Damn, I think it’s a heck of a name! Yeah, you know it is. Don’t worry! I’ve heard it all ..
How the heck are you?
What the heck?
Hey, CJ, how the heck is it going?
How the heck are things?
That’s a heck of a situation!
I don’t know how the heck you’re supposed to …
When I used to do a lot of paid Author visits at elementary schools, there was almost always one child who asked to call me ‘Ms. CJ’, because their mother, or father, wouldn’t like it if they said my swear name. ‘Swear’ name?
I could have changed it back when I got my last divorce. The judge did ask if I wanted to keep it, or go back to one of my other names.
“Wait a minute. Other names?” you ask …
I was born, Catherine Jo Parrish. Mama actually wanted to name me Paula, but she and Daddy talked about it, and realized the kids at school would call me Polly. With Parrish, they would tease me: “Polly Parrish, Polly Parrot. Polly want a cracker?”
My great aunt’s name was Catherine, so that was chosen. My middle name, Jo, came from Mama, (Joanne), and Daddy, (Joseph).
Later, my publisher advised me to use my initials, ‘CJ’, with Heck for my author name. She felt it was catchy and children would identify with CJ better than the more formal, Catherine.
Anyway, my first marriage changed Parrish to Kempf and then I was widowed in 1969. My second marriage changed Kempf to O’Brien, and with my third marriage, the O’Brien became Heck.
When the judge asked whether I wanted to keep Heck as my last name, my first book had just been published with Heck on the cover as Author, so I decided to keep it. Legally, I am Catherine Jo Parrish Kempf O’Brien Heck.
Yeah, I suppose it is an interesting name, if only because the story behind it is interesting. But I am very sure I don’t want to add any more names by getting married again.
I’m glad my Robert is okay with that ...