The Birth of Perrin Birk

Perrin Birk sprang forth onto the earth February 2014--flung from my mind after exhaustive research. What a labor that was! Let me back up and share her story.

I'm an author-in-waiting, or AIW, which simply means I've written a book and have high hopes that one day that book will be published so readers who like the story enough will pay hard-earned cash for it. And tell others so the cycle blossoms and continues in perpetuity. In which case I will graduate to the title of full-fledged author. However, first things first.

I've heard from reliable sources (literary agents come to mind) that an AIW must establish an internet presence by the time the AIW is ready to submit the novel to agents or editors. The story goes that if the agent or editor likes the book, the next step is to google the AIW's name and see what comes up.

I google-searched myself. An extensive list popped up connected to my professional medical name. "Oh," I thought. "That will never do. What confusion will entail as innocent reader tries to find Author Me, and all they get is Medical Professional me?"

The obvious answer to this conundrum? Publish under a pseudonym.

This is where Perrin comes in, and the story of how she came to be.

 Winchcombe, England

During the spring of 2013, I--a Yank from the States--traveled the beautiful country of England. When various folk heard me speak, they knew right away I was not British. What with inquiring minds also living in parts other than the U.S., these same folk would ask, "Where are you from?"

When I answered, "the States," they seemed doubtful, then said, "You look Scandinavian. Are you sure you're not from Sweden?" or something like unto it.

"Let me check my passport," I replied. "I may have made a mistake." I didn't really say this only because I'm not that quick on the draw. A trial attorney I could never be.

Bibury, in the Cotswolds, England

I related the above to my husband upon my return home. He must have filed it away in a miscellaneous brain space, because he pulled it out almost a year later when we discussed my pseudonym.

"Hey, remember how all those people thought you were from (fill-in-the-blank Scandinavian country)? Why don't you pick a name that would seem to have its origins there?"

Clever man.

So for the next several days I searched websites of Swedish/Norwegian/Danish names and came up with several combinations. For each possibility, I not only googled the name, but tried Facebook as well, the goal being to come up with something that hadn't been used anywhere for any reason. I wanted whatever name I chose to be associated only with me as an author. Selfish, right? No, more like, no confusion equals happy readers. Well, that and an excellent story well-told.

The journey for Perrin Birk was as difficult as choosing a baby name. Hours of research, followed by hours of Google, then the litmus test--Facebook. I can't remember how many names I really liked that I had to ultimately discard. Once I picked Perrin Birk--and it passed the aforementioned tests--the tongue tried it on for size and author fit, and family members decided whether it looked like me or not. Buying the domain name cinched the deal. It was set in, well, not stone but something as equally everlasting--cyberspace.

After birthing Perrin, eventually she needed her own Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/perrinbirkauthor/?ref=hl

and website (not up and running yet)

and Twitter account-- @PerrinBirk

not to mention a blog she can call her own. Since you're reading this, evidently you've found it.

Whew!

And you thought authors just wrote books ...