White Out, Pt. 2

Okay, so now that I have my toast and Rio’s dirty looks have morphed from their earlier, “You’re not really going to eat me, are you mommy?” tenor to “You’re not really going to share that toast and blackberry jam with me, are you Mommy?” tenor, I guess I can go on.

Mmmmm, toast.

So anyway, as you may have picked up from my oh-so-subtle hints (particularly on the last blog post), I have signed a new book contract. It is actually the second book contract I signed this year, but I got the offer for that one last year. Yes, it’s been a momentous year. This contract will keep Rio in kibble for another two years, so that’s good. It will also keep my readers (hi, readers!) in Diana Peterfreund books for the years 2011 and 2012. The contract is with Balzer & Bray, a team that I’m really excited to be working with, and my editor will again be the remarkable Kristin Daly.

I’m not saying what the first book in the contract is, though. That’s kind of a secret for now. But, when revealed (let’s say a month or two), it will probably surprise no one who knows me like, at all. Suffice to say for now, that this is a dream project, a project that I always thought I’d write, you know, someday, and I’m shocked that someday is suddenly now. This year. Today, in fact. It has a working title, but it’s a very working kind of working title. Maybe. I dunno.

I hate titles (until I hit upon the perfect one). Almost as much as I hate the snow.

You know what I don’t hate? Character names. The nice thing about starting a whole new book is that I get to come up with whole new character names. See, writing series, as I have been, means that I at best only get to come up with a few new names per book. Like Micah Price (and Jamie Orcutt) or Darren Gehry and Salt or Michelle Whitmore and Topher Cox (I was particularly proud of that one) in successive books in the SSG series. I came up with all the names for Rampant like five years ago, so being able to come up with a few new names (all French) for Ascendant was fun, too. I also got to come up with fantabulous new names for all the short stories I’ve been writing, and really, I think I outdid myself. Not having new characters to name for so long made each one all the more precious.

But these names for my new book? Oh, how I heart them! I hug each one too me, and pat them, my preciouses.

Also, don’t tell Carrie Ryan, but I think my name obsession is totally contagious. You should hear her talking about names these days. I did that.

I wonder, also, if readers care as much about the names I give my characters as I do. If they see a girl named Philippa and realize it means “Horse lover” or a set of characters named Cornelia and Cornelius and realize they have the names they do because of their unicorn hunting heritage. (An early reader — and really, I should just tell you, it was Carrie, which makes me all the more happy I’ve converted her to my evil, name-obsessive ways) was like “Do you realize you named two characters Cornelia and Cornelius?” and I was like, “Yes, because Cornelia’s mom, Sybil, gave her the female version of the family name Sybil’s brother has.” And it wasn’t like it was even confusing, since they went by Cory and Neil, which don’t look alike at all. I don’t like it when too many characters have names that look alike, which was annoying when I realized I’d gone ahead and named three of the most important characters in the SSG series all names that started with J. Oops. Who knew Josh and Jenny would end up being so important?

Also, you will be pleased to learn that I have broken through my A-obsession. The main character of this book does not have a name that starts with an A. Though she should. (That was a hint, people.)

Here I have had the opportunity to name like a dozen new characters. It’s so exciting. I’m drunk with options.

(I would like to point out that my husband shudders at the thought of someday naming a baby with me. You think I’m obsessive when it comes to fictional people? Ha. Ha ha. Though the benefit is that fictional people never have to endure playground taunts. I mean, except Astrid. Poor Astrid.)

Also, I really, really love these characters’ names. They might be my favorite names of all time. I’m having so much fun with their names, I am afraid I might be neglecting other things. Like, you know, actually writing the book.