Pat Griffith's Blog, page 8

The Name Game

One of my favorite things about writing has always been naming characters. First it was just about the sound of the name or the significance of the name but it quickly became about the meaning of the name. I think it's important that as you build your characters you take their names into serious consideration.

I think I have a preconceived notions about certain names and these names often get used to fill side characters as a kind of stereotyping. Like Arthur. First things that pops in my head is King Arthur. I don't think of a bear, which is what Arthur means, I think nobility and integrity. This is how I feel about many English/Welsh names.

Sometimes I discover a cool name and I want to find a person to go with it. This is the case with Esben. It's a male name that means "god." With that kind of name I needed a character who thought the world of himself. I wouldn't say Esben is conceited but he is extremely confident and sure of who he is and what he wants.

On occasion I have characters that name themselves. When this happens I think a lot about the meaning. What is my subconscious trying to tell me? I have a fantasy type character who just appeared one day and I knew that his name was Thomas, which means twin. Thomas Anderson is Neo from the Matrix. Neo is the twin of Thomas, they are two sides of the same person. I haven't found the actual twin of my Thomas which makes me think it's metaphorical. 

The only precaution regarding naming is you want to mix it up. Don't have all your characters names start with the the same letter or the reader will get confused. If all the names rhyme or end with the same sound it could get confusing too. Say the names out loud. List them together and see how they look on the page.

In this day and age it doesn't hurt to have a unique name but always Google it make sure it's not already taken by some famous book or movie you aren't familiar with. That is of course you are wanting to create an association in the readers mind, i.e. Darcy.

When in doubt workshop it or take a poll. You'll know the right name when you see it.

Hidden Treasure

It started as a convenience. I needed a name and back story for a one off character. As a place holder, I borrowed from one of my favorite movies, The Money Pit. I watched this movie hundreds of times when I was kid and the minute I found it on DVD I bought it. It still makes me laugh. In the end I did not change the text as a tribute to this beloved film.

I find that as I write, words and images from my favorite movies, books, and TV shows will pop up out of nowhere. So for fun I build them into the fabric of my world. It has become a sort of game to see what I can get in there and still make it work.

So for your amusement, below are a few of the Easter eggs from Trespassing.

-Chapter 1, section 3 we get a quick background on Walter Fielding, a newly retained host. As mentioned above, The Money Pit is the source for Walter’s name, wife’s name, location and vocation.

-Top of Chapter 2. “How not to be seen” is a reference to a Monty Python sketch.

-In Chapter 3 the IT room they are in is “room 101”. (I actually use this in Linchpin too, but it’s a conference room.) Room 101 is from George Orwell’s book, 1984 and is a place of personal nightmares. By using this reference I am attempting a subconscious connection to how the characters think about this space.

-Chapter 6, section 5 I had Korben Dallas from The Fifth Element in mind when it came down to making one person question if the safety on the gun is on or off.

-End of Chapter 10 my villain borrows a line from Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back. When Vader and Boba Fett are discussing the condition of carbon freezing Han Solo. You’ll know when you read it.

 -Chapter 12, Lysandra is trapped inside a mini-theater. This setting was inspired by a recent visit to Castro Theater here in San Francisco.

The amazing thing about this, is that the theater is in her own head. Not two days after I wrote the scene I was reading a book about human consciousness and was introduced to the concept of the Cartesian Theater. Check it out, it’s a trip.

-At the end of Chapter 16 I let Lysanda quote Princess Leia from Return of Jedi.


I have a few others, mostly names of people I know. There may be others moments and dialogue too, but if you read something that seems familiar it just might be for a reason.

In the same vein, there are five names on the DPA website that I used to pay homage to some of my favorite things. If you figure them all out, let me know and no Googling them! All the answers must come from your amazing brain alone.

Trespassing: The Movie (Part 3)

As promised here is my choice for Esben/Edward Drake, CEO of Alpha Cortex Solutions Pharmaceuticals.

Henry Cavill

Mr. Cavill has the dark curly hair that Esben has. He most certainly has the charisma and charm but I think it would be great to see him in a more sinister role. 

Since the character is Eastern Indian he would need a tan but I'm sure that won't be a problem.


As a bonus I have found his cohorts Nolin and L'heilh. Nolin is the head of security and L'heilh is Esben's assistant. They are together constantly, as hosts often are. Callum Blue is English so we won't have to worry about his accent. As General Zod we know he can be mean when he needs to. And as Mason from Dead Like Me, we get the manic smart ass. Rebecca Romijin for L'heilh is a great choice because she can play both elegant and deadly as the need arises. And she is no push over, do not mess with her.

Random Thoughts - From Characters

I was recently cleaning out notes from my phone when I found this:
This is what Lysandra did, she upset order and routine. Disrupted the way things were and he loved her for it. That would be Edward Drake's thought. It's not in the new novel but maybe it will be in the next one. BTW, it's this quality is exactly what drives Commander Eriksson crazy.

Linchpin is now available on ebook and print. Check it out HERE.

Trespassing: The Movie (Part 2)

The reason I say that Trespassing the movie is ten years from now is because the next two actors I want to suggest are too young and the moment but in ten years they will be the perfect ages. Lysandra Carlisle Matt Holloway I like Jennifer Lawrence because in all her interactions with the media she is exactly who she is, no pretenses. She has shown us her action chops via Hunger Games and X-Men and I think she would make an excellent mercenary.
I loved Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game, one of my favorite books and Ender is an all time favorite character of mine too and he did not disappoint. From what I can tell he is grounded and an all around nice person which is Matt.  As it happens both of them are amazing actors and it would be awesome to have them as part of the project.

I am currently seeking suggestions for Lysandra's twin brother Brendan and their older brother Robert.
Next time: Esben/Edward Drake

I need a role for Chris Pratt too. Hmm....

The Secret History of GIfted

I wrote a short story in the same reality as Trespassing and Linchpin. (I hope to write more.) I feel like this reality has a lot of stories to tell and this is one small glimpse.

There are two versions of Gifted. 

There is the one that I have posted on Smashwords, Scribd, and Wattpad. Then there is the one I've posted on this blog back in 2013 (link below.) I changed it after taking it to a workshop and getting feedback. That version had L'heilh in it. She is Esben/Edward's assistant in the books. 

L'heilh has been replaced with Pandora in the new version.

Here's the secret. The main character David works for the US Patent Office. Pharmaceutical companies, like Alpha Cortex Solutions from the books, have to patent all their formulas so they can charge exhortation prices for them. If a drug company were to have an inside man to get the patents they wanted and to block those of their competitors, it would give them a huge advantage. This is why I choose L'heilh first, to make the link directly to Alpha Cortex. But no matter, Esben/Edward have plenty of Elbie to help him get what he wants. Or does he?

Gifted version 1
Gifted version 2

If you get a chance to read them both let me know which you prefer.

Are You Ready?

Book Two will be released on March 27th on all ebook platforms. While  written to be read as a stand-alone book, Linchpin is a continuation of characters from Trespassing. Just in case you still don't have Trespassing it will be free on Kindle March 27th-29th.

The print version of Linchpin will be release mid-April.
Get your Kindle Edition here.
iPad, Kobo, Sony, et al here.

Trespassing: The Movie

Commander Alexander Eriksson? In ten from now when they are casting for the movie adaption of my book I would want these two be cast as the co-leaders of the DPA. 

I had mentioned sometime last year that Karl Urban would be my choice for Eriksson. He has the right build and plays the rough around the edges leader really well. Commander Draegg? I didn't really have anyone in mind for Draegg until Almost Human came out. Michael Ealy's portrayal on that show of Dorian's quiet dignity and unflappable temperament reminds me of Draegg. Eriksson's and Draegg's relationship is similar to Detective Kennex and Dorian's but it plays out differently. Not to mention it would be a great excuse to get these two together again.  They had the best partner chemistry I have seen in a long time and losing Almost Human is another travesty to added to the ongoing list of Fox's poor decision making, but I digress.

Next Time: Lysandra and Matt

Jupiter Ascending: The Review

Let's start with why we go to the movies. For me, I go to escape, to live vicariously in another person's world. I want to be enthralled, whether by people or places and both if possible.

Jupiter Ascending does that. It's beautiful, full of inter planetary imagery. The world is huge and interesting. Intergalactic commerce and power plays. It reminded of the Roman Empire. 

And that is the problem with it. Try taking the entire history of the Roman Empire and cramming it to a two hour movie. There is a lot of good material to explore and work with but the ambition of trying to get it all in now makes the whole endeavor cumbersome.

There are plenty of articles and reviews going around about what went wrong with this one and about the Wachowskis story telling technique but I return to why go to a movie at all. If you want a philosophical mind bender like The Matrix, this is not the movie. Deep character development, nope, not here either. Distraction, absolutely. Immense mind blowing fight scenes, check. Aliens, costumes, and grandeur, you should go.

Set your expectations right and you'll get what you pay for.

Confession Cam (repost)

I’m wondering that if employers provided a workplace confessional that everyone would be a lot happier.

In many TV reality shows (which I deplore) they have a “Confession Cam.” A soundproofed room where a contestant can go and just let it all out whether it be crying, ranting, homesickness, whatever. The confession cam exists for the sake of the audience and to create drama for the “narrative” of the show. But I’m sure it has a psychological benefit for the cast that would make anyone feel better.

I strongly suspect that a lot of workplace tension and stress could be relieved by providing employees a place to rant and rail as needed. Even for people who feel like they can say something to their supervisor or boss still have to show some restraint in how they say things and what they say. Being able to do it in private would help the person be totally honest instead of covering up what they really want to say in PC platitudes.

Not having to go to co-workers to vent would keep the peace. Instead of forming alliances and grudges against fellow employees; relationships in the workplace could remain civil and friendlier. This, I think, is very important because I have seen it happen (in more than one job) that things can quickly become an “Us vs. Them” situation. Sorry adults, you form cliques just as fast as any middle school student.

I know the question you really want to ask me is: Am I advocating for such a thing because I could really use one at the moment? And the answer to that is YES.  I really think that if I were able to air my thoughts and frustrations unbridled my overall outlook would improve as would my patience. I’m willing to bet you would too.