George: From Nickname to Pen Name

"Hello, my name is Stacy. Wait, it's George. They can't call me that. It's a boy's name. No, it's Stacy. No, it's both." Such was the confused thought process of a child.

To a young girl, the idea of a nickname was somewhat confusing. My grandfather, dad, and brothers all called me George. It took me a while to realize this nickname was given in love, despite my early misgivings. Later in life, I asked my dad why they gave me such a masculine name. He said it was because I was very curious as a child and constantly asked the question, "Why?" Unsurprisingly, I still do. I was much like the little mischievous monkey in "Curious George", the beloved book series by Margret and H.A. Rey. The name stuck. I wanted to know how things worked and why things happened the way they did. Maybe that's why I love to read. I know it's certainly why I love to write. To write, one must research, verify facts, create characters, weave plots, and build settings. We constantly ask and answer the question, "Why?"

Photo by J. Phillips on Unsplash

My first novel is nearly ready to share with all of you. Part of the publishing process, though, was deciding on a pen name under which to write. I wanted to use my given name, but someone was already published under it. I debated long and hard about what name to use, even going so far as to ask for input from friends and family. Fun for laughs but not so helpful! It was quite the interesting process. I wanted my pen name to be meaningful, but easy to recognize and pronounce. After much debate, I decided on Stacy St. George. It keeps my first name but gives a nod to my childhood. It brings to mind the many times I'd get angry when my grandfather or brother would tease my about having a boy's nickname. Now those memories make me smile because they are no longer here to badger me. The echos of "George" forever sound in my head and will now grace the pages of my novels.

Photo by Stacy at Nalu's, a new favorite breakfast place in Kihei.

And that's why in a few weeks, when my book comes out, the name on the front will read Stacy St. George. My nickname will be forever intertwined with my pen name. And even my youngest grandson is a fan of the mischievous monkey who was always curious. Stay tuned for the book cover reveal. I'm so excited to share.

Our youngest grandson's favorite stuffie, George.

What's your nickname? Does it have a story behind it? Feel free to share in the comments.