the Nature of Pen Names

 

The pen name: A writer’s best friend (and source of anxiety).

This has been a big one for me for several months. I’m trying to come up with a pen name that a) suits my personality, and b) suits my genre. Oh—and then there is always c) doesn’t sound made up.

It isn’t easy.

It isn’t fun.

I do not enjoy it.

Ask me to come up with a character name. Ask me to come up with a baby name. Ask me to name your new retriever. Do not ask me to rename myself. How should I know what “fits” me? It isn’t like I really know myself, right? I mean, give me a character bio and I can tell you the perfect name to go with ‘em.

The name helps to shape the character, right? You don’t ever see Tom as a murder mystery, serial killer? Not exactly. Ted, sure; Tom, not so much. In fiction, the bad guy always has a somewhat-bad-guy-name. Cyrus the Virus from Con-Air, Sylar from Heroes, Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter, Hannibal freaking Lecter from *duh* Hannibal!

And the good guys have good-guy-names (or normal names, depending on the genre). Harry Potter, Clark Kent, Jack Bauer, James Bond, Alex Cross, Sarah Connor, Selene (Underworld), Alice (Resident Evil)… Basically, nothing decidedly evil.

So does the same thing apply to people? Could I be, let’s say, Emily? Tess? Diane? Samantha? Nikki? Madison? Tracy? Faith? Elaine? Rachel?

No, no I can’t. Why? Because I’m not those people.

So basically, finding a good pen name to transfer on over to has been… a challenge. Unfortunately it’s one I have to face (and, hopefully, overcome). See, I work at an elementary school and it would be just plain awkward if one of my students, or even their parents, ran a little google search on me and got a direct link to a steamy blogfest entry. Yeah… creeptastic, I know. So it’s mucho important for me to get my pen name up and running. The problem—it’s not working.

My plan is to have a “general pen name” for the blog, the facebook, the writing world stuff. This pen name would go with my paranormal romance and urban fantasy stuff. But I’d also like to have a separate one for my contemporary/romantic suspense stuff. I can hold off on the 2nd name---no biggie there—but I need that first one.

Progress to come… wish me luck.

I'm a PRO!

No, not a PROfessional. I'm a PROlific blogger. See?! I even have the award to prove it! Ain't she grand?

I'm a PRO!

Okay, so maybe she's a bit old... maybe a wee bit dusty, but I didn't forget about her. I promise, my dear blog award--I was just biding my time, waiting for the best possible moment to unveil you to the public... I swear... *cough*

I'd like to send a gigantic THANK YOU to Kristie Cook for passing this cutie on to me =D Thanks Kristie!

By the way, if you don't already know Kristie, check her out-- her new book, Promise, is available in stores now and is phenomenal! This book (the first in the Soul Savers series) has gotten rave reviews--and let me tell you, critics are tough. Seriously, the chick is enviable. I'd hate her, you know, if I didn't already love her ;-)

Now I'll be passing this little diddy on to one of my favorite bloggers/people in the entire world. Who might that be? Well, none other than my CP/soul-mate, Ashley Tenille!If you don't know Ashley--shame on you! She's only the coolest Canuck ever...quite possibly the coolest person ever (though I like to think we tie for the latter).

So Ashley-- do her proud! Dust off that lent and post her to your blog-- then start writing!

This is how I write...this is how I write...this is how--

I've been a bad blogger--and writer--lately. I admit it, I've been a real disappointment. But I"m trying to turn all that around by getting back into the groove of things.

First, I've been working on Nightlings, moving some chapters around and getting it all beautiful for my new critique group members at CritiqueThisWIP.

Secondly, I've been trying to get some good blog posts going. Okay, so I haven't been so successful at that second part, but, like I said, I'm trying. I blog over at CritiqueThisWIP once a week (which, for a while, was more than enough). But this week, I'm branching out even further and wrote guest blog post for Kayleigh's Kaleidoscope! What's it about, you ask? How I Write (do you see the irony?). What have I realized? That I really love blogging--not to mention writing--so I'm going to make it a point to get my butt back in "the zone".

It hasn't all been easy. I've been feeling down about my writing for a few months now. Nothing comes out right, my grammar skills are annoying me to no end, and my "voice" has been hiding out in a very dark, very quiet place. How are you supposed to write when the cursor just sits there, blinking that irritating I on an otherwise blank screen?! Don't tell me just do it, because I've been tryin' and it just ain't workin'. But that will all be coming to an end. No more putting it off. You may be reading a bunch of crap, but at least I'll be posting again, right?

Don't forget to swing by Kayleigh's Kaleidoscope to see just how crazy a writer I am!

Author Interview

Today I got to interview Ashley Tenille Rempel over at CritiqueThisWIP. Ashley is one of my best friends and is my very own, personal Critique Partner! I love her dearly and have been waiting with bated breath for this interview. Want to see it? Click on over to CTW for the goods.

Come one, come all

Ladies and gents, boys and girls! Gather ‘round and listen to the most exciting news you’ve heard all year—

CritiqueThisWIP is looking for writers –that’s right, people like you— to take part in our Author Interview Series. All writers are welcome, published and unpublished alike. So if you want to get your name out there, run on over to CTW and send us an email!

Announcements

Hello everyone! I know, long time, no blog—but I’m back, and with THREE important announcements that could make you a happy, happy reader!

First off: Today on CritiqueThisWIP I have the honor (or dumb luck) of interviewing KRISTIE COOK! That’s right, guys! I got to take a sit down with Kristie and learn all the nitty-gritty details. Swing by and check her out!

Second: Speaking of interviews—yours truly got to switch seats with none other that Kristen Yard for an interview of my own! Yep, you read that right—I was interviewed by Kristen Yard (you know, the chick I interviewed last week on CritiqueThisWIP). Apparently, Kristen wanted pay back because her questions were WAY worse that mine were…then again, I’m pretty biased. So swing by Kristen’s blog at Take It As It Comes and read my interview. You may learn more than you ever wanted to know about me. *Don’t judge*

Last, but not least: Now I’ve saved the best for last (not that mine and Kristie’s interviews aren’t little golden tickets, but this is a real gem!). My critique group, CritiqueThis has three openings available and waiting for romance writers to fill them. We’re holding a contest on our group blog where you can apply for membership. All romance writers are welcome to participate! Drop by the Contest Page for more details.

Okay, that’s it—I promise! What are you waiting for? You have links to click on!

Flirt Fest Scene

So I'm having technical troubles with the drive that holds all my goodies.I have everything backed up, but that's at another location, and I don't feel like driving out to mom & dad's just now. The only scenes I currently have access to (that contain a bit of flirting) are a) Dark Goddess at her General getting groovy, and b) Kate & Caleb's first kiss.

I've decided against the NC-17 rated scene I was tweeting about with some of you earlier. Call me a chicken, but I don't think my Dark Goddess was ready to make her appearance just yet--and on a PG-13 blog, no less. Instead, I've decided to use Kate & Caleb's first kiss scene.

And yes, I do love to write scenes specifically for blogfests (scenes that have nothing to do with the WIPs I'm working on), but if you haven't noticed, I've been a little preoccupied lately and completely ran out of time to whip up a good Flirt-Fest-worthy scene.

For a long moment, she didn’t think he would answer. She wouldn’t answer if their positions had been reversed. She would probably kick him out. Truthfully, she kind of hoped he would kick her out. At least then, she could stop thinking about him—and he’d stop looking at her like he wanted to lick every inch of her body.

As it turned out, she wasn’t that lucky. Caleb leaned forward to set his drink on the coffee table then shifted his body toward her.

“That you’re beautiful,” he finally answered.

And there’s that look again. He has the eyes of a predator—a very hungry predator.

“That I want to touch you,” he went on, raising his hand and brushing his knuckles over her cheek.

Holy freakin’ shit…is this actually happening?

“That I want to kiss you.”

I’m dreaming. I’m in a coma and I’m dreaming.

As he leaned closer to her, she felt the stirrings of heat and desire well up deep inside. She wanted him to kiss her—wanted to kiss him.

As his lips brushed hers, she let out a soft whimper and caught her breath when his fingers found their way to the back of her neck. She felt his tongue stroke her lips and, wanting more, she parted them, meeting his with her own. He kissed her deeply and passionately, one hand entwined in her hair, the other, slinking around her waist, both pulling her against him. Kate was melting, her body fighting to fuse itself with his.

Yes, yes...

Caleb was warm and hungry and everything she wanted. But he was also too much; his lips felt too good, his body too inviting—too real.

Abort! Abort!

The thought assaulted her, overwhelming her body’s reaction to this Adonis who held her so close. He was dangerous—she felt it down to her bones. Caleb’s embrace was too keen; his lips, too ravenous. He showed her passion that she’d never seen before and she reacted to his touch far more than she wanted to admit. No one had ever made her feel so wanted, so needed, and she had never felt that passion for anyone…until now.
Instinctively, she pulled him away as she fumbled to her feet. She had to get away from him—far away. If she stayed a moment longer, he’d destroy her. She didn’t know how he’d do it, but she had no doubt he would.

“I—I have to go. I’m sorry…I have to go,” she stuttered, not looking to him for a response. Before she could change her mind, she strode for the door. She could hear him stand, heard his footsteps as he followed her, but he didn’t respond or try to stop her.

Neither of them said goodbye. As she walked past the statue of Aria, she heard the click of the door as it was closed.

What had she been thinking? Caleb was too intense, too passionate. She should have known better than to get involved with him—not that she was involved. It was just a kiss.

An amazing kiss…

And she had known almost immediately what a mistake it had been. If she got any more involved with Caleb, he would break down every wall she’d ever built to protect herself from getting hurt again.

She didn’t do relationships. She couldn’t. Attachments weren’t an option; they left room for failures, disappointments…for abandonment.

That was what it all came down to. Knowing that her father hadn’t abandoned her was one thing, but it didn’t help the way she felt. His death had crushed her. For years, he had been everything to her, and then, in less than a minute, he was gone. She couldn’t go through that kind of loss again, it would destroy her.

And Caleb had what it took to get there.