Guest Blog: "A Rose By Any Other Name" by Brynna Curry

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…

Bio: Paranormal romance author, editor and reviewer, Brynna Curry, also writing as Brianna Roarke, is a life long believer in the importance of reading. She enjoys the writing process and helping others hone their craft whether by reviewing published novels, critiquing raw manuscripts or serving as a contest judge. When she isn't writing Brynna enjoys spending time with her children at the park and local library. She makes her home in the Deep South with her husband, son, two daughters, and their redbone hound Diablo. She is the author of the Elemental Magic Series books including Earth Enchanted, To Take Up the Sword, Wait for the Wind, Sea’s Sorceress and Fire’s Ice.

When I first began writing I decided to use a pseudonym instead of my real name. Why? You might ask. Isn’t part of the ‘dream’ to see your name on the cover of the book you so painstakingly created? I think there are many reasons an author chooses to write under a pen name or even two names. Let’s say you have a very common name. For example, John Smith. Would you want to be confused with other authors of the same name? What if your real name was Nora Roberts or Amanda Quick?

Maybe you write erotica, but teach kindergarten as a day job. (Yes. I know of a few that do. *smiles*) Or a government agent that writes legal thrillers? Something else to consider is your family. Let’s say you become mega-famous. There are all sorts of dangers attached to fame. Do you want anyone with access to Google knowing your five-year-old’s name, school, etc? It’s amazing what you can find out about yourself (and your kids) just by Googling your name.

So what do you do? And if you choose to go by a pseudonym, how do you decide? Essentially you’re starting fresh, creating a new shell of a person to contain you as the author. Once that ‘person’ exists, they tend to take on a life of their own. Using a variant of your name, middle name, or initials may be the way to go. Then again you could create an entirely different name.

For mine I chose to use an old family name, Curry. The Currys and Motes (or at least my branch lol) are from what my grandma called the black hills of Ireland. They immigrated during the great famine, as did many other Irish, settled in the Decatur, Alabama area and over time married into the English Pitts and Cherokee Indians. Needless to say there are plenty of family legends to build into stories and I’d hoped to honor our heritage by using the name. Brynna is an old Gaelic name (I think the spelling is Scottish.) which means sword or strength. I like that strength in family.

For my bloodthirsty alter ego, dabbling in dark paranormal romance I created Brianna Roarke. Gypsy Moon, a werewolf novella that name, is out now with Red Rose Publishing.

It's been a pleasure chatting with you today. To learn more about my books and to see what I'm working on now, visit my website http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.webs.com

Blessings,
Brynna

Gypsy Moon by Brianna Roarke

When witch Ana Brannon finds a wounded stranger in the woods surrounding her cabin, she does all she can to save his life. She never guessed her special skills with animals would be just what the werewolf ordered.

Howl Raven, P.I., is on the run from a past he can't escape. When the hunter catches up with him in Parker's woods, death snaps at his heels. Can the lovely Ana break his blood curse?

Now available from Red Rose Publishing
http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=216&products_id=257

Earth Enchanted: Elemental Magic Book One

When telepath meets ex-cop, will it be death or diamonds.

Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too.

Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_31&products_id=187&zenid=aih5v8rmljr95ruhjcn7od0ir5

To Take Up the Sword: Elemental Magic Book Two

Missing diamonds and a killer on the loose…will a schoolteacher and FBI agent escape with their lives and hearts intact?
After the acquittal of Gueraldi's right hand and favored killer for hire, Ashton Smythe, Special Agent Gabriel Spiller takes time away from his work with the FBI. Having failed in his mission to avenge his lost would be lover, Serena Roarke, Gabe returns to Alabama in search of the missing diamonds needed to reopen the investigation and to lay low from the death threats he's received since Smythe went free.

Almost two years after her sister's death, Leannan O'Neal feels the loss of Serena more now than ever. A secret meeting between them before she died left Lea with an ugly figurine and nothing but questions. Hang-up calls at work and a trashed house reminds her of the card Serena gave her. "If you find yourself in trouble, go to him and only him" were the last words her sister spoke to her.

With Smthye out for revenge and hot on her heels, Lea goes on the run in search of Serena's 'Angel', but how long can Gabe keep her alive, and is the cost worth more than her life?

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=277

Elemental Magic Book Three
Ryan and Kate must reunite to break the second of a three- part thousand-year-old spell.

Kate O'Connell grew up loved by the Corrigan family, all the while suffering from the inescapable reality of her own alcoholic father. At a young age she gave her heart and innocence to Ryan Corrigan. For once happiness seemed within her reach, until in one horror-filled night, the monster she called 'Daddy' changed everything.

Too many misunderstandings forced Kate and Ryan apart, but now Kate's come home to open her clinic and raise her daughter, Allaina, closer to his family. Will she be able to open Ryan's heart to his magic?

Ryan is glad to be back on Irish soil, but the reason he left still haunts him. As he tries to build a new life and redeem his past, can he forgive Kate and reclaim his healing gift in time to save his sister and her twins?

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_31&products_id=293