What’s In a Name?
By Julia Munroe Martin | April 13, 2013 |
Photo by John Morgan
Please welcome Julia Munroe Martin as a new semi-regular contributor with Writer Unboxed! We are thrilled this long-time community member will be with us to share her wit and wisdom with us all. Welcome, Julia!
I’m not that attached to my name (or at least I never thought I was). Maybe because I’ve had so many. Let me explain.
I was born Julia Canick. Shortly thereafter, my father exited the scene, rarely to be seen again (a long story, a sad story). Enter Dad #2 who adopted me legally (thanks, Dad!) making me Julia Munroe. Oops, make that Julia Suzanne Munroe—because I got to pick a middle name too, and I chose my doll’s name. Hey, I was four years old!
Nicknames. I’ve had a few. Until I went to college, everyone called me Julie. I’ve also been called JuJu and JuJu the Bear (embarrassing to admit, but now you know). And Jules. I like that one.
Before I got married MEH (My Engineer Husband) and I had “the talk” about names. As in, would I or would I not take his. MEH is probably the least demanding, nicest guy I’ve ever met. So when he said he thought we should both have the same last name, and he didn’t want to change his, I decided to change mine. Legally I became Julia Munroe Martin, street name Julia Martin.
But then I had kids and I became Mom, sometimes Mama, Mother (I hate that), Mommy, and occasionally Ma. Then, you know how it goes, as my kids grew up and went to school, I became Mrs. Martin, Mrs. J to some best friends.
What’s the point, JuJu?
Like us all, I have a lot of names. And truth be told, I’ve answered to many more. But the point is, for the first time ever, I’m realizing I have a bad name, if there can be such a thing. At least way too common. When I first submitted my writing (before Amazon or Google, mind you), I used Julia Martin as my author name.
Why not? I lived in blissful ignorance that other writers (and hundreds of other people, too) had the same name. But once I was able to do Internet searches, I realized there were other Julia Martin authors. Worse yet, there were other Julia M. Martins, other J. M. Martins, and other J. Martins. So I started using Julia Munroe Martin as my author name. I built a platform.
So what’s the problem, Jules?
Here it is. I have this mystery novel I’m self publishing. I want to use my “platform name.” But I’m also about to query literary agents with a new book. Different genre. I’ve read you shouldn’t “genre hop,” with the same name, specifically you should use a different name for different genres. And I’d like to do that, but J. Martin, J.M. Martin, Julia Martin, and Julia M. Martin are all taken. So, should I be Jules Martin, J.S. Martin, or JuJu-the-Bear Martin? Of course what I’m really worried about is whether I’ll be taken as seriously as a writer of multiple genres . . . will a new name really help alleviate that fear?
If so . . . then maybe something brand new? A pseudonym. Stephen King sometimes uses Richard Bachman. Mark Twain and George Eliot, enough said. Kilgore Trout, a character in a Kurt Vonnegut book, was then used as a pen name by Philip Jose Farmer. Maybe I should use a pen name. But what? How about Stephen King? Samuel Langhorne Clemens? Scarlett O’Hara? Can I really stand one more name?
Or is it really much ado about nothing, J.M.?
Before I take the large step of taking on yet another name, I want to be sure. Should I just use Julia Munroe Martin for everything and be done with it? After all, isn’t a rose by any other name a rose is a rose is a rose? Or something like that? Hey, maybe I should change my name to Rose.
But seriously. Other authors, have you had this experience? What did you do? And if you’re an agent or editor, I’d really love to have you weigh in!
Julia Munroe Martin (@jmunroemartin) is a writer and blogger who lives in an old house in southern coastal Maine. Julia’s other passion is photography, and if she’s not writing at the dining room table or a local coffeeshop, you’ll likely find her on the beach or dock taking photos. Julia writes The Empty Nest Can Be Murder mystery series as J. M. Maison.
[…] this first post, What’s In a Name?, I’m asking for help with a question I’ve been grappling with lately as I get ready to […]
Thank you for the lovely introduction. I’m so happy to be writing for a site that has been such an important part of my online writing community. Thanks for the opportunity!
We play this funny game, it’s original name was “Find Your Porn Star Name” but I now call it “Find Your Nom du Clavier.” Here’s how it works: use your middle name for your first name and the street you grew up on for your last name. Mine is boring … I would be Mary Henry, but everyone else I know has a cool one: my husband would be Sawyer Winter and other members of my family would be Gabrielle Loveland, Samuel Sheldon, Hannon Washington, John Henry III (you get to keep numbers for your nom du clavier, thus making a boring name more compelling.)
If you grew up on an utterly prosaic street (1st St., B St.) or in some New England town heavily influenced by ancient Yankee sensibilities (Roast Meat Hill Rd.) then you can use the street where an ancestor or close relative grew up.
Another strategy is to throw in another initial a la George R. R. Martin, but it’s only cool if the initials are the same letter.
I like “Jules M. Martin,” by the way.
Ok, I’ll play along. BUT if I go from my birth name (no middle name), I would be the writer known only as “Eustis” (my childhood street), which I actually kind of like! If I go later in history, after I gave myself my doll’s name, then I’d be “Suzanne Maryhurst,” which I’m not quite as crazy about but actually does kind of sound like a porn star — which apparently was the point in the first place ;)
I love Mary Henry and Sawyer Winter too… much better than Suzanne Maryhurst. As for names with more initials, yes, I could do that: Julia C. M. Martin, but as you say, the same initial is better. How about “Julia M. M.” if I’m leaving off last names anyway? And thank you for your vote for Jules M., I like it too!
Since at least part of your angst on the issue is whether yet another name will enhance or detract from your new genre book’s marketability, why not ask some agents? We have some excellent WU agent participants who are obviously interested in helping aspiring authors navigate the rocks and shoals. Tap them.
You picked up on a key concern, no question, Alex! I’m hoping I’ll get some feedback via comments. By the way, as I mentioned to Alex Beecroft (later in comments), I am a big fan of the name Alex!
I have no advice about what you *should* do, and personal story about my own name decisions, but I must tell you that JuJu Martin is an awesome name! It’s fun to say, memorable. I can easily picture people saying, “Did you get the new JuJu Martin yet?” Seriously. I love that name.
Haha, I’m so glad you love it, Natalie! I am thinking it might be a good fit for my mystery series, I’ll have to think about it seriously, ever since I read the (later) comment about liking and recognizing the name being called out to me on the red carpet! ;) … I should be so lucky!
I’m listening, Jules, JuJu (love them all), because I write women’s fiction from a sailor’s perspective, but I’ve got this other story, a fun fling of a story, that I’m bringing back into the light. My agent hasn’t advised. If it slides through pub board this week, I can ask my publisher, but I’d love to hear from others out there.
Do we confuse our audience if they’ve read a couple of books that seem to be our brand and then we unleash on the unsuspecting public one that’s way on the other side of the spectrum?
And I have a rather unique name, so would I want to dump it to become someone else? I could toss in my maiden name…
Questions, questions. I hope other commenters come up with lots of answers!
I love your name, wow. It’s spectacular and so unique, you’re right! I’m quite envious. And I’ll be so curious what you decide to do — please keep me posted!
“Do we confuse our audience if they’ve read a couple of books that seem to be our brand and then we unleash on the unsuspecting public one that’s way on the other side of the spectrum?” << This is precisely what I'm wondering! As you say, questions, questions.
As for dumping your name? NO WAY. It's a keeper! I'd say regardless of the genre!
I’ve thought of using my Facebook profile name (Normandie Ward Fischer–which includes maiden name) for the odd one out. We’ll see!
The thing about having an odd and unique name is that it generally takes years to grow into it. By the time I did, my childhood nickname (Dede) seemed absurd. I was almost 5’11” and only petite girls wore that moniker! Being called it made me feel as if I should stoop. Grabbing hold of my real name let me stand tall.
Are we odd folk? (Or am I the only one?)
I know what you mean. Julia Munroe Martin seemed awkward for a long time, but now I really embrace it, thus the difficulty I’m going through! Still, although I see your point that it’s a challenge for others to spell, I love it — so unusual and quite literary!
Names carry a lot of weight. The story of my brother’s name is steeped in family politics and and simmering feuds. Sounds dramatic because it was an epic battle. Choosing a nom de plume is a rite of passage. When the decision has been made, it deserves a book of it’s own.
You bring up a really good point, Mary Jo. There’s the one part of picking a name that is good as a marketing tool, but the weight that comes along is another matter altogether — and yes, sometimes, because of all that baggage that comes along, it really does feel like a book is deserved. I have a few of those family drama as well, so I know exactly what you mean!
I’ve been struggling with the same decision. I started out writing short romances under a penname, Delinda Jasper, then wrote non-fiction under a psuedo-penname, DJ Westerfield (my real initials). Then I recently started writing paranormal fiction as June Stevens, which is a combo of my middle name with my husband’s first name. That is my favorite name and is becoming my most popular. My first full length urban fantasy June Stevens novel is coming out soon, and is listed as “DJ Westerfield writing as June Stevens”. Now I’m working on a romantic suspense.
I don’t want to add another name. The three I have are too hard to keep up. I find it impossible to market 3 names at once. So, what I have decided to do is stop writing as Delinda Jasper. Oh, I’ll still write romance, but I will be branding everything under June Stevens. As well as my non-fiction. I will be rebranding that as “DJ Westerfield writing as June Stevens”. On my titles on Amazon both names will be listed to find me better. I don’t know if this is the “best way” but, trying to keep up so many personalities and market them all equally can be way too hard.
I had always been under the “different name for different genre” opinion and it is what, in my years as an editor, I told my authors. But I have changed my mind. That doesn’t mean it will work though.
If you come up with a good solution, let me know. Good Luck!
It’s really good to hear about your experience and your subsequent thoughts, June . . . I’m leaning toward the one name for all genres route myself, but I’m worried that I won’t be taken as seriously (by agents and editors). Do you think that’s an issue? BTW, I love June Stevens as a writing name!
I feel like if an agent or editor thinks your work is worth it, but has an issue with your name, they will tell you so, and then you can work it out together. I think you only have to worry about them not taking you seriously if you use a pen name like Lucy Goosey. (Yes, I’ve actually seen that, and since I haven’t read her work, I can’t say she isn’t wonderful. However, as a reader I can’t take such a name seriously so I wouldn’t expect an agent or editor to either.)
And thanks. I like it myself. Unfortunately I also share it with a porn writer, which makes Amazon and Goodreads a bit of a nightmare sometimes.
First, so happy to see you as a contributor, JuJu!
Since I have a fairly unique first name (thanks, Mom), through school and even into my twenties, there were many who didn’t even know my last name. I was always just Vaughn. Or V. I feel like those describe me better than any other names I’ve ever had. I think if I were you, and decided to add a change for a genre-switch, I would keep the V in there somehow. Just pick the element that is most important to you, and it’ll cradle your identity within it. Names are important.
Great first ‘official’ post as a contributor, Julia! Good luck with the self-pub book and with querying!
Thanks for the welcome and the well wishes, Vaughn! It’s so great to be here! But I may now never shrug off the JuJu moniker — isn’t there some expression about Bad Juju? Yikes :)
I agree, names are important, and you’re so lucky to have a good one. Vaughn or V is quite distinctive, and as you say, rarely needs a last name. Good call on your parents’ part.
Julie,
have you considered using your mother’s maiden name? Or any part of her name. If you use her maiden name, it kind of continues her line. Women in our culture often lose their maiden names.
One of my close friends wants to invent a new name for herself, to shed the surname of ex-husband which stuck through the years. But can’t decide what to choose. All the other posted suggestions are great too.
Thanks for another great idea! It is a bit of an issue in our family as there were no male children to “carry on the name” so my cousin (a woman) actually used her last name (my mother’s, her father’s surname) for her children. Luckily none has my first name, so I’ll think about it! (p.s. by the way, I love YOUR last name! Nice! Is it your real one?)
Hi, it’s a puzzle. Whatever name you choose, make sure you become familiar with it. Why? When you arrive on the red carpet, and reporters are calling out your name to do an interview, you don’t want to pass by because you didn’t recall which name you are using at present time. LOL
Thanks for making me laugh, Mary! But you make a great point. I definitely need to feel comfortable AND familiar with whatever name I choose when I should be so lucky as to be on the red carpet. Also gives me pause to think about how I’ll feel about everyone calling out “JuJu” :)
I don’t know that there is a “right” or “wrong” answer to this question. I use a pseudonym in order to keep my writing life separate from my professional life in business.
At first it felt awkward to use a different name, but over the years I’ve gotten used to it.
Choosing my name was kind of fun. I tried on several before I came up with this one. I loved it immediately, and I have become very attached to it. It has meaning for me because it includes some special family names.
As for using a different name for books in different genres, I decided not to do that. For one thing, I don’t have time to manage multiple platforms. Besides, I’m afraid if I wrote under too many names, I start feeling a bit “disassociated”.
I think readers are sophisticated enough to know that many writers cross genres. I suppose there are some readers who stick to only one genre, but most readers I know cross genres, too.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and history, Meredith (by the way, I love Meredith Rae Morgan; it sounds so distinctive and natural). I love the way you chose it, too. You make a good point about readers crossing genres and being sophisticated enough to know writers do too. I hadn’t thought of it quite that way before, and it’s great insight!
Hey, NICE initials!!!
I started out life with one last name and my mom re-married after my bio-dad dumped us. We were adopted and took his name.
Yes, it sounds like I’m repeating your story, but I swear I’m not!
When it came time to get married, I willingly took my husband’s name, because it’s a name that only an idiot couldn’t spell. Sadly, there have been a few.
Why did I take hub’s name? My maiden name stars with a ‘Z’ ANd then it gets tougher.
‘Julia Munroe Martin’ is such a perfect name to go on the spine of a book!!
I love your initials, too, Jennifer! And I’m sorry for your “bio-dad dump” shared experience. We also have in common our husbands’ easy to spell names — although I’ve had people misspell Martin, too! You made my day saying “Julia Munroe Martin” will be a perfect name on the spine of a book. Thank you :)
Hard spellings? Try both my first and my last.
“With an ‘ie’ please, like the French. Oh, and toss in a “c” in Fischer, like the Germans. No one will ever find me by doing a search with phonetic spellings!
I’m wondering the same thing myself, as I’m soon to be venturing out of Romance and into Fantasy. When I blogged about it on my blog my readers were unanimous in wanting me to keep the same name. They didn’t like separate pseuds for separate genres at all, but I am certain that there are Fantasy readers who wouldn’t touch books by an author who also wrote romance, so I’m not so sure.
I’ve decided that it’s a question to raise with my Fantasy publisher when/if I get one.
Oh, and my current name is a pseudonym anyway – my favourite person from history plus my mother’s maiden name. I like the separation between public and private lives that a pseudonym gives.
Okay, first of all, if you ever stop using your name, can I use it? I LOVE Alex Beecroft! Especially so that I wasn’t sure if you were a man or a woman (had to go to your site). I am a huge fan of the names that can be either male or female, giving readers pause to think. I also love that you asked your readers, and your comment about being sure there are fantasy readers who wouldn’t touch a bouch by a romance author really gives me pause. Especially because my WIP is a light fantasy, historical time travel. YA or NA at that. Might those people be turned off if I’m also a mystery writer?
You bring up an excellent point: to ask an editor if/when I get one. I will do the same. Thanks so much for weighing in, Alex! You’ve given me lots to think about!
I’ve always liked your name that I’ve come to know you by: JMM, but, if you really must change it, I like Juju Martin, simply because it is fun and easy to remember. Plus, if you’re writing fun reads as opposed to heavy literary stuff, it might kind of fit.
THANK YOU Cynthia, you’re so sweet, I’m glad you have always liked my name! And, I too am quite attached to JMM, I must say! As for Juju, maybe it would be a good name for the more fun, mystery reads, I like that logic — a lot! Thank you, friend!
Jules is the name people use when they know and love me, and so for me, it’s a favorite too. I love when my kids want something– shmoozing– they call me Mommy (heck, they’re grown now). “Mother” is like a cuss word and only used if they’re angry at me. ;)
My real and full last name is way too long to pronounce and awkward to read. So I shortened it to Luek. Sometimes magazines, even when I tell them I write as “Julie Luek” use the name on the contract, which is my legal name. Ah well. Let people puzzle over it. Maybe I’ll legally change it someday.
I’d use my maiden name but it’s German in origin and even more more awkward than the one I married into. I always wanted to be a Smith…
Hey Jules!
How I love THIS: “Mother” is like a cuss word and only used if they’re angry at me. >> I so agree!!
I love the last name you use (Luek)! So distinctive and yet very easy to spell and say. As for wanting a name like Smith? I used to think so, too, until I got Martin (love the man, but the name not so much, way too many of us out there!). I think you should consider yourself very lucky Jules Luek!
Love, Jules Martin
Great conversation, JuJu. I think I am in agreement with Cynthia – that JuJu Martin might have a place on the spines of your lighter mystery work! Seems lots of authors have pondered this same question.
Great inaugural post!
Thanks Melissa or is it Missy? ;) I’m still pondering the JuJu debate, with not much time… sometime this week the covers go to the printer! Eeks. I think you’re right that many have pondered this question, and I’m combing the Internet for enlightenment! Glad you enjoyed, thanks! Love, JuJu
Ha. How’d you know? I was “Missy” all through highschool and decided I hated it. Ditched it in college – BUT my other nickname (thanks to an older football playing cousin) – MELVIN – followed me to college. Some of my professors REALLY thought I was Melvin Crytzer. Ha ha.
I cannot tell a lie, I saw your reply to someone on your blog once :) Melvin is AWESOME! I love that your professors thought it was your real name. HAHA!
My siblings called me Norm. And I can’t tell you how many letters I get addressed to Mr. Norman D. Fischer.
Maybe I should use that.
This discussion is a hoot. Loving it.
Oh, and the Mother bit? Yep. When they’re angry or tossing heads at me. “Oh, Mother, really.”
But then my father used to use my whole name when he was really angry with me. Perhaps that’s why it took me until 21 to use it.
I hate to be a wet blanket, but Juju reminds me of a chewy candy. Perhaps that has some history for you too?
Anyway, based on my initial foray into the web world with multiple identities for Facebook, twitter, blog, etc., I’m going in the opposite direction and am trying to simplify my life. But then, sometimes I don’t give conventional wisdom the respect it deserves as I continue to fly by the seat of my pants and do what I can best live with.
That being said, I don’t recommend you pay much heed to my advice, judging by my less than stellar marketing success to date.
Sincerely,
Marie Gainsborough
(I just thought my first house on Manier might be mistaken too easily for manure, which may or may not be appropriate.)
Dear Marie,
You are so right, JuJu IS a chewy candy, yikes! Further, I checked on Twitter, and there is a Juju Martin whose handle is @juju-juicy … hmmm.
You give excellent advice about simplifying and I love that too — and will proably do so if I can assure myself it won’t be a mistake (have I mentioned I’m a bit of an over thinker?). I haven’t quite finished looking at this in every possible way, but when I do I know (from past experience) I’ll still wonder if I made the right choice, so I think I just need to decide!
Love,
JuJu, formerly known as Eustis
I made the decision last year, after much contemplation, to use Sevigné as my writing name. It belonged to my mother (it wasn’t her first time, it was her fourth, and I found out this week it was my grandmother’s name). It was the name I always wished my parents had given to me. Instead, I was named after the British Romantic poet, Percy Byshhe Shelley (I was not named Percy, I thank God for small mercies, because Percy always conjures the image of a pig. One of my aunts had a pet pig by that name). I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love my name. “Oh, Shelley,” they say, “what a beautiful name.” They remain ignorant of my childhood embarrassments in schools where teachers, who thought they were being awfully clever, invariably said, “Shelley, like Byron?” or “Shelley, like Keats?”. (Ugh!)
It was worse with my surname, which is Souza. Then the “joke” became, “Like the marching band?” (No, you _____, not like the marching band; that’s spelled with with two “esses”; not with an ess and a zed.)
There was also another reason I decided to change my name. Apart from the fact that I never liked Shelley: it’s hard to grow up a brown skinned girl with a white man’s name (a dead white man, at that). In America, people increasingly misspell Shelley, even when it’s written in front of them (FB being a case in point), or spelled out to them (face to face). I began to have this great fear that should I ever be published–and reviewed–I might have to endure not only bad reviews but also the misspelling of a name I couldn’t stand, to begin with. I didn’t think I could bear the double ignominy.
So, yes, if you are Romeo, a rose by any name might smell as sweet. But if you are, well, like you and me, perhaps our given names might be akin to the stinking rose (good for fine cuisine, bad for vampires).
(first time should read first name…blame it on the jet lag, I just returned from London after a fleeting visit.)
First of all, I am SO JEALOUS that you just got back from London. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, and even a fleeting visit sounds amazing. Second, what a wonderful story — so happy you shared it. I love Sevigne as well, beautiful, and I also like it better than Shelley. But to be named after a poet and to be a writer? That’s just lovely, as well! Lucky you doubly! (Maybe Souza joke not so much!) And this made me laugh: “But if you are, well, like you and me, perhaps our given names might be akin to the stinking rose (good for fine cuisine, bad for vampires).” So true!
London is my hometown. It was a bittersweet trip, with lots of walks down memory’s lanes. London has changed tremendously in the last few years, not all of it for the good. It’s less elegant, overall, than before. Exquisite period houses and buildings have been replaced by what I can only call poster children for hideous architecture. Though the quality of food both in restaurants and shops has improved considerably, with the growing cosmopolitan community. I was astonished at how dense the population is now. I live in Manhattan, and yet I hardly see many people out at the same time, even though I live just behind the Dakota on the upper west side, unless it’s hurricane weather or some other looming natural disaster that sends everyone scurrying to the shops to stock up in the face of “Armageddon.”
As for your name, how about Juliette Montague…just don’t ask your husband to change his first name to Romeo unless you like to live dangerously and tempt fate.
I actually THOUGHT of Juliet Capulet but Montague would allow me to keep my initials, hmmm, it’s a thought! And why not ask my husband? I changed my name once for him, and I feel certain he’d do it happily! :)
As for your NY location, my aunt lives in a building very near the Dakota. What a fabulous location!!
I second Vaughn on the happy to see you here. You put a smile on my face with this, and a question in the brain.
I know there is a lot of controversy over names. I’ve read some psychiatrists who’ve written that the Immortal Bard was wrong (gasp) about his assessment of the rose bit. I suppose that is especially true in this brand-obsessed society. There is a funny scene in the movie Back to the Future, where Marty’s when Marty is back in the ‘fifties and his mom (who is his age then) thinks his name is Calvin, because of the designer logo in his underwear. Which makes me wonder if the creators of the show where making a tongue-in-cheek point about losing our personal identities to the all mighty corporate identity.
Maybe that makes a name, especially in this time of facelessness all the more important. As for the name you choose, the Immortal Bard also said something about being true to yourself. Maybe the answer is to find the name that works for you, for your work, and let the work speak the truth of the name.
Thanks for getting my brain churning, Jules. :)
Aww, thanks, Bernadette! So glad to have your comment! How I love that scene in Back to the Future! So funny and really such a great commentary, too. And you bring up such an important point about branding during this faceless, Internet world. That logic makes me lean toward keeping Julia Munroe Martin in tact since it’s what “everyone” knows me as! On the other hand, letting my work speak makes sense as well. Thanks so much for getting MY brain churning! Best, Jules :)
What a useful discussion and such a variety of views. I have been dithering and experimenting and finally settled on two names:
After reading Barbara Kingsolver’s postscript to “Flight Behavior,” where she reported using old family names for her characters, I looked at my own family tree and came up with the maiden names of two of my great-grandmothers: Lee Dennis, to be used for stories that are similarly located or themed.
For urban soft sci-fi, I’m using M.L.E. Powell, pronounceable, and different from the CEO of Powell’s Books (long may Emily Powell flourish)!
All of this is yet to come, from https://ruyinn.wordpress.com/, a code-formed version of my birth name.
This really is a useful discussion, I agree, Lee. And I must say I love your name (my husband and father are both Lees!). I may go back into the old family tree to look, good idea. I should ask you… how do you build your platform? Under each name? Your real name? Do you fess up to both personas being you? Do you discuss it on your website/blog? So glad to have your thoughts!
I can’t advise you as an author, as I’m only beginning in the whole writing world, but I do have some opinion as a reader.
Your name is fine. If I picked up a book with an interesting cover and the blurb on the back tickled my fancy the fact that the author’s name was Mildred Hickersnienk would only matter in so much as if I liked it after I read it I would be looking for what else that author had written. Can’t say that I’ve come across any fellow readers who differ much on that either.
As for multiple names for multiple genres. That would be something that would likely turn me off to an author honestly. To me it comes across as though the person is ashamed of some of their work, or they believe their customers are so one dimensional that they wouldn’t be interested in something new. Also, I think it shows a great deal of talent/skill for an author to branch out into other avenues, and if they do so under multiple names it makes that talent harder to recognize. Which do you think looks better, Steven Segal, who plays pretty much the same character in ever movie (just progressively chubbier…), or Anthony Hopkins, who can play Hannibal Lecter and the grandfather from Meet Joe Black? Now, did Mr. Hopkins change names for those two movies? ;)
Thanks, Austin! (By the way, I love your name!) What you say makes a great deal of sense, no question, and I’m glad you like my name. As for multiple genres = multiple names, there seems to be an even split in comments. So interesting!
No, don’t take Rose, that’s mine! ;)
I think pen names are a great way to rebrand yourself in different genres. I actually just started this name for my BBW erotic romance. If your writing changes enough that you don’t think your fans would cross over, I think it’s better for them if you pick a new name. When people read my Aubrey Rose stuff, they expect a certain kind of writing, and I wouldn’t want to have them go into a different story expecting something they’re not going to get. But that’s just me, and your writing may not change that much from genre to genre.
It’s certainly easier to do the marketing and social for just one pen name, so there’s always that!
Thank you for your take, Rose (I love the name but don’t worry, won’t use it, it’s my daughter’s (REAL) middle name!!). What a good point about rebranding…in some ways I’m realizing that’s really what this is all about. Through the course of reading the comments to this post, I’ve pretty much decided it’s the way to go (pen name), after all, better safe than sorry! I am discovering, however, that as you suggested, the marketing will be a much bigger deal with two personae. I so appreciate your input!
Hey Jules! Can’t really answer without knowing more about the book, but if it’s hardcore murder mystery, you want to be non-gender, so J.M.Martin, or J.S. Martin or J. Munroe Martin would do it. If it’s a romantic mystery or something that crosses with your other genre, then your platform name is cool. Women read most everything, most men do not (IMHO)!
Ah, Linda! I am so glad you posted this, because I have overnight decided that I will use J.M. as my first name. Thank you so much for validating my choice! Now, I’m narrowing down my last name choice! Thank you for your very helpful comment!
ooooh! This is a fun problem to have. I love that you have produced two books worth sending out into the world. That right there is something to celebrate.
As for names, I love “Jules.” I always felt that was a cool name.
AND, congrats on the new role here!
Yes! The name master! I was hoping you’d give me your thoughts, Nina. Thank you for your kind words about having two books ready and the congrats on my WU spot — I’m having a lot of fun. Having my “old” (I use that term very loosely!) blogging/Twitter friends along makes it all the more so! Love, Jules ;)
I just got the FB post about you new author page so it seems I am late to the party. I love JM Maison! Excellent choice.
Btw… I tried to send an email but it bounced back. Some int’l network issue, no doubt. The project I am working on for you… Love it! More details soon.
Shary!! So honored you commented from abroad, but not surprising, you’re such a good friend! Thank you for your comment and of course your ongoing and so-appreciated support. I’m so glad you like J.M. Maison! (p.s. I did get your email second time! Thank you!)
My two cents: JuJu is a great name, maybe for a YA series. Thanks for a fun post, Julia, and welcome to WU!
Thanks, Therese! (For the two cents but especially for the opportunity to write for WU. Such an honor and so much fun, too!) Love, Juju
Fun post, Julia. I like all your name ideas! Good luck, and welcome to WU.
(Btw, when my husband and I married, we both began using my maiden name as our middle name. His idea!) :)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cindy! And thank you for the well wishes and welcome to WU, too. I love that you and your husband both started using your maiden name as a middle name, great idea! When we got married, my husband’s sister suggested we make new name up, with a little of each name: Tinroe was what she came up with. We never did, but we still laugh about and at times wish we’d come up with some mixture…although perhaps not Tinroe :) I love your idea and name, very distinctive!
Yay! I’ve been waiting to see your first post here. :) I don’t think anyone *really* knows the answer to this question, and I’m certainly not an expert but I’m not sure I believe the whole “it will confuse readers” thing. I think readers deserve more credit than that! Surely they can tell the difference in back cover between two genres? Unless I were writing in two vastly different and/or conflicting genres (like picture books and erotica, for example), I’d be tempted to use the same name for everything. You never know; a mystery reader might be interested in your other work, too!
Thanks for the welcome, Annie!! As you say, no one really knows… and I tend to agree that the whole “confuse the reader thing” is unlikely, BUT that said, I’ve already made the decision to use a pen name — and so J.M. Maison is born, at least for The Empty Nest Can Be Murder mystery series! What the future holds? I guess that remains to be seen! So nice to join you on WU!
I like JuJu or Jules, but the name you settled on is quite beautiful and more in keeping with adult fiction, IMHO. Good to have you here, Julia.
I have a similar problem with my name, then the apostrophe brings its own set of problems.
Thank you so much for the welcome, Jan — so thrilled to be here! I love Juju and Jules as well, but as you say, J.M. seems more in keeping with adult fiction. I never thought about the apostrophe as a problem; I’ve always envied apostrophe bearers!
Hi Julia! I love your first post, What’s In A Name? I’m a unpublished writer and never thought about using the same name when writing stories that may be in different categories or genres. I think it would be okay to be known as an author of different genres, especially if it is a specific few. But if you want suggestions, I really like the names Jules or JuJu. I look forward to future posts of yours.
Thank you, Crystal!! Nice to meet you, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post and it gave you some food for thought. So glad you like the names, too, and I look forward to more conversations in comments with you in my future blogs here on WU!
Hey congrats on you Unboxed writing gig. Look forward to your posts. As far as your name . . . I just like the way it looks. Very balanced and pleasing to the eye. Julia Munroe Martin. And I think the fact Munroe is not the traditional spelling makes all the better. Julia is different too. Not Julie. (Though nothing is wrong with Julie.) This might be a case that you have grown too used to your name. If you look at any word long enough it will start to look like it is wrong. Don’t know if that makes any sense.
Thank you so much, Jamie!! I’m so glad you like my name as it is — and you’re probably right that I’ve grown too used to it. I think your name sounds so much more writerly and distinct! But then as you say, if you look at any word long enough it won’t make sense. I appreciate that point of view, makes perfect sense! So happy you found me here, thank you!
I have to say, I like Jules. It comfy and cozy, just like your mysteries! Julia Munroe Martin seems a bit more serious, way more serious than you are! :)
Love the post and so happy to see you on WU! Wu (?) hoo! :)
Aw, thanks! Yes, Julia Munroe Martin is the serious side of Jules/Juju, no question. And I’ll be saving it for the serious book I write :) Glad you like the post, Hal (if I’m Jules then you’re Hal, right?), and so glad you came to read my post here at WU!
Julia,
So glad to see you as a regular at WU!!! I can’t answer the name game from experience, but I can say I’ll read whatever you write, under any name. :)
THANK YOU, Lisa!! For the welcome to WU and for your willingness to read whatever I write as whomever I write it. You are such and encouraging and supportive writer — thank you! :)
[…] What’s in a Name? on using a pseudonym via Writer Unboxed […]
Loved this sneak peek into your writing process and into your life history, Jules! So excited for you!
Thanks Jolina, glad you enjoyed my walk down memory lane ;-) It’s an exciting but crazy time. So excited for you, too. Thanks for finding me here, friend!