Sitting in my barracks room in Iwakuni, Japan the object I held in my hand may as well been from another world and it some ways it was- an envelope addressed from a long lost friend in Texas. First off, I NEVER got mail. Especially a hand-written letter. Second, it was from a girl I knew in high school that I hadn’t spoke with in years. We were never involved, just ran with the same group of friends. I held the envelope unopened for minutes, mostly to enjoy the feeling of receiving a letter and also I wondered what the hell was inside.

Inside were two items. A one page rambling letter saying hello and also telling me of a dream/premonition she had had at ten that the man she would one day marry would be named “Robert Black”. She had never told me this when we were friends. And that wasn’t the weirdest item inside. Also in the envelope was an article from a London newspaper detailing the arrest of a serial killer named “Robert Black” and all the horrendous crimes he was accused of. Around the edges of the article in a black marker she had written little comments like “Wow, isn’t this weird?” and “Creepy, huh?” She probably should’ve stopped the letter at “Hello Robert”.

When I began writing for the purpose of publishing it was time to consider what name I would write under. I’ve been “Robert Black” as a youth and “Rob Black” in my adult years. Either was acceptable but both came with a challenge- they’re as common as sand in Arizona.

Not wanting to potentially publish under a name shared with a serial killer is reason enough to give pause (Go ahead, google “Robert Black”. You want that popping up every time somebody googles your name?). But besides that problem I just don’t like how it looks on a book jacket. Or sounds. It’s boring.

“Rob Black” isn’t any easier to work with. It’s the name of violent porn star and producer. Also a radio show hosting financial adviser (insert joke about which one would screw you harder here). “Rob” is a great casual name but it’s not a name for a well-respected writer although I’m sure this guy would take issue.

I could go the pseudonym route. I always thought “Jacque” was a cool name. Or “Zoltan”. “Orlando” anyone? The hipster name generator suggested “Seth” or “Wilford”. The rock star name generator came up with “K.C. Clarke”. The random name generator gave me “Wayne McPherson,” and the dwarf name generator (why not?) suggested…….”Hughie Chalk-Crystal”. My fake ID back in the day had “Jeff Collins” on it.

I’m going with something familiar yet different. In the Marines we had to sign our name a million times (not just the one time you sign your life away) and our signature had to include our middle initial. After a while you cut down your signature to something short as possible. Little did I know that years later that act would furnish the name I will publish under.

Yours truly,

R.B. Black

Next week- Want to be in my novel? You probably already are.