Writing under two names

As most of you know, I am being published by two publishing houses in 2013. Saint Martin's Press asked that I use my real name (married name) because the book is THE WITCH OF LITTLE ITALY and I guess that name gives the book some street cred, so to speak. That book will be released March 26th, 2013.

My other book, I'LL BE SEEING YOU, (co-authored with the amazing Loretta Nyhan) will be published in June, 2013 by Mira Harlequin ... and because of the nature of the book, as well as two different houses marketing my (our) work, I'm using a pen name. Suzanne Hayes.

That name is magical for so many different reasons. Suzanne Hayes was the maiden name of my father's mother. My grandmother. She died when she was 39... many years before I was even born. My parents named me after her out of respect, and love. (though my mother also insists it was because she loved the Lenard Cohen song, Suzanne.)

Here's the magic part. I've always loved her. I've always felt robbed not being able to know her. AND I've always felt her spirit around me.

Guess what? She wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of hers. My father recounted a story to me about the time she sent a story into readers digest, and got a rejection. How she was devastated by that.  And now, I get to publish a book (two actually, because we were contracted for two books), under her name.

How much more can you ask for?

Here she is, my beautiful grandmother when she was little:

 And here she is with my Grandfather, James Cooper, on her honeymoon.

 And here she is with my dad, James Sterling Cooper. Isn't she beautiful?

I am so proud that her name will be in print. It puts so much joy in my heart.