So, if you have any knowledge of fantasy romance, or fantasy novels in general, it’s not a well-kept secret that some things are a little more tricky than others to enunciate.

When I was more a reader than a writer, I’d often wondered why writers picked names that were so ambiguous. Is it just to sound more fantastical? Or is there something more behind it?

Now, as an author, I have the joy of being the person that puts those names together, (please picture me rubbing my hands together like Monty Burns while I say excellent,) and I have to say I love naming things.

At first I found it very daunting, like naming one of your kids. Here is a thing that is pretty much going to be following you around for as long as you’re alive, what if you grow to dislike the name? What if the name has been used for another character everyone hates? Or linked to something unpleasant that you’ve never heard of? (NB- This was almost the case with my middle child. Hands up if you knew that Regan was the kid from The Exorcist? Just me who didn’t? Cool.) Once it’s out in the world, it’s a very tricky thing to get back.

Then I thought, you know what? So be it. Everything is subjective and I leaned into it. Then I started to love the process. Opportunities open up to you in so many places. Names I’ve loved but could never use for my kids. Names that interlink to your characters personality. Hidden Easter eggs in why a certain place was named what it is. Funky words that you can tweak and make people laugh when they read them. Giving the villain the same name as that one boss you hated, just for a little therapy.

My take home from this is that you should honestly say the names you’re reading however you feel it should be said. There’s nothing that pulls me from a book more than reading a name in a way that sounds weird to me. You do it the way that feels right.

So, if you pick up my book and aren’t sure whether you pronounce Maxim as Max-EEM or Max-IM, I’m fine with either. I just want you to love him and Nyssa, and to keep enjoying what you read.

Jessica’s book Heart of Stone – starring Maxim – is now available! To read more about it/buy links, check out our Books page.