Really, I think the only way to be sure is to nuke it all from orbit.

Seconding Brenda. And Ailleann. And Fay.

The Anne Rice levels of ego and disconnect with anything resembling reality is actually alarming, considering the fan collective for both of them and their works. Although Rice has gone on, I gather, to religious works. As Meyers began there.

Well, but Rice has had the crazy from day one. Interview was written after a three-day booze bender, after all, and they didn't get a whole lot more sense-making after that...

wrod. I did make up Super Special Names for characters in my one attempt at fantasy writing. But I was about sixteen, and no money changed hands. Now I pretty much stick to names like "James" and "Katherine"

I always thought it was funny that Rice and Gregory Widen, author of the original Highlander script, were classmates. Both came up with immortal 400 year-old characters who had some fundamental characteristics in common (which I've forgotten as I've fallen out of both fandoms), as well as tertiary characters (Marius, Darius both much older and semi-mentorish). Maybe they were both on that three-day bender together?

Although Rice has gone on, I gather, to religious works. As Meyers began there.

Heh. Now she's writing RPF about Jesus Christ.

shakes head in sheer incredulity.

I think within the context of a fantasy setting, where people are running around with whacky made-up names - fair enough. Try to restrain yourself with the apostrophes if you can, but knock yourself out.

But when it's set in, essentially, the real world? (Y'know, with added sparkly vampires.) When everyone else is wandering around with fairly innocuous (if cheesy) names? The reader surely, surely cannot help but have an attack of "....really?"

considers

Mind you, upon further reflection, I will buy that these ridiculous sparkly teenagers would make up a dumb name for their kid.

(Were I to have children, incidentally, it is entirely likely that they would have to cope with either a given name or a middle name like 'Serendipity' or 'Luxor' or something equally annoying, poor wee bastards. But I wouldn't just make ugly, badly spelled shit up, because I am not fourteen.)

eta Upon further reflection, it strikes me that what I really dislike about this is the whole fake-word-ness of it. I like words. There are lots of fabulous words out there, in lots and lots of languages. Why make up an ugly word? It doesn't make your character look speshul, Ms Meyers. It makes them look dumb.

How does one pronounce Reneesme, anyway? Ren-es-me?

I think I would be tempted to prounounce it "Mair-ee-soo".

eta Actually, I've been mentally pronouncing it to rhyme with "Release Me", which leads to the inevitable image of this Jacob Black (Is it Jacob? I've already forgotten) wooing her once she's a nubile young thing (for he has imprinted on her - they are SOULMATES from the moment of her BIRTH) by singing:

"Pleeeeeeeaaase Reneesme, let me go!"

My first thought was that it was Renee Esme, smushed together.

::cackling::