FacebookTwitter
Hatrack River Forum   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Forum » Active Forums » Discussions About Orson Scott Card » Can anybody tell me why OSC published Zanna's Gift under a pseudonym?

   
Author Topic: Can anybody tell me why OSC published Zanna's Gift under a pseudonym?
Craig Childs
Member
Member # 5382

- posted      Profile for Craig Childs   Email Craig Childs         Edit/Delete Post 
This question is for anyone who may be "in the know".

OSC's new book Zanna's Gift: A Life in Christmases is coming out next week. It appears the book was originally published a few years ago, actually, under the pseudonym Scott Richard. Why did OSC decide to adopt a pseudonymn?

Did he publish anything else as Scott Richard?
Posts: 187 | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
Neither Amazon nor the Library of Congress knows of any other book by that author, so I'd guess no.

Authors generally publish under other names because they want to publish works distinctly different from their others. I'd guess that with this topic, OSC wanted to avoid having it sold as being by "that sci-fi writer". [Wink]
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
scholarette
Member
Member # 11540

- posted      Profile for scholarette           Edit/Delete Post 
From the store description of Zanna's Game:

A few years ago, I wanted to establish a writing identity that was not tied to science fiction. I began with a simple Christmas story, Zanna's Gift, and used the pseudonym Scott Richards. Unfortunately, word got out about who "Scott Richards" really was, and the pseudonym became useless for its original purpose.

So my publisher and I agreed that we might as well reissue Zanna's Gift under my own name. If I try the pseudonym gambit again, you can be sure that it will be untraceable. Meanwhile, I hope people will enjoy Zanna's Gift, which holds about as much Christmas spirit as I can pack into one slim book.

Zanna's Gift will be in bookstores everywhere, but here on Hatrack.com, we'll be offering it signed and personalized for all orders placed by December 8. After December 8, the books will be available online with my signature only - as Orson Scott Card, of course, not Scott Richards.
Posts: 2223 | Registered: Mar 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
'Scott Richard' because 'Scott Roberts' was taken.

[Big Grin]
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
*giggle* I noticed that.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Noemon
Member
Member # 1115

- posted      Profile for Noemon   Email Noemon         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
'Scott Richard' because 'Scott Roberts' was taken.

[Big Grin]
Readers want to read you, authors want to be you.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Steve_G
Member
Member # 10101

- posted      Profile for Steve_G   Email Steve_G         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Originally posted by scholarette:
From the store description of Zanna's Game:

A few years ago...
Zanna's Game huh? LOL That slip-up alone should give some pretty valuable insight into why Card would choose a pseudonym.
Posts: 197 | Registered: Jan 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
[ROFL]
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Originally posted by Noemon:
quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
'Scott Richard' because 'Scott Roberts' was taken.

[Big Grin]
Readers want to read you, authors want to be you.
...and editors want to reject you, thus denying EVERYONE their desires, and pushing our country into further economic and moral decline.

That's right. It's all my fault.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
aHA!
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
Now you know.

Come and try to do something about it...
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
Pfft. Like that's gonna work.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
That wasn't an invitation, that was a dare.

What do you think I am, sincere?
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
That wasn't an invitation, that was a dare.
Yeah. So?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
Um...

I've run out of bravado-- what am I supposed to do now?
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
rivka
Member
Member # 4859

- posted      Profile for rivka   Email rivka         Edit/Delete Post 
Join me in apathy?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Scott R
Member
Member # 567

- posted      Profile for Scott R   Email Scott R         Edit/Delete Post 
Brilliant!

:doesn't care:
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
DDDaysh
Member
Member # 9499

- posted      Profile for DDDaysh   Email DDDaysh         Edit/Delete Post 
Go play the Great Dalmuti....
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Jun 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Craig Childs
Member
Member # 5382

- posted      Profile for Craig Childs   Email Craig Childs         Edit/Delete Post 
I read this book yesterday. Despite my low expectations (I am NOT a fan of Christmas stories, no matter who writes them), this was very, very good.
Posts: 187 | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
- Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2