The name game

I recently read an interesting blog regarding your professional name vs. your personal name. Actually, this blog was more of a married name vs. maiden name discussion, but the blog author is a published author, who happens to go by both her married and maiden names (check out her blog, here). One of those hypenated deals, but without the hyphen. And maybe I'm jumping the gun a little bit, because I haven't had anything published just yet under any name, but it's still something that's on my mind for the future. If and when I get published, what name will I use?

I like my married name. I consider it an "upgrade" from my maiden name, since it looks nicer and is easier to pronounce (if you're not a moron, anyway. It's completely phonetic, yet people still find ways to butcher it). However, I do realize it's a bit of a mouthful. My first name alone is three syllables, and my last name has four, and there are a lot of N's and A's involved. I always sort of thought I would end up using a pseudonym, just so it'd be easier for everyone, including myself. I would keep my first name, but probably use my husband's middle name or something for my last name. That way I'll still keep a part of him involved in my pen name.

I kinda like that idea best, but then there's also that egomaniac side of me that says, hey- if you're not using your real name, who will believe YOU really wrote the book? I mean, of course, once I'm a bestselling author and doing book tours and readings and whatnot, of course people will know it's me (riiiiiiight?). But starting up as an unknown, I think I'd be more like, hey, look at me!! I did it!!

It may be a moot point...who knows if I'll ever get published. I know I'm going to try my damnedest though! I feel like it's a dream within my reach for the first time in my life. I'm not really sure why- maybe I just believe in my story that much.

Anyway. Thoughts, anyone?