Jilli, I am so sorry. My sympathies to you and your family.

My psychotic father had what can only be assumed an unwholesome relationship with his mother. My name, in the Scots, means 'beautiful Ann'.

This is why I went by a different name for 28 years.

I'm over it now, but I have to say that I don't think I'll ever actually like the name.

I have dropped the Ann to opt for the hyphenated last name and no middle name.

If I were to remarry, I would consider re-hyphenating if it would end up being something cool like, King-Solomon, or some such.

Anyone else have your pen/stage/ alias name picked out, or is that my own little oddity? I mean, aside from those of you who have actual pen or stage names. Or, um, aliases.

I've published one story under a gender-neutral-to-male pen name, mostly because, on the rare occasions that I actually finish a piece of writing, it's usually a little odd and whimsical and I'd rather not have readers see my very feminine actual name and have that influence their reading. The one story I published got some praise in a letter to the editor by the guy who wrote the screenplay for The Crow, so I guess that's a win.

I may or may not pull it out again, or make up another one, if I finish anything else. I do like the gender-neutralness, and I also kind of like the occasional oddball writer like Brian O'Nolan/Flann O'Brian/Myles na gCopaleen/Brother Barnabas/who knows who else, who used pseudonyms with glee and abandon and whose works scholars are still chasing down and accidentally stumbling over because he used so many names. Though I'd have to be about 9000% more prolific to get even close to O'Nolan's status.

Jilli, I'm so sorry. Peace to you and yours.

My deepest condolences, Jilli.

I am named after my mother, with her first name and maiden name, but was called Ginger from the beginning to avoid confusion. She was named after her grandmother. There are many names in my family I am happy to have avoided. My grandfather was William Regulus, called Rex, named for his grandfather Regulus Tucker, whose siblings were Horace, Aurelius, Albert, Serena and Livona. My grandmother's sisters were Ora Dora and Hattie Mae.

Oh, Jilli, I'm so sorry. Peace and strength to you & yours.

{{{{{{Jilli and Father of Reason}}}}}}}}

My grandfather was William Regulus, called Rex, named for his grandfather Regulus Tucker, whose siblings were Horace, Aurelius, Albert, Serena and Livona.

...and they all went to Hogwarts.

Your mom was so well-loved, Jilli. Much strength to you and your dad.