The Challenge Monster strikes again!

Pen names are interestingly unusual things.

Historically, origins of various pen names are often just as interesting as the pen name itself. For example: Sam Clemens, after going through several names ranging from “Josh” to “Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass,” finally settled on a Mississippi steamboat term meaning two leagues: Mark Twain.

Around ficly, and other writing sites like it, folks often opt to use a pen name as opposed to their real name. And, like most other pen names, there’s usually a story behind it. I know of a few of those stories, but I figured that: 1) they’re much too good to not be told, 2) other people are surely curious about them as well, and 3) it’d be nice to have a bunch of those stories in one spot.

So, Your Challenge is this: whether its an origin story, an explanation of its significance, or others’ reactions to it, tell us about your pen name!