Coming out of the Closet because of Those Wicked, Wicked Ting Tings – don’t worry mom, its not what you think

Every morning (okay, honestly I average three out of seven) I get on my faithful treadmill plug in my ipod and get my exercisin’ done. I have a list of songs that start out in a slow beat and quicken until I am at a full speed run.

One of my favorite songs to start running to is a song by the Ting Tings called That’s not my Name. It’s very catchy and I often find myself singing it during the day while I clean my kitchen. And singing it to my kids when they are all tucked into bed at night and calling me for that third glass of milk. And… singing it to strangers in the library when they ask me if I forgot to pay the fine for that one overdue book. Which really is my name, but…beside the point.

Why do I bring up the Ting Tings and their evil Not My Name song? Well, because Scarlet Knight is not my real name. I’ve been using it as a pen name.

It all has to do with this scary stalker from high school. He would follow me on my dates and you know… and many numerous other things that may give you nightmares if I were to tell you. Yeah, a little unbalanced.

Because of that, I haven’t felt the desire to use my real name.

Unfortunately, it becomes confusing when I go to conferences and try to network with other writers, because I am embarrassed when I have to say, “Hi, my name is Ima Writer, but you might know me as Scarlet.” Plus if I go by Scarlet and somebody calls me by name, I might totally ignore them! “I think he’s talking to you.” (Please see the Simpson's Cape Feare episode. See the attached link). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmsuYeztVbs

So, I have been seriously debating. Scarlet Knight is a very cool name, and my husband helped me pick it out (he’s so cute). It would also make a great name for a wicked rock band or say…a college football team. Not bad, I think. It would look so cool on a red covered book in silver or gold writing. I can totally visualize it.

Plus, when I make mistakes or wrote something stupid on someone else’s blog (hello…which I do all the time), they would know who I am – the real insecure me, and that would be….terrible. I’d have to eat a box full of chocolate bars from Costco just to feel better about myself. And run twice as long listening to the Ting Tings taunt me about their name. Those wicked musicians with music that I love too much. * mumbling under my breath *

Of course my neighbors all agreed. They like the name Foxy Candy and think I should use that as a pen name. I told them no – no more pen names for me.

So there you go, the debate raging inside my head.

Would it be so bad for me to come out and say, “Hey, my name is Carolyn and I’m a writer.”

Crap…

So hey… my real name is Carolyn, and I’m a writer. =) But you can call me C. Vawdrey for short.

Thanks for understanding and still come see me on the blog, even though Carolyn isn’t quite as rockin’ as Scarlet (not on paper anyway).

See mom, I told you it wouldn’t be that bad.