Why am I Aramis Thorn?

Greetings Dear Reader,

My first thought when I was asked this question by a Dear Reader was, “there is a story behind that.”  There is.  That, however, is not what the Reader was asking.  They wished to know in general why I choose to use a pen name. 

Even though I wish to make my living as a writer, I do not wish to be famous.  I do not wish to be on talk shows and have my picture on the back of my books.  At heart I want to give thought, entertainment, and fuel to the lives of others.  Also it seems that the story behind the pen name has taken on a life of its own.

My Shield

My alter ego, we will call him Peter (there is a story behind that as well) often insists that in some way I “really” exist.   I have been around since he was eight years old.  He often converses with me and insists that I am often irritating.  I wake him at odd hours with ideas.  I pester him to write when he has other things he must do.  In general I have few social skills or consideration when it comes to the rest of the world versus the mission of writing. 

Peter says that there is also a freeing aspect to a pen name.  I will write things that he would never have the courage to put on paper.  I can delve into aspects of who he is that he prefers to avoid.  I open doors that he wishes left closed, sealed, and forgotten for the great good.

As much as I am a bother to Peter we agree on one thing always.  We both wish to direct glory and honor to God.  It is much easier to do this if we do not have to worry about his name being all over a bookshelf somewhere.  The veil of anonymity is thin but it is an easy to keep perspective.

The story of how I came to be is available out there somewhere and he does tell it at book signings and such.  The story of why I call him Peter is not going to be told to anyone outside the family.  Which reminds me, he has not invited me to any of his gatherings lately.  Would someone mention this to him?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."