I have just finished my second novel, by which I mean I have completed the final edit and am about to send it to my agent. When telling my best friend this, I mentioned that I have named the best friend in the story, after her. I expected her to be thrilled but she immediately demanded to read the manuscript before I sent it off and became annoyed when I flatly refused to let her do this. I have assured her that it is entirely a work of fiction and that the friend in the book is a lovely person – much nicer than the heroine in fact. It still all ended up rather acrimoniously, with her only half-joking about having a libel case, and me retorting that I could name my characters however I liked and she didn’t have a leg to stand on. I can change the character’s name for the sake of our friendship, but it will be with bad grace because I think it is ridiculous and any other name will feel wrong now. My question is: I am correct, aren’t I? I am entirely within my rights to use any name I like.
BEMUSED Brighton