I've thought about it and thought about it, and I realized something: I hate one of the main character's names in Crossing Paths. Takashi. Blech. Crossing Paths was originally going to have a lot of drama about the fact that Ju is Chinese and Takashi is Japanese. And their character personalities and histories had already been established. But then I realized something: Uh... Ju is ridiculously Christian. The fact that his family is completely and morally opposed to gay marriage makes their racial backgrounds more or less irrelevant. That was the main reason that I had chosen Takashi for the name (the Japanese/Chinese animosity). I'm also not that much of a fan of the name "Ju" but I REALLY like the lame joke that Takashi makes at the end of the first chapter. At the same time, Ju also fits his personality more than a new name might (Liam would have been his name). So now I'm trying to rethink Takashi's background, lifestyle, etc. Because honestly... that was never set in stone. But Ju's character is pretty planned out, and I like him the way he is. 

So now the dilemma is: What do I name Takashi?
I think I want an American name. But not: Joe, John, Jim, basically any J names
Maybe Nathan. I kind of like the name Nathan for him. I once knew a guy named Nathan who had a fairly careless philosophy, something that Takashi shares with this childhood friend of mine. Hmmmm....... Nathan. Nathan What? 

Nathan....... Brown? Nathan Brown. Nathan Brownley. Bronley. Castaigne. Braun. Brawn (loljk). Nathan.....Greenfeld. Argh. Why are all of these color-related surnames coming to me?!
Non-color related.... Smith, Connelly
Nathan Connelly. I. Like. That. 

Okay, so Takashi Morita is now Nathan Connelly. Perfect.