Rather late in life, I'm trying, to develop a reputation as a writer. There are already too many writers publishing under the name David Collins: just search "david collins" (quotes included) on Goodreads to see what I mean.
When iUniverse and I published A Small Town for Its Size, they neglected to include my middle initial "B." on the cover, and I neglected to notice it. A search on Goodreads reveals a single title by children's author David B. Collins.
I rejected the notion of using a pseudonym to publish The Earthworm That Blows No Trumpet, even though it might be a good idea. There are plot and character elements in Earthworm that may piss some people off.
I'm going with my full name this time, which the cover proof a received last Friday includes. David Bruce Collins it is, and I am. I could add the "Jr.," but it's not as if I need to distinguish myself from my father in the field of writing.
I have also made a slight, superficial change on this site, expanding "B." to "Bruce" at the top of each page.
The name Bruce was not something you wanted your friends knowing about, especially guy friends, when I was growing up. Despite Bruce Wayne and Bruce Springsteen, it was not considered a manly name. There was even that "Big John" parody we heard on The Dr. Demento Show, "Big Bruce." In my youth, I had no problem with diverse sexual orientations (except my own stubborn ignorance). I talked trash about disco music because it was mostly repetitious and shallow, not because it originated in Greenwich Village. However, defending oneself against anti-gay slurs just because of one's middle name was more trouble than I cared for.
In honor of my Aunt Sheila, I also toyed with using my childhood nickname "Peel" as a middle name. David Peel Collins. Sheila gave me that nickname because of something I said about banana peels when I was a pre-schooler during a game she started to try to put my busy mind and me to sleep. Instead of sleeping, I just kept saying "Banana peel!" and giggling. However, I have a lot of friends who affectionately call me "DBC," and I might have to explain frequently that "Peel" is short for "Banana-Peel"—or something like that.
My current plan is also to republish Small Town with my complete middle name added and a few dozen minor copy errors repaired.
When iUniverse and I published A Small Town for Its Size, they neglected to include my middle initial "B." on the cover, and I neglected to notice it. A search on Goodreads reveals a single title by children's author David B. Collins.
I rejected the notion of using a pseudonym to publish The Earthworm That Blows No Trumpet, even though it might be a good idea. There are plot and character elements in Earthworm that may piss some people off.
I'm going with my full name this time, which the cover proof a received last Friday includes. David Bruce Collins it is, and I am. I could add the "Jr.," but it's not as if I need to distinguish myself from my father in the field of writing.
I have also made a slight, superficial change on this site, expanding "B." to "Bruce" at the top of each page.
The name Bruce was not something you wanted your friends knowing about, especially guy friends, when I was growing up. Despite Bruce Wayne and Bruce Springsteen, it was not considered a manly name. There was even that "Big John" parody we heard on The Dr. Demento Show, "Big Bruce." In my youth, I had no problem with diverse sexual orientations (except my own stubborn ignorance). I talked trash about disco music because it was mostly repetitious and shallow, not because it originated in Greenwich Village. However, defending oneself against anti-gay slurs just because of one's middle name was more trouble than I cared for.
In honor of my Aunt Sheila, I also toyed with using my childhood nickname "Peel" as a middle name. David Peel Collins. Sheila gave me that nickname because of something I said about banana peels when I was a pre-schooler during a game she started to try to put my busy mind and me to sleep. Instead of sleeping, I just kept saying "Banana peel!" and giggling. However, I have a lot of friends who affectionately call me "DBC," and I might have to explain frequently that "Peel" is short for "Banana-Peel"—or something like that.
My current plan is also to republish Small Town with my complete middle name added and a few dozen minor copy errors repaired.
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