Geez Louise! I never thought I’d write one book and here I am starting my third. I’m either destined to be a novelist or you’re all destined to hear the rantings of a crazy lady.
Anywho, I’m in the outlining stage, also known as the honeymoon phase for us writers, and I can use your help out there. I want you guys to name two of my characters!
Fun, yeah?
Here’s a brief background for you to ponder before choosing the names from the polls below.
I had this crazy discovery last summer when I bought a vintage handbag here in Milwaukee and I found some artifacts from 1954 – two baseball tickets, and a shopping list on the back of a voting receipt.
Sixty years ago, people! How cool is that?!
I wrote a post about it, because I was so freaking excited! This was back when I first started blogging and nobody knew who the hell I was, so you can check out The Clues in the Vintage Handbag if you want.
I daydreamed about who the owner of the handbag might have been, and pictured three different women. So, my brother-in-law pointed out that it looked like I had the skeleton of a decent story on my hands, and he was right. (Thanks, Shawn!)
And, here we are.
My working title is The Bra Game. The story will bounce back and forth between the woman who discovers the handbag and clues in somewhat modern day to the three women she imagines as the possible owners back in 1954. The three women were previously connected as baseball players in the All American Girls Baseball League at the tail end of World War II.
Since I adore strong female characters, these unconventional athletes are right up my alley. We know that when the men came home, the women were expected to ditch their wartime duties, and make lots of babies and pies.
But, what about the women who were different?
So, there’s your teaser.
This is a completely different project for me as it will be a departure from my previous thrillers, and more of an exploration of social issues. Rather than an international locale, this is all about Chicago in the fifties…an all-American romp, if you will.
And, instead of one main character, I have three! I’ve got one named because her name hit me like a ton of bricks, and so it must be.
But, I still have two more to name…and here’s where you come in.
CHARACTER #1
In a Nutshell: Feisty Italian-American Tomboy
Classic Movie Star Twin: Audrey Hepburn
Baseball Position: Catcher, Bunter-Stealer
Occupation: Photographer
CHARACTER #2
In a Nutshell: Busty Polish-American Sex Kitten
Classic Movie Star Twin: Marilyn Monroe
Baseball Position: Left Fielder, Left-handed Batter
Occupation: Housewife/Socialite
It would be awesome if you guys would spread the word on this poll of mine…the more, the merrier! The name reveal will take place on February 28th.
And if you don’t know anything about my previous work, now is the time to check them out. I’m currently offering a whole buck off the entire month of February.
Britt Skrabanek 
Can’t wait to hear how it turns out, Good Luck ^,~
Thanks!
This is such a cool idea – by that I mean the book, but the poll is also interesting in that there are clear winners, so it makes me think that people do associate names with certain character traits. What a clever I idea to get readers to vote for the name of a character that they will read about one day.
Why, thank ya! I thought it would be fun to involve the readers in the creative stage, and bonus…less work for me to make that final decision on the names! : )
Might want to try The Old Bra Game to fit your baseball theme. As to character names, I think Grace might work well. You can then use the line, “Grace at the plate” which can have a multiple meaning thing. Also, sports figures like to do opposites. So, a big women would be nicknamed, Tiny. Also, names that can be rhymed by the other team to the detriment of the player are good bets. All joy in writing. HF
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I went with Florence and Evie. Can’t wait to see how the votes finally turn out. The concept for The Bra Game is quite intriguing.
Nice choices! Evie is looking like a landslide victory at this point. We still have a few more days, so the Italian character is up in the air.
Thank you for voting and for the compliment! Going to peruse your blog now. : )
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