The Author Has Three Faces
A Literal Literary Loser Literally Loses It
I sometimes forget who I am.
It’s not a metaphysical crisis. It’s a literal one.
I live many lives. And I have many names to go with those lives. I was born Alina Sivorinovsky. My married name is Alina Wickham. And my pen name is Alina Adams. (This came about after my first editor, at Avon Books, decided that “Sivorinovsky” somehow didn’t scream “Regency romance.”)
When I call people, I have to try and remember, “Who do they know me as?” or “Who do they think I am?”
But it gets worse. Even “Alina Adams” has multiple personalities.
There is the Alina Adams who writes about the state of education in America (TL;DR: It’s even worse than you think). I’m doing a workshop on Wednesday, October 26 and another one on November 3. Stop by if you want to understand the New York City middle and high school application process!
There’s the Alina Adams who writes about soap-operas on a daily basis, and has a book out on the genre’s greatest moments.
And then there’s Alina Adams the novelist. On Thursday, October 27, I’ll be at Ice Theatre of New York’s Fall Frolic. ITNY provided the videos for turning my Figure Skating Mystery series, originally published as paperback originals by Berkley Prime Crime, into enhanced e-books. So I’ll be there to support and fund-raise for them.
Then, on November 1, there is the book launch for my latest historical fiction, “My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region,” a fundraiser for United Jewish Appeal’s Ukrainian Relief and other charitable works.
I had dinner last night (see, I don’t just work, I am also social!) with Sarah Weinman - yes, The New York Times’ Sarah Weinman - and, as I laid out my schedule for just the next two weeks, she politely asked me, “Do you think you might be doing too much?”
Of course, I’m doing too much!
I am always doing too much!
Logic dictates I should quit… something.
Not only would it be good for my sanity, but, arguably, I’d be able to focus on just one (OK, two, three, tops) thing(s) and thus be able to that thing(s) better. Or, at least, to greater returns.
But, here’s the problem.
I LIKE writing about education and helping parents find the best fit schools for their children. I feel like it’s important work, necessary work, actually useful work.
I LIKE writing about soap-operas. I take the genre seriously. I believe it deserves more respect than it has traditionally gotten. And I’ve been watching since I was 10 years old - OMG, Holly is back on General Hospital! - I can’t stop now!
I LIKE my figure skating mystery novels and think the blend of real-life videos alongside a fictional story is an original concept that’s worth promoting.
And I definitely LIKE my historical fiction, especially now, when the eyes of the world are turned towards Eastern Europe and the future could well be dictated by what went on in the past.
So which one should I drop?
Some would say, the one that makes the least money.
Nah…. Nobody goes into writing for the money, so that’s no basis to judge on.
Some would say, focus on the one I love best. But that’s like asking me to pick a favorite child. (I do have one of those. I’ve even written about it.)
I have a strong feeling I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.
Of course, it’s too much.
But, as my 15 year old daughter explains using the vernacular of the young and hip, so am I.
(I’m too much, according to her, in case that wasn’t clear. I think that’s hip, young person speak for… I’m awesome?)