Who am I?

By Darvell Hunt

I have decided upon a pen name for my first novel: Darvell Hunt.

Well, actually, that’s my real name. And why not? What’s the point of being famous if you can’t rub it in to those people who knew you before you were famous?

I met the famed writer Dave Wolverton at a recent writing conference. He internationally publishes science fiction novels under his real name and fantasy novels under the name of Dave Farland.

For those who don’t know, Dave Wolverton is one of those authors who not only makes a living by writing full-time, but is actually getting rich doing it. Not rich like Dan Brown or J. K. Rowling, but rich enough for my standards.

Anyway, Dave noticed my name badge, which all of us wore like we were kindergarteners on the first day of school. First, he said my name aloud—even pronouncing it correctly by putting the emphasis on the last syllable, as Dar-VELL. Then he said, “That’s a good author name.”

I was pleased to have the approval and decided, right then and there, that I wouldn’t use a pen name. Whichever of my novels gets published first will get my real name on the cover.

I’m afraid, however, that since I’m working on a young adult novel, an LDS genre novel, and a thriller novel, that I’ll have to pick a different pen name for whatever novel comes after my first, if I get published in a different genre.

I’m thinking of using Darvell Wolverton. Kind of catchy, huh?