If things look a little strange around Flights of Fancy, don’t worry — it’s not your imagination. I’ve done a bit of tweaking here and there to officially introduce my new pen name, Lena Corazon.
I’m utilizing WordPress’s Site Redirect service, which means that you can continue to utilize the old links for my original blog (jamilajamison.wordpress.com), but they will automatically be rerouted to the new site. The service will last for a year, so there’s not a huge rush to change up your links/RSS feeds, etc. All the same, you’ll want to update things over eventually.
If you glance over at the sidebar, you’ll notice that I’ve added some shiny new buttons linked to my other social media profiles, including an option for the very nifty Google Friend Connect and a badge for my Facebook author page. Feel free to join my horde of zombie followers merry band of friends, using whichever medium you most enjoy.
The process of exporting my WordPress blog to a self-hosted site has been mostly smooth. You’ll notice that my old username remains for any comments that I wrote prior to the Grand Renaming — slightly confusing and a little irritating, because I thought I could get rid of that, but whatevs. Otherwise, everything should work the way it’s supposed to function. If there are issues, leave me a comment and I’ll look into it.
Hopefully you all get used to the new name! I’ll happily answer to either Lena or Jamila, so pick whichever one you prefer. 😀
September 12, 2011 at 4:07 am
When the soul and pen share a den, then god say “Amen!”
What made you make this drastic change Lena?
September 12, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Indeed! I made the switch as a way to keep my writing and professional lives separate. I’ll be on the job market in a couple of years (I’m a PhD student, and will hopefully teach at the university level one day), and I’d rather not have all of my writing exploits splattered all over the internet.
September 12, 2011 at 5:42 am
Woohoo! I’m number one! Follower through Google Friend Connect, that is. 🙂
So Jamila or Lena or none or all of the above, since you expressed interest in being interviewed on my blog, would you mind emailing me so I can send you the questions?
subcreating (at) gmail.com
September 12, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Yaaaaaay, thanks! I’m so glad to finally have Friend Connect all set up, because I know it was hard for Blogger folks to follow WordPress blogs without having to add it to Google Reader or something.
Sending you an email now!
September 12, 2011 at 6:06 am
I’m loving the new look! Though I have a penchant to Jamila (as much as Lena sounds cool -I’ll get confused if I do the switch right now) so, I’ll be sticking to Jamila 🙂 -just a thought, can’t you change your username through your old wp.com account?
Congrats! 🙂
September 12, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Thanks, Oz! You know, I changed the username on the old account, but apparently it doesn’t change comments that I left previously (or I’m doing something wrong). I spent a few hours trying to figure it out and then gave up. At least moving forward, everything will be streamlined.
September 12, 2011 at 7:18 am
Things look good! I’ve updated already..(.if I don’t do it, a year will slip by without my ever thinking of it again). No, best to have done with it.
I love the new name. I’ll bet you’re the first to come up when you google that name…which is fantiastic for an author! ~ Nadja
September 12, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Haha, at the moment I think the only things that pop up when I google my new name is a song called “Tu Corazon” by Alejandro Sanz and a singer named Lena. However, now that I’ve got G+, tumblr, and everything else set up, I’m popping up at the top of the search page. (It is strange to me, that I have to worry about things like that.)
Thanks for updating your blogroll!
September 12, 2011 at 1:24 pm
I like the new name 🙂
But man I’m so glad I settled on my pen name before building any kind of following. Good luck with all the switching.
September 12, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Thanks, Raelyn! I dithered about the pen name (when I started blogging in May, it was sort of one big experiment that I planned on ditching if things seemed too scary), but I realized that if I was going to do it, it should be sooner, rather than later. I’ll be glad when the transition is done and everyone has me re-fixed in their minds. 😀
September 12, 2011 at 2:34 pm
I think I’ll call you Lena, just so I don’t confuse any new followers that turn up later 🙂
September 12, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Works for me! Thanks, Sarah. 😀
September 12, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Looks good, Jamila. Or Lena 🙂
September 19, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Thanks a lot, Matt!
September 13, 2011 at 5:57 am
Oooh, I totally joined your Google Friend Connect and I’m going to find you on Google+, too!
Just one question – we can call you Lena or Jamila, but can we call you “late for dinner”? 😉
September 19, 2011 at 10:11 pm
LOL! Thanks for joining up, Crystal. 😀
September 15, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Speaking as someone who has seen quite a few not-so-smooth transfers (both of hosting and naming), you did a wonderful job. Seamless as far as this casual lurker is concerned. And you’re right that it’s a good idea to get this all settled sooner rather than later. Well played. 🙂
September 19, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Oh, this is great to hear, Matt. I had dithered for a bit, but I am so glad that I chose to go this route.
Thanks for swinging by!
September 15, 2011 at 3:48 pm
This is a pen-name for me, too. I understand why you’ve done it.
Originally, I did it because the novels of mine about to be published contain some, er, questionable practises. But I feel more comfortable writing commercial stuff under another name, too…I like my privacy in that respect. Good luck with it all 🙂
September 19, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Thanks, Lucy! Yes, I have a racy WIP in the works, which was another reason for choosing to use the penname, but like you, I really like the amount of privacy that this affords me. I feel like I can have a bit more choice and flexibility when it comes to ‘revealing’ my writerly life. 😀
September 18, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Fellow Campaigner stopping by to say hello! 🙂
I don’t know what your blog looked like before–but I love the current design!
September 19, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Thanks so much! Nice to meet you. 😀