The Magic of a Pen Name
I’m Meri Jaynes, author of the upcoming Mystic Island Soulmate Series.
But here’s a plot twist for you: That isn’t my real name.
In my monthly newsletter, I told my subscribers that rather than launching this new series under my original author name, I’ve decided to start fresh.
At first, the idea of starting over felt daunting. I would need to update all my book platforms, websites, newsletters, social media handles—the to-do list seemed endless, and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to tackle it.
But after plenty of back-and-forth debates with myself (having two personas makes that easy!), I’m reasonably confident that adopting an alias was the right decision.
Why the New Identity?
A New Genre
I’d previously written a time-travel thriller series, which doesn’t exactly align with whimsical paranormal romance. Readers who enjoy twisty, high-stakes adventures might not be interested in magical love stories and cozy cottages, and vice versa. Separating the two genres made sense.
A Feminine, Playful Vibe
I wanted a name that felt fun and feminine, unlike the androgynous initials of my previous pen name, which suited the male-leaning time-travel genre better. This new series needed something that immediately conveyed romance and magic.
A Nod to My Real Name
Meri Jaynes is a twist on my given name, so it feels familiar while still being distinct. At this point in my life, simplicity is key. I wanted something easy to remember but clearly different from my previous initials + surname structure.
It’s Happy!
Meri sounds cheerful and upbeat, making it a great fit for a lighthearted paranormal romance series starring a 444-year-old matchmaking witch.
Coming up with the perfect spelling for this new identity had its own challenges. I explored several options, including:
- Merry Janes - too Christmassy
- Mary Janes - too plain (and reminded me of the iconic shoes)
- Merrie Jayne - too cute
- Mari Jayne – there’s a popular author duo who co-write erotic westerns under these names! I’d hate for their books to be mistaken for the Mystic Island series, which is a tame 1-2 peppers on the spice scale.
In the end, Meri Jaynes felt like the best fit. However, book 1 doesn’t come out until April 2026, so it’s too soon to tell if this was the best strategy. I’ll be sure to post again once the first couple of books have been published.
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