Author Christina Dodd asked (via twitter) if it’s important to be able to pronounce character names.

I say yes.

I’ve read books where there was no hope of me prounouncing the characters name and I read the whole book saying “heroine” in my head. This has happened to me more than once.

If I discover a character with a name that isn’t something I’ve come across before I may “misprounounce” it in my head, but at least I have something to call the character.

Right now I’m working on a Sci Fi romance where I completely made up one of the character’s names. I’ve never seen it before and I simply strunge some letters together based on the sounds in my head. The name is Micyah, and it’s pronounced just like it reads… mic – ya. In fact, I did it twice in that book. The Oracle’s name is Zeekia. Have never seen that name either and I just knew I wanted something extoic. It’s also pronounced just as it looks. Zeek – ea

So there’s my take on the subject. Hopefully readers will be able to pronounce my characters names. And I think if there’s any doubt in the author’s mind, a note on the book’s page would be helpful.

Stay Sexy,

Selena