Andrea asked Larissa Reinhart:

How do you come up with names for your characters?

Larissa Reinhart Hey, Andrea! For my principal characters, Cherry Tucker & Maizie Albright, their names just came to me. Luke was named by one of my daughters (haven't done that since probably should). Todd was named Todd because there were a lot of Todds in my high school class. His character just seemed like a Todd. I've never named a character for anyone I knew, though.

EXCEPT: I do a drawing among my street team/fan club, The Mystery Minions (we have a Facebook group). For every book, I let them enter a drawing and I name a character after the lucky winner. That's been since book 2 in the Cherry Tucker Mysteries and now in book 2 of the Maizie Albright mysteries.

As for the other characters, I've used all sorts of things from the local obituaries (particularly for family names), random name generator, and using the website, "Behind the Name," when I wanted a symbolic name (I'll do a meaning search). Obituaries are great.

The name's got to feel right and be a right fit, you know? I've always loved the way certain names roll off the tongue. Maybe because I grew up with such a strong name. Very difficult to find Larissa Reinhart pencils and mugs growing up, though. ;)

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