I would use an American Indian name such as Princess Diditellyu*

*she who never shuts up!

About a decade ago, I started my first novel, which I never finished. At the time, I was going to choose to adopt the name, "Saskia Goldmark", simply because I like the sound of the name, no special symbolism attached to it.

I would need to use another name because my namesake, my husband's cousin is quite famous as a writer and there are only two of us with this name. I've already suffered from the confusion. A couple of books I translated were listed in the Swedish library database as hers so I had to have our birth years added to separate us a little.

I think I would use either my maiden name or my mother-in-law's maiden name, Malmer, except that Marianne Malmer would sound a bit too much like a nom de plume to a Swedish reader. Or even like an actress.

I actually thought about this back in the days when I thought I might actually become a writer of books instead of a writer of first chapters. By the way, I just finished yet another first chapter and set it aside. Ah well, writers need readers, and I can continue as a reader.

Anyway, I thought I would use an interesting combination of my mother's maiden name and a fragment of my father's name that I rather liked. Now of course if I ever succeed in actually completing anything I'll be so proud of myself I'll definitely use my full real name!

Rosefolly

I'd have a nom de computer - I can't imagine using a plume...

I'd either use my own name, or something equally nondescript.

I always thought it would be funny to have my nom de plume as my 'porn star' name, which is the name of your first pet as first name and the first street you lived on as second name: "Honey Vine". I wonder what type of novels I would write...

Well, sometimes a nom de plume is chosen for commercial reasons. Let's say you have written a crime novel - it would be clever to choose a name that put your books near Lee Child or Michael Connelly or Stieg Larsson.
However, I wouldn't use my married name that I usually go by, because although it is very unusual, it is also hard to pronounce. I would think about incorporating my mother's family name of Stacy.

BTW, my porn name is Rainy Arthur (we didn't call the dog that, we inherited her!).

I realised that the porn star name I would have to go under, using the first pet, first residence that I can recall would be "Inky Boundary Cottage".(Not on a street) Oh, dear! Just as well that has never been a career possibility!
I have never written a first chapter even but was a columnist in the seventies for newspapers and magazines covering everything from police court reporting and horse racing to a cookery page. I attended a guinea pig show, wrote horoscopes and even edited a motor magazine. I knew very little about any of these subjects, especially cars as I cannot even drive so I mostly did this anonymously but did use "Frank Lee" doing political gossip articles. Most of the politicians thought my senior-journalist husband wrote this and it was his nom de plume so he had to take the flack as no-one believed it could be that sweet little woman who was such a good listener! ;-)

Hmmmm, Calico East, I rather like it. What kind of book should go behind a name like that?

I might use my mother's real first name, which she has never used, and her maiden name. So it would actually be mother's name but no one would recognize it.

I once knew a woman called Christine Loveday - how's that for a good name? It certainly rolls nicely off the tongue.

Well, I have lots of names picked out, now I just need the book.

Ann, I would love to read your article about the guinea pig show. I wrote horoscopes for my summer camp newsletter, which I also edited (hah hah). Even though I told everyone that I just made them up, everyone read them avidly and claimed they were spot on. I called myself Miss Katie Stardust.

"porn star" name....?

You need to get a grip on reality.

Annpan, I was thinking the same thing. My brothers had dogs but I never had a pet, and I grew up in the country so my name would just be Highway 54.

I was Miss X on our high school newspaper, giving advice to the lovelorn. Heaven help them.

pollopicu-the porn star name is part of the names game circulating email-it is an old one that has been around the world probably a zillion times! Porn star is just one of a series of nom de plumes-each one has its own rules. We played it here once donkeys' years ago. ;-)

Corky Betzwood......you know, Corky Betzwood could write cozy straight to paperback mysteries starring a clever yet disappointed in love amateur girl detective. Perhaps a forest ranger? (chef, reporter, coffee shop owner, tea shop owner, scrapbook expert, map seller, bakery owner, secretary, cleaning lady, high school English teacher, bookstore owner, stay-at-home mom...those are all taken.)

Sorry, forest ranger is taken - Nevada Barr's Anna Pidgeon has that covered. How about a wallpaper hanger?

Lol! I have to say all these names are providing my day with a nice chuckle! Quite a few ex-columnists we have here!

Stoneangel, I like your idea. I would then be "Rusty Manor". Taking it a step farther, with the second pet and second word in address, I could also be "Spotty Ridge." LOL.

cc: I have just finished a mystery set in a bookshop and the sister of the bookseller/amateur detective cooks. This gives the author an excuse to include a few recipes at the end of the book. How's that for doubling-up?!!
I cannot think of any profession or well-known female character who has not been given a detective role. Even Becky Sharp! I do like stories featuring senior ladies, I can relate to them. They can't get too physical!

Siobhan: I did reply to you earlier about the guinea pig article but posts I wrote during a scan for viruses got lost apparently. I can't remember what my article was about but probably mentioned the 'fanciers' more than the exhibits. This was because people buy newspapers, guinea pigs do not! The newspapers owner was also keen on group photoes for the same reason.

Ann, what is the name of your bookshop-setting mystery, please?

Well, by the "porn star" rules, I'd be Candy Long. I reckon my book will be a first-person shocker, called "Confessions of Candy". A best-seller beckons!

OT....carolyn: Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. Have you come across a Zoo mystery series by Betty Webb? The first was Anteater of Death and I am trying to get the next one The Koala of Death.

No, Ann, I haven't seen the Betty Webb books. Thanks for the Barrett title.

Ann, The Koala of Death would be a drop bear, I presume? *VBG*

OT....Kath, you could be right! I blush to confess I had to wiki 'drop bear' as I was not familiar with this expression. Not a Pratchett reader and we don't have koalas here in the West. (Nor a visit from Oprah,sadly!)

OT again - I had to look up the Pratchett reference, as I have never read him either! And I am ashamed to say I didn't know you didn't have them in WA. I sometimes see droppings under local trees, and one morning out running, I passed one meandering along in the gutter of the road! It was a bit of a shock as it was still dark (about 6am in winter) and my first thought was of a VERY big cat. I live in a fairly built up area, but still with a lot of large gum trees left.

er-- what is a "drop bear"?

A drop bear is a fictitious carnivorous animal closely related to the koala, which drops out of trees on to unsuspecting tourists and eats them! It is one of those tales which is used to confuse visitors to Australia, most of whom have heard awful stories of our nasty spiders and snakes, which city dwellers rarely see. Tourists are usually much more wary of these things than locals, and the drop bear is a nice addition to the list *g*

Just come across this as I've been away. Martin, I agree that nom de computer' is more accurate these days than 'nom de plume', but it doesn't have the same ring to it. I could call mine 'nom de Mac', though, which trips quite nicely.

My porn star name would be 'Grendal Hunter'..... not much to be done with that though it's quite evocative (our first cat we called 'Grendal' because it b it the head off things). For my actual writing name, I simply went back to my maiden surname with my actual forename. I never liked changing my name when I got married anyway (these days you don't need to) even though it was quite a nice name; and since my ex was a writer, I didn't want to be associated with him - wanted to make it under my own aegis or not at all.