Comments on: Don’t Call Me Baby

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:41:48 +0000

Suzanne – I have a pet name (and I love mine!). But yeah, that’s true re the authenticity huh? And don’t worry about the grammar. 🙂

By: Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:41:14 +0000

Ooops, grammar - shoudln't be allowed out some days.

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By: Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:40:03 +0000

I like pet names I think it adds authenticity to a couple's relationship (although, in real life I don't like to be called anything other than my own name).

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By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:28:19 +0000

Rula – yeah, that’s true. Not all guys would use one, it depends on the guy. Character, character, character. And yeah, love the way it can be ironic first and then it starts to have actual meaning later.

Heidi – I thought so too! Love the sound of big boy!! In more ways than one, hehe. Ahh…Bogey and Bacall…Slim is lovely. Oh and cheers re the new stories. I like them too. 🙂

RC – hey! Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I think ‘babe’ depends on the guy and the situation. Maybe it would work. Funny you should say that about darling. I have a hero who uses that to annoy the heroine majorly. It is kind of old fashioned but again, context is everything. Lol re your names – love ’em! I can definitely see a strong, snarky heroine using them. Also I’m sure ‘muffin’ could really, really annoy a hero!

By: rcbell64

rcbell64 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:29:38 +0000

Ooh, good post. I like pet names too, as long as they don’t sound forced. And funny you should mention “Babe” because I am reading Janet Evanovich’s latest and Ranger calls Stephanie that and I melt (as does she). Sometimes that’s all he says, not another word, and it’s still sexy!
But, that same pet name would annoy me from someone else. The one that I am not a fan of is “darling”. It sounds so Sound of Music, old fashioned to me (unless it’s used facetiously). I also find that, because my h’s are usually snarky and sarcastic they call the H things like “Champ” or “Streak” or “Sparky”, lol. I am trying to imagine one of them calling their man “Love” or “Muffin” and I am cracking up!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:27:30 +0000

Love pet names myself Jackie, especially ones that can work on two levels, ironically at first and then as a term of endearment, a sexy come-on, etc... Find they can be particularly useful in Modern Heat and not just for the heroine...

The heroine I'm currently writing is a lush, strong-willed woman who also happens to be a total flirt. She dubbed the hero 'Big Boy' in the first chapter because he made the mistake of referring to her as a 'girl'... But then it turns out the name is more apt than she realised!!! LOL.

My favourite pet name of all time? Humphrey Bogart calling Lauren Bacall 'Slim' in To Have and Have Not... No wonder she fell in love with him for real.

Love the sound of your new stories btw...

By: Rula Sinara

Rula Sinara — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:33:23 +0000

Hi Jackie! Great post. I'm so with you on pet names having to happen organically. Not all guys would use one. Some might only go as far as a shortened version of a real name. In the end, it has to fit the way the character would talk and interact with others.

When it comes to 'babe' or 'baby' I think more of hot romance where the hero is a player and sleeps around (before he meets the heroine). It's more impersonal to me. I like 'original' pet names that are a bit teasing. Remember when we were all kids and we'd get upset if a boy teased us? Grown-ups used to say that if a boy teased you it meant that he liked you. Hee, hee. I like it when a hero does that...or even a heroine.

I love the idea of the pet name evolving as the relationship does!

Rula

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:52:44 +0000

Ju – my pet names seem to happen organically. I don’t have them preconcieved, the hero just usually comes out with it. My soldier just up and called the heroine ‘kitten’ which annoys her no end. Had no idea he was going to say it either.
And I’ve seen kitten used by other heroes so I wouldn’t worry about it being used by others. It’s not like they’re copyrighted or anything.
As to pet names for heroes – yeah, that’s a challenge! I think you can get away with it in Modern Heat because the tone is lighter and flirtier. Depends on the heroine too – my kitten has a special name for the soldier. Will have to see if she uses it and how it affects him. Ah, such fun!

By: Ju Dimello

Ju Dimello — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:33:12 +0000

I love pet names :)

The only trouble I have is, making one up for each story..which is unique and holds a meaning till the very end, especially the ones hero calls the heroine.

Funny thing was, I had my hero calling the heroine "my sweet", when she retorts back that she isn't ! LOL. And it wasn't so funny when I read a book the week after I subbed this from the same line and and.. ::sob::, the same endearment was used :(

For the hero though, I always come up short. Have anyone else had any luck finding something "fitting" for an alpha hero?

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:08:15 +0000

Maisey – yeah, exactly re the baby. My favourite story has the hero call the heroine by a pet name from the beginning (’cause they’re friends) and then, when things get tense between them, he only calls her by her given name which makes things between them even tenser, cos she notices it. hehe. Pet names as torture. Love it!
Cheers re RWAus. You can be smug about RWA. Sniff.