I thought I'd share a few quick thoughts on my new pen name, Miranda Vale.
I'm not abandoning my name, but I wanted to write something different and my soul-mate, James, and I wanted to write it together.
There's something so amazing about getting to work with and create with the person you love. It's not easy, I'm not going to paint this over with rose-colored glasses.
We've had more than one moment in brainstorming or working over each others sections where feelings were hurt or harsh words might be said. That's the real world.
It's also the real world that we love and respect each other. He's so amazingly talented and creative and he feels the same about me. In the end the story we've crafted is so much better for it.
We work together all the time, even on my name, but it's different doing this. We're not just brainstorming or helping each other out when we're stuck. We're crafting the entire world, the plot, the characters together.
Sometimes our ideas take us wandering away from the outline which then makes a problem for the other one to get their part to work. Sometimes the outline doesn't work or a better idea comes along and we've had to go back to the drawing board.
All of this is part of the process that has made this so amazing. There was a lot of sweat, more than a few tears, and fortunately no actual blood but it all went in to making what we both think is one of the best stories/books we've produced yet.
I can't wait until you read it. The very first review came in today and it was absolutely glowing. I hope you'll feel the same!
