This part can be tricky. You don't want to just come out and say the name of the person or persons on who you base (some of) your characters, you want to allude to them rather than state it. For instance, I wouldn't call the dead guy Steve. Steve is just so...used. It's not a name that would stand out, but then again, the guy taking his last step over the edge of the cliff at the start of the book isn't really known. He's in fact rather bland. He's made mistakes, he's lied, but he's not quite popular enough to be any more than just a corpse, so maybe I will call him Steve. Is Steve a Scottish name? The man is a life-long Edinburgh citizen, born just before the 20th century. I may even allow him the courtesy of having been born in a hospital. Maybe he'll be less exotic than some, but not as blase as "Steve". We know his wife, the "Plain Jane" isn't really called Jane. She'll be given a suitable boring name for her suitably boring existence. She did murder a man, so there's that, but she's otherwise as entertaining as mud.
Niki, my friend Niki, is in the book, as are my friends Jeannie and Robin. They will have to be given great names. Niki is Greek. We say she's "Greekian", so she'll be given a Greek name suitable and worthy of a more mature woman who runs a tavern and digs up dirt to share with the locals. Vibrant and mysterious, a Greek goddess to some, at least one, (oh my, a clue) she will be honored with both a good name and a good position. Jeannie is an American, she's exciting, she's fun, she travels, and she is the life of the party on the ship that leaves New York harbor for Glasgow. She may even find the murder weapon that Nick is accused of using; one he may have tried to hide before returning to the shores of the mob-ridden city where he did or didn't do what others say took place. Robin will probably be named Robin. It's a good solid British name. Robin is both an American and a citizen of the UK, she is married to a handsome horseman, and together they ride, rescue, and rehabilitate old racing horses. How exactly does that fit into the murder? You'll just have to read more to find out, won't you?
Most of the names of the characters are already known to me. I am not going to put too much of an effort into the names of the peripheral people who either show up and make arrests, hold court, or are witnesses in the case(s). I will try to keep their faces straight so that if there is a movie made, no one will look too much like the other guy. There won't be a Tommy Lee Jones type because Nick Posh is rather hard, rather smug, and rather tainted. He's not as handsome as other men, but his body language drives women to dream of him, and a few to approach him. Niki may have a thing with Nick; that could be fun. I think he does play guitar, so there's that. Remember the guitar was left behind when soon-to-be-not-named-Steve took a header over the cliff. He may not be the brightest bulb out there, but he set the thing down to relieve himself. She survived.
After the names will be the actions. I'm developing more every day and changing what I initially thought should happen. I've got to come up with the name and characteristics of the man Nick is accused of killing. I have to tie him into the mix and create a creative way of disposing of his body. I think Dunbar had an expensive hotel on its shores at that time. I'll check to see if there was a back entrance to the kitchen. I'd not want the guests to feast on him necessarily, but it would make good conversation at trial; the faces of the witnesses could be priceless. There will be no hiding or challenges with "Steve". He simply hits the ground thudding, tumbles, and breaks painfully. The book isn't about him, but he'll be remembered, not only for the way he ended but for the exposure of his sins during his wife's trial prep. I have already decided she may never make the docket - - did I mention she had family in Glasgow?
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