What’s in a Name?

In July and August, I attended five Catholic conferences, selling and signing my books. I had the opportunity to meet many new friends. At one conference alone, I spoke to over 300 people as they passed my table. The question that people most often asked was not “How do you find time to write” or “How do you come up with ideas for your cartoon” or “Are you working on any new novels.”

The one question that people most often asked was “How do you pronounce your last (married) name?”

This is probably the main reason that James and I decided that I should use my maiden name (Gable) as a pen name. Hrkach is decidedly a name which people have a hard time pronouncing, mainly because there are not enough vowels (Hrkach is Croatian in origin). Despite that, however, it is actually an easy name to pronounce (once you know how) and when people have asked me, I give the same answer: “It is pronounced Her cash…and then I add, “as in…my money.”

It may be unusual, but I love my last name and I’m very proud to be part of the Hrkach family.

2 thoughts on “What’s in a Name?”

Once you learn how to pronounce it, you never forget. Congratulations, Ellen, on all your success. And you should be very proud of the beautiful family you and James have made together through the Grace of God.