This Week's Topic
If you couldn't use your own name, what would your pseudonym or penname be?
I actually know how to answer this question. Because Kate Scott is kind of a penname. It's not a huge divergence from the name on my birth certificate, but it is a name I selected because I couldn't use my own name. I was born Katherine Elliott. While I answer to the name Katherine, most of my friends call me Kate, and I think the name Kate has a more YA feel to it. So the choice of Kate over Katherine for a penname was easy.
Kate Elliott, it has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Yeah, this lady thinks so too.
Sadly, I am not a best selling adult fantasy author. And the lady who has been publishing novels in my name for decades, her real name is actually Alis Rasmussen. Oh the injustice of it all. I actually met Alis Rasmussen, I mean Kate Elliott once. She’s a very nice person. She even apologized for steeling my name. But considering how many books she's written using my glorious name, she's not planning on switching back to Rasmussen any time soon.
So clearly I needed a penname. I thought about inventing something totally original. But I really do like my name. I could have been Katherine Elliott, or K. Elliott, or K.M. Elliott. But the dream of publishing as an Elliott was lost to me. So I took my husbands last name instead. By marriage I am a Scott. And so my penname is now Kate Scott. It's not quite Kate Elliott, but it does have a nice ring to it. It even rhymes with Great Scott, which makes me feel that much more exceptional.
So what about you? What penname would you chose if a fantasy writing Rasmussen stole your name?
12 comments:
Oh, the injustice of it all! Poor you! If only her royalties came to you, right? lol
GREAT SCOTT! lol nice ;)
I chose Julie Dark ... don't laugh!
Those name-stealing Rasmussens! *shakes fist* This made me grin quite a bit, though. But you're right. It really does feel pretty unjust.
Also, I totally think "Great Scott!" everytime I see your name on YA Highway! It works very well.
As for me, I'd keep my own name. I explained all about why and my own thoughts about pseudonyms here.
You should publish as Alis Rasmussen, then when you see her at best-selling-author conferences, you can poke your tongue at her. ;)
I agree with Colin. Totally steal Alis Rasmussen. :0)
Kate Scott is a great choice, though I kind think you should rip off Kate Elliott's actual name like Katharine and Colin suggested (I totally thought that was my idea until I read their comments lol). =)
The Kate Scott / Great Scott thing is amazing, and a great way to ensure no one forgets your name. :D
If a writing Rasmussen (can this be an official term now? :D) stole my name, I'd probably go with Colin's suggested psuedonym for me: M. Amaree. Oh, it's crafty.
Kate Scott is a pretty cool name. There is an illustrator where I live who has my same last name so last time I went to a bookstore the clerk was really hopeful that I was that illustrator.
If only you could convince the bank that the royalty check with Kate Elliot on it was truly meant for you--it's not stealing if you're stealing back your name, is it?
I'll have to look into the stealing the royalties plan. Coincentally, my sister-in-law is named Catherine and she's an actriss. Someone made a mistake and put Katherine Scott in the credits of her last major film roll instead of Catherine Scott. I told her I expected all her royalties on that one. I'm still waiting for her to send it my way.
God, how annoying. It's bizarre to me that she chose to use a pen name, because her real name is pretty cool! Maybe publishers thought some readers would have difficulty with pronunciation or something?
But in any case, Kate Scott works!
My "pen name" story is like yours, except no one stole my name. But I'm Kristina Atkins, and that's such a boring and common name, so I thought by shortening it to Kris Atkins (which is still common and boring, but now it's shorter and easier to remember!) ... I finished that sentence in the parantheses just now. Plus, Kris isn't a big stretch for me, because my sisters, younger brother, various friends, and even my husband on occasion call me Kris.
So yeah. That's how I came to be the Kris Atkins.
PS--I love the name Kate. And it does feel more YA.
LOL Colin´s comment made me crack up, that would be hilarious!!!
But Kate Scott is also a good choice :-)
Post a Comment