Archives

The Original Walter Clint

It was 26 years ago last night that Mom and I sat next to my father’s hospital bed and said goodbye to him. I told him he had been a wonderful father, that I loved him, and that is was okay to move on. I’m not sure I said follow the light exactly, but I kept talking to him, even after his heart monitor went flat. I always wondered what the nurses in ICU thought. For the next week I could feel my father’s love engulf me. And even now, decades later, he is never far from my thoughts or heart.

When I started the Haunting Danielle series, I wanted a name for my resident ghost appropriate for his generation. While my father was young enough to be Walt Marlow’s son, his name Walt was a common one for the twenties. It seemed fitting to give my ghost Dad’s first name.

But, I didn’t just give him Dad’s first name, I gave him his middle name too. Like Walt Marlow, my father’s name is Walter Clint—and like Walt Marlow, he always went by Walt, instead of Walter.

I can’t say Walt Marlow’s personality was patterned after my father—he wasn’t. However, they do share one trait. Readers seem to like Walt—many even claiming they have fallen a little in love with him.

People also liked my father—they wanted to spend time with him. Even today, over a quarter of a century after his death, I often hear people who knew him share their “Walt” stories.

I like to think Dad would get a kick out of Walt Marlow being named after him. Miss you Dad, and Merry Christmas.

(Photo: Dad, sisters, Lynn & Bobbi)

The Other Walt, Happy Birthday!

Walt JohnsonI named a central character in my Haunting Danielle series after my father, Walt. Technically speaking, Dad’s name was Walter, but he went by Walt. Coincidentally my father-in-law, my husband’s step-father, was also named Walter. He went by Walter instead of Walt, which made it less confusing at family gatherings.

We have one grandson, Evan, who my daughter and her husband named Evan Walter–after Elizabeth’s grandfathers.

When researching names for the Haunting Danielle series, I discovered Walt was a common name used during Walt Marlow’s time–he was born in 1898.

Why am I posting about this today? Because today is Walt’s birthday–my father Walt Johnson. Had dad lived, he would have been 88 today.

Sadly, Dad passed away 23 years ago—far too young. He is missed, yet I rather like the idea one of my favorite characters has Dad’s name.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.