What's in a name...? (2nd edition)
In case you missed this blog post on Murderous Musings, I'm posting it here with an addition I've just discovered.
When I speak to an audience of readers, the question I hear most often is: "Where do you get your ideas?" The second most frequent is: "How do you pronounce your name?" That's much easier to answer! Carola--just like Carol or Carolyn or Caroline. NOT Ca-Roll-a, let alone Corolla, Crayola or any similar trademark. However, I do forgive people who say it wrong--the first four or five times.
The next thing people say is "I've never heard it before. Did your mother make it up?" No, she didn't. If I remember correctly, she once told me she named me after a favourite book called Life as Carola, by Joan Grant.
I've met several Carolas, too. My godmother had a cousin called Carola. After I left school (Friends' School Saffron Walden), I understand another Carola arrived there. When I lived in Carlsbad, California, I had a call from a lady called Carola who'd read about me in the local paper. And in Eugene, where I live now, the head of the area's forestry service police turned up at a book-signing, not because she was interested in the book but because her name was Carola. So we're not common (Heaven forbid), but I am not alone.
This is one of an interesting series supposedly describing one of her own incarnations, as was her first book, Winged Pharaoh, set in ancient Egypt. I read and loved Winged Pharaoh, but I could never quite bring myself to read Life as Carola--altogether too weird! I've met several Carolas, too. My godmother had a cousin called Carola. After I left school (Friends' School Saffron Walden), another Carola arrived there, I'm told. When I lived in Carlsbad, California, I had a call from a lady called Carola who'd read about me in the local paper. And in Eugene, where I live now, the head of the area's forestry service police turned up at a book-signing, not because she was interested in the book but because her name was Carola. So we're not common (Heaven forbid!), but I am not alone.
I've met a Carola in at least one mystery series: Robert Barnard's Charlie Peace has a daughter of that name. And another mystery connection--this is an old poster for a phonograph, owned by Larry Karp, author of The Ragtime Kid.
Here are some other Carolas:
Carola's Parotia Bird of Paradise. Do check out this link and see them dance.
Historian Carola Oman wrote one of the best ever biographies of Nelson...
...among other books.
Another queen: A Swedish princess who became Queen Carola of Saxony. I like the look of her!
The Parotia may be named for her.
Also, there's a port in New Guinea called Queen Carola's Harbour, which I think must be named after her. I couldn't find a good picture of it.
In fact, when I Googled images of Queen Carola's Harbour, I found pictures of myself and some of my book covers, as well as this painting by Paul Wyeth. His portrait of his wife and daughters, Mrs Titula Wyeth, Carina and Carola in the Studio, was sold at Christie's. Then there's the Swedish pop singer Carola, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006.
Last but not least, a reader recently brought this children's book to my attention. I simply have to get hold of a copy!
So, you see, I'm in good company, though I have to admit I don't know how any of these other Carolas pronounce our name.
When I speak to an audience of readers, the question I hear most often is: "Where do you get your ideas?" The second most frequent is: "How do you pronounce your name?" That's much easier to answer! Carola--just like Carol or Carolyn or Caroline. NOT Ca-Roll-a, let alone Corolla, Crayola or any similar trademark. However, I do forgive people who say it wrong--the first four or five times.
The next thing people say is "I've never heard it before. Did your mother make it up?" No, she didn't. If I remember correctly, she once told me she named me after a favourite book called Life as Carola, by Joan Grant.
I've met several Carolas, too. My godmother had a cousin called Carola. After I left school (Friends' School Saffron Walden), I understand another Carola arrived there. When I lived in Carlsbad, California, I had a call from a lady called Carola who'd read about me in the local paper. And in Eugene, where I live now, the head of the area's forestry service police turned up at a book-signing, not because she was interested in the book but because her name was Carola. So we're not common (Heaven forbid), but I am not alone.
This is one of an interesting series supposedly describing one of her own incarnations, as was her first book, Winged Pharaoh, set in ancient Egypt. I read and loved Winged Pharaoh, but I could never quite bring myself to read Life as Carola--altogether too weird! I've met several Carolas, too. My godmother had a cousin called Carola. After I left school (Friends' School Saffron Walden), another Carola arrived there, I'm told. When I lived in Carlsbad, California, I had a call from a lady called Carola who'd read about me in the local paper. And in Eugene, where I live now, the head of the area's forestry service police turned up at a book-signing, not because she was interested in the book but because her name was Carola. So we're not common (Heaven forbid!), but I am not alone.
I've met a Carola in at least one mystery series: Robert Barnard's Charlie Peace has a daughter of that name. And another mystery connection--this is an old poster for a phonograph, owned by Larry Karp, author of The Ragtime Kid.
Here are some other Carolas:
Carola's Parotia Bird of Paradise. Do check out this link and see them dance.
Historian Carola Oman wrote one of the best ever biographies of Nelson...
...among other books.
Another queen: A Swedish princess who became Queen Carola of Saxony. I like the look of her!
The Parotia may be named for her.
Also, there's a port in New Guinea called Queen Carola's Harbour, which I think must be named after her. I couldn't find a good picture of it.
In fact, when I Googled images of Queen Carola's Harbour, I found pictures of myself and some of my book covers, as well as this painting by Paul Wyeth. His portrait of his wife and daughters, Mrs Titula Wyeth, Carina and Carola in the Studio, was sold at Christie's. Then there's the Swedish pop singer Carola, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006.
Last but not least, a reader recently brought this children's book to my attention. I simply have to get hold of a copy!
So, you see, I'm in good company, though I have to admit I don't know how any of these other Carolas pronounce our name.
No comments have been added yet.
Carola Dunn's Blog
- Carola Dunn's profile
- 885 followers
Carola Dunn isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
