What's in a Name?
Okay, first of all, I realize I stole that quote from Romeo and Juliet. For the record, I actually think Romeo and Juliet should be titled Horny and Rebellious. The tragedy of that play is not one of a great love story but that two young kids took their lives for no apparent reason. I could continue on my rant, but I won't. Truth be told, I'm a Hamlet kind of girl.
Names are important, right? When I write something, I frequently spend a good bit of time deliberating over what name feels right for the character. Perhaps it is because I have taught high school for six years now, but certain names just have strong associations for me. Honestly, I do my best to not use any names of kids I have taught in any of my books. This challenge is becoming increasingly more difficult because there is a new batch of names every year. Someone asked me if I named the main character in Holding On and Letting Go after Ralph Waldo Emerson. Truth be told, I actually really do like that writer, but it had nothing to do with why I picked the name Emerson for the main character. Knowing how I wanted the character to develop, "Emerson" just felt right.
Clearly, I have some strong feelings about names. In fact, I am getting married in less than two months. I love my fiance. He is a wonderful person. I am keeping my last name though. My last name and I have spent 28 years together; if you separated my first name from my last, it would be akin to separating PB from Jelly. It's just not right. You can imagine my horror then when I realized I had to write under a pen name because I teach. "Lucy" is a nickname by parents and brother have called me since birth; I'm not sure there is a reason why. And "Kelly" is my real first name. It's a great first name. It means "warrior", and given my hatred of damsels in distress, it just fits. I know tons of authors write under pen names, but I hate doing it.
With that said, I am reclaiming my real name when I put out the sequel to Holding On and Letting Go. At that time, I will also put a second edition of Holding On and Letting Go out with my real name. As it turns out, I can't let go of my name.
Names are important, right? When I write something, I frequently spend a good bit of time deliberating over what name feels right for the character. Perhaps it is because I have taught high school for six years now, but certain names just have strong associations for me. Honestly, I do my best to not use any names of kids I have taught in any of my books. This challenge is becoming increasingly more difficult because there is a new batch of names every year. Someone asked me if I named the main character in Holding On and Letting Go after Ralph Waldo Emerson. Truth be told, I actually really do like that writer, but it had nothing to do with why I picked the name Emerson for the main character. Knowing how I wanted the character to develop, "Emerson" just felt right.
Clearly, I have some strong feelings about names. In fact, I am getting married in less than two months. I love my fiance. He is a wonderful person. I am keeping my last name though. My last name and I have spent 28 years together; if you separated my first name from my last, it would be akin to separating PB from Jelly. It's just not right. You can imagine my horror then when I realized I had to write under a pen name because I teach. "Lucy" is a nickname by parents and brother have called me since birth; I'm not sure there is a reason why. And "Kelly" is my real first name. It's a great first name. It means "warrior", and given my hatred of damsels in distress, it just fits. I know tons of authors write under pen names, but I hate doing it.
With that said, I am reclaiming my real name when I put out the sequel to Holding On and Letting Go. At that time, I will also put a second edition of Holding On and Letting Go out with my real name. As it turns out, I can't let go of my name.
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