The temporary agency called me last night. I work temporary jobs so I can focus on writing. I do need to work sometimes, so I called them back and I finally got a hold of a human being and told her my name and she mispronounced it. Then I told her again including the first letters spelled out and she still couldn't find me on the computer (or pronounce my name). Then one last time I said my name and spelled it out fully, she still mispronounced it and said she’d call back. Well, the thing is, if she never figured out my name how the hell would she find me on the computer? She never called back, by the way. I think this is a sign my real last name thwarts people. I was going to call their other office and ask what is up. That guy knows me so he would just call me by my first name and try to remember my last.
So Bliss is easier. Blysse is a family name. I just wasn't born with it. Actually, my distant relatives aren't born with it either. "Blysse" is the old spelling of the name "Bliss". As soon as they hit American soil they changed the spelling.
Annalee is sort of, kind of really mine. When my mother was really mad she’d say “Angela Lee you better leave your brother alone”. Then my brother would whine and make it look like I wasn’t leaving him alone – which sometimes I wasn’t, but sometimes I was completely innocent. Then my mother would have to yell so fast and loud at me it sounded like, “Annalee you just wait till your father gets home!” Sort of anyway. That really isn't why I picked that name though! I just like the sound of smooshing it together and so did my mother. Since my pestering my brother days ended about over 25 years ago, so she doesn't have to scream it at me anymore. That brother by the way told me the other day he and his wife are expecting their first children, twins. So I think history will repeat itself, don't you? Gotta love kids. I can't wait to be an auntie again.
Daisy had an exercise on her blog about why we chose names for our characters. Above is why I chose my pen name.
permanent link
So Bliss is easier. Blysse is a family name. I just wasn't born with it. Actually, my distant relatives aren't born with it either. "Blysse" is the old spelling of the name "Bliss". As soon as they hit American soil they changed the spelling.
Annalee is sort of, kind of really mine. When my mother was really mad she’d say “Angela Lee you better leave your brother alone”. Then my brother would whine and make it look like I wasn’t leaving him alone – which sometimes I wasn’t, but sometimes I was completely innocent. Then my mother would have to yell so fast and loud at me it sounded like, “Annalee you just wait till your father gets home!” Sort of anyway. That really isn't why I picked that name though! I just like the sound of smooshing it together and so did my mother. Since my pestering my brother days ended about over 25 years ago, so she doesn't have to scream it at me anymore. That brother by the way told me the other day he and his wife are expecting their first children, twins. So I think history will repeat itself, don't you? Gotta love kids. I can't wait to be an auntie again.
Daisy had an exercise on her blog about why we chose names for our characters. Above is why I chose my pen name.
permanent link
See, I was misproncouncing your last name all alone. I thought it was pronounced Blise, not Bliss.
ReplyDeleteI learned something new!
I thought the pronunciation was Blice! :-) Thanks for the clarification. (g)
ReplyDeleteTanya
That is because I chose the old spelling. Truly they may have said that in Britain years ago! I did think about that before, but I saw someone using the old spelling on a vanity plate on their vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI realized I mispronounced an authors name too. Today I listened to a podcast her friend recorded.
I thought it was Blise too but now that I know I'll correctly pronounce it Bliss. It is a cool pen name though. BTW my real name is actually Dana which is too unisex I thought for romance writing. Marguerite is the French version of my nickname, Daisy, and Arotin was my late mother-in-law's maiden name. Loved the two together, thought it was very French sounding :-). Oh and I e-mailed you about the map making program :-).
ReplyDeleteI like your pen name! I chose my pen name for completely different reasons. I'm a teacher, and I work in the Bible belt. Parents want me to take my Harry Potter things down, so I'm sure they wouldn't approve if they found out I write paranormal romances (and erotica). I'm not trying to keep my real name secret, though. I'm proud of what I do and want everyone to know it. But if admin says anything, I can innocently bat my lashes and say, "I'm using a pen name."
ReplyDeleteAnnalee is a GREAT yelling name! Makes me want to open the doors and yell it, just to hear it echoing across the marsh.
ReplyDeleteBut I won't. The construction workers across the street would think I'm crazy(er). And they're not cute enough to bother.
Thanks for the Fantasy Map link at "Sleeping Dragon."
ReplyDeleteThat was a good one.
Love your penn name.
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ReplyDeleteohh thats a nice thought. reminds me of how my mother used to yell my whole name when she's mad too. 8)
ReplyDeletebut i guess why i chose my name is bit more complicated (maybe post sometime about it too, mentioning your blog of course)
btw, just came in from BE saw you while surfing. id be glad to have a link exchange with you. adding you to my twisted blog now..
I chose my pen name because for some reason people like to call me Bernadette when they can't remember my real name. I figured that had significance. Gardner is a nod to Gardnerian Wicca which was the basis for a lot of my spiritual studies. I Googled the name and found out there are teachers and members of PTOs with my name - I hope they don't have problems when they discover their name sake writes erotic romance!
ReplyDeleteAngie I've told you before that I love your pen name! I couldn't think of a suitable one, so decided to write under my full given name instead!
ReplyDelete~K
Leann -- I got a card! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTanya/Marguerite/Trista -- I hope I'm right! Speaking of teachers... I should say I use the old English spelling because my high school English teacher told me I live in US and can't. But really I just liked that spelling better than the Americanized version. LOL.
Karen -- LOL. Probably make their day though. Give them something to tell the wives about after work.
Betty -- You're welcome. Another author shared that the other day. I lost all my links when my computer crashed, so links like yours are so handy!
Bernadette -- My step grandfather's cooking name was a B name. When he cooked a good dinner he'd say, "Bernadette sure did a nice job with diner tonight." Sadly, only half the memory is there. Bernadette? Barbara? It was one of them! Wish I could remember. But your pen name reminds me of that habit of his so maybe it really was.
atomicvelvetsigh -- Thanks for stopping by. Look forward to reading more of your blog.
K ~ Now that you use it to write, if you ever get in trouble, someone has to call you something else then. LOL. Ah, I don't get in trouble often enough myself. ;)
That's funny. When my mother used to yell at my brother or I, she'd always volley back and forth between our two names until she could figure out which name she was trying to say.
ReplyDelete