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November 22, 2003
Anne's question re pennames
filed under your questions, my answers
Anne wanted to know where my penname came from. Well first, it had to be Italian. My father isn't living, but I don't doubt he would travel a long way to make his discontent known if I had called myself Wanda Sobrinski. Second, (and I'm not making this up) the publisher wants something in the middle of the alphabet. Jane Abraham and Jane Zimmer (if they existed) would have their books shelved at the very top and very bottom, which isn't good for sales. The publisher wants something in the L range. D isn't ideal, but it's better than A. Third, it had to be something easy to write. I have (on occasion) autographed two hundred books at a time. Fourth, it had to be pleasing to me. And fifth: that part is a secret.
November 22, 2003 06:23 PM