27 January, 2011

What's Behind The Name?

You've known me for a few years by this name, no doubt you've assumed it wasn't my real name and came from my affection for sewing and all things quilt related, that's only part of the story... allow me to explain how the name came to be in the first place. Years ago I was having a telephone conversation with a friend; we were discussing books that we were currently reading. She mentioned that she and her husband were reading John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I didn't quite catch the name of the book and responded with the question: "Midnight in the Garden of Goodneedle"? We laughed and she repeated the name of the book, slower and more deliberately for my aging ears. I forgot about it until the next time I saw her husband; he teased me by calling me "Mrs. Goodneedle." It was funny, I wasn't offended by the name, and I sort of liked it. In fact, I liked it so much that I wrote down a true story, for children, back in 2005... before I began blogging, and entitled it "Mrs. Goodneedle and the Miracle Quilt." I've faced numerous rejections from publishers since then on my little book, but that's OK... it's my story and I will continue to tell it. The following year however, when this blog came to be, I began composing posts with this now familiar pen name; it makes me smile, for a litany of reasons, not the least of which being that it's become a daily reminder of the happiness that can occur from not taking myself, or aging, too seriously!

Life is Good!

10 comments:

Nane said...

You can always switch to your ski club name....Stitch Witch ;)
I think Mrs Goodneedle fits better though....

MJMR said...

I always wondered where you got your name??? Thanks for sharing.

Gail said...

That is so different from what I imagined. I thought maybe it was a take off on "Mr. Goodwrench" and maybe you were a mechanic who also quilted! LOL. Somehow it's hard to picture you underneath the hood of a car though. LOL.

Gail :)

Mama Spark said...

Great story. It is fun to know the origin of the name too.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Have you ever thought about self-publishing your story? There are a number of good online sites that make it far easier than it used to be . . . I know I'd be interested!

Karen said...

I love hearing how you got your name! Cute story!

AnnieO said...

Thanks for sharing this fun story! It is a great nickname :) I've never read that book but it has been on my list for a long time. Someday I'll start going to the library again...

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

What Julie said.

Janet said...

Cute story!

Tanya said...

I want to read your Mrs. Goodneedle and the Miracle Quilt!