Hi, I recently have read a few stories about writers who have sent off their manuscripts and met rejections only to change their name, to a pen name of sorts, and been accepted. I was wondering if anyone else had encountered a similair story, and whether having a catchy name is very important in getting your manuscript even seen. I am aware that it is possible that a publisher/agent will change your name around a bit (JK Rowling) but I did not think about the effect your name could have in getting your manuscript read.
Oh! No... my mistake... J.K. put ''Kathleen'' before submiting her MS. Sorry, I need to watch Magic Beyond Words again XD
You made me wonder if T.O. Bührer sounds good...
PS: J.K. changed her name AFTER being accepted. Because her aggent thought boys wouldn`t like the book if they know the author was a women... something like that...
So you would be Victoria Ruth? I prefer Limbert. It's quite unusual, isn't it? I would have thought Lambert was far more common. When I married I went from having a very common name to one that is rarer than hen's teeth. Even though I am separated there is no chance of me joining the leagues of McCarthy writers. (It was once, and I think still is, the 13th most common name in the world!) I suppose the only possible downside to Limbert is that people might mishear it, spell it Lambert, and then not be able to find you or your work. From that point of view, it might be worth looking at a different surname. Equally, people having trouble spelling Whithear as it isn't pronounced exactly as it is written. It is pronounced Wittier and there are various other legitimate spellings so I could potentially have the same problem. Hmm, you've got me reconsidering my name now!
It did once occur to me to publish under my username. I'd quite like the anonymity that went with that. I've always thought that if popstars can get away with calling themselves Prince, or even symbol!!! then why should us authors? I suppose it's because we pretend to be above such nonsense, but it is tempting to escape the norm to gain some attention.