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What’s In a Name?

Posted on by Kathy Geary Anderson

When I first started thinking about publishing my books, I thought Kathleen Anderson would be a perfect author name. It was me, but not me. It flowed off the tongue in a historical author-y sort of way. It sounded classy and professional. BUT, it was a name that also belonged to seventy billion other women in the United States alone. Sadly, it is not the name to use when you wanted to be found. As an author, you want to be found.

My agent suggested I find a pen name. I didn’t want a name so far removed from myself that I didn’t recognize it as me, so we settled on Kathleen Joyce. Again, it was me, but not me. I’ve answered to that name a few times in my life. I’ve walked across a stage twice to receive a diploma when that name was called. I’ve felt the dread that name brought when I’d either shocked, angered or extremely disappointed one or both of my parents. That name was written on my birth certificate and my wedding invitations. I could get used to Kathleen Joyce.

Furthermore, I liked the name because it reminded me of the other special people in my life who share the name with me. There’s a beloved niece who shares the first half and an equally beloved aunt who shares the second. So, I designed this website and a Facebook author page under that name.

Fast forward several years to when I receive a comment on my author page asking when my next mystery is going to release. Problem is, I don’t write mysteries. Yup. There’s another author out there by the name of Kathleen Joyce. Again, I have a name that is not suitable when you want to be found as YOU and not someone else.

 I sat down with my agent again and discussed it. She looked at my Instagram account and then my Facebook page and said, “Kathy Geary Anderson. That’s you.” She was right. That IS me. No one else (that I now of) has that exact combination of names. If you are searching for me on Google, with those three names you’ll find me. And only me.

So, for those of you who’ve walked this writing journey with me, thanks for sticking with me through name changes and revamped websites. I’m fairly certain this change will be the last.

Thoughts from the Trail

Posted on by Kathy Geary Anderson
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My husband and I had our Spring Break early this year. (We can do that since we’re empty nesters.) So early March found us on the side of a mountain taking what was supposed to be an easy morning walk. I don’t think either of us knew what we were getting ourselves into when we started out that morning and by the time we did, we were too stubborn to give up. Later, I found out the trail we hiked was only 1.7 miles, but since those miles were 80% vertical, our time on the trail felt a lot like a two hour workout on a stair-stepper. 

The two of us have hiked a lot of miles together over the years, and we soon fell into our regular pattern. When the trail got narrow, he would lead the way, and if the climb was especially steep, he’d reach back and lend me a hand up. I didn’t think much of it until we got to a very narrow portion of vertical rock. We’d stepped to the side to allow some other hikers to come down. A young mom with a toddler on her back was part of the group, but when my husband offered her a hand to help her down, she waved him off. Clearly, she could do this on her own.

I get it. The word “dependent” gets a bad rap in our society. Phrases like “co-dependency,” “drug and alcohol dependency,” and “dependent personality disorder” bring out the negative aspect of the word. We like to think we’re stronger than that, capable of conquering our mountains on our own. But is it always a weakness to depend on others for help?

A wise man once said:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” [Ecclesiastes 4:9-10]

We Americans are an independent lot. It’s in our DNA—that do-it-yourself, pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality. In many ways it’s a good quality, but sometimes we cling to our independence to our detriment. Those are the times when we let our pride keep us from the help we so desperately need.  The Pharisees in the Bible are a prime example, so sure of their own ability to be righteous they completely missed the salvation Jesus offered. But here are the facts: if you are human, you need a Savior. If that weren’t the case, then what was the point of the cross?

And if you are human, no matter how strong or capable you may be, there will come a time you’ll need the help of others.  As we made the climb that morning, many on the path were stronger than I. Several were using the path as a jogging trail, and I marveled at their ability to take on the steep angles and loose rocks at such a pace. But on the way down, we came across one of those young athletes being helped down the trail by two other hikers. Apparently, he’d fallen and hurt an ankle. Strong as he was, there was no way he could make it off the mountain alone. In fact, by the time we reached the bottom of the trail, the emergency vehicles arrived. Even the two Samaritans who’d stopped to help him weren’t enough to get him off that mountain. They’d called in the professionals.

So here’s my tip from the trail: never hike alone. Don’t let pride stand in the way of the blessing of community.