Penelope’s Last Name

Q: An extensive background check has revealed that Penelope’s last name – Tench – is the same as your mother’s maiden name. What gives? Is there some kind of hidden message here?

A: My mother’s family name comes from a game fish found in the United Kingdom. The Tench  fish (Tinca Tinca) has been exported to other countries including the U.S. Since most of the residents of of Colony Island have piscene or aquatic names, Tench was a “gimmie” I could not pass up.

And before you bring it up, Penelope’s cousin – Lindsey Tench – has my mother’s middle and family name. This was intentional and meant to be a shout-out to my late mother.