Wednesday, March 2, 2011

What's in a name?

For me, it was about honoring the people that have always been in my corner. When I first thought about being an author, I knew I didn't want to use my 'real' name.
Truth of the matter; it was BORING. So I started to come up with all types of things to show my love of writing.

The name was 'handed' to me when a cousin came into the kitchen and called my dad Webster (which is his last name) and he called her by her last name, Swangin. Which is also my mom's maiden name.OK, I digress for a moment. The proper pronunciation is Swang-in.

I knew that I needed a hook. However,being Webster-Swangin wasn't enough. I played with the order and decided that it needed something more. The letter B came from my married name and so began my career as an author named, B. Swangin Webster.

Now, the first thing people ask me is: Is that real? and I ask them; what do you think? The most inventive explanation came from a woman at a book signing that said. Wow, you must really love writing. I asked her why she asked that and she said, "Doesn't your name mean you're swinging those words around?" I was a bit confused until she said. "You know, swinging, but you used the slang term and words;for Webster-like the dictionary." Just like on Family Feud, I clapped and said, "good answer" (although it earned a loud X) She seemed so excited; I didn't have the heart to tell her that she was wrong.

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