with guest blogger Dora Hiers aka Tori Kayson
After our beloved golden passed away last year, it didn’t take me long to realize how much I valued canine companionship. Someone to talk to besides my fictional characters and a reason to get my tush out of the chair. Visiting a shelter and loving on some puppies should fix that, right? Ha! Meet Bolder and Que, our adopted rescues. (Stop laughing! :) )
My decision to adopt another writing name surprised me as much as adopting these two hooligans. Why mess with a good thing? After all, with almost a dozen Christian romances already published under my real name, I’d built and established my Heart Racing, God-Gracing Romance brand. But I finally caved to the year-long nudge to venture outside that box, to write clean romance sprinkled with subtle themes of hope, grace, and second chances. A pseudonym would give readers clear expectations, number eight on Mary Connealy’s Top ten reasons you might want to publish under a pseudonym. (Awesome list, Mary!!)
So, Tori Kayson, author of Sweet Romance that Sizzles, was born. Kayson is a combination of my grandkiddos’ names, so it has special significance to me. You might be surprised how difficult choosing a pen name can be. All. Those. Names. To. Choose. From. And then googling combinations to ensure it didn’t compete with an erotica or enormously popular author. (Again, thanks to Mary’s list!!)
Myra invited me to share my experiences writing with a double identity, so here goes…
BE PREPARED FOR THE UGLY
The Christening
Think the puppy created this mess? Wrong! Sweet and easy-going Que did this, the day after we brought him home. Apparently, separation anxiety is common among shelter dogs. The next two days we crated him, but he worked himself into a frenzy trying to wrangle through those bars. Thankfully, we found a sweet spot for him, hunkered down in our utility room with his bed and plenty of doggy treats.
By the time Tori’s first book released, extended family had forgotten about my second name. You can imagine the horrified reactions when hubby shared this strange female’s social media posts. Rather than let rumors propagate, I publicized my double identity.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
The Cost
Since I intended to self-publish with a business name, a CPA advised me to form a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and file a Doing Business As (DBA). A DBA in my county costs $26 and is a one-time deal, but the LLC drains $200 from my bank account every year. A block of ten ISBN’s will set you back $295 unless you catch a sale. Book covers range from a-dinner-out to go-ahead-and-reserve-the-whole-banquet-room. Scratch these expenses with the traditional publishing route, but you’ll still face…
The Confusion
Did I send the blog post with the links to the right book? Did I upload the book on Amazon with the correct author name? How many books was Dora supposed to publish this year? Wait, did I just write that little spiritual nugget in Tori’s book?
The Commitment
Managing multiple websites, blogs, and social media accounts requires a ginormous chunk of time. Would you want to maintain two websites and a blog…or two? Not me! I combined my author websites and blog into one WordPress account. Check out my one author, two names design here. What do you think?
SAME BREED, DIFFERENT METHODS
To run, Que hobbles using both front legs. Bolder takes individual steps with each leg. Writers have similar end goals, but take different routes to get there.
- With multiple names, you might need distinct identities on social media. Consider which social media sites will provide the best return for your time and how to use them. Fiction Faith & Foodies covered my needs for both names on both Instagram and blog. For Twitter, one account tweeted writing related links while the other focused on reading and female interests.
- Uploading to Smashwords was a head-banger. Conversely, KDP was painless, so that’s my sweet spot. Others rave about BookBaby. Not everyone shares the same experiences. Be willing to try different methods.
- The marketing techniques/venues that create such a buzz for one name may fizzle with the other.
THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD
The little dude needs to burn off all that puppy energy and the big guy’s trying to shed a few pounds, so a robust walk every morning is a MUST, but that means adjusting my schedule. The same applies for writing with multiple names.
- How many books will you write each year? My goal for this year is one per name, but typically it’s four or five books. I depend on an Excel spreadsheet to track word count goals and keep me on target. You may prefer Scrivener or a day planner. Be flexible and allow for the occasional curveball. Puppydom tanked my word count for the first three months.
- Early on, I struggled to promote blog posts and books using Hootsuite’s free version. Now IFTTT applets populate my tweets and I hop on Twitter occasionally to respond and retweet. I’m not a fan of Facebook and only update my Author Page once or twice a week. Recently, I’m embracing the “less is more” philosophy and, after reevaluating my social media accounts, combined Twitter and Facebook. Why use two when I can accomplish my objective with one? Which brings me to my next point…
- Could I have stuck with my real name and adopted a new, inclusive tagline? I’m open to that possibility, especially now after a few trials and errors. Beefing up the book description and a properly designed book cover would let readers know that, while it’s not Christian fiction, they can still expect a sweet, clean romance that leaves them with a happy sigh at the end.
THE PAYOFF
It took months to potty/yard train the puppy and deal with Que’s separation anxiety. Nowadays life is so much smoother, the days so much sweeter, and I’m finally able to truly enjoy these little darlings. The same goes for double identities. Prepare yourself for the ugly in the beginning, take time to adapt, and brace yourself for the occasional curveballs. Then, embrace your freedom and enjoy the ride!
Take a doughnut and chime in!
If you’ve been on the fence about adopting another name, have I convinced you to accept the double dog dare? What name would you use and what’s the significance?
How do you feel when your favorite author writes in more than one genre? Would you prefer that they use a pseudonym?
About Dora: Dora believes that a person should love what they do or choose to do something else. She’s doing exactly what makes her heart sing, and considers every day a gift. When she takes a break from cranking out heart racing, God-gracing romances, Dora adores reading, chowing down on her hubby’s lip-smacking home-smoked ribs, and sipping coffee on a mountain cabin deck. Life’s too short to be stuck in traffic, to drink bad coffee, or to read books with a sad ending. Dora and her real life hero make their home in North Carolina, but with a world full of amazing places to explore, that’s only a landing point.
Come hang out with Dora on Fiction Faith & Foodies, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. She loves hearing from reader friends at DoraHiers@gmail.com. Dora also writes sweet romance that sizzles under the pen name, Tori Kayson.
Giveaway: Dora has graciously offered two giveaways, a Faith plants the seed, Love makes it grow Journal, AND I have always imagined Paradise to be a kind of Library Scarf.
Specify your choice in a comment (limited to US residents, please)
Kissing Santa Nic by Tori Kayson is FREE for Kindle today!
Firefighter Karley “Nic” Nicolas intends to win Merriville's coveted Police vs Firefighter Basketball game this year. Not only because her ex-boyfriend plays for the opposing team, but victory means a huge check for her beloved charity to honor her twin brother. Losing is NOT an option…until the reclusive detective Gray Newnan flashes his rare smile and makes her forget why she’s even on the court.
Detective Gray Newnan isn't ready to dive back into the dating scene. Two years isn't long enough to recover from his ex-wife's abandonment after learning of their son's autism. But after Karley's recent breakup with his coworker, Gray finds it difficult to stay immune to her giving spirit. From that first shove on the basketball court to discovering the true identity of Santa Nic, Gray must reconsider his solitary life or risk losing a second chance at love this Christmas.
Detective Gray Newnan isn't ready to dive back into the dating scene. Two years isn't long enough to recover from his ex-wife's abandonment after learning of their son's autism. But after Karley's recent breakup with his coworker, Gray finds it difficult to stay immune to her giving spirit. From that first shove on the basketball court to discovering the true identity of Santa Nic, Gray must reconsider his solitary life or risk losing a second chance at love this Christmas.
Thank YOU so much, Myra, for inviting me back to Seekerville!!
I'm first????
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Ruth! How many cups of coffee does it take to get up that early? lol
DeleteI think Ruthy was born with caffeine in her veins!!! Great to have you here, Dora!
DeleteThank you, Myra! Thanks for inviting me! <3
DeleteWow, is the West Coast sleeping? Must be! Hey, Dora, this is interesting as heck. I've seen others do this and it's great to have a post about it...
ReplyDeleteI decided to use one name for all of my work, indie and traditional and now mysteries to help my discoverability. I've got different genres, including a couple of non-inspirational sweet romance novellas and the Guidepost mysteries, but when I looked into the background numbers for authors... and listened to Jayne Ann Krentz talk about launching the Amanda Quick brand... I realized there's good in both but I confuse easily!
I don't know if there's a right or wrong way with any of this these days. I do know we're all trying to reach readers over an array of means that didn't used to exist... or that are dwindling as we speak. So the challenge is real, Dora/Tori! :)
Great post. Something to think about from both sides of the decision and thank you so much for being here!
Absolutely there is no right or wrong way! I'd compare it to church services. A single church may offer three different times and styles: traditional, contemporary and blended. Not right or wrong although some may disagree with this concept. We're all trying to reach people, just using different methods to accomplish that goal. Thanks for chiming in and congratulations on your soon-to-be-released, The Lawman's Yuletide Baby! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your covers!!
DeleteCoffee has been made to go with the donuts!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth! Of course, COFFEE! :)
DeleteHi Dora! It's so great to see you, Bolder and Que here at Seekerville. I admire what you've done, it's a big step and a lot of work. I would like to venture into other genres, but I've never thought about writing under a pseudonym...some days I can hardly remember my own name. :) The photo of your kitchen cracks me up. What that a team effort?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jill! I hear ya and I don't blame you. Some days I wonder what possessed me. Can I go back to just being me?? lol. No, Que created that lovely concoction all by himself. Good thing he's such a sweetheart. Happy Tuesday, sweet friend. xoxo
DeleteGotta love those doggies! No matter how many messes they make, they totally make up for it with their unconditional love!
DeleteWhat an interesting post! It doesn't matter to me if my favorite authors cross genres; I read across quite a few genres anyway. As a reader, I don't mind pseudonyms (but like knowing who the author is behind the pseudonym).
ReplyDeleteThanks, MH! Good for you! I wish I read more genres, and I'm in awe of readers who read more than one book at a time. I tend to stick to inspy/sweet romance and can only focus on one book. Thanks for chiming in!
DeleteMH, I'm a cross-genre reader, too. I like to mix things up--romance, suspense, mystery, spy thrillers--as long as there are interesting characters to connect with. Next in my TBR is another Jack Reacher novel.
DeleteGood morning Dora.
ReplyDeleteI haven't put much thought in what it would take to have two names. I have enough problem marketing for one and I'm not published.
LOL. We have great danes and the only thing worse than trash on the floor is, well, never mind.
Love the pics of your new babies.
Good morning, Connie! I hear you about the marketing. Sheesh, writers just want to write, right? lol. Wishing you a fabulous Tuesday!
DeleteOh, btw, we considered adopting a great dane. A doctor in our vet's office brings her two danes in when she works and they sleep on their beds under the counter. They are such magnificent animals!! <3
DeleteI don't have any opinions one way or the other about pseudonyms. As long as the book is good, I'm not sure I care about what name is on it! LOL But I definitely see the advantages for both readers and writers to use a second identity. Thanks for being here today!
ReplyDeleteSame here, Glynis. I'm thrilled when I discover new-to-me authors whose books I thoroughly enjoy. Wishing you a fabulous Tuesday! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteDora!! It is so great to see you here in Seekerville!! And your dogs. They are so cute!
ReplyDeleteJillian Hart comes to mind after reading this post. Her name was written differently on the cover depending on which line the book was for. (I read this on a facebook comment a while back so hope I remember this correctly)
How long have you been writing as Tori? How many books does she have out? I've got most of yours. I'm trying to remember if I knew this. I picked up the free book and shared it on my facebook page. Thank you! Can't wait to read it.
What is different about your books? One is inspirational romance and the other is just sweet romance without mention of anything inspirational? No faith element included just the romance part?
Question: I am not published yet, but have completed 2 inspirational contemporary romance stories and almost finished or significantly started 3 others. I've found just in the past few months I prefer another genre (two actually, but I'm writing one as the other percolates lol-syfy (I love the SyFy movies about abnormal animals and wanted to write my own, and psychological suspense). If these books were all published, I don't think I could do a separate name. That would be very confusing for me lol. I could see my name and the covers being different depending on which genre the book was. Would that be enough of a differentiation for readers to know what they were getting if they were used to seeing my name associated with a particular genre and the book they picked up because of my name was another genre than they were used to?
Thank you, Sally! <3
DeleteI didn't know that about Jillian Hart but that is a FABULOUS idea! I would probably still confuse the two signatures. lol.
Let's see. My first book with Tori's name on it (Roping the Cowboy) released in Oct 2015. Currently, Tori has released four. Hopefully, one more before the end of 2017. She writes clean romance sprinkled with subtle themes of hope, grace, and second chances, but no faith elements. Mega thanks for sharing about Kissing Santa Nic being free today, Sally. <3
Wow, you are on a writing roll! Awesome, Sally! No worries. Different themed covers combined with a well-defined premise would definitely differentiate the genres. You go, girl!
Great tips and insights for that possible "one day," Dora...or Tori. I'm never sure what to call you anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteMe, either. Right now, it's Dora. lol. CanNOT wait to chat over coffee next week. Thanks for popping in, Sandy. <3
DeleteOkay, you two--I'm jealous! Miss spending time with both of you!
DeleteYes, we absolutely need a reunion, Myra! Looking forward to it, Dora!
DeleteSame here, Myra. I like Sandy's idea! Let's do it! :)
DeleteHi, Sandy! It's good to see you!
DeleteHey, Missy! I'm a faithful lurker who enjoys and learns so much from the Seekerville posts you all put out!
DeleteAuthors writing under different pseudonyms are nothing new. One of my favorites Victoria Holt was really a lady named Eleanor Hibbert and Ms. Hibbert also penned books under Jean Plaidy and Philippa Carr. Two current authors have been successful under different pseudonyms. Jayne Anne Krentz also writes as Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle; Nora Roberts aka J.D. Robb has also achieved great success. Yes, pseudonyms are fine but I myself like knowing that a favorite author is writing DIFFERENT genres under the SAME name. Christian fiction author Nancy Mehl instantly comes to mind. Her romantic suspense novels have enjoyed great success and she also offers us cozy mysteries. And yes Seekerville's own Ruth Logan Herne has a new cozy mystery and it is Under. Her. Own. Name. Hooray!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post and for bringing out the librarian in me this Tuesday morning!
I would love to be wear that beautiful scarf!
Blessings!!
Connie
cps1950@(ay)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Connie! You could probably keep all our names straight for us. Our librarian retired this year after many, many years of service. She was a fireball of energy and encouraged me to do my first public speaking gig. Librarians rock!
DeleteHi Dora
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your experience. If and when I get published, it will be under a pseudonym because there is another lady with the same name as mine who is already published. She writes paranormal stuff (witches, werewolves, etc.) Yeah... not me. So I will be going with the name my birth mom gave me when I was born before she gave me up for adoption. Figured that's me too. :)
Of course, I need to actually write a few books and get them published, but at least I have my alter ego name. I even created a Facebook page with it for the eventual publication hopes.
As for favorite authors with pseudonyms... I'm cool with that. I'm also good with authors branching out and using their familiar name. I'm a multi-genre reader. If it's a good story, it's a good story and I'm all over it like butter on biscuits. If they are my favorite writer, it means I love their storytelling, so I'll try out a new genre. Unless they go so totally opposite of who they are, I doubt I'll be disappointed - but then, that's just me.
I downloaded your gift book. Very generous and yay!!! I plan to share on Facebook about it too. Thanks so much, for both the book and sharing your experiences. So helpful.
p.s. would love to be in the draw for that scarf
My pleasure, Deb. :)
DeleteThat's a totally valid and understandable reason to write another name. And I love that you'd choose your birth name. <3
Thanks bunches for sharing and commenting, Deb!
Deb, I think using your birth name is a wonderful idea!
DeleteWhat an interesting post!
ReplyDeleteI've toyed with the idea of using a different name if/when I ever get the time to write in a different genre. Weighing the name recognition, branding, and reader loyalty is hard. :)
Thanks for the added info to consider!
And the dogs! Love their furry faces!
Thanks, Dora!
Thanks, Jan! It's a tough call, so much to consider. You'll be successful, whatever you decide. Hey, I was born and raised in MI, too! Our youngest son lives in Ann Arbor now, attending law school. :)
DeleteGo BLUE!!! :)
DeleteI'm a non-traditional college student (read almost 30 & not finished with my BA) & I've decided any nonfiction type or professional writing I do will be under my name. My fiction will be under a pen name & never the twain shall meet! I just don't want one to influence the reception of the other. Great post!
ReplyDeleteSamantha! Welcome to Seekerville. We like non traditional around here. WE EMBRACE IT!!!
DeleteThanks, Samantha! And good for you! I so admire you for making the choice to KEEP LEARNING and for already delineating your writing career path. That's a huge step. Congratulations!! And I'm with Tina. YAY for non-traditional!
DeleteSamantha, welcome! I'm glad you stopped by. Good for you for going for your BA! I do think in your case (non-fiction/professional and fiction, two identities is the best way to go.
DeleteWell, people have said numerous times that nonfiction and fiction readers don't cross over, but what if they could? I suppose it depends on what nonfiction you write, but mainly community journalism would be okay? Curious to know what you think.
DeleteYes, good for you Samantha! I was older than you when I went back for my BA after my last child left the nest. It was hard work but a lot of fun interacting with students of all ages!
DeleteDora! I so love your dog story. It so warmed my heart. having just lost a furry best friend of 16 years I am at a cross roads myself. Your pup pix really made my day.
ReplyDeleteOh, Tina, I am sooo sorry! My heart aches for you. <3
DeleteSo hard to say goodbye to our beloved pets. Our dear Shadow is (we think) around 15 now. Still doing well, but I'm cherishing every day God gives us with him.
DeleteSo hard to lose our 4-legged family members. I'm sorry, Tina.
DeleteMy dog is 14 and my cat is 18. Myra, I'm feeling that same way.
Tina, you've been in my prayers. Our fur friends are the best. We lost one of our dogs a couple of weeks ago. She was 9. I'm holding my other pets a little closer and giving even more hugs. My cat is 19, the Jack Russell is 11, and the Chihuahua is 10. We even have a rabbit that is 8. They're all getting extra love.
DeleteLove your new name. TORI! I have tried two names and currently it only confuses me and readers. Two FB pages. Two web pages. That said, I am wanting to branch out in CBA and may adopt a pen name once again.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I love your cover. Simply romantic. NOW my tip to you..next time make your NAME on the cover larger. YOU EARNED IT Help me to remember you!
Thank you, Tina! And mega thanks for the tip! :)
DeleteSo, if you and your readers found multi names confusing, why try it again? Do you plan to do anything differently? Would appreciate your thoughts...
At my agent's suggestion a few years ago I used a pen name for a couple of mss she wanted to try submitting to ABA publishers. Didn't work out, so I let my second website go. Now, I'm not sure I would do it again unless I decided to venture into a REALLY different genre.
ReplyDeleteMaintaining fresh content on two websites plus other blog commitments, like Seekerville, and promotions would require hours of time each month. Hours that could be spent writing. I'm not sure I would do it again. lol. Enjoy your precious time with family, Myra! xoxo
DeleteMyra, yeah, I think I might only consider it if I did something really different like sci fi, where the readers might be very different. Still, I can't imagine writing without some romance in it, so there might always be overlap of readers.
DeleteBTW, I agree on your cover--so sweetly romantic!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! <3
DeleteHi Dora,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pen name, and what a great way to reach a different group of readers. Your cover is beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us today, and enjoy your dogs!
Hi Jackie! We're enjoying these rascals MOST of the time. lol. Thanks for your sweet words. Happy Tuesday!
DeleteDora, you're amazing! Thanks for sharing your journey with the new pups and the new writing persona. I can barely handle one website, tagline, etc.
ReplyDeleteAlthough with a name like Giusti (pronounced Juice-Tea) I should have gone with an AKA! Something easy like Smith, which is what my hubby said Giusti was in Italian. That boy was pulling my leg! :)
Your latest release looks delightful! Congrats on your success! So glad you could be with us today!
Hey, Debby! I always wondered how you pronounced your last name. I think YOU are amazing! You pump out books like wildfire and your covers are stunning! Thanks for popping in today. <3
DeleteYou're so sweet! Nothing like a wildfire about me. I usually feel like a small votive candle that keeps flickering in the wind. :)
DeleteThanks for mentioning my covers. The LI Art Dept does a nice job, IMHO!
Hugs!
Dora, welcome back! What a fun post! I love your sweet doggies. My dog is 14 now, so I don't have to worry about that puppy energy anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine having two of everything, or even two of some author things! But I can understand the reasoning for doing so. I wish you the best with your sweet romances! I think people are really looking to find hope in their reading these days. I'm sure God will shine through in your writing even without an obvious spiritual thread.
Thank you, Missy, and thank you for your kind encouragement. I'm honored and thrilled to be here. I couldn't imagine adopting two dogs, but now that I've grown to love them, I can't imagine not having both of them. Enjoy every precious minute with your sweet pup!
DeleteI don't mind when authors write in different genres. One of my favorites is Heather B. Moore, which is the name she uses for her sweet romance and scriptural fiction. H.B. Moore is the name she uses for her suspense books, and Jane Redd is the one for her young adult books. Even though I prefer the sweet romance, I like to try her other books since I enjoy her writing style.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the giveaway for the scarf! That is so fun!!!
Hey, Heidi! I've not read anything by Heather B. Moore, but I will definitely check her out now. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and for entering the giveaway!
Okay for some reason I have to start a new message to respond to your question, Dora. My readers didn't care, but I did, lol.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking about doing something completely different writing wise, not inspy but sweet, and I think I will go with Initials and let my readers know it is me but a different genre. I like the way Ann Gabhart, does it. Her mystery series is A.H. Gabhart.
So the same but different. Allowing crossover to be a reader choice, with no surprises. One web page and FB page. I like your webpage a lot. REALLY GREAT PLAN!!
I love that idea, Tina. I've always thought if I ever decided to write a different genre, I'd go with my initials: M.J. Telfer
DeleteGreat minds!
DeleteThat idea makes the most sense to me!
DeleteSounds like a great plan! And the single web/social media sites should cut down the extra work tremendously.
DeleteThank you, Tina. Took me months to get there but I'm so glad I did. I love the flexibility and the look. :)
Dora, thanks for sharing your experiences. I want to write in both biblical fiction and cozy mysteries and I wondered how I could handle that. Your ideas about your website and your thoughts about pseudonyms are very helpful. I think I've decided not to use pseudonyms, mainly because for an author I like, I would want to know about their other books. Sure, I might hear about it from a newsletter, but it seems there's an opportunity for confusion. I love the pics of your dogs! And thanks for the free book!
DeleteThank you, Dana. I'm so glad you found the information helpful! :)
DeleteI like it, Yvonne! But why did you drop your other pen name?
DeleteIt's one more name for people to remember, but many successful writers use three. If you love the name, go with it! A new name will feel uncomfortable for a bit in the beginning. Just like a new pair of shoes. Happy writing, Yvonne!
DeleteI love it when my favorite authors write multiple genres. It give me more chances to enjoy their stories. My precious Golden, Happy, passed four years ago. I've left it to the Lord if I'm to have another dog. Since we are still dealing with Harvey's aftermath, I'm grateful that I don't have a dog at this time. Mom's dog is enough to deal with.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing for the scarf.
I feel so bad for all the animals that have displaced by the hurricanes--and for their owners, who may not have had good options.
DeleteOh, Caryl! I'm so sorry about your sweet baby! I can't imagine the horrific scene you came back to after Harvey. Praying the Lord blesses you with strength and joy in the midst of your storm, and maybe even another faithful companion. <3
DeleteDora, I agree - life's too short for sad endings! I went over to your website which I love. And I downloaded "Roping the Marshal."
ReplyDeleteThanks for this interesting take on publishing under 2 names and for the cute pics of Bolder and Que!
Awww, thank you, Josee! Hope you enjoy! <3
DeleteYou're welcome. It's totally my pleasure. You have a beautiful website as well. Congratulations on all those awards!! You go, girl! :)
Welcome Dora, I first heard of you through Jill's posts!
ReplyDeleteShe's an angel!
Loved hearing about your dogs; we are going through challenging days with a hyper German Shep/Bordie Collie mix. lol
I am headed to A. to download your freebie!
Please count me in for the journal.
THANKS
Indeed, Jill is an angel! Her smiling face ALWAYS makes me smile.
DeleteA German Shepherd/Border collie mix, eh? Bet your little darling is beautiful but requires a ton of exercise! Hang in there. <3
DORA!!! Welcome to Seekerville, girl, and SUPER CONGRATS on the two new additions to your family AND the new name! ;)
ReplyDeleteFirst of, I truly admire you for venturing into the two-name career, because it seems like it would take double effort to promote both, something that obviously requires a very organized and driven author.
But like Ruthy, I have chosen to go with one name for anything I write, although I have toyed with doing EXACTLY what you're doing with a different name for sweet secular vs. Christian romance. Still haven't decided what I'm going to do when I write a sweet secular, which I fully intend to do.
Ironically, when I first started trying to get published, I intended to use the pen name Anna Scribe (A. Scribe) based on the Scripture, "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name," because I wanted to write solely for His glory and a "scribe" is someone who writes. But when I started entering contests, I did so under my real name, and once I gained some notoriety with that name, I decided it was silly to start over with another.
Anyway, you have given me LOTS to think about, my friend, so THANK YOU! And God bless you in your double endeavors!
Hugs!!
Julie
Thank you, Julie! What a super creative name! I hope you can use it at some point, but I understand why you'd want to stick to your real name. Thanks bunches for your gracious hospitality! xoxo
DeleteHi Dora, Welcome to Seekerville. Thank you so much for visiting and sharing with us. Hubby and I have had labs all these years so am really loving the photos of the labs. Thanks again for sharing and have fun today.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra! This is our first experience with labs, and we're really enjoying them. Dogs are such a blessing, aren't they? Hugs for your day.
DeleteI still miss our Lab mix, Gracie. She struggled with epilepsy that got much, much worse the last several months of her life. It was hard to let her go, but we felt it was the best thing we could do for her.
DeleteMyra, I don't think we ever get over the loss of our beloved pets. But I hope the pain isn't quite as deep and that you treasure your memories of Gracie. I'm finally at that point with Bruiser. <3
DeleteDora, inquiring minds want to know. How did you decide on Bolder's and Que's names?
ReplyDeletehaha! Que came to us as Quaszar, but neither of us could ever remember the exact spelling. And since hubby's big into BBQ, we shortened it to Que. lol. When we first met Bolder, he was just six weeks old and whimpered the entire time of his visit. We just knew he had to develop some spine, and since our mountain cabin was named Boulder Ridge, we gave him the name BOLDER. Funny, though, because he didn't need any help in that area. He whimpered because he was SICK! lol.
DeleteI like Que--so cute! And glad you realized Bolder was sick and could get him all better. Love seeing your pix of the doggies and all the cute things they do!
DeleteHe's a sweetheart! We're so proud of him for losing all that weight. And Bolder spent the first six months of his life on meds until they finally diagnosed him with allergies. I think the poor dog is even allergic to grass!
DeleteWhat were his symptoms? Our little chihuahua mix seems to have seasonal nasal allergies. Every morning she sneezes and snorts like crazy to clear her sinuses!
DeleteRunny nose and cough. They tried all sorts of meds before we finally had him tested. Sheesh. Should've paid for the test from the beginning. Would've saved a bunch of $$. lol.
DeleteThis is fun, commenting after Myra...the same question entered my mind. We have a golden mix and LOVE him to pieces.
ReplyDeleteDora, it's so good to see you here. I ordered Kissing Santa Nic and it's great timing because I start thinking about Christmas stories this time of year.
Have a wonderful time as you continue your writing journey, it's a unique path for each of us.
LoRee, we have a "golden mix," too. Except he's solid black and mixed with chow. :)
DeleteMyra, our neighbors have a golden/chow mix. When they first got him, he looked like a lion with his beautiful golden mane. Bet yours is a BEAUTY!
DeleteLoRee, goldens are wonderful dogs, so incredibly smart. We decided on a golden after visiting a dude ranch where two goldens could actually go in and out of doors by opening them with their snouts. We adored our Bruiser as I'm sure you love your sweetheart.
DeleteThanks bunches for downloading Kissing Santa Nic, sweet friend. Like you, I love reading and writing Christmas stories! Hope you enjoy it! Hugs!
I really don't know how I feel about any of this. lol But these are all questions I have asked myself, as a pre-published author. I could simply kiss you (virtually and chastely, of course) for sharing how you have resolved everything. Please put my name in for the journal. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely glad Dora has figured this out so the rest of us can benefit from her experience!
DeleteWaving to Cathy! Always good to see you! Hope all is well with you and yours!
DeleteHugs!
Awww, Cathy, that's so sweet! Thank you. <3
DeleteJust checked out your website and see that you're a travel writer and live in Indiana. My hubby's a fire chief and we visit Indy every year for a fire conference. LOVE those trips! Indianapolis has SO MUCH to offer. And over the last few years, we have planned a big trip every year, mostly Europe. Now I have the travel bug. I'd love to hear about your favorite vacation spots!
If I were to ever write Christian fiction I would write it under a pen name to differentiate it from my non-Christian-but-still-clean YA stories. The pseudonym I would use would probably be along the lines of Ella Reece Kippling. The Ella part is a variation of my first name. Reece was my mom's maiden name so I wanted to fit that in there. And Kippling was the name of the street that I lived on for the first five or so years of my life.
ReplyDeleteI love it when my favorite authors write new genres, but then I like variation. I'm the type of person who can grow bored of a thing very easily.
Sounds like you have a plan, Nicki! That's awesome! And what a beautiful name. I love how you came up with it!
Deletewhat a great inspiration you are, taking chances, striking out in a new direction. WTG
ReplyDeleteMy hubby tends to prod me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis. If not for his encouragement, I might never have submitted my first ms. But you are my inspiration, Mary. LOVE your stories. <3
DeleteDora, my husband has been a bigger promoter than I am. He carries my bookmarks and business cards in his car! LOL Oh, and he also keeps some books to give away. haha
DeleteThat's so sweet, Missy! <3
DeleteProject Guy is my best marketer. He's always handing out my business cards and bookmarks, too! I still have a terrible time talking up my own books or even mentioning I'm a published author. I just kind of want to disappear into the woodwork!
DeleteHaha! Yes! When I went back to school, my husband loved telling me. When I had cards made for my freelance editing business, he handed out cards to everyone he met lol. Somehow he kept running into university students who needed someone to edit their dissertation papers, or they were writing a book. I can't talk to people, but he sure can!
DeleteGuess that's the curse of the introverted writer. I'm the same way. I tend to think of things to say AFTER the conversation. lol.
DeleteI always wondered why authors used different names to write under. At this point i plan to use my real name. I love when authors write in different genres. It doesn't bother me at all because I love to read in the variety of genre.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is having a great day.
Another prolific reader! You rock, Wilani! I feel like a reading slog lately. lol. Happy Tuesday!
DeleteHi Dora! Loved the post. I've always written under a pen name, although there are times I debate using my real name. But when I started writing, I googled my name and discovered that there was a lady with my name (exact same spelling) who was convicted of murdering her husband. NOT a good name for a romance writer to share, lol. Plus I'm a public school teacher. I started out trying to write inspy but ended up getting published in sweet. I often wonder if I should use one name for sweet and one name for inspy, but they are close and often share the same readers, so for now, I guess I'll stick to the one name. But you've given me a lot to think about.
ReplyDeleteHey, LeAnne! Thank you so much! I totally understand why you chose to write with a pen name. Yikes! Congratulations on your recent release of Her Texas Rebel. Love the cover and it sounds amazing!
DeleteLeeAnne, that's a really good reason to have a pen name!! LOL I'm so sorry your real name was "taken."
DeleteCrazy, LeAnne! I have a Google alert set up for my name, and I regularly discover I have either died or gotten arrested!
DeleteMyra has had several arrests according to her Google alerts! LOL
DeleteI never will forget that the first time I ever googled my name after I started writing, the first thing to come up was an obit. :) Kind of freaked me out. LOL
Tina, neither of my browsers will allow comments within a thread, either!
ReplyDeleteDora, that's so cute how your dogs got their names! I love it!
Thanks, Missy! :)
DeleteSorry you're experiencing issues with leaving comments. Bummer.
Dora, as a debut author, I didn't consider a pen name, although I did consider (strongly) publishing under my maiden name to honor my grandparents. But it's difficult to pronounce and spell, so I decided to stick with plain ol' me. :) But I enjoyed hearing about your experience and some reasons authors consider pen names. Although after recently experiencing my first book launch, I'm not sure I even know my own name anymore! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunner of a cover for WAITING FOR BUTTERFLIES! Congratulations, Karen!! Oh, and I'm not THAT MOM, either. My kids grew up on hot dogs and boxed mac and cheese. :) Hugs!
DeleteEnjoyed your post, Dora, thank you! Love your dogs too :) And thank you for the free book! I just "bought" it on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteThose are two great prizes. I'd probably use the journal more though, so please enter me for that. Though I do find libraries to be a piece of paradise too :)
May God bless you and all of Seekerville!
Awww! Thank you, Phyllis. Appreciate your kind words about our little darlings and for downloading Kissing Santa Nic. Hope you enjoy! Happy Tuesday!
DeleteGreat post, Dora! I'm unpublished for now, but hope to be published one day. So far, I've written books in two genres and have wondered about this very subject. Thank you for sharing your experience and advice - and the cute puppy photos :-)
ReplyDeleteLike a proud parent, I look for any excuse to pull out the pictures. lol. Congratulations on ALL those awesome awards, Laura! Yowza! I imagine your open door is right around the corner! Hugs!
DeleteThank you, Dora!!
DeleteI'm not writing in different genres, but I am writing in different time periods and cultures. (Yes, I am writing in something else besides medieval Japan. I wondered if that would confuse people. (Granted, I'm still unknown for what I write set in medieval Japan. :-) )
ReplyDeleteHey, Walt! I think you're fine with a single name especially if writing in different time periods and cultures is the norm for you. Still, a well-worded description would let readers know what to expect with each book. Happy writing!
DeleteI'm super late stopping by but still wanted to say THANK YOU to Dora for sharing this fun and informative post---Wow! I think you're very clever to write under two names but I'm sure it could get mind-boggling at times, LOL. ;) Love your doggy photos - - they are sooo cute! (and this is coming from a Cat lady *wink*).
ReplyDeleteBlessings from Georgia, Patti Jo
Hey, Patti Jo! Never too late to pop in at Seekerville, is it? Seems like the party's always going on. lol. Mind-boggling, yes. I really have to focus. And drink lots of coffee. Thank you so much, CatMom! Oh, btw, I love cats too. <3
DeleteHi Dora,
ReplyDeleteSeems I haven't been keeping up. I don't mind your two names but I forget that you have two and don't always remember to check both out.
I have a hard enough time keeping people un-confused in real life as to which name belongs to me. Some folks (those i went to Jr high and high school with know me by my first name and most anyone who gets to know me well will learn what it is. Once i got married I went back to using my middle name as all my family use it.
I'd love to just get one name published one day. LOL
Love your pets! Miss mine, lost them both over a year ago. Daughter brought home a boarder collie mix, it is her dog but mom gets to watch it most days while she works. LOL.
Now that I have been reminded i will check out your new name.
Thanks for sharing this fun interview.
You're such a sweetheart, Renette! So, I guess I've only known you by your middle name, then? Do you not like your given first name?
DeleteKeep writing, Renette. You can do it, girl! <3
Hi Dora,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words.
My given first name is great, it is also my mothers name, so my family has always called me by my middle name. School records got changed when I was in 5th grade (long story) so everyone at school wound up calling me by my first name. I don't mind people calling me by that name I just may not answer right away as haven't used it in so long. LOL Except for on legal documents then I use both first and middle. If ever I am in the hospital and you come to find me you should know my first name or they will tell you I am not there. LOL it's happened.
By the way my first name is as hard to remember as my middle. We like unusual in my family. It is Darley.
Ordered Kissing Santa Nic yesterday. Excited to read it.
Darley is unique. I love it! But I can't imagine knowing you by any other name than Renette. <3 Hopefully, I will never have to find you in the hospital. :) Thank you, sweet friend. Happy reading!
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