I just started a new Cozy Mystery Christmas theme book last night, and so far, I am really enjoying it. I have never read one of the author’s mysteries before, but I was quite impressed by some of the comments on the back cover. One of these comments endorsing the author’s books was by Elizabeth Peters also known as the creator of the Amelia Peabody Mystery Series, the Vicky Bliss Mystery Series, the Jacqueline Kirby Mystery Series, and, oh, did I mention she is also known as Barbara Michaels? So, here goes >>> This is Elizabeth Peters’ quote from the back cover of my current Christmas mystery:
“Pulver adds a fresh American luster to the traditional mystery. She’s one of the few writers whose work I actually buy-in hardcover?”
So there I went and told you who I am reading! Mary Monica Pulver, a new-to-me author. Last night I began reading Original Sin, which is the fourth of Pulver’s Peter Brichter Mystery Series. (I make an exception to my always-start-at-the-beginning-of-a Cozy-Mystery-series rule with holiday mysteries.) As I continued reading (way longer than I had planned to read) I thought to myself: “This author is really good! I am going to have to add her to my list of authors to follow. Why has it taken me so long to finally read this Christmas mystery that I have had amongst my TBR Christmas mystery books for the last several years?”
This morning, I brought the book downstairs in order to be able to tell you all about Mary Monica Pulver, this new-to-me author.
HOLD YOUR HORSES!!!
This morning, when I went to my site to check out her other books, imagine my surprise to find that Mary Monica Pulver is indeed not a new-to-me author! She is actually one of my favorite authors! Good grief!!! As many times as I have updated the Monica Ferris page, making additions to her Needlecraft Mystery Series, making sure that I add those very same additions to her Mary Monica Pulver page, you would think that I would have remembered these two authors are one and the same person!
I debated telling you all about this error of mine, but since I have told you all about my need for writing notes to myself for things as obvious as my cleaning day rituals and running errands, why not?!? And, speaking of my cleaning day tasks, I have to go get back to number 5 on my list!
Susie says
That’s funny! I never knew she had the other pseudonym either. Sometimes it’s not clear (deliberately, I guess). I’ve always wondered if an author has given herself (or himself) a blurb under a pseudonym.
Definitely some great suggestions here.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susie, a site reader (I think it was Maria) told us about a very tongue-in-cheek review posted by an author to her pseudonym.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
No one can possibly keep up with all the authors. Then to make it more complicated, the authors go by several names!!!
I am glad you decided to tell us this story. You always make me smile!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I truly was quite surprised to see that I had forgotten they were one and the same! Of course, last night I actually called my husband by my daughter’s name… That was a new one for me. I often call my son by my younger brother’s name, and every once in a great while, I have called my daughter “Sprite”! Clearly, I’m not good with names!
linda says
Danna, this reminds me of when I was still a kid at home my dad never seemed to get the names of my 2 sisters and me straight. When he would call me by one of my sisters’ names I would tell him just who I was! He would immediately say in a some what grumpy tone “but you know who I am talking too.”
Ricky says
I have always wondered why an author writes under different names. Ideas?
marja says
The really super-productive authors, who may do as many as 3 – 6 books a year, are sometimes asked by their publisher to adopt another name, to reduce the appearance of “overproductivity” or “hack” or whatever.
Other authors adopt a new name for a new series, or for a different genre, or a “hard-boiled” versus “cozy” mystery series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, in this particular case, the last of the Mary Monica Pulver mysteries was published in 1992, with the Monica Ferris mysteries starting in 1999…
I am really bad about this, but I am put-off by an author who churns out a lot of books each year.
Regina says
I am glad that you mentioned Mary Monica Pulver. I checked out her books and I will be buying them soon. I always confused her with Monica Quill whose books I enjoy very much.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, you might have a difficult time finding those Mary Monica Pulver books. Perhaps your library carries them…
Regina says
I think I might Nook her first book of that series and see if I like it. That book is available in one library in CT and I could try to obtain it thru interlibrary loan. I think I shall wait and see what my plan of action will be.
Judy says
I have enjoyed the needlecraft series she wrote under her real name (Monica Ferris – is that real??
). She is a terrific writer.
Now I will have to read her other series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judy, I just went to her official site which says that Mary Monica Pulver is her maiden name…
Ellie Oberth says
Ricky- Publishers used to make authors use different names when they wrote a different series so the reader would not be confused, especially if they wrote in a different genre (ex- mystery and sci-fi) Many times a reader will grab a book written by one of their favorite authors and think it is the next in Series A – only to find out it is the first book in Series B. (I have done this myself!)
Ellie
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellie, thanks for the info on pseudonyms. I think I’d rather grab the wrong book than keep up with four or five pseudonyms for each author!
Andie says
A coincidence – a few minutes after this post showed up in my email, I got a notice from Amazon about Monica Ferris’ new book, Threadbare.
I don’t mind authors using different names, however I do get annoyed when publishers bring out old books with a different title and with the author’s more “famous” name.
I can’t recall which book or which author it was but a couple of years ago I purchased a book and after I got into it, found it was all too familiar. When I checked the copyright page I found a notice in tiny type that it had previously been published with a different title (by a different publishing house).
When I checked on Amazon, one of the reviews mentioned that this was a “recycled” book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Andie, I think I actually posted a mystery on the New Releases page that did that very same thing… luckily, one of the Cozy Mystery site readers told me about the mistake, and I quickly deleted it!
A thing that I find interesting is when an author becomes a big hit for a series, and all of a sudden, their publishers release all of the author’s previous books that weren’t such great hits>>> but because of the author’s current popularity, the earlier no-hit series sell really well.
Ann says
I wonder how many good reads we’ve missed because we haven’t realized our favorite author also writes under another name.
Ann
Patti says
She is also Monica Ferris! Love her books.
marja says
Hi, Danna,
I think a great idea for the coming month would be a post on wonderful Christmas/Holiday movies and TV shows …
Like you, I really enjoy the old black and white movies, and even the ones that only have a Christmas Reunion within part of the plot [not the whole plot] are wonderful at this time of year. I’ll bet a lot of us could make recommendations that others would enjoy!
Thanks for your website and your recommendations.
Hope you had a phenomenal Thanksgiving.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Marja! This is a great idea for an entry. I have just written it down, and will be posting it soon.
linda says
Danna, I really like it when you list AKA names. But sometimes some authors who use different names just don’t work for me. Where I love M.C. Beaton, I cannot get into the Marion Chesney books. I don’t understand why I do this because after all aren’t the 2 names the same person? One of those mysteries of life, huh?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, it’s weird how that works, isn’t it? But then there are authors who write under two names who are great in both: Ruth Rendell (mysteries) and Barbara Vine (non-mysteries).