I mentioned on Thursday how one of my favorite books when I was a child was called Shelley and the Pony of the Year. Ellen Bosworth also wrote a book called Shelley and the Bushfires, and I liked that one too because it was like reading about myself.
Shelley isn’t a usual name. I don’t meet many people named Shelley, especially spelled the same way. Most of you have probably seen the range of “name” products available in gift shops where you can buy all sorts of things from coffee mugs to notebooks, pens and badges bearing your name. I’ve only seen my name once, and I purchased the little metal numberplate bearing my name immediately. That’s how rare I am!
A while ago Marianne Lacroix’s book Sea Hawk’s Mistress was published at Ellora’s Cave. Her heroine is named Shelley Hanover. I must admit I found it a bit weird reading the blurb featuring “my” name. I still haven’t read Mari’s story. I keep meaning to and have written it on my list just now. I mean – pirates. What’s not to like? BTW, Mari’s story is also out in print.
The week before last another “Shelley” book came out at Ellora’s Cave. Cyna Kade’s Linking Shelley also features a Shelley. This time I’m heading off to outer space, and by the sounds of it, I’m very naughty. Heck, I’m a spitfire!
I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit weird about reading these “Shelley” books. Somehow the books seem more personal because the heroines bear my name. Um…dare I say it…it’s almost like readers are getting a bigger glimpse of me than I’m comfortable with. They’re peeking inside my bedroom. 
What do you think? Do you enjoy reading a book if the heroine bears your name?
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April 14th, 2009 at 12:37 am · Link
Hahhaha!!! Oh I completely agree, although I’ve only once or twice read books where the heroine (or not even the heroine, a minor character) has my real name. Come to think of it, I haven’t come across many called Christina, either, but yes it definitely feels very personal reading about a heroine with your own name (and they were children’s books, not erotic romance!!!)
April 14th, 2009 at 3:58 am · Link
I once got an email from someone who had stumbled on my website while googling her name – Summer Donahue, which is also the name of the heroine in my book ONE CRAZY SUMMER. She wanted to know how I’d come up with the name. I wonder if she ever read the book?? :)
April 14th, 2009 at 5:51 am · Link
I don’t think I have ever read a book in which the heroine had my name (Carrie), maybe it’s too old fashioned. It also seems like many authors like to have more formal version of the name, then be able to shorten it in some way for a nickname that is more intimate between characters.
I think it could be more distracting, than fun though because like you said you identify yourself with your name and you might project your personality traits onto a character that is nothing like you, so I may not enjoy the book as much as I would have otherwise.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:01 am · Link
Hello Shelley,
I haven’t found a book that has my name for the heroine. If anybody knows of a book with Roberta in it. Even if it is a secondary character, let me know. I would love to see my name in print. Have a great day.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:04 am · Link
If I ever saw a book with my name in it I would buy it in a heart beat! Voronda is a pretty hard name to find anywhere but as the elf in Lord of the Rings. So if I found a book with some sexy guy whispering my name I would buy every copy of it!
April 14th, 2009 at 6:32 am · Link
My name is usually spelled wrong over here in Canada and the States. There’s a masculine spelling and a feminine spelling, the American trend seems to be to label everyone with the masculine spelling no matter what. I never had anything with my name spelled right until I went to England. I bought keychains and coasters and all sorts of things because I couldn’t get them over here. It’s sort of annoying, and is one reason why I went with the pen name Leah – I figured that would be easy to spell. LOL, turned out is my maiden name Braemel that screws everyone up now. I can’t win.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:38 am · Link
One of my dearest friends is named Shelley – and spelled your way, too! Here’s a link to a picture of her:
http://julia-mindovermatter.blogspot.com/2008/03/poetry-train-monday-41-to-comfort-you.html
(Scroll to the bottom of the link for the picture.)
I also have a cousin named Shelly, but spelled without the second ‘e’. Both Shelley’s are wonderful women – and now I’ve got a third Shelley – you!
When I was a kid in the 60′s, there were no Julia’s around. Sometimes a Julie or two, but no Julia’s. Nowadays I hear moms calling to their Julia’s when I’m out and about – so the name has had a resurgence.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:22 am · Link
Interesting… I guess it would be weird to see your name in a book as many times as you have, Shelley! I never thought about it much. Kaye has been used in theatre and screen. My favorite use of my name was in an old vamp flick where the heroine vamp’s name was Kaye. Interesting…
April 14th, 2009 at 9:31 am · Link
LOL, I guess that would be pretty weird.
I haven’t read a book with my name, at least not with the same spelling. And I don’t find my name often on novelty items either.
But there is an old song with my name in it. I don’t think it is spelled the same as mine, but whenever my husband hears it, he always starts singing to me.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pm · Link
Well, I wasn’t fond of the brat in Little Women named Amy.
But one of my favorite Johanna Lindsay Historicals (I can’t remember the name other than it’s a Mallory novel) featured one of my favorite brothers Boyd and Amy Mallory.
That was fun. :)
April 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pm · Link
Well, you know that I’m going to start taking names now, don’t you? I’ll make a list and check it twice when I need a new character.
Julia – I can’t be as rare as what I thought!!
I’ve known a few Julias over the years.
Amy – I remember that book. Amy was a great character. In fact, I think I have that book on my keeper shelf – the Johanna Lindsey one.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm · Link
Oh, I forgot to mention that there’s a lawyer in Canada (I think) whose name is Shelley Munro. I guess she’s not too happy with me! She used to come up when I googled my name. Not so much now….
Mostly it’s just me.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:18 pm · Link
Hey Shelley! Funny, I think I actually did use your name…I wanted something “nautical”. I think you had just come out with a new book and when I saw your name, the bell in my head went off. It was perfect.
So thanks for inspiring a name for my character. Hope it didn’t freak you out too much. LOL
April 14th, 2009 at 3:00 pm · Link
LOL – Marianne, really? That’s funny. I really do have to get your book now.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:02 pm · Link
Jenyfer – actually, I think that would be worse. Knowing my luck, the person would be really irritated and threaten to sue or something. When you think about it, there are millions of people in the world and only a certain number of names. Add the fictional world and there are bound to be double-ups.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:06 pm · Link
Carrie – your name is pretty. Hmm, taking notes here…
April 14th, 2009 at 7:43 pm · Link
Our daughter-in-law is Shelley and I have begun a convention of working my way through the family names as characters, so expect to appear in a future story.
Amy
PS
The three contemporary romances I signed contracts for recently now have release dates in July, August and Nov/Dec this year.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:27 pm · Link
I’ve never had it happen before, honestly
I think it’d be a little strange, depending on whether or not I could relate to the character’s personality…
April 15th, 2009 at 2:31 am · Link
Julia – I loved your poem and my namesake is very pretty.
Amy G – you’ve obviously been very busy!
Fedora – I’m a bit frightened to find out, but I’m going to be brave…
April 15th, 2009 at 6:20 am · Link
I’ve never read a book featuring a Wylie, or my real name… but imagine it would be very odd, indeed!
That said,… I did find out (much later and after the fact) that my pen name is shared by a male character in a Texas-based historical. Weird. Cause I totally pulled it out of the air.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:10 pm · Link
I knew a few people in HS with your name, and at least one spelled it the same way. I have picked up a few books with my name in it, the two I remember being Heather’s Song by Diana Palmer and another was a highland historical, The Heart and the Heather by Nancy Richards-Akers. And I’ve had actual walk-on parts in books by Cathie Linz and Liz Fielding…does that count?
April 16th, 2009 at 12:31 am · Link
Wylie – that would be weird, considering you made the name up.
Heather – walk-on parts sound like fun.