Bad Penny – working title
I’ve decided to tentatively call the first book in my Frank Shaw series “Bad Penny.” This is the thriller I’ve been talking about. It’s a working title, so it may change.
As for progress, I’m close to 14,000 words. Huzzah! And I’m having a blast writing it. Every day I look forward to my writing time.
For those curious, the book takes place in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The plot will move it across eastern part of the state and then down into Colorado.
Frank Moses Shaw, ex-con . . .
Ah, folks. I’m just loving it.
I’m also generating options for a pen name. Althought I know there’s overlap between readers of epic fantasy and thrillers (hey, look at me!), I still think the genres are too different to try to spread a brand name across both. I read about Tess Gerritsen, who started in romance, using the same name for her thrillers, which is all I think she writes now. She reports that she had a number of the thriller readers pick up her romances and vice versa, and then get frustrated because her brand meant one thing to them, but they got another.
If I was writing thrillerish SF, like Card’s Ender’s Game, or thrillerish fantasy, like Correia’s Monster Hunter, then maybe the stretch wouldn’t be so far. For those of you who are thriller readers, I’ll be posting some possible names in the near future. I’d like your reactions on the options, so keep a look out.
As for CURSE OF A DARK GOD, no word yet from ye Editors. I’m expecting a reply March or April. Yeah, I turned it into my agent end of November. She submitted it to Tor in December. No, I don’t like these lead times any better than you do. But it is what it is. My job is to produce. My target this year is two novels–DARK GOD’S GLORY (book 3 in the series) and BAD PENNY. My stretch goal is to finish the working outline for the second Frank Shaw book (already have the premise) and actually start on it before the end of the year. We’ll see what happens.
I like the idea of using a pen name. I have probably spent more time thinking up pen names for when I am published than actually writing. (Maybe not, but my priorities are obviously not what they should be.)
One of the best helps I have found for this is wordsmith.org ‘s anagram site. Use the advanced feature, it really helps tailor your options.
Did you know that the only anagram for John Brown is Brown John. Not enough vowels I guess. So I used the title of Servant of a Dark God. My favorites are below and sound to me like gritty novel writer names.
Tanager Vodkas Ford
Farragos Vodka Dent
Kaftan Graved Roods
Kaftan Sa’vor Dodge
I did run across a phrase that might fit somewhere in your novel, Fragrant Vodka Dose.
Good Luck!
Yes, Author Fragrant Vodka . . .
😀
Nah, go with color coding. Mysteries could be John Turquoise, or maybe John Fuchsia. And then there’s John Pink… what genre would that fit? 🙂 Get a color paint sampler at the House Despot near you and you’ll find all the shades of John you could ever want. John Royal Blue! Sure, why not?
I like pennames for different genres. It’s all about branding. You don’t have to keep them secret from each other: it’s just to let buyers know what they’re getting. Coke is not Diet Coke is not Coke Zero is not Fanta is not Sprite, so when I buy one over another, I know exactly what I’m getting.
John Brown…Jack Brawn. Now there’s a manly thriller name! 😉
I agree, Sam. BTW, I will be posting my top 10 names here in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to see which one wins.