Pen name...

[glynndah]

I once bought a book by Banana Yamamoto strictly because of the author's name.

 

[Corylea]

I once bought a book by Banana Yamamoto strictly because of the author's name.

I think you had to!

 

[tickledkitty]

I like Marsh's idea. Ok, so I frequently like Marsh's ideas, but that's not the point.

How 'bout Carter Ash? Carter Hawk? Carter St. James?

Seriously, I like Zeb Carter the best.

 

[impressive]

Seriously, I like Zeb Carter the best.

Well, Heinlein's in no position to object... but I'd think twice about using a fictional character's name for a fictional author of fictional stories.

 

[Anna_Malia75]

Well, Heinlein's in no position to object... but I'd think twice about using a fictional character's name for a fictional author of fictional stories.

Plus, any potential buyer who's read Heinlein will think, "hey, that guy's ripping off Heinlein." And you don't want potential buyers to focus on your name; you want them to be thinking solely about your story.

 

[jomar]

I guess nobody here reads science fiction. Zeb Carter is the name of one of the principal characters in Robert Heinlein's The Number of the Beast. I'd be surprised if it were Zeb's real name, and even if it is, he probably doesn't want to be thought of as a fictional character himself.

Ah. It's not that nobody reads science fiction, but maybe not that book. Or maybe that book that long ago.

 

[Corylea]

Plus, any potential buyer who's read Heinlein will think, "hey, that guy's ripping off Heinlein."

Exactly. You also don't want potential buyers to think that you're a jerk for ripping off Heinlein -- that'll make your story start out with a strike against it already, and nobody needs that.

 

[tickledkitty]

Well, Heinlein's in no position to object... but I'd think twice about using a fictional character's name for a fictional author of fictional stories.

I read that post and immediately forgot about it. I wouldn't use it either. Too bad, though. It's a good name.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

What's wrong with your birth name?

Wouldn't you like to see your name, Zeb Carter in print. To me, I think that's a great name.

Maybe, you don't want others to know that you write erotica, but I'm proud of everything that I write.

I don't know, maybe I'm in a difference place in my life, but having people, friends and family, once they get over the shock of it, know that I write porn, I mean, erotica, they are all fine with it.

"So, how's Freddie doing? I haven't seen him in a while."

"Freddie? Oh, he's not well. No one sees him anymore. He's been locked up in his mansion for the past 19 months writing pornography."

"No way!"

"Yeah, we fear that he's gone over the edge."

By the way, Zeb, if you aren't going to use your name, Zeb Carter, may I use it?

(just kidding).

Congrats on another green E. Soon, you'll be up there with SR71 and Killermuffin. Only, you need to save some for the rest of us (lol).

Zeb Carter isn't my birth name...he's a character in a well known authors series of books, the primary one being the "Number of the Beast" so it's out as far as using as a pen name.

Thanks...the E wasn't there last nite when the story posted, I was crestfallen.

 

[john-the-author]

I read that post and immediately forgot about it. I wouldn't use it either. Too bad, though. It's a good name.

I was a Heinlein fan for years as an adolescent and a young adult. Then I read "The Number of the Beast" and was appalled at how bad a book it was. I'd met him several times by then and I knew he'd been sick, but this felt like a last attempt to get a book out by a guy with too little time left. (It wasn't, as it happened, but Jesus....!) Every overworked Heinlein metaphor and image was there. Oy. I got rid of all my Heinlein not long after that.

Subsequently, I found out a lot more about Bob from mutual friends. Among other things he was an incredible fascist who believed that America should conquer the world because we could, and then enforce (his words) a Pax Americana on the globe. There was a great deal more to those depths that I decided I wouldn't plumb at all.

He did have a great place up in the hills though, and his wife Ginny was a wonderful woman. (If you ever wanted to know where the image of Lazarus Long's mother came from....)

The fact that I didn't remember that Zeb Carter was from that book is a tribute to how well I've suppressed my memory of it. But that name was the best part of the book, I'd say.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Thanks everyone...I will take all the advice given to heart a play around with the names some more.

I know I can't keep Zeb Carter, but maybe some variation will work with the other name I have in the list.

Thanks,

 

[impressive]

I was a Heinlein fan for years as an adolescent and a young adult. Then I read "The Number of the Beast" and was appalled at how bad a book it was. I'd met him several times by then and I knew he'd been sick, but this felt like a last attempt to get a book out by a guy with too little time left. (It wasn't, as it happened, but Jesus....!) Every overworked Heinlein metaphor and image was there. Oy. I got rid of all my Heinlein not long after that.

Subsequently, I found out a lot more about Bob from mutual friends. Among other things he was an incredible fascist who believed that America should conquer the world because we could, and then enforce (his words) a Pax Americana on the globe. There was a great deal more to those depths that I decided I wouldn't plumb at all.

He did have a great place up in the hills though, and his wife Ginny was a wonderful woman. (If you ever wanted to know where the image of Lazarus Long's mother came from....)

The fact that I didn't remember that Zeb Carter was from that book is a tribute to how well I've suppressed my memory of it. But that name was the best part of the book, I'd say.

I have entirely different memories of that book. Now I'm afraid to open it again. *sigh*

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have entirely different memories of that book. Now I'm afraid to open it again. *sigh*

Me too, I remember enjoying that book immensely. Yes is was full of Heinlein metaphors but that was the draw for me. I still remember it as a good read.

 

[Anna_Malia75]

Me too, I remember enjoying that book immensely. Yes is was full of Heinlein metaphors but that was the draw for me. I still remember it as a good read.

And all that fine Heinlein dialogue.

As for a pen name, I like the idea of a two syllable first name and a one-syllable surname. Just something about the rhythm of it.

My nomination: Carter Stryke.

 

[cloudy]

I worked with a woman named "Marquita" for a while when I worked at Gap. We never called her that, though, preferring to make up our own outlandish names to call her, like Shenaynay, Shiniqua, Bonbaybay....she answered to them all, no matter how horrible.

The weirdest name I've ever run across, and I swear I'm not making this up, was a girl that I hired to work in the Birmingham Store when I was working on getting it opened....her name was Aquanetta.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Thanks everyone...I will take all the advice given to heart a play around with the names some more.

I know I can't keep Zeb Carter, but maybe some variation will work with the other name I have in the list.

Thanks,

You COULD use Z. Carter. (Or even Z. B. Carter!) Why not?

AND, can I say YAY about publishing with eXcessica?!?!?!

 

[john-the-author]

I have entirely different memories of that book. Now I'm afraid to open it again. *sigh*

There were a few pages of plot and character development up front, 300 or so pages of the author jerking off for his own satisfaction, and a quarter page of "ending" at the end that was all deus ex machina with no substance, no motive, and no resolution. Yeah, it was pretty bad. Most of his previous books and stories had clear characters and clear motives. There was nothing to this except "looking for the black hats," but no real reason as to who, what, of why.

LOCUS (the SF writers trade journal) not only sad pretty bad things about the book but went a step further and attributed it to declining mental powers. It was not a good review.

 

[john-the-author]

You COULD use Z. Carter. (Or even Z. B. Carter!) Why not?

AND, can I say YAY about publishing with eXcessica?!?!?!

I like Z. B. Carter. That'd fly nicely! And, yes, Selena Kitt is right: far too little fuss has been made about your getting published with eXcessica.


YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

There were a few pages of plot and character development up front, 300 or so pages of the author jerking off for his own satisfaction, and a quarter page of "ending" at the end that was all deus ex machina with no substance, no motive, and no resolution. Yeah, it was pretty bad. Most of his previous books and stories had clear characters and clear motives. There was nothing to this except "looking for the black hats," but no real reason as to who, what, of why.

LOCUS (the SF writers trade journal) not only sad pretty bad things about the book but went a step further and attributed it to declining mental powers. It was not a good review.

I remember it differently, the end wasn't really in the 'The Number of the Beast' but other of his books. I can't recall if it was in 'Sail into the Sunset' or 'The Cat Who Walked Through Walls' or 'Friday'. There were a whole series of books that dealt with the Boroughs multi-dimensional worlds where Lazarus Long and Slip-Stick Libby and a host of other character from his past novels appeared.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I like Z. B. Carter. That'd fly nicely! And, yes, Selena Kitt is right: far too little fuss has been made about your getting published with eXcessica.


YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

I'm not published yet, I have yet to submit a piece, although I think it will be The Du Page Affair once I have it complete and then The Walker Brigade also once it done too.

 

[john-the-author]

I remember it differently, the end wasn't really in the 'The Number of the Beast' but other of his books. I can't recall if it was in 'Sail into the Sunset' or 'The Cat Who Walked Through Walls' or 'Friday'. There were a whole series of books that dealt with the Boroughs multi-dimensional worlds where Lazarus Long and Slip-Stick Libby and a host of other character from his past novels appeared.

I remember listening in awe to Algis Budrys (the author) ripping Heinlein a new asshole for being a writer who could write better, who knew he could write better, who had written better, and still turned out crap knowing that it was crap that was way below him, specifically, "The Cat Who Walked Through Walls." It was an impressive rant. Like I say, after "Number of the Beast," I was done.