A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: Compass Points

Welcome A-Z bloggers!
And everyone else, of course :)
My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.
Read the A post to learn who AJ is.
Read the B post to learn about the contest.

AJ here!

The Compass Points were a group of five friends who served together in the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War. One of them was Randy Rankin, who became the owner of Rankin Marine Salvage here in Rock Harbor.

The last names of the men all began with the letters of the four winds – N, S, E, W, and R, for the Compass Rose. These friends served on Coast Guard Point boats that patrolled the rivers and inshore areas of the South Vietnamese coastline. Hence, Compass and Points. Compass Points.

After they decided on the name, they liked it even more because they thought the Compass Points sounded like the name of an old doo-wop group from the 50s.

The Compass Points friends were:
Hamblen Norberg
Jake Solomon
Kyle Easley
Ed Wharton
Randy Rankin

None of the Compass Points ever thought about what life would be like forty years later.

Now doesn't this whet your appetite for a good mystery? It does mine, and I even know what the story’s about and how it ends.

What?

No. I don’t accept bribes :)

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Today Carol’s blogging with one of her first-ever writing friends, Lyn Sofras, at Manic Scribbler. She said Lyn lives in England, just outside London, and she’s excited to be spending time with her.



Comments

What a great idea for character names! And it sounds like the start of an interesting adventure. Congratulations, Carol!
Points of the compass - very clever!
Stina said…
That's a cool way that you came up with the names.
Anonymous said…
I've read it and I accept bribes lol. Just kidding Carol.
Isis Rushdan said…
Great to learn more about the book!
CATachresis said…
Very intriguing!!!
Rachna Chhabria said…
Very interesting idea Carol.
Susan Oloier said…
I love it when there are underlying explanations for parts of novels (or movies).
I can't wait to read your book. I'm in a writing frenzy right now.
Anonymous said…
That is a great theme. I like the sound of that. :O)
Julie Flanders said…
It definitely whets my appetite. What an awesome idea. :)
Bish Denham said…
It DOES sound like the name of a doo-wop group!
Margo Kelly said…
The cover of the book is simply beautiful! Congrats. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Elizabeth - Thanks. We hope readers like the story.

Alex - Carol said the story is important, but the characters are the most important.

Stina - According to Carol, the names found her.

Delores - Good thing you were kidding, or I would have discussed the possibility of your sharing the take with me :)

Isis - More every day!
Linda G. said…
Oh, I love the compass point names! So cool. :)
Interesting idea - I also like the name of your Blog...
How clever!

I'm home sick from work today and after answering all my blog comments, I plan to hijack my husband's Kindle and start reading your book.

~Tui
nutschell said…
what awesome character names! certainly makes me more interested in reading the story
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Carol Kilgore said…
Stormy day here. Power went out for a bit. I think we're back for a while now.

CATachresis - Purrfect for curious kitties :)

Rachna - Imagination is a wonderful thing.

Teresa - Cool!

Susan - Frenzies can be fun.

Madeleine - That's a good start!
Compass Points an old doo-wap group? It does sound like that!
I can picture their doo-wap moves as they sway from side to side... *humming a tune*
Carol Kilgore said…
Julie - Glad to hear that!

Bish - Randy used to joke about that, usually after he'd drunk a beer or two.

Margo - Thank you, dear lady :)

Linda G - I'll let Carol know.

A Month of...Blog - Carol thinks everyone loves tiki huts :)

Michelle - sha la la, do be wah...
Nick Wilford said…
Nice idea! I'll head over.
Liza said…
This sounds great! Hooray, Carol!
Nas said…
Love the Compass point names.
Great.

Nas
Carol Kilgore said…
Melissa - That's why Carol has me here.

Nick - Tell Carol hi.

Heather - Good!

Liza - Glad you think so.

Nas - Thanks.
Unknown said…
I just love those men and their last names. What a creative brain you have.
J.L. Campbell said…
You're revealing how good you are at plotting. Good stuff.
VR Barkowski said…
Love how you came up with the names, Carol. I have no clue how I name my characters. That's why I once had my protagonist pull up in his Porsche Carrera in front of Anastasia Carrera's house. :)

~VR Barkowski

Sylvia Ney said…
Great idea! New follower here. I'm stopping by for the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to visiting again!

Sylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
Love the compass point. Great idea <3
Carol Kilgore said…
AJ's working now, so I'm back for the rest of the evening.

Clarissa - Maybe, but I don't have the ability to create cool codes like you.

Joy - I just try to connect the dots. In the right order.

VR - LOL! I could tell stories like that, too. But over a glass of wine someplace :)

Sylvia - Great to see you here! Hope you'll visit often.

Rebecca - Thank you :)

Nel said…
Can't wait to read more!
until next time...nel
LD Masterson said…
Wait a second. You're just leaving us hanging here? No fair.
colbymarshall said…
But what if I bribe you with money AND chocolate? Hmmm...? And you're right, it does remind me of a doo-wop group name. That is NEVER a bad thing.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I hope to see you again soon!
Is there nothing that could tempt you AJ? Nothing at all?
Another tantalising post - drat you again.
DWei said…
This sounds kind of like an episode of Archer. Except it was suspected that the war vets started trying to kill each other off, trying to be the last one alive for a ton of money.
Carol Kilgore said…
Nel - Cool :)

Colby - AJ's not much into chocolate. It's a good thing he said it and not me :)

EC - AJ's a determined kind of guy :)

DWei - I've never seen Archer. Good try at trying to get me to agree or disagree to that plotline :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Oops, skipped right over you, LD. Yes I am! This is a 26-day EVENT :)

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