Ok, when I was trying to come up with a Chinese name - the name Chloe was born with (she's adopted) in Damian's Seduction, I had to check with my Chinese mother. Here's how the convo went:
E: So, Mum, what do you think of this name?
Mum: E, that is a boy's name!
E: But I've seen the name in stories that use that particular name for their female character.
Mum: No. That is a boy's name, and I'll tell you why....
(after an explanation of how Chinese names work and how they are chosen and fact-checking with the Chinese government's site on popular names...)
E: Mum, you're right. What about this name?
Mum: What kind of woman is Chloe?
E: She has an air of innocence, and she's--
Mum: That name is a famous Chinese adult film star. Some readers might stereotype based on association. You want to tread carefully by avoiding the risk of stereotypes.
E: Oh. Well, I can't take that one. It won't work with my character. She's an accountant. Every moment of intimacy she shares with her partner is special for them both. Including the BDSM scenes, which are delicate.
Mum: Don't make him too controlling. Keep the relationship healthy.
E: Don't worry, he cares for her deeply after each scene. He makes general relationship mistakes in the story, but how else will he learn and grow?
After a bit of back-and-forth and me explaining why I chose Chloe's final Chinese name (in chapter 19), story development, and character development, Mum gave the nod of approval.
It was really good to talk with her face-to-face about story-building. She's an avid reader who taught me to read and write. Her feedback can be brutal, but I'm grateful for her honesty and for how she weaves a path for me to never give up writing.
She also told me to re-read The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough to improve my writing skills. :)
