Monday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it."
— Playwright Max Frisch

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a real, fulfilling day!
Keep reading for today's final installment in the pseudonym discussion. This is your last chance to get entered in the contest to win a couple eBooks!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, experience, Max Frisch

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Author Brent Bowen
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

Down the drain with BM Bowen
Unlike many of the authors who have written to this point, I've yet to actually decide to use a pen name. But I'm seriously contemplating it and need help. I can’t use my initials: BM Bowen. No way (for obvious reasons)! And I can’t do my middle name and the street I grew up on (well I could if I were writing westerns): Introducing Matthew Stagecoach! Um. No.

But I need one. They're everywhere.

Just last week I received an email blast from Audible.com entitled, "Your Favorite Author's Pen Name." Then, I'm listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Adventures in Scifi Publishing, and it featured two great episodes last year that had well-established paranormal-romance authors talking about their pen names, episode 26-Tate Hallaway and episode 30-Jacqueline Carey.
Jacqueline Carey explains she will be taking on a pen name so, in part, she could market something in a different genre without disrupting the readership of her Kushiel's series.

In Tate's case, Tate is her pen name. And it gave her a new life in publishing. She wrote for several years as scifi writer Lyda Morehouse. And while she's received critical acclaim for her scifi books, several went out of print and she says that "she kinda had to change her name so Barnes & Noble would stock her next book." Interestingly, she also offers that while it's a good idea to have a pen name ready, be flexible. Because she writes paranormal romances, her publisher asked her to change the last name of her chosen pseudonym to start with "Ha" so she could be shelved next to Charlaine Harris and Kim Harrison.

Now, why would I consider taking a pseudonym? First, there are too many of me. Need proof? Conduct the domain-name test. As Sandy mentioned in a prior blog post of mine, search http://www.brentbowen.com/ and you'll be greeted with “Do you need to speak with an experienced civil law attorney in Texas?" Yikes. Now, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com, if you don't know) test. I can't even use my middle initial to help distinguish me: Brent M. Bowen has had a very nice career in visual effects. There's even a Brent Bowen author. Though he's a PHD in aviation, writes non-fiction, and teaches at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Yawn.

So, what am I going to do about all of this? Naturally, hold a contest. Several week's ago, people offered pen-name suggestions on my post, "Play the name game."

My esteemed panel of judges (my wife, brother and mom) picked their six favorite. Vote now for your favorite on my poll. Or, visit to see the paths not traveled. Indeed, sometimes those are the most fun.

But, ultimately, like Tate, I may have to keep it backpocket because a publisher wants me to fit in the "Sa" group on the shelf. Nice problem to have if you ask me. Then we'll line it up and do it all over again.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Brent Bowen, pseudonym, pen names

Monday, June 30, 2008
Word of the Day
Breach (noun) -- a violation; an infraction; the breaking of a legal promise; a rift in a legal obligation; a gap in a structure (from Old English "brecan" meaning "to break")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Odda Taiman set up a spell that protects the ships sailing into Arcana's harbors so long as his family is alive to keep the spell active, thus there is no breach in the geasa.

Your turn! This word is applicable today because Sandy can get out of her lease because the landlord is in breach of contract for a variety of not-so-good reasons. This is great because not only has the place started leaking each time it rains (thus she's convinced the mold is not just on all the surfaces she scrapes every week, but also in the walls), the air conditioner crapped out this weekend. Let us check the weather channel...oh, yay, 95 today. Woo-hoo! What fabulous sentence can you come up with to take her mind off the heat and humidity?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices, fantasy trilogy, breach, dragon

Thursday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means."
— Oscar Wilde

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a successful day!
Keep reading for an author interview and today's interactive word of the day.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, fiction, Oscar Wilde

Author Interview with Jamieson Wolf
Or...The Dragon hosts the author of Valentine

Today we talk about publishing, writing and the new romance novella Valentine from Paranormal Romance Author Jamieson Wolf. He's on a whirlwind promotional binge during the month of June, participating in two online book tours: one hosted by his publisher, one he put together himself. It's marketing insanity at its finest. And, to top it off, he's the featured author at The Romance Studio Blue for the entire month. You can check that out here.

How does he do it? I asked him to share some of his publishing secrets with aspiring authors here at The Dragon.

The Dragon: Good morning, Jamieson, and welcome back to Today the Dragon Wins. It's great to have you here again.

Jamieson Wolf: It’s great to be here. It’s always a pleasure to stop by so thank you for having me.

The Dragon: I'd like to ask you two different sets of questions today. We'd all like to hear about your latest romance novella, Valentine, of course, but I also want to talk a little bit about technique. Some of the visitors today are aspiring writers, and I've always known you to be magnanimous in the way you offer advice and assistance to others. So let's start with a little information about the craft and work our way into the story of Valentine.

Jamieson Wolf: That sounds good to me!

The Dragon: Great! Right off the bat, I'd like to ask about the cover art for Valentine. On your title page, the cover is credited to Croco Designs. Is that someone you selected, or is that an artist/company that Cobblestone Press works with frequently?

Jamieson Wolf: The author isn’t able to design their own cover at Cobblestone Press. Croco Designs frequently do cover designs for Cobblestone Press. They also have in-house cover designers.

The Dragon: Did you have any input on the cover, and how pleased are you with the way it turned out?

Jamieson Wolf: Oh very much so! I was asked to fill out a detailed cover art questionnaire detailing what I’d like to see on the cover, what the heros looked like, that kind of thing. It’s wonderful that the author gets to be so involved in the cover design process, even if they don’t have a hand in the actual design element.

The Dragon: How did that experience differ from other books cover selections you've been involved with, and how would you guide a new author in dealing with either disappointment or anticipation of a cover that he or she doesn't get to participate in creating?

Jamieson Wolf: Well, normally, I design my own cover art. So it’s actually a nice break for me not to have to do that. With regard to Cobblestone Press, if you’re disappointed in the first mock up of the cover, the art department will work with you until you are happy. Just be patient and remember that others may not see the characters as clearly as you do.

The Dragon: Let me ask about the publishing process as well. First, about how long did it take to write Valentine, including research?

Jamieson Wolf: Well, including research, it took me about two months to write. I’d say a month's worth of research and about a month of writing it and self-editing. A long process but worth it!

The Dragon: Then once you had it complete, how long did it take to select a publisher to submit it to? And did you submit it to more than one publisher at a time, or did Cobblestone Press have a policy against simultaneous submissions?

Jamieson Wolf: Cobblestone doesn’t accept simultaneous submissions so I was lucky that they were the first ones I submitted it to. I searched the internet trying to find what looked like reputable publishers for gay fiction and Cobblestone looked amazing! I’m so glad the initial impression of them turned out to be correct a hundred times over. They’re an incredible publisher.

The Dragon: Once Cobblestone Press received the manuscript, how long did you have to wait for an acceptance?

Jamieson Wolf: Their usual acceptance rate is between 60 to 90 days. I know it seems a little long, but it was such a nice surprise to get that acceptance contract in my email box! It was like Christmas!

The Dragon: And were you nervous, or did you feel a certainty about the process? What advice would you offer new authors who are waiting for that "call back" from a publisher?

Jamieson Wolf: Well, I always advise authors to research a publisher before submitting; it’s a good thing to do to make sure your work will be a good fit. I had already done that so I was darn excited when I got my acceptance. They’re very good too at letting you know their process, how long editing will take, the procedures for editing, etc.

The Dragon: Once Cobblestone Press had accepted the Valentine manuscript, how long did the editing and production process take before it was released to the masses?

Jamieson Wolf: It’s usually six months from contract to publication. It seems like a long time, but trust me, you’ll need it. There’s a lot of editing to do, even if you don’t think there is, and it’s a lot of work getting a manuscript ready to go out into the world.

The Dragon: Waiting for our characters to get their chance to shine can be nerve-wracking. Did you have any aspirations of writing a sequel or did the characters of Valentine, Anna, or Asterius "speak" to you while you were waiting? Have they spoken to you about a sequel since?

Jamieson Wolf: You know, originally, Valentine was going to be a one off. I had planned to explore other areas of history. But I never really planned to write a sequel. But that was then, this is now. I’m now thinking there will be two more books, one more for sure. I’m thinking of calling them Valentine’s Promise and Anna’s Wish.

The Dragon: When you were writing, did the character of Anna ever try to take on a larger role than what she has in the final version of the novella? She strikes me as a strong, caring, vivid support character. I don't want to give anything away, but her actions show great love, great friendship, and a willingness to sacrifice if necessary. That puts her at the top of my list for "return characters," if you know what I mean.

Jamieson Wolf: Well, she will be in the sequels but she was never pushy about it or wanting to get in the limelight. She’s very patient; it’s a good thing too. Asterius is a bigger-than-life character. I’m surprised that he wasn’t more vocal about a sequel!

The Dragon: You admit in your preface to taking "some liberties" with the old legend of St. Valentine and Asterius, and I'd like to hear about the act of betrayal that you worked into your story. I don't want to give too much away, but when Asterius betrays his new lover, for reasons that are explained in the story, I found it, as a reader, very difficult to forgive him. Even though various characters were able to overcome the betrayal, I wasn't right there with them for a while. How were you, as the writer, able to deal with Asterius after his treatment of someone he was supposed to love and cherish?

Jamieson Wolf: Well, I wanted to play around with the history of the legend a bit. Asterius had been Valentine’s jailer and nothing more. I wanted to find out what would happen if they were more to each other, if there was some sort of spark there.

I always knew, even before I began writing Valentine, that Asterius would (sort of) betray Valentine. I think that I had much longer to come to terms with it than any reader would.

But think about it this way: in any romance novel, there is always a conflict toward the end of the novel that the hero and heroine (or hero and hero in this case) must overcome before they can be together.

It’s a cliché, but it produces such lovely results.

The Dragon: These characters tend to get into us. Jamieson, as always, it is a delight to have you stop in to talk about your work with us. Would you let visitors know how they can get more information about you?

Jamieson Wolf: Sure I can! You can find my web site at http://www.jamiesonwolf.com/ or you can visit my blog at http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/ I’m always working on something so make sure to check the blog often! Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Valentine blog which has a puzzle, excerpts, book trailers and more! You can find it at http://www.valentineanovel.blogspot.com/

The Dragon: And where can we pick up a copy of Valentine?

Jamieson Wolf: You can buy Valentine here. If you buy the novel and you’d like an interactive experience, why not download the soundtrack to Valentine? You can find it available for a free download here.

The Dragon: Thank you, my villain!

Jamieson Wolf: My pleasure Sandy! Thanks for having me again, it’s a treat as always!

The Dragon: Everyone, please note that the lovely Anna from the story Valentine will be Nigel's guest at http://sandylender.blogspot.com/ tomorrow morning. We invite you to join them for that interview to learn more about that powerful character and the novella by Jamieson Wolf.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Jamieson Wolf, Valentine, novella, Cobblestone Press, Croco Designs

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Word of the Day
Quash (transitive verb) -- to annul; to set aside; to suppress a rebellion or a force; to completely extinguish something (from Middle English "quassen" and Latin "cassus" meaning "empty" or "void")

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, available here, the lesser goddess Mia needs to quash Godric Taiman's objections to harboring Chariss at the Taiman estate so the young lady can stay in a safe haven while she continues training for her ultimate quest.

Your turn! Let's see what fun sentences you have to illustrate today's word.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, quash, dragon

Wednesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The dusk was performing its customary intransitive operation of 'gathering'."
— Flann O'Brien

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a creative day!
Keep reading for today's funky installment in the pseudonym discussion and a review of Jamieson Wolf's Valentine.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, dusk, Flann O'Brien,

Exploring the Pen Name
Another Pseudonym Birthday...This Time George Michael
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a child of the '80s. I loved the hair bands, the pop bands, the easy music bands, the metal bands, the teen movies, the Bond movies (Roger Moore is my fave), the teeny-bopper magazines with their ludicrous headlines (What Can You Do To Get Scott Bao To Like You? What Hairstyle Makes The Greatest American Hero Swoon?), the cheesy TV shows with the cheesy music beds. So, of course, I must celebrate one more pen name out of the '80s...that Wham! UK singer himself...George Michael.

His real name? I couldn't begin to spell it correctly. Thus the genius behind changing it when he went into show biz. (or music biz, as the case may be) It's Greek. Like a god from the pantheon, yes?

Anyway. I'm a fan. I adored Wham and still get that "oooo yay!" feeling when one of their songs filters across the radio waves. And I followed George's career right up to present day. Let me tell you something. The first time I heard Waltz Away Dreaming by Toby Bourke and George Michael, I cried. Tears, people. Tears. It's just lovely. And George's An Easier Affair is just to die for. Yum.

George Michael is still an amazing artist in this decade. He's not just that lovely Greek Adonis from the '80s. That pen name worked out well, I'd say. Happy Birthday, George!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: George Michael, pseudonym, pen names, Wham, Birthday, dragon

Valentine Review
Or...in preparation for tomorrow's author interview

Tomorrow, we'll host Paranormal Romance Author Jamieson Wolf. After successfully publishing in both electronic and print format with multiple publishers and on his own, Jamieson has scads of information and advice for aspiring authors. So check in tomorrow to hear what he has to say about his journey and his latest adventure in romance publishing.

For now, here's my review of his novella currently available through Cobblestone Press:
Deep Eros
A review of Jamieson Wolf's Valentine

Opening with the perfect foreshadowing device—a summary of the legend of St. Valentine—Author Jamieson Wolf sets the reader up for an erotic supernatural romp that's going to have meaning. The story Valentine is fast-paced and well-told, and offers not just a quick-and-lusty romance, but a storyline that makes the reader sympathize with the characters' plights and care about the point Wolf wishes to make.

It is only after Valentine, the child of a Roman god, accepts his destiny to marry people, despite the emperor's order against it, that he gains his full magical abilities. As Valentine tells Asterius, the man he's fallen in love with, "It's not right that those who love can't marry because one man says so. When I took my post as cleric, the power grew in me."

Of course, what Valentine risks by performing marriages is more than his life—he risks his heart. From deeply erotic scenes with blatant, descriptive sexual content to scenes depicting agape love through friendship and loyalty, Wolf has a story for lovers to enjoy (after prime time!) during any season—Valentine's Day, wedding season, winter time in front of a cozy fire, or any time love strikes.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Jamieson Wolf, Valentine, paranormal romance

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Word of the Day
Ensorcel (transitive verb) -- to enchant someone or something; to bewitch (from Old French meaning "in" + Sorcerer)

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, a demon ensorcels General Nicolas Lont to get the shallow man to forfeit his life.

Your turn! Do you have any bewitching sentences to share with us today?
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, ensorcel, dragon

Tuesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Marriage is like the Middle East. There's no solution."
— Actress Pauline Collins

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender urges you to think twice before doing anything stupid today. ***maniacal laughter here*** HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion and today's fill-in for Word of the Day (because I've lost the June words file...bummer).
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, marriage

Exploring the Pen Name

With Guest Blogger and Erotica Author Will Belegon

(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

One Ya Can't Use on the Bench

Discussions about pen names usually start with one of two questions: Why use one and how did you chose it? Now, as an author of erotic romance and erotica with two children, I hopefully don't need to explain my answer to question one. The last thing I need is someone talking about how the little league coach writes "dirty stories". This is not to say that I don't have friends in that area who do know what I write. But a pen name allows me to choose who knows, which is much safer. I would love it if every parent read my baseball blog or other freelance writing under my real name, but the sexy stuff is more sensitive. This is especially true given the extra scrutiny I receive in youth sports.

As to the how, I find it fun how many different stories we all have. Many of us took great care in choosing our pseudonym, particularly if writing has been something we always dreamed about growing up. But I also know authors who have chosen a name in a hurry or even taken forum polls.

My dreams of what I could do with my life did indeed contribute to my pen name, but it wasn't the dream of being a novelist. My dreams involved writing in one way: poetry, specifically song lyrics. Rock and roll immortality was at war with my athletic ambitions during my teen years. Obviously, pretending to be announced in the bottom of the ninth in the World Series was a dream in which the name my parents gave me echoed through the ballpark.

But when I dreamed about screaming guitars and even louder screaming girls, I thought about a rock star name.

So I combined another obsession with my rock god dreams. I've been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's world ever since my father put a copy of The Hobbit in my hands as a boy. So I took my first name, broke it into the Anglo-Saxon root words and then took the meaning of those and translated them into Tolkien's Sindarin Elvish language.

Thus did I emerge with the unique last name of Belegon. I paired that up with my first name and thought I had something that sounded suitable for being announced in between Nikki Sixx and Rikki Rocket.

Flash forward twenty years or so. I'm stuck in a rut, with the greatest outlet for my creative side being new ways to give business meetings. I had read a few short stories online, fan fiction mostly. I began to look at some of them and think, I can do better than that.

So I tried it. And when I needed a name to register under, I used my old rock star name, which had always remained attached to my occasional forays into poetry. My early efforts appeared online at story sites under the tag of Belegon. I dropped the first name. It was only when Alessia Brio decided that she was submitting our recent work to a real publisher that I needed a first name again. Most of my new online friends just called me "Bel."

So now I have become a man of multiple identities. My given name in its various forms, Bel, Will, Coach. I'd turn if any of them were yelled out in a mall. Of course, the one that would turn me around the fastest is also the main reason I have a pen name at all. That one is "Dad."

Get more info about Bel, his political and social views, little league, and his writing (of course!) at his blog.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Will Belegon, Tolkien, pseudonym, pen names

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Word of the Day
Nervous Breakdown (noun) -- a condition or state of mental anguish that occurs approximately two years after a seven-month job search's instigation puts your house in foreclosure and you are at a stage where you probably have to file bankruptcy and the banks have been stalling the foreclosure completion for 18 months and your soon-to-be-ex has been stalling the divorce completion for 14 months and your landlord is being sued by the condo association that has just named you in the suit and your landlord has just been foreclosed on by his bank and your doctors decide to do ONE MORE TEST that involves an 18-gauge needle before starting your chemo treatments to relieve the constant pain your lymphoma causes and your pet tortoise dies. THERE! I won't even start on what I found lurking in my credit report, but I'm going to send a member of the mob to the soon-to-be-ex if he ever complies with the courts and discloses his current address like he was supposed to do...oh...14 months ago. SOB. And that's your word of the day from a writer's life!

Word in a Sentence: Fantasy Author Sandy Lender is scheduling her nervous breakdown for later this afternoon.

Your turn! Can you use it in a sentence? Create something to make me laugh today. I beg you.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, nervous breakdown

Monday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
— Dwight D. Eisenhower

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a HUGE and successful day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, Eisenhower, in the fight

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Romance Author Jamieson Wolf
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

What’s In a Name?

Once upon a time, I wanted to be an actor.

I had taken dramatic arts all through high school and university and wanted nothing more than to grace the stage and screen with my presence. Acting was in my blood; it was the air I breathed. Looking back on it, I suppose it had a lot to do with the fact that I enjoyed being someone else, pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Like most people with a creative bent, I had a lot of self esteem issues that I didn’t want to deal with. Acting gave me the outlet I needed. I could pretend to be someone else, someone other than me.

There was one thing standing in my way, however. My name. My name was boring, boring, boring. I knew that if I was going to be an actor, I would have to reinvent myself. I would need a new name.

There was another reason for changing my name, a far more personal one. I had grown up in a difficult home where I was the victim of physical abuse. I suppose my father didn’t know any other way to discipline his children. Thus, I was the victim of many beatings and altercations.

I was also graced with his names. William, my middle name, was his first name. Harsh, my last name, was his family name. When I left home, I wanted to leave that life behind. I wanted nothing to do with the man who used his fists instead of his words to express his feelings.

I saw this as the perfect opportunity to leave my old self that I was so unhappy with behind and embrace a new me, a better me. A me I could be proud of, a me I could live with. A me that wasn’t unpopular, gangly and awkward. A me that wasn’t a victim but a survivor.

I was fine with my first name, which has always been Jamieson. But I wanted to change my middle and last names to something that would have a spark, something that would give me the new life I was so desperate for. A name that would help me heal.

All through out my first year of university, my mother and I tried to think of different names. I wanted to take her married name, that of Villeneuve, as my last name. Thankfully my stepfather at the time consented and welcomed me into his family. But I needed a middle name, something that would be different.

We tried all kinds of W names. I was already signing things with my initials of JWV, Villeneuve, so it needed to be a W name. We went through all kinds of names: Willhelem, Watkins, Wilbur, Wilkes, Wade, Walden, Waldo, Wallace, Walsh, Walt, Ward. I didn’t like any of those names. Finally my mother suggested Wolfgang and I thought about it for a moment.

I didn’t like Wolfgang, too old sounding. But Wolf…

There was something there, a spark, a tingle. I loved the sound of it, of the three names rolling off of my tongue: Jamieson Wolf Villeneuve…

I had always loved Wolves, loved the sleekness of them, their allure. I loved the idea that they hunted during the night, that they hunted in a pack or alone. They were hunters, strong and brave; things I always wished I had been.

Thus, a new name was born. But I would have to go through one final change before my name was complete.

After university, however, I realized that I loved the craft but not the people. For those of you not familiar with the world of theatre, it’s a cutthroat business. Though I had developed a thick skin, I didn’t have the patience to deal with the fake people, the backstabbing, and the competitiveness. I just wanted to act.

I left the theatre then. It was heartbreaking to do, as I had loved pretending, loved being on stage, the centre of attention. Something was different now, though. With my new name, I was a new person. The ability to be someone else didn’t hold as much allure or mystery as it once had. I didn’t need to pretend anymore.

Without the creative outlet of acting, I turned to writing, something I had always done on the side. I had always written poems and jottings, stories and what not. I began to submit stories to online venues and magazines under the name of Jamieson Wolf Villeneuve, but it felt slightly wrong. The name, perfect for acting, felt like a mouthful with my new creative outlet.

As I began to write more seriously, I knew that I would have to go through one final change as far as my name was concerned. Again I was looking for a name that would stand out, one that would roll off the tongue and be easy to remember.

So, I decided to drop my last name and have my pen name be made up of my first and middle names. It worked for me, separating my regular life from my writing life and giving me the name I never knew I wanted.

Though it took many years, I finally have a name I cherish and I have finally found myself inside the pages of my work and inside my words.

I no longer have to run from myself because I finally know who I am.

Anyone who's been to The Dragon before knows I am a fan of Jamieson's work. You can find links to it from his main blog. This month, he's the featured author at The Romance Studio, promoting his novella Valentine from Cobblestone Press, so that's something phat to check out. Also come back by The Dragon Thursday to see his interview here and check out one of his characters' interviews over at Nigel's blog on Friday. It's a full week for Jamieson.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Jamieson Wolf, Valentine, romance author, pseudonym, pen names, Romance Studio

Word of the day?
Disappear (verb) -- to leave Sandy's computer without a discernable trace
Word in a Sentence: The June Word of the Day file disappeared from Sandy's "Blog It Baby" folder without a discernable trace. Sigh.

Your Turn! Got sentence?
"Some days, I just want the dragon to find my files, my energy, my head..."
Sigh again.

Sunday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks."
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a peaceful day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the June pseudonym discussion.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, pray, thanks, Thessalonians

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Author J'linn Kramer
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

When You Can't Write Under the Nickname "Spitz"

If procreation required more creativity than my parents mustered in naming me I’d have been a lost seed. My siblings didn’t fare much better: Daryld (who died as an infant), Karen and Don, II (twins), and Gary.

I went from being Linda Kramer to being Linda Hutchinson. Not an improvement, common-name-wise. Then each of my brothers married a woman named Linda. I had traded in my birth name and been replaced by two others.

Using a nickname might have been an option if my dad had ever called me anything but Spitz (I hated strained beets), Linny (I still hate that one), or Fluffo (which caused much consternation throughout my teen years). He finally settled in on “Linn” and I was grateful.

When buying a home several years ago we went to the bank to retrieve the down payment from our savings account. We were told we were overdrawn. How can one be overdrawn on their savings account? The clerk had pulled up another Linda J. Hutchinson’s account information. Her husband and mine shared the same common first name.

Being Linda Hutchinson isn’t so bad. I didn’t change it when I re-married because of professional credentials held in that name. But it is so very ordinary. When googling myself I find a host of other writers, a few Realtors, an artist or two, a doctor, a teacher, and a pseudo-hooker. Using my middle initial to differentiate myself doesn’t help. Why couldn’t my middle name have started with an X or a Z? It’s all my parents’ fault.

For a period of several miserable months, a teenage girl called half a dozen times a day accusing me of hiding her dead-beat father. Seems his last known girlfriend’s name was Linda Hutchinson – and she wasn’t highly regarded by his children. This child was angry. She would cry, scream, yell, and threaten until I’d repeat for the tenth time “I do not know your father” and hang up on her. A few minutes later she’d call again. I didn’t know her father but vowed to pop him in the mouth if I ever met him.

I thought the angry teenager’s verbal assaults were as bad as it could get. I was wrong. Her attacks were nothing compared to the bill collectors skip-chasing a woman who seemed to have scammed and conned her way through several states.

But it’s my name and I’m comfortable with it. I use it when writing non-fiction and it’s always a thrill to see that byline. It’s also convenient when depositing checks.

Fortunately, as a writer of fiction, I have the option – and near-duty – to come up with a pen name that is different from anyone else’s. I get to be someone else, one who lives in another world of my own making.

Being J’linn Kramer, knowing I’m the only one in the world – until someone with little creativity sees it and names their kid after me – is something I treasure.

Bio: Linda J. Hutchinson is frequently published in print and online media. She writes about construction, travel, food, volunteerism, writing, living with chronic illness, and parenting. She often spends too much time with hard-hat hair but has been told she cleans up real good. J’linn Kramer’s work has been published online. A novel is in process. http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Linda Hutchinson, J'Linn Kramer, pseudonym, pen names, dragon

No word of the day today.
I don't have the energy.
Try again tomorrow to see if I located the file. :)

Friday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The greatest moments of the human spirit may be deduced from the greatest moments in music."
— Aaron Copland

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a great and moving day!
Keep reading for today's odd installment in the pseudonym discussion. Commenting on it still counts toward the eBook contest. :)
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, human spirit, music, Aaron Copland

Exploring the Pen Name
It's Another Pseudonym Birthday Person...
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

Today I must pause in our guest posting to honor another birthday boy. This is the 48th birthday of John Taylor, the bass guitarist for Duran Duran. Anyone who's even heard my name must know I'm an obsessed fan. Notice the enormous cheesy grin on my face in the picture above. Yes, put me in between John Taylor and Nick Rhodes and I suddenly become "giddy with joy". That was just a month ago...and I've not quite recovered yet.

What does this have to do with our pen name discussion here at The Dragon? Why, guess what Mr. Taylor uses! Now, to be very truthful, he just uses a portion of his name, not his full birth name, so perhaps calling that a pseudonym isn't totally accurate. You decide. But I think he chose wisely given his profession.

Any Duranies out there want to weigh in on the debate? Which sounds better for a bass player rockin' out in the '80s, '90s and today: Nigel Taylor or John Taylor? Oh, yes, and everyone who has any familiarity with my fantasy trilogy just did a double-take.

Let me post the disclaimer here: Choices Meant for Gods is entirely a work of fiction. The NAMES, characters, places, and incidents depicted therein are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual event or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Having said that, I should explain that Joshua Nigel Taiman of the Choices fantasy trilogy encompasses many characteristics of not just a celebrity rock star, but of a certain Mr. Edward Rochester of Jane Eyre fame, and of himself. Nigel is Nigel...not anyone else. If you'd like to be the judge of that, you can pick up a copy of the novel anywhere fine books are sold (you probably have to order it by now) or on Amazon. You can get the electronic version for less than $4 at my publisher's site.

But John Taylor is celebrating a birthday under his pen name today, so I'd like to use this blog to say "Happy Birthday from one of your many crazed and adoring fans!"

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: John Taylor, Duran Duran, birthday, Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester, pseudonym, pen name, Nigel, dragon

Friday, June 20, 2008
Word of the Day
Celebrate (transitive verb) -- to praise; to proclaim; to announce in public; to observe something with a festival or great rejoicing; to perform a ceremony (especially a religious ceremony) (from Latin meaning "to fill" or "to frequent" or "to celebrate")

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, the people of Arcana City often celebrate before ships launch from the city's harbor for ports in Bellan, but Chariss finds herself sad and disappointed that Nigel is joining the sailor Henry Bakerson on his voyage across the Ocean of Meredore.

Your turn! What celebratory sentences do you have to share with us today?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Gods, celebrate, dragon

Thursday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"The enemy is inside, and we find it hard to distinguish him from some of our innermost thoughts and nurturings."
— Author Ariel Dorfman

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a creative day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, Ariel Dorfman

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Author Lisa Haselton
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

When Someone Already Uses Your Name...

In my younger days, I may have toyed with a pseudonym, but when I started writing and submitting early on, I didn’t use one. I didn’t have any fiction published, but I did receive my first rejections. My first actual publications were clips for local papers, and I used my real name without any hesitation. I still do. Any non-fiction work has my real name.

However, using my real name for fiction would cause chaos since it is already on the New York Times bestseller’s list. Yep, there’s someone out there using my real name, in the genres I write in. She already has somewhere around 60 novels released, too, so I think she gets to keep using it.

It could be fun to try publishing fiction with my real name and see what kind of confusion it would bring, though. Hhhm. Using my real name may even get me in a door or two, to start, too. It would be fun to see our books mixed together on the shelves. Maybe I’d even get to be a celebrity for a little while. Would a publisher actually publish a novel by two people with the same name? Doubtful.
I’ve always wanted to make a name for myself in the fiction world, and since I can’t do it with my given name, I’ve had to come up with a fake one. I came up with one, but it didn’t feel right once I was ready to put it down. My original pseudonym was simply a first name I really liked along with my maternal grandparents’ last name. Then I decided I’d be more comfortable keeping my real first name and using that last name, however, I had a cousin-in-law with that name, and it seemed wrong to have two of us in the same family. She isn’t a writer, and I certainly wouldn’t introduce myself to any family with that name, but it just seemed awkward.

So then, there I was, knowing I wanted my same first name, but a last name I felt comfortable with and that meant something to me. So, I dug back into family history and chose ‘Haselton’. It has a special meaning and the spelling is uncommon. Oh, and it isn’t on any book shelves. Yet!

To learn more about Lisa Haselton's work, check out her Web site and be sure to visit her blog!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Lisa Haselton, fiction world, pseudonym, pen names, dragon

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Word of the Day
Propagate (transitive verb) -- to transmit something through generations; to pass a characteristic from one generation to the next; to make something known; to cause an animal or plant to multiply (from Latin meaning "offspring")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, the force of the geasa that Sandy Lender has created does not necessarily propagate through family lines, but is a power breathed into a person at conception by the gods. Some families are more prone to handling the power for good, thus the gods allow it to propagate until a family member who cannot handle it comes along and the power appears to die out.

Your turn! Do you have any clever sentences of your own here in our world to help us define today's word?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices, fantasy trilogy, propagate, dragon

WELCOME TO POST 800 -- WOO-HOO!!!

Wednesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon."
— Konrad Adenauer

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a great and creative day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, horizon, Adenauer

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Paranormal Romance Author Charlotte Boyett-Compo
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

What's in a Name?

We are defined by our names. If you’re a Horatio, you most likely have red hair, wear hideous sunglasses, and use ironic speech while repeatedly repeating your subordinates’ names. On the other hand, if you’re a Declan, you’re a buff Irish brigand with a head full of curly black hair that also pelts nicely between your manly pecs and you have a to-die-for brogue.

We’ve all seen those little games like: What’s your vampire name (mine is Serenula Lonesomhel)? Pirate name (Black Charity Rackham)? Superhero name (The Purple Phantom)? And my personal favorite…Viking name (Kaðlín Leafslayer). We can’t resist plugging in the information, giggling or groaning or snorting depending on how much we agree with the name. While each of the ones assigned to me are perfectly acceptable nom de plumes, no one I know would recognize me and recognition is vital. They must ALL be assimilated into my world. Resistance is futile! Bow down and…

But I digress.

I use my legal name. The reason why is simple: I decided when I wrote my first book back in 1986 that if I was going to put my heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into writing it, I was damned sure gonna get the recognition I craved. I wasn’t worried about the neighbors, the folks at church, the PTA, whomever seeing my name on a book and coming after me with torches, pitchforks and a giant red P for pornographer in their eager hands. I thought: “Screw ‘em if they can’t take a joke!”

Since I was knee-high to a Georgia blue tick coon dog, I had wanted to write. I penned my first book…a western titled Western Flame…when I was the ripe old age of twelve. (It was in homage to Michael Landon of Bonanza fame. Even back then I loved looking at that boy’s rear end in those tight buff-colored pants!)

I told everyone who would listen that one day I would have my name on a book.

“Yeah, right, Four-Eyes!” they scoffed. “In your dreams!”

Jump forward forty-two years, and you’ll see why my full name on my books was a must.

I graduated from Albany High School on 6/6/66. Those girls I went to school with…like Paula from the Food Network…used to look down on me because I wasn’t part of their in-crowd. I didn’t fit. I was the one who was always scribbling in a notebook and even though I wore contacts, Four-Eyes was still my pet name. When the invitation from the Chix of ’66 arrived in my mailbox…touting a cruise those ladies had set up…I informed them I couldn’t go because I would be on a book tour during that weekend.

BOOK TOUR??? VOUS????

Yes, moi.

Well, now……..

Then I was asked to provide paperbacks to those attending the cruise: 40 of them. I didn’t, but I did provide a postcard for a free download of one of my books for whoever has the ballettes to email me.
Ain’t life grand?

You can read all about Charlotte and her incredible collection of Windlegends titles at her official webpage. And you can join her reading group and visit her blogs on Facebook and MySpace. Don't forget there's a fabulous micro-blogging phenomenon called Twitter where Charlotte and Sandy can be "followed" as well. Get on board, folks!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Charlotte Boyette-Compo, paranormal romance, windlegends, micro-blogging, twitter, pseudonym, pen names, dragon

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Word of the Day
Wish (noun) -- a desire; a longing for something; a petition for one's desire; a goal; an expression of longing (from Old English "wyscan")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, the old wizard Hrazon has taught Chariss the bizarre saying, "If wishes were fishes, we'd eat well for a year," which no one in their circle of friends has heard before.

Your turn! Do you have any creative sentences to share with us today?
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices trilogy, fantasy trilogy, wish, dragon

Tuesday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Conran's Law of Housework: It expands to fill the time available plus half an hour."
— Shirley Conran

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a fun day!
I don't know if today's quote was very inspirational, but I found it humorous. Keep reading for today's installment in the pen name discussion: Happy birthday to Barry Manilow!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, fun, Shirely Conran

Exploring the Pen Name
Birthday Examples Include the Fabulous Barry Manilow...and ME!
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

I get the fabulous honor of sharing a birthday (June 17) with one of my idols: the incomparable Barry Manilow. If you've read this blog before, you may have stumbled across my obsession with the man. I think he's just grand. I've adored him since I was about five years old when I first heard Mandy. It's been my favorite song for...oh...33 years now. (I'll pause while you do the math.) How do you think my main character in Choices Meant for Gods got her nickname? I can't believe it was by accident that she whispered "Amanda" in my ear and one day Nigel started calling her "Mandy."

How does this fit into the pseudonym discussion we've been holding during the month of June? Well, let's just say that Mr. Manilow adopted a pseudonym of his own. Does anyone out there know his given name? I do. Bwuahahahaha. But, because I have an evil streak in me, I'm not going to post it here. I'm going to let one of his other fans weigh in on that. I mean, it's only fair to keep the discussion part of the pseudonym game going, right?

Personally, I think Barry Manilow has done quite well with his moniker. It flows nicely. It's well-known now because he's built that name into an empire. He OWNS Las Vegas. His Music and Passion show at the Hilton, which I had the good fortune to experience back in March, is exquisite. The man will be an outstanding performer forever. He's just got it in his blood.

I'd like to have that kind of success for my characters with my name, even if I've elected not to use a pen name. I'm going with what I got: Sandy Lender. I stick the words Fantasy Author in front of it as often as I can and then hope for the best. What I find fabulous is that you can also stick the words "Barry Manilow Fan" in front of my name. If you're also a fan, you might find today's Word of the Day (in the next post) fun. Play along!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Barry Manilow, birthday, pseudonym, pen names, Music and Passion, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Gods

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Word of the Day
Phenomenal (adjective) -- remarkable; outstanding; fabulous; extraordinary; known through the senses, not the mind

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Nigel Taiman considers the lovely Amanda Chariss a phenomenal woman whom he'd like to marry, but she's a little busy saving the world.

Your turn! What great sentences do you have inside you today that could illustrate our vocabulary word? Any Barry fans want to give it a whirl? :)

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices trilogy, fantasy trilogy, phenomenal, dragon

Monday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday."
— John Wayne

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you an exciting, creative day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion and your chance to enter the contest to win a couple of fabulous eBooks.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, John Wayne

Exploring the Pen Name

With Guest Blogger and Paranormal Romance Author Sharon Ashwood

(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

The Power Behind a Pen Name

I write contemporary paranormal romances with an urban fantasy flavour. My characters—dark, edgy, sexy, and of course modest creatures—are frequently non-humans trying to fit into a human society. It’s that collision (train wreck?) of magic and the mundane that interests me as a storyteller.

Now, I’m supposed to be writing about choosing a pen name. That’s a good example of magic bumping into the everyday world. In every mythology, names have power. They invoke certain qualities, whether mystically or psychologically or both. As an author, our name is one of the very first messages we send to the world around us. It’s in bright bold letters on the cover of our books. We want to choose that opening fanfare carefully.

“Ashwood” came to me when I was walking through the park near my home. It was early spring, bright with that new rush of energy that comes just as the earth is starting to wake. Birds were everywhere, warming up their lungs for the nesting season. All the flowerbeds were newly dug, the black earth smelled rich and spicy, and the trees were leafing out in brilliant green.

Then and there, I knew I wanted a name that would invoke that feeling of vitality and connectedness, because that is what I want to create for my readers.

For me, a name recalling the natural world provides that. In the Welsh language, the word for wood (gwydd) is very similar to wisdom (gwyddon). That made me start thinking about trees. In the end, I chose Ashwood for my name because I love the imagery connected the ash tree myth.

The Ash is the World Tree, called Yggdrasil in Norse Mythology. In Celtic myth, it is Nuin. The roots of this mythological tree extend deep into the underworld and the topmost branches support the heavens. The trunk is Earth. In short, the World Ash is a unifying force, connecting the reality of the here and now with the wisdom of the past and future. Through its power, the realms of seen and unseen converge. What better symbol for a paranormal writer?

Also, the wood of the ash has always been valued for its strength and straight grain. The shafts of spears and arrows were often made of ash wood because their flight would be true. What author doesn’t want her books to hit the mark?

When I began Ravenous, the first book of the Dark Forgotten series, I hadn’t chosen my pen name yet. It’s interesting that one of its main themes is the interconnectedness of human and immortal worlds, and the bonds that the past has on our present and future. I guess those ideas were already at work in my imagination.

Sharon's novel Ravenous will be out from Signet Eclipse in early 2009. You can check out her writing and info about her at her Web site and blogs here and here.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Sharon Ashwood, Ravenous, Signet Eclipse, pseudonym, pen name, dragon

Monday, June 16, 2008
Word of the Day
Incur (transitive verb) -- to bring upon oneself; to become liable for something or some action because of something you've done; to become subject to actions because of your actions (from Latin meaning "to run into")

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, Godric Taiman incurs his son's wrath when he calls Chariss's character into question.

Your turn! Do you have any justifiable sentences in you today?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Gods, incur, dragon

Saturday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Self-deception remains the most difficult deception."
— Joan Didion

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a good, positive day!
Keep reading for more of today's posts, including today's "safety" installment in the pseudonym discussion. ;)
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, Joan Didion

Exploring the Pen Name

Or...using a moniker for safety

(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook versions of Choices Meant for Gods and Apparitions. Details were posted June 1.)

Back in high school or junior high, I read a short story about a teacher (who was really a hermit-like wizard) who lived on the outskirts of a small village. A traveler came to the village, asked a few too many questions about a wizard, and went to confront the teacher. When the teacher refused to come out of her cave-like home, the traveler warned her, "I can use your real name to control you—I know your real name." Shock and horror!

Turns out the joke was on the traveler. Using a person's true name not only forces the confrontation, it forces the person into their true form. In this case, the hermit-like wizard pretending to be a teacher popped out of her cave and assume the form of a dragon, and promptly ate the vexing traveler.

I wish I could remember the name of the story and author (and anyone who recognizes it is more than welcome to leave a comment here!) but that was at least 20 to 25 years ago. I have since read variations on that "true name" theme. I've seen the idea morphed to include mind control, slavery and instant "attraction" (if you know what I mean there).

Obviously, the concept intrigued me as a writer of fantasy fiction. I even have Hrazon and Chariss allude to it in my Choices fantasy trilogy. Chariss mentions to The Master Rothahn that she doesn't want to say his true name aloud for fear of the wind carrying it to an enemy. Now, in my mythos, the person who wishes to exert influence over you must use your true name in a spell. It's not as easy as just "speak friend and enter."

This relates to pen names rather loosely, I know, but entertained me, nonetheless. For some authors, writing under a pseudonym is synonymous with taking on an alter-ego or hiding the true name and true form from the world. (For some authors, taking on a pen name is a marketing necessity.) For those hiding in cave-like dwellings on the outskirts of small villages, I wish you much success in avoiding nosy travelers. But let me know if I can send you a nice jar of bar-b-que sauce for the few that find you.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: pseudonym, pen name, dragon, wizard, teacher, Choices trilogy, fantasy trilogy, Chariss

Saturday, June 14, 2008
Word of the Day
Banner (noun) -- a standard; a cloth attached to a staff or pole to be carried by an official; the flag of a nation or state; the flag of an army; the king's standard or sign (from Germanic)

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Kings, the Ungol lady Nulthi sews a banner for Chariss's general to carry into battle.

Your turn! What creative sentence can you come up with for us on Flag Day?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings, banner, dragon

Friday's Inspirational Quote of the Day
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
— Philip K. Dick

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender wishes you a real day!
Keep reading for today's installment in the pseudonym discussion from a fantastic paranormal horror author. Seemed fitting for Friday the 13th!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: inspirational quote, quote of the day, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, dragon, reality, Philip K. Dick

Exploring the Pen Name
With Guest Blogger and Paranormal Horror Author Raven Bower
(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook version of Choices Meant for Gods. Details were posted June 1.)

Practical Use of the Pen Name

My decision to use a pen name was partly based off practicality. Being an Herbalist and a fiction writer, I wanted to keep my fiction separate from my non-fiction. That way when a reader picks up a Raven Bower book they know it’s fiction with a supernatural romantic slant instead of an herbal.

Of course, I’ve yet to write an herbal…fiction is where my heart is and where my passions flow. But you never know! One day that non-fiction bug will bite.

I also teach religious education at our church and thought using a pen name would help eliminate the “Eeek! That strange lady who writes the supernatural stuff is teaching our kids!” thing. I’m glad I did. People have rather strange reactions when you tell them you write fiction – let alone fiction about romance, ghosts, crime and the supernatural. Some people are intrigued by what I do and others…not so much. It doesn’t help that I live in the Bible belt and most of the newspapers up here won’t touch me or my work with a blessed crucifix – even though priests have read Apparitions and enjoyed it. Go figure.

So having a pen name allows me to choose to be writer or go incognito.

How did I happen upon this particular pen name?

Originally, Raven Bower was a character of mine for an occult suspense book. Unfortunately the plot had holes the size of the Atlantic and I didn’t quite like the flow. One day perhaps I’ll fill those gaps, redirect the currents and the story will be written properly – with a new heroine name!

Why Raven?

Ravens and crows are my favorite birds and I enjoy watching their antics. They also like food as much as I do. Have you ever noticed how they’re always eating? Granted, I don’t eat carcasses on the side of the road…but hey…a nice grilled steak… :)

The mythology behind the raven is intriguing and split – much like our political parties, but let's not go there. Some legends associate the raven with bad luck, others give it the ability to foresee death. Yet others associate it with blessings, if you’re kind to it, and link ravens with the soul – I prefer this one.

Why the Bower?

A bower is a shelter made of vines or tree boughs. If done well they’re gorgeous. I particularly like the ones made of Wisteria. I lack the patience to make one, but I can still ogle other people’s bowers! Even though they’re pretty, I chose the name more off their use as a shelter. Basically, the entire pen name means shelter for souls. A bit eerie perhaps but fitting to the genres I write.

Do I regret using a pen name?

Not really. I answer to Raven and do almost everything writing-related with that name. Admittedly, it can get confusing when I’m with someone who thinks of me as Jen and run into another who thinks of me as Raven. Sure makes for interesting situations!

I've read Raven's first paranormal horror novel, Apparitions, and can highly recommend it. Criminy, I'll never sit in a parked car with the windows down again. To learn more about Raven, you can check out her site here. And, even though she's a friend of mine, and we attended Context20 as panelists together last year, I just can't think of her as Jen. She's the "shelter for souls" person all the way for me. :)

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Raven Bower, Apparitions, paranormal, horror, horror author, pseudonym, pen name, dragon

Friday, June 13, 2008
Word of the Day
Fortune (noun) -- a hypothetical force; a power often personified to affect someone's life or the events in a life; luck (either good or bad); fate; destiny; material success or lack thereof; financial success or lack thereof (from Middle English meaning "chance" or "luck")

Word in a Sentence: In the Choices fantasy trilogy, Nigel Taiman considers it his good fortune that Chariss has been brought into his life.

Your turn! Welcome to Friday the 13th! It's a perfect little day to toss about fate and fortune in our creative writing. What intriguing sentences can you come up with for us to illustrate our vocabulary word?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, Choices trilogy, fantasy trilogy, fortune, dragon