Sunday, December 28, 2014

The Year of the Tiger

Patricia Gligor

I recently discovered that I was born in one of the years designated as "The Year of the Tiger." I couldn't help but smile when I read that and here's why.

When my first book was accepted for publication, my mother asked me what pen name I was going to use. When I told her I intended to use my "real" name, she reminded me that Gligor is frequently  mispronounced and/or misspelled. "I think you should use a simpler name, one that readers will remember," she told me.

But I was adamant. However, as much as we all hate to admit that our mother is right, time has proven her point. My name has been mangled on more than one occasion and I cringe every time that happens. Still, I stand by my decision and I decided to end this year and to start the new year by setting the record straight.

My last name is Gligor. It's my maiden name, which I took back after my divorce several years ago. In Romania, where my paternal grandfather was born, our name was pronounced Glee-gore but in the Americanized version Gligor rhymes with tiger. (Now you know why I was smiling.)

I hope you'll stop in to visit with me in the months ahead. If you have a suggestion for a topic you'd like me to write about, please let me know. And, as always, I welcome and appreciate your comments.

Happy New Year!