What’s in a Name?

by A.M. Wells

Fours years ago I first set words to paper and began my writer’s journey of bringing to life the voices in my head. Then came the day I decided to jump into the fire of submitting my work to publishers.  Hence my next dilemma: Under what name would my work go forth?

I knew I wanted to use a non de plume. But what? I didn’t have a clue. I struggled literally for weeks trying to come up with a name. I guess you could say I was suffering from a serious case of writer’s block.

I could say one day I looked up, the clouds parted, the heaven opened up to me, and behold A.M. Wells was born. But why tempt fate. (LOL) The truth is I decided to go with A.M. in honor of my grandmother and used Wells as a play on my maiden name.

What’s in a name?  For me it’s a strong since of family and knowing from whence I came. One of the people whose influence helped shape me as writer was my grandmother. Growing up, she was always there for me. I admired her because she never allowed life’s circumstance to get the best of her.  Born in the south in 1908, one of five children, she would be orphaned by the age of nine.  This plain spoken woman, who by her own admission had always been saved, never went out into the world, and married not for love, but the man chosen for her.  Of Grandfather I once overheard her remark, “It ain’t easy living with the devil.”

It is her words as she spoke of her life, of being forced to leave school in the 4^th grade that first planted the seeds within me to know more about the time in which she lived. This led me to the library where I not only read of past generations, but I also discovered ancient civilizations, mythic beings, mysteries, drama, and romance as I explored the library stacks.  I wonder if she knew that from those seeds would grow a lifelong passion for learning, books, reading, and now writing.

Plague by doubts, my fear of rejection caused me to resist submitting my work despite the encouragement from family and friends. Once more, Grandmother was there to inspire me. Though she’s long passed from this would, it was the memory of how after decades spent in an unhappy marriage, she left my grandfather. I can only imagine what she was feeling, a woman in her seventies, finding herself on her own for the first time in her life. Her courage gave me the impetus to finally take that first step. I’ve since received several rejections, but like Grandmother, I didn’t give up and continued to submit my work.

The day I received the contract offer for “Susanna’s Heart,” my debut release, I know she was smiling down at me.

So tell me, what’s in your name?

___________________________

A.M. Wells resides in a small North Georgia town with her husband. She is the mother of three adult children and is currently employed as a Computer Specialist with the local college. In addition to writing she is an artist, web designer, graphic artist, and has produced several book trailers. An avid reader, she has been writing for four years. Susanna’s Heart is her first published work.

A.M. would love to hear from you. You can visit her blog, www.amwells.blogspot.com or email her at am_wells@hotmail.com

Book Blurb

SUSANNA’S HEART

Susanna Moore thought she’d found the man of her dreams. That is until she caught him in bed with her sister.

Rancher Noah Weber vowed to never involve his heart again when it came to women. However after a chance encounter with Susanna, dormant desires are reignited leading to full blown passion.

Does time really heal all wounds? Can lust lead to love? Will these two lovers find their happily ever after?

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