Mrs. Publicist: Middle of the month and time for What’s In A Name, where we ask Peter Abrahams aka Spencer Quinn about a character name in one of his novels, sometimes from the Chet and Bernie mystery series, sometimes not. Pete, you’ve mentioned you can’t write the character until you have the name. True?
Pete: Yes, although sometimes I fumble around a bit for a day or two when the character first appears.
Mrs. P: What can you tell us about Mrs. Plansky’s 98-year-old dad?
Pete: Well, he comes – descending quite far in his case – from that tweedy, lofty class you find only in the Northeast and now on its way to extinction. When it comes to naming they have odd little habits, such as using surnames as prenames. McGeorge Bundy is a fine example. Mrs. P’s dad’s name came to me like a single measure of music, or a drum roll: Chandler Wills Banning.
Mrs. P: Three surnames in a row.
Pete: Correct.
Mrs. P: Thanks, Pete. See you next month for more of What’s In A Name. And readers – you can find Chandler Wills Banning in Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge, available in all formats, and Mrs. Plansky Goes Rogue, coming July 15 but preorderable. Today, for example.
4 Comments on “What’s In A Name?”
Greetings!
Chandler Wills Banning…A distinguished name indeed.
(Whispering) I wonder if OFA was watching an episode of “Friends” when this name came to him. :^)
Create a good day!
Good day to all.
I sure hope I can keep the three Mrs. P.s straight: Mrs. Publicist, Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Plansky…..
Those Yankees might name their offspring with last names for first names. Down South, they tend to go by two names (Joe Bob) or only the middle name. (Margaret Rebecca in my case). The latter makes it difficult where the government insists in using first given names (passports, driver license, social security, etc.).
I can’t wait to see what Chandler is up to next!
I never watched Friends except for an occasional episode when I was at my parents’ house. For some reason it always ended up being an episode I had already seen. With how long that show was on and how infrequently I would end up there watching it you’d think I would never see the same episode twice. Or three times.
So I know who Chandler Bing is. And yes, any Chandler would tweak that name to the forefront.
I don’t remember where I heard it but there is a saying “Never trust anyone with two first names.” Or is it two last names? Or three?
I am all prepared to commence the Thanksgiving baking/cooking starting tomorrow. I will be having the USPS mail held Friday, Saturday and Monday after Thanksgiving to give me plenty of time to repair my side gate and fence. I decided I couldn’t do it in a three day weekend, plus both UPS and FedEx decided they were going to deliver on Veteran’s Day. I have my “cut list” of materials finalized and divided into three trips to Home Depot. One order is already here but I need two more and am limited as to what my car will hold. So far the gate and one section of fence will cost me about $300. I am buying a pocket hole jig (finally) as I need it for the runners and should have bought one decades ago. Probably before they were available to the average amateur public.
Might post some recipes tomorrow if anyone is interested.