Comments on: What’s In A [Pen] Name?

By: Jolana Malkston

Jolana Malkston — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 17:44:43 +0000

Thanks! Glad you liked the blog. Tereasa’s phone conversation cracked me up too, and it proved to me that I could type while laughing. 🙂

By: Maris

Maris — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:14:33 +0000

Years ago I thought about using a pen name. At that time I lived in a small community and I wasn’t sure what people would think about me writing romances or if it would have any negative impact on my husband, who worked for the school system. I finally decided I wasn’t going to hide what I wrote, and I’m glad I made that decision. I discovered a lot of women (and men) in the community read romances, and even though my husband was teased about going home to help me with my “research,” he loved it. Would I ever use a pen name? Sure, if I thought it would help readers understand the book wasn’t the same as others I’d written or if I thought a new name might help my sales.

By: Lorelei B.

Lorelei B. — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 04:00:45 +0000

Teresa Blue’s phone conversation cracked me up! Yes,I find the reasons excellent, just depends on each person. Great blog!

By: Lucy Kubash

Lucy Kubash — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:32:24 +0000

I’ve always written under my own name but using my maiden name in the middle, Lucy Naylor Kubash. My first name is legally Lucylle, and I’ve never seen it spelled that way by anyone else. I thought about using that, because it is unique, but it’s rather long and difficult to write. Plus no one seems to know how to pronounce it. I’ve heard some unique pronunciations! Using three names takes up enough space, so for now I’ll probably just stick with what’s worked for me so far. Since my kids are long grown, I don’t worry too much about the privacy thing, nor do I worry about it conflicting with my job. But as I never say never, who knows if I might use a different writing name someday?

By: Alyssa Alexander

Alyssa Alexander — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:39:51 +0000

Isn’t it interesting all the different reasons writers choose pen names? I have a friend who writes under her real name because she wants to “own” it. I love that! But I also value my privacy. Really, really value my privacy. So it’s a toss up. I think what matters most is that it works for that author and their circumstances. I’m just glad I don’t have to pretend to be a man to be taken seriously, a la George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans.)

By: Margo Hoornstra

Margo Hoornstra — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 19:42:51 +0000

Actually I never thought of using anything but my own name. Too much ego, I suppose. My situation is a little different. I no longer have a day job reputation to consider. Which, in itself, is extremely freeing for me! Though should I ever chose one, it would have to be significant to me. Thanks for sharing everyone.

By: Loralee Lillibridge

Loralee Lillibridge — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:30:55 +0000

After discussing names with my editor at Bell Bridge Books, we decided to use something my readers could use to separate my contemporary romances published with Tell-Tale and Harlequin under my full 18-letter name from the cozy/traditional mysteries for Bell Bridge Books. Lora Lee isn’t much of a change from my full name, but readers will know when they buy a Lora Lee novel that it won’t be a romance. Plus, it’s a lot shorter to write!

By: Connie Bretes

Connie Bretes — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:15:26 +0000

I started with a pen name of Rachel Moore. However, I felt it would be more hassle using a pen name then it’s worth, so I just use my real name, Connie Bretes, or my full real name – Constance Bretes. I actually do like my full real name – Constance, it’s an old name.

I originally thought to use a pen name because I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to recognize me as an author. Also, I work full time for a large employer (MDOT) and was concerned that someone at my place of employment would question what I do at work.

I haven’t had anything published yet, but when I do, if I see problems using my real name, I’ll go back to using my pen name.

I selected the name “Rachel Moore” out of a hat, the name didn’t have any special meaning to me or anything. It was kind of like a means to an end, or something like that.

By: Meg Cross

Meg Cross — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:09:35 +0000

I recently came up with my pen name as I only recently started writing romance and I knew I wasn’t going to do that under my real name so I had to come up with a pen name.

Meg is a variation to my real first name and my best friend often calls me that (mostly in texts and emails) so it won’t be weird if someone calls me by that name.

Crosse is an English version of my maiden name with literally means Cross but I added the -e- to differ from all the Cross last names already out there in author/writer-land

By: Melissa Keir

Melissa Keir — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 14:51:59 +0000

I use my real name but that’s only my real name now. I’ve had my name changed since I was a child. Melissa was Missy (try Miss Missy at work or Missy Kissy when my sisters were mad at me). I went back to Melissa because it was a mature sounding name. I was born a Watling, was married to a Fullington and finally married again to Keir. Keir is the easiest to say and remember. When I was a Watling… it was Waddles. And for one whole year the electric company thought I was Asian because they turned Fullington into Fooigton. I couldn’t understand that one.