the month of October.
~ooOOoo~
Blurb for Myth and Magic:
AS CHILDREN THEY PLAYED GAMES OF MYTH AND MAGIC…
Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith's past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmares—and his feelings for the woman he’s always loved.
THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL.
After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isn’t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isn’t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future?
Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith's past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmares—and his feelings for the woman he’s always loved.
THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL.
After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isn’t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isn’t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future?
Excerpt:
Caith had forgotten how brooding the house appeared
with its distinctive gothic lines. His father had it designed around his
mother’s love of folklore, incorporating massive chimneys, steeply arched
windows, and multiple roof peaks. A marble fountain, littered with dry leaves,
dominated the center of the driveway. Caith remembered playing there as a
child, the water spouting up in magical streams, glittering with the glow of
multi-colored lights. His father had often joked he would have been happy with
a simple cape cod, but would settle on nothing less than a storybook castle for
Caith’s mother, his queen.
When they stepped from the car, Derrick abandoned him,
racing to the house after Aren. Caith moved far more slowly, walking around the
side, re-familiarizing himself with the grounds. Treed and landscaped, the
earth unfurled in flat parcels and gentle slopes, connected by cobblestone
paths and raised gardens. Statues of stone, marble, and iron made a host of
fantastical sentries beneath trees and trellised walkways. No garden gnomes for
his mother. Brooding gargoyles, fierce dragons, and majestic unicorns guarded
the Breckwood estate.
Caith eyed the entrance to the nearest garden, still
blooming with late fall flowers. A black bird, forged from iron, perched on a
gothic-looking gate, its wings unfurled to the sky.
“Mom, what does my name mean?”
With a soft smile, Caith’s mother
brushed the thick hair from his forehead.
“You’re the raven, Caithelden.
Strong and swift, like the bird from the Myth of Orlen. It was born after a
mighty battle when Prince Kenrick fought his brother Prince Orlen for the
throne of their father.”
“And Prince Kenrick died.” Caith
knew the legend. He’d heard it countless times.
“Yes. But Orlen wept, sobbing
bitter tears that he’d slain his own flesh. No one could console him, not even
his men. So a wizard was summoned, and from Orlen’s tears he conjured a raven
to carry Kenrick to the next life. And that is why the raven haunts
battlefields, collecting souls who pass from one world to the next.”
“Derry went inside with Aren.”
Caith jerked when Veronica appeared at his shoulder.
Frazzled at being caught unaware, he nodded curtly.
She looked past him to the gate with its dark sentry.
“Bird watching or reminiscing?”
His
immediate retort, a defensive reaction, died on his tongue. Her expression was
open, almost playful, those remarkable green eyes betraying a thread of the
mischievousness he remembered from childhood. Although it was dark, he saw her
face clearly, outlined in the soft glow of solar lighting. Her hair glimmered
with the kiss of awakening starlight.
~ooOOoo~
Buy Links for MYTH AND MAGIC…Just $.99 through 11/4/2015
Mae Clair BioMae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, anartist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Pinterest
Myth and Magic is such a good story! Mae, I love the way you created the legend to go with your hero's name. Carmen, thanks fr the post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Flossie. You know how I love myth so it was particularly fun to craft my own for Caith's name. :)
DeleteA book that gave me a pleasant pastime. Thank you for visiting, Flossie!
DeleteA fabulous story and I agree with Flossie about the legend to go with the name. I love names with meanings and although the legend for Caith is rather dark I think its great he has it. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Daisy! I love names that are associated with legends, too. I guess that goes back to my love of fantasy novels when I was younger. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteThe names fit perfectly the story, I totally agree. Thank you for checking the post today, Daisy!
DeleteThanks so much for hosting me today, Carmen, and helping me spread the word about Myth and Magic. I always enjoy visiting your wonderful blog! :)
ReplyDeleteYour books deserve all the promo, Mae and you know that I enjoyed them. Whenever you need a place to promo, the "door"of my blog is open.
DeleteThanks. You're so sweet. And that goes in reverse, too! :)
Delete