Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog, page 69

SECRET WRITERS: LEE ALLEN HOWARD

Secret Writers



Lee Allen Howard



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



LEE ALLEN HOWARD

A name is a trademark, one you hope will become known and connected to your writing. When you're writing in the genre world, a name can represent a certain genre that you pen for. My primary genre is horror -- always has been -- so I use my full name, Lee Allen Howard. (I started using all three names

when I discovered how many "Lee Howards" were out there!) I also liked that it has the same number of syllables as "Edgar Allan Poe," along with the same middle name. This gives me uniqueness with resonance.



I use a synonym for my erotica to maintain anonymity with those who may be offended by the subject matter. It helps prevent some who are prejudiced about the genre from attaching this stigma to my other work. Using a pen name also keeps readers with sex-on-the-brain from finding me in the phonebook!



Using a pseudonym protects me and helps maintain brand recognition between different genres -- important for someone who writes not only horror and dark crime, but gay erotica, and spirituality, believe it or not.



BIO

Lee Allen Howard has been a professional writer in the software industry since 1985. Besides editing fiction and non-fiction, he does editing and layout for health and fitness professionals. Lee writes horror, erotic horror, dark fantasy, and crime. His publication credits include The Sixth Seed, Severed Realtions, Cemetery Sonata anthology, Out newspaper, Thou Shalt Not... anthology, and Amber Quill Press. His article "Your Very First Editor" is part of the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Lee also writes about metaphysical and consciousness issues on his blog at http://buildingthebridge.wordpress.com. You can also visit him at http://leeallenhoward.com.



LINKS

Lee Allen Howard - http://leeallenhoward.com



Lee Allen Howard blog - http://buildingthebridge.wordpress.com



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1



The Sixth Seed – http://www.amazon.com/The-Sixth-Seed-ebook/dp/B004TTWWRM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302019399&sr=1-1



Severed Relations – http://www.amazon.com/Severed-Relations-ebook/dp/B004WKR5KC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=merchant-items&qid=1303330538&sr=1-2



Thou Shalt Not… - http://www.amazon.com/Thou-Shalt-Not-Allen-Howard/dp/0977187101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302019326&sr=1-1

MGOC Events: The Muse and the Marketplace 2011

Many Genres contributors Tess Gerritsen and Lynn Salsi were guests at the Grub Street Conference The Muse and the Marketplace 2011 last month.

Many thanks to Chris Castellani for the invitation to showcase our wonderful writing guide in Boston!

During the panel discussion, Lynn and Tess also shared their latest fiction releases. Check out Lynn's The Life and Times of Ray Hicks and Tess' The Silent Girl .

SECRET WRITERS: ADINA SENFT

Secret Writers



ADINA SENFT
People take pseudonyms for a number of reasons: for privacy, to honor a relative, or because their name isn’t very, um, attractive and they’ve always wanted a good reason to change it. In my case, it was for market reasons. My new Amish Quilt trilogy of women’s fiction is so completely different from the young adult novels I wrote as Shelley Adina that in order to prevent reader confusion, my publisher felt it was best to start with a new name.

"Adina Senft" is my middle name and my maiden name, and since it’s German, it fits well into the Amish fiction landscape. Of course, booksellers are probably going to hate it … "How do you pronounce that?" is the most common question I get. The answer is, "One letter after the other."

BIO
Adina Senft grew up in a plain house church, where she made her own clothes and perfected the art of the French braid. She’ll graduate in June 2011 with an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. Writing as Shelley Bates, she was the winner of RWA’s RITA Award for Best Inspirational Novel in 2005, a finalist for that award in 2006, and, writing as Shelley Adina, was a Christy Award finalist in 2009. Three of her books have shortlisted for the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award for book of the year. Of her fiction, publisher and industry blogger W. Terry Whalin has said, "Readers will be lost in the vivid world that [she] paints with incredible detail and masterful storytelling."

A transplanted Canadian, Adina returns there annually to have her accent calibrated. Between books, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing the piano and Celtic harp, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens. These days, she makes period costumes and only puts up her hair for historical events and fun.

LINKS
Adina Senft - http://www.adinasenft.com

Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com

The Wounded Heart - http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Heart-Amish-Quilt-Novel/dp/0892968540/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1305944998&sr=8-7

Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: ADINA SENFT

Secret Writers





Adina Senft



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



ADINA SENFT

People take pseudonyms for a number of reasons: for privacy, to honor a relative, or because their name isn't very, um, attractive and they've always wanted a good reason to change it. In my case, it was for market reasons. My new Amish Quilt trilogy of women's fiction is so completely different from the young adult novels I wrote as Shelley Adina that in order to prevent reader confusion, my publisher felt it was best to start with a new name.



"Adina Senft" is my middle name and my maiden name, and since it's German, it fits well into the Amish fiction landscape. Of course, booksellers are probably going to hate it … "How do you pronounce that?" is the most common question I get. The answer is, "One letter after the other."



BIO

Adina Senft grew up in a plain house church, where she made her own clothes and perfected the art of the French braid. She'll graduate in June 2011 with an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. Writing as Shelley Bates, she was the winner of RWA's RITA Award for Best Inspirational Novel in 2005, a finalist for that award in 2006, and, writing as Shelley Adina, was a Christy Award finalist in 2009. Three of her books have shortlisted for the American Christian Fiction Writers' Carol Award for book of the year. Of her fiction, publisher and industry blogger W. Terry Whalin has said, "Readers will be lost in the vivid world that [she] paints with incredible detail and masterful storytelling."



A transplanted Canadian, Adina returns there annually to have her accent calibrated. Between books, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing the piano and Celtic harp, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens. These days, she makes period costumes and only puts up her hair for historical events and fun.



LINKS

Adina Senft - http://www.adinasenft.com



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



The Wounded Heart - http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Heart-Amish-Quilt-Novel/dp/0892968540/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1305944998&sr=8-7



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: ELAINE ERVIN

Secret Writers



Elaine Ervin <

ELAINE ERVIN
There’s a common misperception that using a pseudonym is about “hiding.” There are certain instances in which that could be part of the explanation (e.g. teachers who’ve written romance or erotica, only to be “outed” and forced to face scrutiny from parents or their employers).

While I cannot speak for other authors, I can say that in my case, nothing could be farther from the truth. We live in the day and age where a world of information is at our fingertips, literally. If I’m giving a talk or a radio/internet interview, there is realistic potential for a listener to Google me in moments. To ensure they find me quickly, they need to be able to spell my name upon hearing it and, I’m sad to say, the correct spelling of my birthname seems to elude the average ear. I’ve seen everything from Irvin to Irwin to Erwing.

The decision to take a pen name seemed unavoidable; however, an equally critical decision was which name to choose? I wanted a name at the beginning of the alphabet since, when readers are browsing the shelves/catalogue, they tend to begin at the front of the section.

The first full-length novel I sold was a sweet romance (In Perfect Harmony) to Avalon Books. It was set in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, and was about a young woman struggling to catch a break as a country singer who crossed paths with a country superstar suffering burnout from the pressures of the business. This was a world I’d heard stories about since I was a little girl, given that my grandfather was country music singer/songwriter (Jack Adams—Little Jimmy Dickens’ “Geraldine” was most popular song).

Choosing the name Adams was a perfect fit. It provided a name that was easily spelled upon hearing; even better, it allowed me to honor the name of my grandfather (whom we lost to a stroke in 2003). In keeping with the pattern of my birthname (first and last names start with the same letter), I took Alayne Adams.

While my initial motivation to take a pen name/s had to do with marketability, I have also discovered another reason. Authors are frequently asked for their autographs, sometimes a picture, too. One of the Seton Hill faculty shared an experience in which a “fan” repeatedly asked for an autographed picture (rather than a book), and his persistence seemed odd given that he made the request multiple times in a short span.

No one knows the individual’s true purpose for the request, however, it did generate interesting debate among faculty and students. Your picture, signature, and personal information—together, these represent a practical red carpet to an identity thief, however, a person who doesn’t “really” exist wouldn’t have that same concern.
To date, I haven’t had any difficulty in bouncing between my “identities.” Using a pen name actually helps the writing process because I have to think about exactly which “hat” I’m putting on as I write. I get to shake off the worries I might have in my “real” life and immerse myself in “Alayne’s” world for a while.

For those of you wondering just how you go about indicating a pen name to your editor/publisher, I do it in the header of my manuscript: Ervin (w/a Alayne Adams) – IN PERFECT HARMONY – pg. x.

Hopefully this information will help you decide if a pen name is for you, or it will help you understand why some of your favorite authors might choose one for themselves.

BIO
Elaine Ervin has written two novels (published by Avalon Books) under the pen name Alayne Adams and is currently working on her third. She is also an adjunct professor of English and is on a quest to learn to make the perfect barbeque recipe (both sweet and spicy).

LINKS: Alayne Adams - http://www.amazon.com/Alayne-Adams/e/B001JS86VM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1304027129&sr=8-1

Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com

In Perfect Harmony - http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Harmony-Avalon-Romance/dp/0803498624/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

The Not So Simple Life - http://www.amazon.com/Not-Simple-Life-Avalon-Romance/dp/0803477538/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2

Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: ELAINE ERVIN

Secret Writers





Elaine Ervin



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



ELAINE ERVIN

There's a common misperception that using a pseudonym is about "hiding." There are certain instances in which that could be part of the explanation (e.g. teachers who've written romance or erotica, only to be "outed" and forced to face scrutiny from parents or their employers).



While I cannot speak for other authors, I can say that in my case, nothing could be farther from the truth. We live in the day and age where a world of information is at our fingertips, literally. If I'm giving a talk or a radio/internet interview, there is realistic potential for a listener to Google me in moments. To ensure they find me quickly, they need to be able to spell my name upon hearing it and, I'm sad to say, the correct spelling of my birthname seems to elude the average ear. I've seen everything from Irvin to Irwin to Erwing.



The decision to take a pen name seemed unavoidable; however, an equally critical decision was which name to choose? I wanted a name at the beginning of the alphabet since, when readers are browsing the shelves/catalogue, they tend to begin at the front of the section.



The first full-length novel I sold was a sweet romance (In Perfect Harmony) to Avalon Books. It was set in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, and was about a young woman struggling to catch a break as a country singer who crossed paths with a country superstar suffering burnout from the pressures of the business. This was a world I'd heard stories about since I was a little girl, given that my grandfather was country music singer/songwriter (Jack Adams—Little Jimmy Dickens' "Geraldine" was most popular song).



Choosing the name Adams was a perfect fit. It provided a name that was easily spelled upon hearing; even better, it allowed me to honor the name of my grandfather (whom we lost to a stroke in 2003). In keeping with the pattern of my birthname (first and last names start with the same letter), I took Alayne Adams.



While my initial motivation to take a pen name/s had to do with marketability, I have also discovered another reason. Authors are frequently asked for their autographs, sometimes a picture, too. One of the Seton Hill faculty shared an experience in which a "fan" repeatedly asked for an autographed picture (rather than a book), and his persistence seemed odd given that he made the request multiple times in a short span.



No one knows the individual's true purpose for the request, however, it did generate interesting debate among faculty and students. Your picture, signature, and personal information—together, these represent a practical red carpet to an identity thief, however, a person who doesn't "really" exist wouldn't have that same concern.

To date, I haven't had any difficulty in bouncing between my "identities." Using a pen name actually helps the writing process because I have to think about exactly which "hat" I'm putting on as I write. I get to shake off the worries I might have in my "real" life and immerse myself in "Alayne's" world for a while.



For those of you wondering just how you go about indicating a pen name to your editor/publisher, I do it in the header of my manuscript: Ervin (w/a Alayne Adams) – IN PERFECT HARMONY – pg. x.



Hopefully this information will help you decide if a pen name is for you, or it will help you understand why some of your favorite authors might choose one for themselves.



BIO

Elaine Ervin has written two novels (published by Avalon Books) under the pen name Alayne Adams and is currently working on her third. She is also an adjunct professor of English and is on a quest to learn to make the perfect barbeque recipe (both sweet and spicy).



LINKS: Alayne Adams - http://www.amazon.com/Alayne-Adams/e/B001JS86VM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1304027129&sr=8-1



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



In Perfect Harmony - http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Harmony-Avalon-Romance/dp/0803498624/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1



The Not So Simple Life - http://www.amazon.com/Not-Simple-Life-Avalon-Romance/dp/0803477538/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1

SECRET WRITERS: ANNE HARRIS

Secret Writers



Anne Harris



As part of the three month mega VBT for the writing guide Many Genres, One Craft , Calum, The Secret Writer , and I are hosting the Secret Writers series.



ANNE HARRIS

Somewhere around 2007 or so, I bifurcated. That's not as disgusting as it sounds. Up until then I had enjoyed a modest career as a science fiction and fantasy author under my real name, Anne Harris. But a number of circumstances coincided that led me to stop writing under that name, and reinvent myself under not one, but two new pseudonyms.



I had a young adult science fiction novel, Libyrinth, under consideration with my longstanding publisher, Tor. My editor loved the book. The problem was my sales history. My previous books, though well-reviewed, were not runaway bestsellers, and I was beginning to experience the dreaded Death Spiral, wherein booksellers order increasingly fewer and fewer of your titles, and sales diminish accordingly. I was asked to adopt a pseudonym so that Libyrinth could be presented to the buyers as a debut title from a new author, thus separating it from the handicap of my past numbers and hopefully inciting larger orders. That's how Pearl North came into being. As to how I settled on that particular name, that's another story and you can read about it here http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/2010/11/paths-to-publication-pearl-north.html (along with a more detailed and grisly account of the Death Spiral.)



But that's not all that was going on in my career at that time. The muse is a law unto herself, and I had found mine in yaoi manga, slash, m/m romance--pretty much any genre you can think of devoted to men falling in love with other men. For my copious thoughts on what the hell that's all about, you can check out the Why We Like It http://www.friskbiskit.com/why-we-like-it category on my blog. For now, just take my word for it that I had seen the light and there was no turning back. Unfortunately, many of those around me were less than entranced with this exciting new direction in my work. In particular, the reluctance of my agent and of my editor at Tor constituted real stumbling blocks to my pursuit of creative fulfillment. Maybe some authors would have obediently shelved their plans for world domination through boylove in favor of sane, commercial pursuits. But I've never had that kind of self control. One day it dawned on me that I didn't need anyone's permission to write whatever I wanted. At that moment, adopting the pseudonym Jessica Freely for my m/m work seemed blatantly obvious. Since then, I've published nine m/m erotic romance novels, novellas and short stories, primarily with epublisher Loose Id. I'm working on a new one right now.



So that's it. That's the story of how Anne Harris became Pearl North and Jessica Freely.



Thanks for reading!



BIO

Anne Harris writes science fiction, fantasy and, as Pearl North, young adult sf. Her novels include Accidental Creatures, which won the Spectrum Award for glbt sf, Inventing Memory, a Book Sense Pick, and Libyrinth. Her short story, "Still Life with Boobs," was a 2005 Nebula Award finalist. She also mentors grad students in Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program. Her essay "Perfect Disaster: Don't Let Perfectionism Squash Your Creativity" appears in Many Genres, One Craft, edited by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller. Visit Anne and Pearl at bookviewcafe.com.



LINKS

Anne Harris - http://bookviewcafe.com



Jessica Freely - http://www.friskbiskit.com



Many Genres blog - http://manygenres.blogspot.com



Many Genres, One Craft - http://www.amazon.com/Many-Genres-One-Craft-Lessons/dp/0938467085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302017939&sr=1-1



Accidental Creatures – http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Creatures-Anne-Harris/dp/0312875606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303303112&sr=1-1



Inventing Memory – http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Memory-Anne-Harris/dp/B000H2MXDI/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303246&sr=1-2



Libyrinth - http://www.amazon.com/Libyrinth-Pearl-North/dp/B003NHRAJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303303280&sr=1-1

Heidi Ruby Miller's Guest Post on Free Cotton

I shared an EDUCATIONAL WRITING TIP about BE verbs on Teffanie White 's blog FREE COTTON as part of the Many Genres VBT .

You can order Many Genres, One Craft through any of your favorite book sellers, including Amazon .

Conference: 2011 Pennwriters Conference - A Retrospect

The energy at this year's Pennwriters Conference is still surging through me! I'm channeling it to work on two novellas in the Ambasadora-verse and finish up the second full-length novel in the series, so I barely have time for this post, but I had to give a little retrospective, mostly in photo form, like the one below of Jason and me with Saturday Keynote Speaker Jonathan Maberry.

His speech should be required reading for the business--its theme was positivity and community, two sentiments I have always embraced when it comes to writing and the business of writing.



Thanks to the participants in our all-day intensive workshop Many Genres, One Craft, based on our new writing guide of the same name. ( Buy it at Amazon right now! )

Seton Hill Writers ( Timons Esaias , Heidi Ruby Miller , Jason Jack Miller , Natalie Duvall, Matt Duvall, and Michael A. Arnzen ) taught one hour sessions on craft in the morning, then career in the afternoon.

Each participant received a free hardcover copy of Many Genres, One Craft as a thank you gift. Plus, lots of candy for answering questions!

The Author Tea and Signing was huge! So many great books and their creators all in one room. Signing for Many Genres were Timons Esaias , Cathy Teets of Headline Books, Inc. , Heidi Ruby Miller , and Jason Jack Miller .



Jason and I had a wonderful group for our Sunday workshop The First Page is the Worst Page. It's a team-taught workshop we've been doing in one form or another since becoming adjunct faculty at Seton Hill, and it seems to be quite effective, considering we use the ideas to enhance our own prose.



My biggest epiphany during the conference (because I always have one)--I'm going to re-brand myself to repel people who would never read my work anyway. Seriously, thank you, C. J. Lyons for giving me permission to be myself! What a lesson to have learned. This of course means some changes around the site soon, but it was time to redecorate.

Meet the Contributors of Many Genres One Craft: W. H. Horner

On the Many Genres site, you can read an excerpt of W. H. Horner 's essay "Going Deep: Point of View beyond the Basics" from our new writing guide MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT .