One thing Niclas, from Stubbed Toes and Dating Woes, and I share is a love of words. In school, I took Etymology as an elective for a couple years, mostly because I loved the subject. Studying the origin and meaning of words was fascinating to me–then and now.
Grammarly emails me once a week with updates on my writing stats, and it’s never a surprise to be informed that I have a ‘unique’ vocabulary. I’ve always inhaled books and absorbed words. I think it comes from being autistic.
So, in writing Niclas’s character, I knew I wanted him to use some very old words. Ones that no one uses anymore. It required a lot of research on my part. I wanted to find the obscure and rare because that made it more fun.
And felt more like something Niclas would use.
My favourite, aside from the swear words, is myne owne hertis rote. The literal translation is mine own heart’s root. Macabre and romantic. A medieval term of endearment which just really struck me as perfect for Niclas and Falk.
It was sweet and weird so perfectly Niclas.
Author Dahlia Donovan 
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