Hi Gerhi,

I never had the privilege of meeting you, but from your comments I can tell that you are a very thoughtful and intelligent young man.:-)

Gerhi, keep in mind that I agreed with Daan.

I’m a new subscriber to your blog and am enjoying it greatly. I’ve written non-fiction articles for many years, but started this new year with the resolve to start again with fiction. Going to other writers’ blogs led me to your website and blog.

Thanks for providing all the great information you do through your website and blog.

I look forward to your insights on hosting, since I have a small hosting service myself. Hopefully, I’ll learn not only about fiction writing, but about how to improve the service I offer.

Thanks!
Craig Hardee

There were thirty-one entrants. Three, almost 10 percent, spelled my first name wrong. No hard feelings. It happens daily. Just highlight the points made about being unpronouncable and unspellable. With the number of variations on my surname I couldn’t tell if it were spelled wrong or not.

I loved Brandy Brows conjunctions. We used to do the same when people asked us what we were going to call our children. Until my dad pulled me aside and said that they don’t care what we named them, as long as it was a ‘real’ name.

My wife thinks the whole exercise is silly. Why would I want to change a perfectly good name. She uses screen reading sofware and her email cuts of my surname at Jan… so her computer read me as ‘Jeory January’. The programme was written by Americans so that is what I expect to happen to my name. But back to judging.

I named my son Benjamin so I deleted all options focussing on that, sorry. But thinking of Walter Benjamin, Benjamin as a surname could have worked well.

That left five options. A changed, anglisized version of some sort; a real name in variation; an initials and surname; other options such as only a first name or an initial for a surname; and keeping my name, though there is no consitency on what my name is.

I found the idea of being part of a lunch box as a PBJ quite funny, but I can’t cope with that many initials.

In the end I cannot say that any one suggestion jumped out at me or convinced me either way so that I can make a final decision. So my vote is going to go for the comment that made me think the most.

But before that (see, I’m learning to build tension into my writing) I looked over my bookshelf and three names popped out.

Ursula K. Le Guinn - she made it work for her, complicated spelling four parts and all.

C.J. Cherryh - after 15 years I still don’t know how to pronounce that.

And Lewis Carroll - a pseudonym. Apparently the Queen (the real one) liked his Alice and Wonderland and let him know that he may dedicate his next book to her. A royal may is more of a command and he did dedicate his next book to her. A mathematical treatise under his real name.

And now, the winner, for making me think the most is (and this also possibly means that I’m not changing a thing) Debbie Thorkildsen. Especially her last comment: “Have fun writing and publishing as you.”

Thanks for everybody who pitched in ideas. Nothing anybody said was ignored.

And thanks for the spotlight Randy. I really helped me to focus on my identity as a writer. I am still undecided but I have lot more ways to think about it and I will come to a final decision soon. Then I just need to write that dastardly book.

Firstly, I think you are misjudging my age or maybe I’m misjudging yours. Secondly, you are welcome to contact me. There is a contact form on my site you can use. I’d love to exchange notes.

Ons kan dit selfs in Afrikaans doen!

Write as you. (Maybe Gerhi Jansen?) but I like your name. If you get so famous you need body guards, you’ll have money to pay them.

I say go with your heart; what do you want to see when you look at your first novel on the local book store shelf?

New International Bestseller!

Here is my personal choice shortlist (none of which was suggested as far as I know):
Gerhard J. Van Vuuren
Gerhard J. V. Vuuren
G. J. V. Vuuren
Janse V. Vuuren

And most probably in the order I prefer them.

Now, let Randy get on with his blog. Randy, do you consider the ‘art of blogging’ a good idea in developing craft. Forgetting the marketing benefit how much priority would you give it as a writing exercise?

I have a pretty good idea how old you are Gerhi. I have visited your website (the previous one) sometime ago. I’m 54.

My comment yesterday was a joke!! As in ‘not to be taken seriously’, as in ‘not even remotely resembling the truth’. That is the way it is with jokes.

However, if I have offended you or any reader, I am happy to set the record straight and I hereby offer my humble apologies.

Gerhi, for your short list, I like Gerhard J. Van Vuuren the best.

Thanks for letting us take part in this little name the author session. It was fun, and things like this help us get to know each other a little better.

www.camillecannon.blogspot.com

Livy

Livy