By the way, I'm not going to whine about author pen names or hiding or the psychology of lying (as if) or who is this and who isn't that. So if you're looking to shoplift that whole 2009 kind of drama, please. Let's all move on. That's so last season.
Instead I'm going to whine about my online identities!
I just unloaded in the comment section at Kris' blog about my little problem--and I thought it best to move my meltdown/identity crisis to my own digs. Kris' post was rather serendipitous because last night I was up late wondering something.
Is it time to assimilate my online presences and become the LB Gregg Borg??
(See Above Photo)
Here's my story.
My name is LB Gregg--and I'm a writer--although not so much this week--and I not only misuse the em-dash, I have multiple online personality disorder. I've tried to be upfront about this from day one. Unfortunately, as my circle grows, and Lisabea blogs less and less, confusion reigns.
Which comes as a surprise only to me.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: I didn't intend my multiples as a ruse or a way to comment on my own posts (although I do that)--they are simply the product of my life taking a few unexpected turns.
Three years ago I ventured online under a name I no longer use--a name I was also using in my personal life. It was a sloppy name, but even then, I wanted to erect an (imaginary, invisible, online) wall between myself here and my life there.
Mrs-What's-Her-Name: early blogging years.
This is not so unusual. We read about it all the time, and I'm not pretending to be someone else, not a fakester, but I crafted a name-mask to wear while tooling around the internet. Nearly everyone does this. In fact, when I see a 'real name' online--someone using their true identity outside of facebook-- I assume the person is either new here, a reader or they are in someway branding themselves. Does that make me bitter? I hope not because for the record, I have zero problem with this.
But privacy is an issue. And let's face it, I'm a wife/mom. I'm dealing with fears and anxieties of my own and hiding seemed the smart choice.
K.
Do you know this blogger?
So about three months into blogging I knew that a more specific presence was necessary for me to truly make an ass out of myself --and Lisabea (a name I've had since my late blooming older sister learned to talk at age four) and Nose were born. La dee da. Then the boy kissing started and it was a slippery slope to ManLoveMonday, reviewing, and kindred spirits reading and sharing books every day.
One such spirit was/is my good friend TeddyPig. We reviewed some books in a slap dash tag team sort of way (I heart you 4 evah) and at some POINT he dubbed me LBea--yet another name I use.
I know. Truly that's his fault. It's a lot like my friend Carolyn Jean-- who became Carolyn Crane-and is known far and wide as CJ. Why? Because I was always too lazy to type her full name. These things happen.
Also random name dropping is not a problem for me.
Exciting new author Carolyn Crane!
Anyway. Two years ago I started writing. I went on my way to RWA with a roughly finished manuscript in my sleekly manicured hand, and I knew I needed a bold author name. We (bunch of us) took a vote and I became LB Gregg for the purpose of publishing.
It's a nice name. I am, as we know, LBea anyway, and if called--I answer to my new name. There are many authors who don't. Don't laugh. Just ask Treva Harte (name drops like an anvil).
Initially I planned to keep my identities sekkrit because ... well shit. I have no idea why. It sounded like a good idea at the time? But as many of you know, this didn't work out for me. Thus I am LB and Lisabea (plus that other name from the past) and LBea. No problem. People do this. Summer Devon is someone else. Nora Roberts is someone else. JR Ward is someone else...what ever. It's part of the deal. (drop drop drop)
And then...I...found AWZ (the most brilliant show in the history of German television) this January and I began to interact using the YouTube account I'd set up four years ago.
It's an entirely different name.
How droll.
When I went to GooL and met the good people there--I received blank looks upon introduction as LB or Lisabea or even Lisa- for crying out loud- until I mentioned my name on YouTube. There was a least some vague nodding.
So here we are, taking a good hard look at my personality fragmentation. Are you still reading? No. You're looking at the goddamn pictures. Here's another one.
Gacked from Kris. Does he look bored?
Getting down to it.
So--what do you think? Should I become LB Gregg Borg--or just carry on? Because:
One--I'm struggling with the weight of all these names and places.
Two--I need to condense. My twitter. My sorry assed Live Journal. My blogger profile. My YouTube. It's just exhausting me to try to keep up with all these people.
And Three--Lisabea is eventually going to be eaten by the bigger fish--LB Gregg.
OK I think I'm done. I need a red dress, a hat, and a bag of Dove chocolates. It sounds like scavenger hunt, yes? But it's actually me packing for the RT Book Lovers Convention.
Love,
LB
~also known as Sweetbea. Aw. That one is a keeper.
RT--pop in and see us. My first signing is at the book Expo (I'm printing wee cards right now). Kate Davis and I will be sneaking off to watch AWZ because I hear tell big things are happening next week.
Yes. I know these are not REAL people. (not real real, but, uh, real enough)
