Monday, May 16, 2011

Pseudonyms!

Well, folks, launch week for my book THE CURSE GIRL is one week from today! * throws confetti * Woot!! Honestly, this whole thing happened rather fast, but at the same time I feel like I've been gearing up for it for years. And I am SO excited to share this book with everybody. Next week is going to be fun. There will be contests and prizes and interviews and other fun stuff. So definitely swing by and visit!! 

Now today I'd like to discuss a topic I've been pondering lately: Pseudonyms.

Many writers use them, and before I got married I pretty much accepted that I'd have to use one because my name was Katie Hudson, and that was just too close to Kate Hudson for comfort (incidentally, Katy Perry chose "Perry" for the same reason, because she was born Katy Hudson too). I used to love making lists of possible pseudonyms as a kid. I was particularly pleased with the fact that I could change my first name, since I hated it at the time.


Then I got married, and my husband's last name is not attached to any "Katie" celebrities that I know of, at least. But I still hung on to that desire for a pseudonym. But my reasons had changed.

I actually have two very good reasons to use a pseudonym that have nothing to do with my name resembling a celebrity's. Trust me on this one.

Anyway, so I've played around with a number of different names, and I finally decided on one a few weeks ago. I will be using the name Kate Ellison on my books, and frankly, I love it. My twitter is currently still sort of set to my old name, as is my google ID, but I will be switching them soon.

Also, because I get tired of calling him "the husband," I've decided to choose a blogging pseudonym for hubby as well. He shall henceforth be known as "Captain Nemo," because 1) it's an old reference to an email address he used to use, 2) he likes that name and 3) if you squint really hard, he sort of looks a little bit like Captain Nemo from the old Disney version. (It's the beard!)

Do you use a pseudonym, or do you want to? Or do you love the idea of seeing your name on the book jacket?

PS Do feel free to call me Katie. I thought Kate looked more professional on the book cover, but Katie is what my friends call me!

6 comments:

  1. sometimes i think about using a pseudonym should anything i write reach the level of being worthy of publication some day. some of the things i deal with in my stories would be attacked vehemently by the people i know in everyday life... but then, i stand by what i say... so... i don't know what i'll decide should that day ever come.

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  2. Vic: I have family who wouldn't like some of the things I write ... it's a battle I choose not to fight, because I have some really odd family members and there would be no end to the drama, and in the end it would be pointless. This is one of the reasons I went with a pseudonym.

    It's definitely a decision a pondered for a long time.

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  3. Hiya Katie! (<-- See? Friendly :P) I love that you're even giving the DH a pseudonym, and Captain Nemo sounds WAY better than Captain Sparklefish, which would have been my personal choice. (/random =D)

    As for pen names, I had a great discussion about this with one of my editors, who knows I write several different genres. She explained it was all about marketing a "product". For instance, when peeps pick up a Nora Roberts book, they know they're going to get a romance with an HEA (happily ever after). But when they pick up a JD Robb book, they know it's a futuristic/urban fantasy product.

    The name you've chosen, Kate Ellison, sounds fantastic. And it IS who you are, or at least a facet of you. Just think -- the public will soon get to know who you are through that name, and that is crazy-exciting. Good luck!

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  4. Stacy: *fist pump* I know I'm going to get a lot of people calling me Kate, which is fine, but it makes me feel like they're hitting on me, so I definitely love hearing Katie!

    Captain Sparklefish, LOL.

    What you said about marketing is so true.

    Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you like the name!

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  5. I write under a pseudonym for personal reasons as well, but there is an additional benefit I never considered until it started happening. It is really hard for me to talk about my book and my writing. SO personal. But since I'm writing under a pseudonym it is like being a character in an ongoing story. An author, who isn't shy until she has to talk about herself, yet it is so much easier when she's talking about this "other" person. ;-)

    I chose a completely different name because I didn't want to accidentally sign the wrong one if I kept the same first name. It's only odd during local events where people know me as my real name. I'm still me regardless of what people call me. Love Kate Ellison. Swank!

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