Now that I've gotten a grip on my Regency romances and have put two novels (+3 short stories) up, I'm taking a break from getting into the third Regency novel for the nonce. My brain is a little fried, and I need to sit back and contemplate where I'm going to go with it. I thought it would need just a little tweaking, but because of the novellas, it seems I've made another gross error in my timeline and need to rework a few things.However, I also have two women's fiction/contemporary romances waiting in the wings for upload. Only problem is, I don't want to use my Anne Gallagher name to publish under. So I need a new pen name.
Here is a list I've compiled. Let me know which one you like better.
Trudi Gallagher
Trudi Hendricks
Trudi Rand
Robynne Rand
Robynne Colter
Robynne Hendricks
Anne Hendricks
Anne Colter
Or any combination thereof. Remember, my w.f./contemporaries are exceedingly contemporary, with cursing, mature adult themes, and even a hint of sex (a slightly opened door if you will but certainly not erotica). I wouldn't want Aunt Martha as a fan of my Regencies to think my contemporaries are just as sweet. Therefore, I don't want to lose that particular fan base by being too outre as Anne Gallagher, if you know what I mean.
Oh and THE DUKE'S DIVORCEis published on Amazon. You can find it here.
and I even wrote another short story
LOVE FINDS LORD DAVINGDALE.
So what do you think about the pen names?
39 comments:
I like Robynne Rand. :)
Me too...I like Robynne Rand. And no, no on Ann Colter less someones who sees your name in print and associates it with Ann Coulter.
Laura -- You and my CP. That was the first name she picked out.
Em -- Yeah, see, I thought there was another author Ann Colter but I wasn't sure. There is an Anne Raynd, which is why I didn't use it. Isn't it funny, you and Laura both picked Robynne Rand.
Nix Ann Colter. That's a connection you never want anyone to mistakenly make. Are you really sure you have to write under a pen name??? Would you really lose Aunt Martha or would she only be intrigued? I think we always underestimate our readers. I think you should be proud to write in different genres across different eras. Nobody would expect a contemporary novel to read like a regency.
I like Robynne Colter.
I like the last one because it's short, simple, and easy to remember. Not sure if you're a Trudi.
I vote for Robynne Colter!
Good lord. Trudi? Please don't. I'm partial to the Robynne Rand, even if it is alliteration.
Since your genres aren't that far apart, I wouldn't go the pen name route. It is tough enough to establish one brand. Why make it twice as hard?
Just thinking out loud, like I do.
I like Robynne paired with any of the last names. :)
I'm going to complicate things by saying that for contemporary women's fiction, I like Trudi Rand.
And no am not trying to be difficult just being honest!
hugs
bru
Yvonne -- I've given it a lot of thought, and although I wouldn't mind using Anne Gallagher, I kind of have a few different genre's and all the "biggies" say to use a pen name. Besides, with my split personality it would work well.
Summer -- It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Thanks.
Alex -- Can't use that one. Another author has it.
Jennifer -- That's two for Robynne Colter. Thanks.
Christi -- That's three for Robynne Rand.
Mac -- Why make it twice as hard? Because that's what I do.
Linda -- Oh leave me hanging...
Bru -- Trudi is actually my nickname back home, believe it or not. We'll see how this all turns out at the end of the day.
I like Anne Colter or Robynne Colter. Both sound strong and contemporary to me. I'm not that keen on Trudi... sorry!
ooh yeah, big no on the Anne Colter. She is bat-shit crazy and you do not even want to mistakenly be connected to her.
My favs are:
Trudi Gallagher
Robynne Rand
But they're all good imop
Talli -- Well I got nixed on Anne Colter so I guess Robynne Colter it is.
Sarah -- Now you've got me curios who this Ann Coulter is. I will Google her immediately. Trudi Gallagher is my fave too. Robynne Rand seems to be at #1 though.
I have to go with Trudi Gallagher. I am not sure exactly why. Trudi just has a great, sincere ring to it.
I like Robynne Rand and Trudi Rand (second best)...I think they have a more contemporary feel than the others.
Frankly, I don't see why you would need a new pen name, either. It's not like you're writing erotica. But I'd stick with a name you'd answer to. And could write easily (you know, for autographs).
Betty -- That's my all time super-duper favorite too.
Rula -- Robynne Rand, I believe is in the lead. Although I like Trudi Rand too.
Stacy -- I actually do answer to all three of those names, which is why I picked them. Autographs? Ha! From your lips to God's ears.
Actually, I kinda think that the Trudi names feel like a contemporary kind of name. A little offbeat, but traditional.
I like Robynne Rand, don't know why, it just rolls off the tongue - but if you picked a 'C' name you'd be higher on the shelf if you go into print ;-)
Anne - Sure, I was kind of kidding about the autograph bit, but you never know. Stranger things have happened. Better to be prepared!
Okay, I'll vote, then. Robynne Rand is probably my favorite of the bunch, too.
I like Robynne Rand (and that was before I saw everyone else liked it too?) Huh, I wonder why it's so appealing but it is!
Jenny -- Thanks. Yes, it is traditional yet contemporary. It's always been my favorite nickname.
Sarah -- I like your reasoning with the "c" name but I'll take your RR vote anyway.
Stacey -- Thanks for the vote.
Johanna -- I guess it has to do with the alliteration. I'm not sure.
I'm so glad people are nixing Anne Coulter. Getting yourself confused with the Wicked Witch of the Ultra-Right would be a disaster. I kind of feel that way about Rand, too, since it's so much entwined with far-right, extremist politics.
I'm against pen names, unless they're absolutely necessary to protect family or other innocents.
Your name is your brand, so you'd have to build a second brand from the ground up. Huge work.
I don't know who's been telling you to write under two different names, but I'll bet they're not self-publishing. Nora Roberts/JD Robb works because she has a huge publicity machine behind her. But Janet Evanovich has re-released her romances under her real name and they sell much better than under the pen name because of the Stephanie Plum books. You can easily show that these aren't your regencies by your cover design. I hope you'll read some of Kristen Lamb's stuff on branding and rethink this. Anne Gallagher is a fabulous name and has good recognition and sounds classy. (And NOT political.)
Sorry for the rant. But I've watched you build your career so well that I'd hate to see you take a misstep.
Congratulations on all of your big news, and good luck with the diversification, Anne! I'd be okay with a bunch of these names. Below are the ones I like best:
Trudi Gallagher
Robynne Rand
Robynne Colter
Hi Anne. Robynne Rand would probably be my favourite name. Quite eye catching. I always like alliteration. A tried and true attention grabber.
Reading Paperback Writer post (thanks for giving me that excellent song for my daily singalong) and just wanted to say I love to buy print books. I much prefer them to reading on kindle. I'm intrigued that authors who are selling print books (in your comments) say they never buy print books. Well...hmmm...What about Create Space? I know some authors who've used that and I'm sure you've researched it.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.
I have your titles on kindle to read, lol.
Denise
Since my MOL is Trudy, I have to pass on that. I'm for Robynne Colter...Robynne Rand is actually kind of hard to say...provided it's pronounced the the French way, which is how I'm hearing it.
This is my fave: Robynne Rand.
My second is: Anne Hendricks. Or Anna.
I'm gonna be totally out there and say Robynne Hendricks. I just liked it the best. And I agree with everyone--stay faaaaar away from Anne Colter. Or Anne Coulter. Brrr.
I like Anne Hendricks.
Oh, and by the way, I did a short review of your short story about Opheilia on goodreads.
Anne -- No rant, just an opinion. I know what you mean about the building part of my name. However, I'm just concerned that my Regency fans will be turned off by my contemps. I know it happened to me with a famous author. Don't know why but it did. I never went back to reading her regencies after that. I guess I thought it was a sell out. Weird, I know. But that's what I think.
Domey -- Thanks for liking Trudi Gallagher at #1. That's my fave.
Denise -- Thanks so much. RR does roll off the tongue. And yes, I've checked out CreateSpace. Paperback is there, just not on the front burner so much this week.
Liza -- Yes, you're right it is pronounced the French way, but who would actually know that except a few people. Robynne Colter is good too. It's growing on me.
Carol -- I think RR is the clear winner here.
Lydia -- But doesn't it make you think of Jimi Hendricks? Just wondering. And yeah, away from Ann Coulter.
I think there are ways around that disappointment you felt: you can call it "an Anne Gallagher contemporary romance" and give warning if there's steamy content. When I was in my teens, one of my favorite writers was Mary Stewart, who wrote the equivalent of YA romantic suspense. Then she came out with the Merlin trilogy--a 180 turn into adult high fantasy. I remember checking to make sure it was the same Mary Stewart. And when I saw it was, I was even more interested in buying the Merlin books. I loved them too.
Mostly one name saves you a whole lot of work, so there's more time to write more books. :-)
About paper books, I have two of my books out in paper, and the other three still only in ebook. I thought people would gobble up the paper when they came out, but they'e not. Even with a big write up in the local paper. :-(
I vote for Robyn Rand. It has a nice firm sound to it. (And if you're real heavy on the erotica, you could make always it Robyn Randy... HA!)
I love the Robynne Rand option -- so alliterative and it feels nice on the tongue. The one I dislike the most is Anne Colter. Blech, so close-sounding to Ann Coulter. If there's a polar opposite to "romance," Ann Coulter is it. haha
I really like Robynne Colter. It sounds right and I think it's a name that's easy to remember but not ordinary :)
okay, a guy's opinion...as long as you shy away from anything named Colter, alias "Coulter", you'll be fine. You're much too sweet a gal to go stumbling head on into the dark side.
There's something writerly about Trudi Rand...just a thought ;)
El
I'm not a fan of pen names unless there is a compelling reason. So I'm no help in choosing one.
I'd say go with a name that means something special for you. Something in that list must have resonated with you :)
........dhole
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