My real name (insofar as any name is real) is Liz Gray. I have thought for a long time about a pen name and I have always felt that, whatever name was on my books, I wanted to be able to look at it and think, “this is me”. I wanted there to be a congruence between my private and public selves. Liz Gray, however, is a little monosyllabic and not particularly resonant as a pen name.
So. About 16 years ago I was living in the Sivananda Yoga Centre, Madrid. I was only there for three months. We got up at six and did meditation, chanting, postures and karma yoga before (in my case) going out to teach English. At some point in all this we went to Avila, a place in the mountains, to a freezing convent for a weekend retreat. There was no hot water and the cold was running thin; the heating seemed to come on between 3 and 3.30 pm; in short it was no picnic. Well, there was a point of “initiation into the mantra” when we could choose a mantra and deity for our lives. I chose Sarada (Sha-rah-da) which is another name for Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and creativity. She has served me well, though I have neglected her for long periods, and strange to say, it was not until recently that I thought of using the name as a pen name.
So that’s it. When I’m famous you, dear reader of this blog, will be able to explain with a superior air how to pronounce my name and just what it means.
I’m perfectly serious. I’m going to be famous.
Don’t believe me?
Hahahahaha
