Contract, Pseudonyms and an R and R Letter
Wow, what a week this has been!!!! Okay, I accepted the offer on Thursday, I announced here on Saturday. I’ve gotten TONS of supportive, celebratory emails! Monday I wore a first sale shirt, like the one I bought Trish, and the teachers, many of whom I’ve worked with for YEARS, were very excited. Candy sent me an awesome e-card.
I couldn’t get over the feeling, though, that this is just a tear in the fabric, so I spent the weekend submitting Hot Shot everywhere it hasn’t been, as well as the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
I got my contract yesterday, AND a request for Don’t Look Back from Susan Litman. (I’d also sent her Breaking Daylight, and she rejected that in the same letter. Hmm.) Sooooo…printed out DLB and will mail today. Printed out the contract, and I need your help!!!!
I need a name!!!! I would LOVE to use my own name, but being a teacher and all…
I would like my last name to be Evans, since that was my grandmother’s name and she supported my writing so much. But my maiden name is Barclay, and I wouldn’t mind using that.
I don’t want to be Mary. My middle name is Helen, but I’m not wild about that.
As of bedtime last night, I was leaning toward MJ Fredricks, my name, my son’s and my dh’s. But this morning Chris suggested naming myself after my boys.
Dare I be Mary WINCHESTER???
Any thoughts????
Goodreads
Good Reads
About Me
- MJFredrick
- I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher and a writer. I have five cats and a dog to keep me company. I love bookstores and libraries and Netflix - movies are my greatest weakness.
Beneath the Surface
Breaking Daylight
Breaking Daylight Review
Where There's Smoke
Where There's Smoke Review
Bull by the Horns
Hot Shot Reviews
Hot Shot
15 comments:
I wouldn't go with Winchester. If I had it to do over again, I'd have chosen a shorter last name. It means that your long name is in a small font for a while. Mary Evans is actually very nice. Think about it! :)
Ooh, it is long...I hadn't considered that.
But Mary Evans is a bit dull.....
How about combining Mary + Barclay to get Bari Evans?
Or, what was your grandmother's maiden name?
If you keep Mary, then you won't be staring off in the distance when someone is calling your pen name across a crowded room :-)
Good point about Winchester being long for the cover.
How about you riff on Mary? Mari, Mara, Maria, Maria, Mira, Marla, Marlo, Merrill ..... there's a LOT of variants. One of those with Evans could be just the ticket.
Personally, I love the last name Winchester but I can see how it would be a bit long on a bookcover and also on a bookshelf W is pretty far down the aisle. I love the idea of you using your grandmother's name but as for a first name, maybe something starting with an M? Just a thought.
You might want to stick to something close to your real first name... like Kris said. That way, you'll answer to it!
And Barclay is close to the beginning of the alphabet -- that's a GOOD thing. OR, hey! Go by the same last name as a similar bestselling author so you'll be shelved nearby and people will see you when looking for her.
Dang, that's a really good idea. Wish I'd thought of it before I named myself.
Marianne Roberts.
Marianne Foster.
Marianne Crusie.
*G*
(this is a repost... I used the wrong login last time, LOL)
OOh. I'm so sorry. I missed your Saturday post.
CONGRATS!!!!!! Did you know a Wild Rose Press book won for best long contmeporary at the Golden Leaf at the NJ RWA conference? It beat out a SSE, a Kimani, and a Super Romance! So you'll be in great company!
Why not go with Mary Evans but put an intial in the middle to spice it up?
Congrats again! :)
Are you planning for different names or just one? I like Evan Barclay, but it sounds suspense-y. I also like Barclay Evans, but keeping your first name is probably easier to deal with. Can you use them all -- Mary Evans Barclay? Though that runs into the long name, small font issue.
I like Barclay Evans too. I think it's a real easy to remember name, not too long and still toward the beginning of the alphabet.
Mar, I'm just happy to see you having do deal with choosing a pen name! This is a joy! :)
Mary Evans isn't a bad pen name. Neither is Mary Barclay. But I do think Barclay Evans has a cool, modern ring to it. It's unique and fun. Like Mar herself. I chose Joanna K. Moore because it was close enough to my name to be recognizable, but the Moore is a family name.
Let us know what you finally decide! And fingers crossed on DLB.
J
What about Evie Barclay, Evie being derived from Evans?
How about MaryBeth Evans? The name just popped into my head and I thought it sounded good.
Best of luck to you!
I can't wait to see what you decide. Congrats again!!!!!
I was talking this over with my boys, and they agreed with me that Mary Evans Barclay was our favorite. It's a bit long, but since it's three words, that helps. And let's face it - it sure didn't hurt Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
My grandmother's maiden name was Freeman.
I like Bari and Mira.....
LOL on being Robert or Foster or Crusie, Marianne!
THANKS, Jennifer!!!!! I'd heard that about the Golden Leaf! That is So Cool.
Stacy, I'm leaning toward Mary Evans Fredrick, to get the dh in there. Means a little more to me than Barclay ;) Though I do like Evan Barclay.
Hmmm. Evie. I never thought of myself as an Evie!!
MaryBeth....I don't know if I'd answer to that ;)
Kris, so funny you got your kids involved!
Am I the most indecisive person you've EVER MET?
Post a Comment