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Jennifer talks pen names...
When I first started writing, I had grand ideas for what I
wanted my name to be. First, I wanted to use my first and middle names—Jennifer
Alison—for shelf placement.
But shelf placement isn’t as important as it once was.
Then I wanted to use a completely different name. Except,
when I told my mom, she thought I should use my real name—I think she might
have wanted some bragging rights. J
So then my decision was between my maiden name, Zander, and
my married name, Wilck. I thought about it for a while. Since shelf placement
isn’t as important with the proliferation of e-books, and honestly, even if it
was, the difference between “Z” and “W” is minimal, there wasn’t a compelling
reason to use, or not use, either name. It all came down to personal
preference.
When I was first married, I used my maiden name
professionally, as people knew me by Zander. And to transition, I used both for
a while. But I’ve been out of the traditional workplace for a while, and
everyone knows me as “Wilck” now. In fact, many people who know me and might be
inclined to buy my books wouldn’t know to look under “Zander.” So I decided to
go with “Jennifer Wilck.”
Do you use a pen name?
I use a pen name because I try to keep my writing life separate from my real life. Let's face it, no one really wants their third grade teacher writing spicy romance, right?
ReplyDeleteSo I used a different spelling of my actual first name and used my hubby's first name as the last. Added the St. in the middle, and wa la...Debra St. John was 'born'.
I didn't want a completely different name, as I figured I wouldn't answer to people at conferences and such if they called me something other than my actual name. Thus the reason for just going with a different spelling of the first name.
I do use my legal name for all of my copyrights. I just couldn't resist seeing it in print somehow.
Totally makes sense, Debra! Some of the middle school teachers (it amazes me that there have been more than one) were winners in Miss America-type pageants and when the kids find out and tell everyone, it's a little uncomfortable. I love the way you came up with yours!
DeleteI use a variation of my first name, but didn't want to use my surname (long story but it's my married surname and I didn't change it when I divorced because, of course, it was my daughters' surname too. Now they have both changed their surnames after marriage, but I decided it was too much hassle to change mine legally). I chose Martin as a surname as it is a family name in my mother's family going back to the late 18th century. In hindsight, I wish I had chosen something more 'unique' - but now all the friends I've made online know me by that name, so it's too late to change it!
ReplyDeleteSo I've been calling you "Paula," even in person, and that's not actually your name????
DeleteI like the way you did it, though.
I answer to Pauline, Paulie, or Paula, as different people call me different things, but I prefer Paula!
DeleteOh, okay. So I'm not calling you Paula when you're actually named Murgatroyd or something. ;)
DeleteLOL, if my name was Murgatroyd, I would definitely change it! Pauline is my 'legal' name, but more people call me Paula now (even people who originally called me Pauline!)
DeleteI'm test driving a pen name for my western historical WIP:
ReplyDeleteLarissa L'Amour.
What do you think?
Oy, I'm not the best person to ask this question of as I usually have very different opinions than others. But for me personally, when the author name sounds like the genre, it makes me think of the women (mostly) who show up to writers' conferences dressed in period costumes of the time that they write. I'm not really sure why they do that and I think it detracts from the writer and draws too much attention to the writer. But seriously, that's just me. I do like the alliteration though and how it flows.
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