What’s in a name by Una Tiers

What’s in a Name? Plenty! Pen names (nom de plume-French for feather an older writing instrument), alias, literary double, nome de ghere-French for war name)  have been used for centuries. Some create distinct identities to avoid confusion when an author writes both fiction and non-fiction or if an author writes in more than one genre. They can separate two parts of a career such as writing and editing, or fiction writing and law.

One of the allures about a pen name is that it may keep people guessing about your identity.

Some authors write under a pseudonym for anonymity, to stand out with an unusual name or to avoid confusion with other authors who have similar names. Others write under a pen name to avoid repercussions much like the witness protection program. In the past, female authors wrote under gender-neutral using initials instead of a first name, or male names for the sake of acceptability.

In a more unusual way to think, at least one author has used two or more pen names to have multiple articles published in the same magazine issue. Another author writes under different names since he finishes more than one novel a year and thinks people will not buy two books from the same author in one year.

Do you write smoldering erotica with heaving bosoms? Want the neighbors to know? Many writers use their legal name along with their pen names to maintain their followers and to bring in new ones with a name that is sculptured for fiction writing.

Pointers on selecting a pen name include choosing letters to put you alphabetically near the top, like Aaron, or away from the popular letter S. A few authors select pen names that are confused with famous authors, although this seems cheesy.

Names that fit a genre are another point of pen names: Lana Loving, Amber Asp, Dark Alleys or Sky Cubes. Names at the start of the alphabet and those with one or two syllables seem to be preferred. Try the names out in the beta stage to see how they sound to friends and your writing group. Check existing website availability.

Places to find ideas for pen names include my favorite: obituaries and of course the internet. Once you have your pen name, start branding and use it in your website and social networking sites.

Famous writers with pen names include Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain); Jean Baptiste Poquelin (Moliere); Emily Bronte (Ellis Bell), Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), and Esther Friedman (Ann Landers).

Photographs of an author with a pen name could defeat the purpose. I’ve noticed one author in disguise with a hat, wig and sunglasses. Another author took a photo of the back of his head, and a third took a picture of his cowboy boots.

I have a few reasons for using a pen name for my mysteries. My stories include corruption and judges are murdered in several of my Fiona Gavelle series.

Since I developed the name UNA TIERS, one person, another author, honed on it the first time we talked. One person in about nine years surprised even me.

Una Tiers is the pen name for an attorney in Chicago IL who writes about corruption in the courts.  Her debut mystery, Judge vs Nuts has a female sleuth, Fiona Gavelle, and has been described as a humorcide, a traditional mystery, a cozy and a legal mystery.

About Una Tiers

Una Tiers (nom de plume) is an avid reader, attorney and independent author in the Chicago area. Her early reading enthusiasm exhausted her grammar school library and she was introduced to the magnificence of the downtown Chicago Public Library. Years later, she had the honor to take writing classes with Harry Mark Petrakis, downing a bowl of cheddar chowder after class.

Over the years, creative writing took a backseat to drafting legal documents. After one particularly brutal day in court, Una wrote a story murdering the problem judge (on paper). Feeling better, she returned to work. Adding additional victims proved to be a stress reliever making Una smile. The story grew into Judge vs Nuts.

Una has several novels and novellas. I encourage you to take a chance. You will be entertained and surreptitiously educated to the law as it is in probate.

When she is not murdering people (on paper) Una has a scratch and sniff garden, including chocolate mint, dill, lavender, rosemary and cilantro. In 2018, she planted a Hyacinth bean and is waiting for the promises on the packet.

The next full length novel, Judge vs. Michigan, takes you on a dinner cruise from Navy Pier. Can you swim?

Connect with Una on Website | Twitter | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

About the Book

Judge Vs. Water A Fiona Gavelle Humorcide Book 5 by Una Tiers
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Print Length: 362 pages
Publisher: Gavelle Publishing
Publication Date: November 23, 2019

Synopsis

With a splash, fifty years of lies were revealed. Join Fiona Gavelle, lawyer and part time sleuth in solving the mystery. Meet her unusual clients and visit Chicago, Illinois without leaving the warmth of your Kindle. Disclaimer, this book does not include any car chases, no one runs down a dark alley at midnight and no one has a locker at the bus station..

**On sale for only $2.99 now!!**

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