Blog Entry #7

One of my favorite parts of writing is the naming of new characters. I’ve tried to give The Fortana Chronicles a bit of a medieval feeling when it comes to name choices, and where possible I’ve tried to tie the meanings of characters’ names into their personalities. In this blog entry, I’ll go over a few of the main characters’ names and what led me to choose those particular monikers.

Amelia: Germanic in origin, the name Amelia means “work” or “industrious”, and it is certainly appropriate for the main protagonist of The Fortana Chronicles. Amelia Bell is known for her dedication to spellcraft, and spends many hours in the library of the Mages’ Guild studying and perfecting her magic. None of my characters are as hard-working and dedicated as Amelia is.

Gabriel: Gabriel is a Hebrew name, meaning “God is my strength” or “strong man of God”. Strength is Gabriel Smith’s defining characteristic, whether it’s his immense physical strength or the strength of his character that makes him a great hero. Although The Fortana Chronicles aren’t necessarily spiritual in nature, it is later revealed that Gabriel has a background that includes numerous paladins who defended the light with their very lives.

Gregory: Gregory Silverwing serves as a mentor figure to Amelia, Gabriel and the rest of the heroes of The Fortana Chronicles. He is a wise sorcerer who has trained and watched over aspiring mages for decades. It’s only natural that he would bear a name of Greek origin which means “watchful” or “vigilant”. Gregory is always looking out for his students and attempting to protect them both from outside danger and from themselves.

Beatrice: When we first meet Beatrice Miller, she certainly seems to live up to her Latin name which means “she who brings happiness”. Beatrice is Amelia’s closest friend, and is always there when she needs cheering up…even providing crucial relationship advice when Amelia feels hopelessly lost. Of course, the twist at the end of The Starlight Crystal makes Beatrice a rare example where the meaning of a character’s name is completely subverted.

Edith: Quite possibly my personal favorite character to write, Edith Baker seems like a subversion herself at first. The shy and timid Edith hardly seems to live up to the Old English meaning of her name…”prosperous in war” or “blessed in battle”. However, little Edith proves herself to be a brave and loyal warrior and plays a major role in several battles throughout the course of The Fortana Chronicles.

Philomena: Another Greek name, Philomena means “courageous lover” or “strongly loved”. Philomena Hawthorne’s defining quality is her deep love and devotion to her friends, particularly her counterpart Bartholomew and her precious friend Amelia. Her love for her friends will often supersede her own safety and drive her to protect them at all costs.

I hope you enjoyed this dive into some of the names of the main players in The Fortana Chronicles. I’ll be back soon with more content!

Dave