There are those who call me... Tim?

[rj_anderson]

It has been suggested to me that I change the name of my young hero from book two of FAERY REBELS (a.k.a. REBEL in the UK). I am told that for most British people, especially of the younger generation, the name "Timothy" is considered fairly radically uncool.

I don't mind Timothy's name being unpopular, because he was born to missionary parents and raised in Uganda, and him not fitting in with the cool kids in England is kind of the point. However, if it's going to make all my young readers in the UK gag and put the book down hastily the moment they see it (as I'd be tempted to do if the hero's name was, say, "Leslie") then I suppose I would be foolish not to take that into account.

So I'm doing a poll. The first question is specifically for UK readers, but for the second I'd be glad to hear from anybody.

[Poll #1398565]

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Comments

[ozratbag2.livejournal.com]

I'm hopeless with character names, so I think it's pretty much up to you what name you choose for your hero. :)

I had a quick look on the web for boys names in the UK circa 1995, and the link is here (http://baby2see.com/names/topboysnamesrestuk.html). It's only giving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it might help.

BTW, do you know if your first book has come out in Australia? I've been keeping an eye on the new titles, but haven't seen it yet. I haven't looked for a couple of weeks, which I'll be remedying when I'm up the street tomorrow.

[melwil.livejournal.com]

I bought Knife in Australia about two/three weeks ago, but my hubby had to do a bit of searching :( Most bookshops I talked to said they'd order it in though

[ozratbag2.livejournal.com]

Oh, excellent! :D

Thanks for that and I have a couple of great independent booksellers close to me that probably have copies.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I work for a Major Book Chain in Melbourne, and it's all over the place down here. Not that I've been pointedly checking every single bookstore I've passed, except that I have. Only the Readings chain don't carry it, and their staff are awful, so I don't feel they deserve it.

[ozratbag2.livejournal.com]

Not that I've been pointedly checking every single bookstore I've passed, except that I have.

LOL! Best way to be, really. :)

I'm in Sydney and lucky enough to have a couple of good independent booksellers close, as well as a couple of large bookshop chains.

Luckily, I don't think Readings has infiltrated Sydney...yet. Knowledgable booksellers will always get more sales from me, not that it's that hard in the first place. ;)