How much do authors invest in the backstory of their secondary characters? In an earlier post, I discussed the conventions and process of naming characters within the fantasy genre. The Legends of Karac Tor revolves around a series of adventures by four brothers in the Hidden Lands of Karac Tor. Like any story of this sort, there are many supporting characters, but I want to focus on one I’m particularly fond of. Since my tale is infused with Celtic lore, we need to go back…way back. In Celtic myth, Cerridwen was a goddess known for a special, magical brew which she stirred “one year and a day” to produce the coveted Three Drops of Inspiration. These were later stolen by young Taliesan, the legendary bard of old, who some assert to be the basis of the character Merlin. READ MORE >>>
Tag Archives: names
WriterTips: A Primer on Names in LoKT
For any novelist, many factors go into choosing a good name for each character, including: Culture or ethnicity, Physical appearance, Personality, Temperament, History, and Rank within the story. These comprise the broad swath of identity which a name is meant to convey. Sometimes, an author will want to run counter to stereotype with a name that intentionally defies the conventions. Even so, the character “Maximus” is unlikely to be a shy, effeminate pacifist READ MORE >>>






