Do any other writers enjoy coming up with names for people, places and things as much as I do? I love doing cultural research, mining my family tree, and giving real people and places better names than they have. Join in reading the Labyrinth Creators Journal that has thousands asking, “How does Richard Alan Scott do it?” Also “How do you think he comes up with those great names for stuff?”
RichardAlanScott.com 
My towns are usually named after English printers of various versions of the Bible. Some characters are named after people I knew (but with slight differences, especially if they’re psychopathic villains). I have a recurring character who has my grandfather’s nickname. The heroine in my first book is based on Cate Blanchett. In my second, the heroine is based on Marsha Thomason. I seem to want all my leading men to be Tom. I don’t know why. And I have a terrible time trying to name any character John.