We're BAAA-aack!
Yup, after a month long hiatus, it's time to start up Ravenous Wednesday for 2010! Only two years until 2012, when (according to the Mayans and the makers of such fine disaster flicks as Day After Tomorrow and ... well ... 2012! I love watching sentient earthquake faults and crumbling buildings chase after ONE FRIGGIN' FAMILY...) the earth will end!
And wasn't that a really long parens? Heh.
Anyway, I am pleased to start off the new year with C. Margery Kempe, author of one of my favorite Ravenous Romance books CHASTITY FLAME. So please help yourself to the copious snackage and beverage buffet, pull up a chair and say hi to Margery!
I fought with my twin, that enemy within, 'til both of us fell by the way.
-- Bob Dylan, "Where are you tonight?"
It's a strange thing writing under different names, as many of us do in the romance and erotic romance fields. I have other reasons to do so, too. As an academic, I write the occasional column for a snarky academic blog that reveals the true frustrations of the dim-witted students (with luck, a minority), boneheaded administrators (again, with luck, a minority -- oh, but let's admit it's not), intolerable colleagues, ridiculous hoops through which we jump from grad school onward, and the low pay, poor compensation and generally low regard for education that mystifies me.
Which is the long way of saying, I won't be telling you that name.
Publishing Chastity Flame reminded me that the first novel I wrote in high school was not only a spy novel, but also that I had chosen a pseudonym for the novel. Why? I think I just liked the idea of secrets. Secret names, secret clubs, secret languages, secret gardens: these were the things that gave life a touch of magic. Things only I and my friends knew somehow made us special, I thought.
I don't much care who knows my true name and I am not too bothered by my colleagues finding out what I do under this name. Perhaps it's because my tenure package at my small, historically Catholic, college has already been submitted and voted on (though the results have not been announced); perhaps it's because I'm already actively considering other job options; and perhaps it's just because I'm too busy to care about other people's disapproval.
Whatever.
It's useful to have different names to distinguish types of writing: people know what they're getting when they pick up a story by C. Margery Kempe: sexy, steamy and explicit encounters in a romantic context. I have a new name for non-explicit romance (I'll let you know her name once she's published). People picking up books with my true name on it – well, they know to expect the unexpected.
But there are other reasons to enjoy my twin: "we" have fun commenting on each other's posts on Facebook. People who know get to laugh along too, and kid with my alter ego. CMK has a larger network of people she doesn't actually know – mostly other romance writers – and doesn't post as much random quirkiness as I do. She's a professional. I am, too, but I have other interests and responsibilities. Yes, there are things that I want to share but don't feel are appropriate to my profile as a public academic as well as a multi-faceted writer. CMK gets to post those.
Of course, I help share her news as I do with all my writer friends. We link to each others' new publications and reviews. We help each other out – not bad for an evil twin, eh?
In honour of the theme, I offer a link to a story of mine that's available at present for free and comes with some lovely photography, too. I choose this one because it's set in the secret garden in Regent's Park in
Thank you, Margery! And we will be back two weeks from today to welcome brand new Ravenous Romance author Lana Griffin, whose first RR book DUSK is now available!
76 comments:
I commend authors who are able to separate their writing persona from the actual person; I just can't do it. Perhaps it is because I do not need another twin (one monozygotic double is enough), but I'm more inclined to the fact that I wouldn't personally be able to feel genuine writing under a different name and persona. Maybe that will change someday (I certainly would consider it if I were to find my day job as a college professor).
Your new book looks fantastic, and I loved reading more about the background of Chastity Flame.
LOL -- I have many personas. I like writing under them all. I am all of my characters, too. I like slipping into different skins. If I couldn't play at being all the things I imagine, I would go stir crazy.
I think it's just part of my gypsy nature; I get bored far too easily.
Hey! Wednesday starts early :-)
I suppose I ought to have written all that under this name! It occurs to me now that this must be what acting feels like: consciously taking up a role and living in that for a time, then tossing off that skin to put on a new one. I love it.
I tried separating Inara from Dana, but they got lonely... so I pretty much have given up. :-)
Who wants wine/champagne/G&T/Vodka/ REALLY good Port!
I am already on the voddy, so I'll have some more, please.
Well it's morning here so I will stick to my latte. Funny how it never really occurs to me to wonder who people really are even when I know they are under a pen name. I think I just accept whatever you want to present as you. I honestly never made the CMK, Kate Laity connection, it has surprised and delighted me.
I think that if you are naturally quite private, or as CMK/Kate have a professional life you really need to keep seperate then creating a whole new identity and living a public life as that person is a great way of keeping your real life your own. Also, quite fun to be someone else sometimes.
LOL -- I was sure you did know, Adele! My laxity at remembering which name I post under has probably made things confusing enough (has for me), but there's so much usefulness in the construct of a persona. We read "The Beachcomber" in a very different way than we would read J.B. Morton, even if we know they're the same.
I taught a grad class last spring centered on how we "perform" as ourselves on-line. The reluctant grad students were very uncomfortable with my rather carnivalesque approach to things, but soon came to realise that even when you're not intending to create a persona, you do because the internet is read very differently than a personal appearance -- though even that can be misread.
Some of them even began to have fun with their own consciousness of performance. We perform as workers when we go to a job, we perform as parents especially when we're in groups of them, we perform at parties when we want to make an impression -- or on a date.
Knowing that your performance is going to be "read" it's better to have some consciousness in shaping it beyond the clothes you chose.
Dana, I'd LOVE to have the Vodka. But I think I'd better wait till AFTER the baby gets here.
Loved the blog today. I'm operating under a secret identity, too. Only a few people knew in my real life what I wrote other than "paranormal" until last week, when I told a handful more. For me, it's having ULTRA conservative, ULTRA judgemental family members and community that's the motivation. Honestly, this is the real me, and my real life is more of an act. However, I'm to the point where I'm about to let it all go. For better or worse. I just don't care to keep up the charade anymore. Boy will people be surprised.
If my obituary says I was burned at the stake, you'll know why! :-)
Angie
Angela, wonderful! Not the burning at the stake part, of course! But getting fed up with playing the roles that *other* people impose on you, that's such an important moment.
I think my inability to ever live up to anyone's expectations -- which has made difficulties for me every step of the way -- nonetheless offered me the freedom to seldom let those expectations suppress me. I just can't conform and I have a bad tendency to blurt out what I really think.
More tea -- almost time to teach.
Welcome Back!
Morning, all! Except Adele, where it is afternoon, yes?
I feel very lucky that I don't have to keep my secret identity a secret because of work/family members who are judgmental. Angela, my utmost support and sympathy to you and you just get out of Dodge if they start lighting matches around you!
My only reason for keeping things a secret re: my erotic romance and the other stuff I write is really audience expectation. What they'll get under Inara LaVey's name is not what they'll get under Dana Fredsti's name... other than there will be humor throughout.
Dana/Inara, and to all the RR authors, a very hearty "Welcome back!" You have all been missed.
Heh! I'm enough of a curmudgeon to say that despite the Mayan calender, business as usual will NOT cease or desist on Dec. 21, 2012. (How's THAT for a heretical opinion?)
CMK/Kate, I hear you loud and clear! All that matters is that you remain true to yourself--which you are obviously doing. You can only fly without jesses so to hell with all falcon masters; fly high and proud!
Angela, at least the official inquisition is no more! A brilliant mind is a terrible thing to burn. (And all of you are briliant minds, as well as glittering ladies!) Keep faith in yourself and forge ahead. Your readers depend on you.
Oops--I forgot to ask, may I have some Port this morning, I/D? My thanks in advance for a wonderful blogging day.
LOL to all of you.
Woooops!!
Where are my manners? Adele, thank you for hosting these RR days. Love your blog, aside from these special days. Keep going lady!LOL to you, too.
Ruby port or tawny, Jack? And it's SO good to see your smiling face here!
Heh. The trailer for 2012 had me rolling in the aisles...
I think the ruby to atart with. If my tolerance is strong today, I'll samole the tawney. Haven't seen 2012 but if it's anything like Day After Tomorrow It has to be pretty hilarious.
Apropos of which, I recommend Robert Heinlein's Sixth Column, which was oublished as The Day After Tomorrow by NAL. (I really recommend all of Heinlein's work. It's the finest body of work in all SF.)
Back from class where we had some interesting blog shares, from one of the Cosmo editors to a Dave Matthews Band fan site to People who Deserve It and some lovely photography and DIY art sites. They're really just getting the consciousness going as far as thinking about how blogs look and how they're consciously shaping their appeal to audiences.
Enough with the teacher talk! How about a martini. It is lunch time, after all.
Jack, lovely to see you here! Such a staunch supporter! Chris, thanks for the welcome back -- we've been away too long.
So, speaking of "identities" has anyone ever trolled a chat room in disguise? Blonde instead of brunette? Male or female? Just curious!
:-)
I should say I'm thinking of going for really girly drag for my new non-erotic romance persona's picture. KAL has the nutty professor vibe, CMK has the --was it you who said this, Dana? -- Fosse seductress vibe. I think I need to locate my inner Barbara Cartland. Maybe with the Holly GoLightly hat (big, covered with bright pink flowers); I'll definitely need to have lots of makeup. Baby pink lipstick?! Hee hee -- hearkening back to the very first CMK story in Sex & Shoes.
Can't say I've ever infiltrated a blog before--as anything other than myself. (I'm a big coward really!)
Jack, that's not cowardice. You just lack the gene for deception. I'm willing to be deception for curiosity's sake, but I wouldn't want to hurt anyone. I recall one hilarious dinner at a chain restaurant where a very obnoxious woman kept irritating us (and everyone within earshot) and somehow we ended up talking to her with my former husband pretending to be Ukrainian and my brother pretending to be a graduate of Boston Latin. It was a way to turn an unpleasant dining experience into an amusing one.
Or even deceptive! (d'oh!)
Truthfully, I think i visited the wrong chat rooms: the two or three I did visit (and try to join) featured comments which were shallow and insipid: bloggers were more interested in whether or not they filled swimsuits, or who got more drunk during the previous Spring break.
The reception was rather cold and I left. Unbound and Zhadi's Den are the only places where I have been accepted. You are all very easy to talk to. And I am very grateful to all of you.
Aw, that's sweet! We're glad you're here, too. Yeah, the internet is just like the rest of the world -- full of very dull people! Fortunately, with the internet I can now skip over all the dull people and find the interesting folks. Yay!
LOL -- tweeting with our Hostess who's on line for Holmes. Hee hee -- promised we'd behave ourselves :-)
Aren't we behaving ourselves when we're having fun? As long as we're not giving anyone the equivalent of a "hot foot" that is. (Yes I know THAT can be fun--and sometimes necessary as well--at least for the sake of our sanity.)
Wow, I leave for an hour and see what happens? Ruby Port!
I have always just gone in as myself to blogs/chat rooms/etc. SO many of them are filled with people who are either insipid, rude, drunk, sex-crazed (and kinda scary) or hostile... it's odd. Then again, there are some really nice groups out there too. I just think the 'net brings out the trolls 'cause you can't see them.
But my thought is if I don't want to hang out with someone in person because they're rude or obnoxious, why would I want to hang with them on line either?
AMEN, I/D! That's why this and the Den are the only 'net folks I do hang out with.
LOVED YOUR POST, C MARGERY !
Oddly, I intended to post an article about pseudonyms here at Un:Bound. So I just posted the article (plus photo of Lana at the beach!) at http://lanagriffin.blogspot.com -- here's an excerpt from the middle of the article to give you an idea of how Lana views pseudonyms:
Lana loves to drink wine. The real name author drinks coffee.
Lana likes to suck gooey chocolate off her fingers. The real name author likes cheese.
Lana's laugh fills a room like bells. The real name author titters, at best.
Lana wears her makeup wild and fun: color color color, baby! The real name author has some old Chapstick.
Signed,
Ms. Schizoid
And as I mentioned to Lana on her own blog, she will fit in SO well with this nutty crowd...
What can I get you to drink, Ms. Griffin?
GUZZLING ALCOHOL POST
Lana's swigging coconut rum from the bottle!
Real name author's sipping water.
Lana's gettin' down with island music!
Ah hahahaha hahahahaha!
Real name author isn't amused.
Lana's just grabbed the mail woman!
Oh my, a "mail" woman!
Lana's reaching for the mango rum!
Ah hahahaha hahahahaha!
Real name author is b**ch-slapping Lana.
It's like freakin' late night TV in here. Someone get those 2 off each other. D*mn.
Signed,
Ms. Schizoid
Sounds as if you know how to have fun in both identities. Charge ahead and enjoy yourself!
Looking forward to your vampire novel. (I'm a horror geek from waaaaay back!) If it's as entertaining as John Steakley's VAMPIRE$ (yes the dollar sign is part of the original title) then I'm in for a treat. I like the way you write on your blog so you've joined the right crew here.
Your future is as endless as the horizon.
Lana and Real Name, you two behave! No fighting - we don't want alcohol spilled!
*Gives Lana a big old basin of mango rum*
*gives Real Name some sparkling water and a chocolate chip cookie
And I thought Zin (my muse) was bad...
Time for me to have a glass of nice spicy zinfandel, speaking of zin...
I/D, when did you and Zin start b*#@%h-slapping each other? I see we've been missing a lot! (Just joking---I know neither of you would risk the loss of good alky.)
And we're all a little bit schizoid.
(My alter ego is a fearless, agile zombie killer. My real self would wind up a blue plate special in no time. But that's the fun of having an alter ego.)
Jack, Zin and I just wrestle for control of the wine bottle, and sometimes I have to cajole her to get her butt sitting down and in front of the computer. SHe's a bit of a prima donna.
Susan insists i mention my OTHER alter ego: A fat white, fluffy, obnoxious (Garfield style obnoxious) Persian cat, called simply, K Kat.
How obnoxious?
"Who are you calling 'obnoxious', lard butt? Where is YOUR pedigree? Huh? Huh? Huh?"
Long silence.
"Hmmp! I thought so!"
See what I have to put up with.
Persians just have such attitude...
Oh boy!!!!!!!
You have no idea!
CMK, my inability to truly conform has caused LOTS of problems. Especially where my mouth is concerned. That's why Im tired of fighting it. lol. Thanks for the encouragement!
Dana, agreed on the names as seperation in genres. I'll continue to write under different names for that reason.
Too funny, Jack.
And I have SOOOOO trolled chats in disguise. Many times. Among people who knew me. It was fun to see how they interacted with someone different. Like say...me as a guy. Funny to see my hubby talking to another woman (who was really me). He still doesn't know. But it's okay, he came to one of our author chats as someone else before and told me afterward.
Lana, I love it! Chapstick. Ha! I'll be cracking up about that one all day.
Back from class again -- though it's almost time to run home and write my column. Maybe one more martini will get me in the mood. Hey, who brought that big Persian along?
He just comes and goes as he pleases, Kate. As Dana knows all too well, there IS no such thing as a "Cat Whisperer". YOU try to make a cat do something he/she doesn't want to do! ;-)
So Angie, did hubby get fresh with your secret persona? :-)
No, he got too suspicious. I tried though. Mwahahahahaha.
Ooh, I'm late to the party! I didn't mean to be, *work* got in the way. I'll be better next time, promise. :)
I find all your personas amusing, and when I see you cross-posting, I do get to enjoy it, lol. And Angela, so great to see you here, you've been missed. When is the baby due? Or is that a later post I should read before adding my own comments?
I whisper to my cat all the time. Not that he listens, mind you. But I do whisper.
Mostly it's "Get off me! How can your little paws be so heavy?"
Heh. Angela, you are a devil woman. :-)
Isabel!! G&T, my love?
My little angels do what they want, when they want. Good thing they're so cute.
Oh, Dana, you know me all too well. A G&T please! I'm in the middle of my day, strangely off from work, and a nice drink before I have to go back is just what I need.
I think secret identities are fun. If you're creating an entirely new persona with little in common wiht yourself, that could be fun, too, you just have to remember it lol.
One HUGE G&T for our working girl. Er... in a manner of speaking! :-)
HA HA HA! Hey, Isabel -- glad to see you here. I'm writing, so I need another martini.
I have been envious of my alter ego, especially since she got more stories published in a year than I did [pout pout]. Then again, I don't have as many creepy guys try to "friend" me either. It's a trade off.
Jumbo size martini with top shelf vodka of your choice!
Hmph! How come I don't get any creepy guys trying to friend ME?
Two IDs IS a good way to avoid unpleasant people. it's also a good way to tweak your imagination. More creativity therefore more fun... and profit.
They tapered off a bit when I changed my profile pic to my book covers.
Are you kidding, Dana? Would any creep risk "friending" a swordswoman as skilled as you are?
Don't think so. :-)
I'm trying to remember what your original profile picture looked like, Margery... my 98 year old memory (according to Facebook) ain't what it used to be...
More profit!!! More creativity!
Ah, Jack, back in the day, it didn't deter them... it attracted them...
Oh it would've attracted me too. I'd just have been very respectful about it so as not to be skewered like a cornish hen. ;-)
Some guys aren't as intelligent as you, Jack. :-)
There was the photo that was just two crossed arms tied with a silk cord; a certain drummer immediately spotted it as being someone else (not that it didn't give him ideas ;-), but there were a few strangers who were eager to know a lot more about the woman in the picture.
Ah, that explains it, Margery... :-) And I'm not surprised that certain drummer got ideas.
Am back at work, and I think I need another G&T to make it through the night. If I offer up cake, may I have another, Dana? *G*
CMK, I have trouble with weirdos on Twitter, not so much facebook, unless I just ignore them and forgot they were there. Which is possible. But Twitter crawls with strange people.
And I want to learn to properly sword fight! I keep saying I want to take fencing classes, but who has the time?
Isabel, you may have another G&T even withOUT cake! Although cake will always be accepted. :-)
I don't twitter very much, but have noticed a lot of people who have started following me have porn sites. But I've been spared the Twitter twits so far!
Isabel, swordfighting is one of the MOST fun activities I know of...
LOL -- I got bumped because we tried to comment at the same time.
I think I wrote that yeah, Twitter has more spam, but they also get booted quickly. Then again, I get a lot of medievalists following me - including one I know who doesn't know it's me (I think).
So, have we talked about source of pseuds before? I think I know Inara's and Isabel's. Who else?
I'm on my way out of the office now, so Margery, you are in charge of pouring! If Margery has to go, then it's a free for all! Carry on, my dears!
LOL -- and then I had an unexpected visitor, but it looks like I didn't miss anyone. Well, time to pour me another drink if nothing else!
I'd like to try the tawney port now please.
I did enjoy hearing you on Dana's interview, Kate. You sort of sneaked up on her with Margery's comments (re PW) and your question (as Kate) about future movie appearences. You were obviously having fun. And it was fun to hear you.
Ok, I didn't do a lot of work, but I did work...and chat with co-workers, since I WAS at work. But now am home and thinking one last G&T before bed.
And being the big history geek I am, I'm watching 20th Century Battlefields. I *heart* Dan Snow.
But back to the topic at hand, if you could have a secret identity would you:
1. Tell your friends cause it's cool to have a secret ID?
2. Create an entirely new persona that has absolutely nothing to do with you?
3. Go to parties as your new personality and hope the paparazzi is there to take lots of pretty pictures and out you (so to speak)?
LOL -- Jack, I forgot about that! That was a fun time. Dana is such a hoot. Yes, the multiple names are useful in so many ways.
Isabel! Glad you could stop back before bed. Well, you met me as Kate because CMK was far too busy that week -- it was great to have a chance to share dinner. But to your Qs:
1) I would probably tell my friends because I'm bad at hiding things. Even when I think I'm hiding things and I can fool casual acquaintances, my friends know. Then again, my dad just friended me on FB, so I am wondering how much he will be able to take or if I should spare him.
2) I suspect that all my personas have something to do with me, though there are many that I don't want to be full time, just play with on the page. I was surprised at some folks getting all hoity-toity about Amanda Palmer at the Golden Globes and saying 'how could Neil Gaiman put up with that', when the truth is a lot of writers who enjoy being wild on the page are much quieter in person and enjoy partners who are wild and crazy (I know I enjoy that).
3) I dread parties for the most part unless they are full of people I know, so I guess I'm not a good test case. It is easier to face people when you're in a role; that's how I learned to be a teacher. While I can do "extrovert" kind of things, I am an introvert and it takes me a lot of prep to do public appearances and even teaching.
How about you, Isabel?!
Hmm, how about me? I, too, am an introvert at heart, but through years of forcing myself to go out and about, and a best friend who is so far from an introvert, extrovert is too tame a word.
So I would tell my friends, cause what fun is it if they don't know?
I dodn't know the Amanda Palmer/Neil Gamin thing, I boycott all awards shows. Help a gal out?
As the afore mentioned intro-extrovert, I think having my story plastered across the news, print and e alike, whild garnering great publicity, would ultimately be pointless. Unless the publicity was THAT good. :)
Oh, I don't watch award shows, either. I hardly watch TV at all, can't bear commercials. But here's Amanda's fetching outfit.
I think one of the things I love about the various personas is that while my friends might know, other people wouldn't and I could keep my anonymity in the unforeseen circumstances of actually becoming known for something. My terminal self-consciousness is only set aside when I am sure that no one is actually looking at me.
Having been invisible most of my life, I have become accustomed to hearing and seeing things that people didn't think I knew or heard. Best training for a writer, I think.
Writing is both mask and unveiling. ~E.B. White
I am a bad co host, I went to the pictures last night to see Robert Downey Junior in some detective film (actually a huge Conan Doyle fan too) instead of hanging out here with you guys.
Lovely to see you all though. :)
Kate well I know now. :)
Angela - hope they don't burn you but if they do go out with a spectacular curse.
Dana I tihnk it works well, we know it's you and there will be some familiarity in tone but I know Inara doesn't write noir detective stories (unless the femme fatale is the central character perhaps?)
Jack - your manners are so not in question, always lovely to have you here. The world better not bloody well end in 2012 I have way too much to do for that kind of nonsence.
Lana Huge Welcome sounds like you are an excellent fit for us here. I will add your details to the team page this weekend.
Such a great topic!
I write under a pen name for a bunch of reasons. Work-related, mostly. But I think it has more to do with wanting a certain separation between myself and the world. A thin curtain of privacy.
My internet "persona" is the same though. I've always blogged/commented semi-anonymously, and I don't think I've ever pretended to be someone that I'm not.
I do think pen names are especially useful if you are writing in different genres -- that whole, signaling to readers what to expect aspect.
I'm having a glass of Rioja myself!
Other Lisa, lovely to see you, great points, although most people if they are in touch with me remotely regularly know my real name is Adele, I like the semi anonimity of being Hagelrat, especially since there are other Adele's in the book blogging world, like Persnickety Snark.
Soooooo -- what did you think of Holmes?! Or have you answered elsewhere? I just got up...
Kate - I will post my thoughts tonight on Seeking Xanadu, my old blog, revived but in short, good fun, and love love love Robert Downey Junior.
Hi Adele! Sp that's where you were all evening. Glad you enjoyed the movie. I'm looking forward to it myself. (I'm a huge Holmes fan too!)
I've really ebnjoyed neing with you all once more. And I'm looking forward to future parties--you'd better believe I am!
You all rock ladies! LOL.
You know, I completely forgot to mention my male alter ego, Hardwick Crevasse. I think he might need to write a hard-boiled mystery...
So shall I google to find your review of the Holmesfest, Adele?
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