My True Identity

By Rebecca the Bookseller

I think it was when the third person on Friday night of RT came up to me and ID'd me as Rebecca that I knew it was time to come out. I guess I should be surprised the secret lasted this long, but that photo up there looks so little like me, that the real surprise was that anyone actually recognized me from the TLC masthead at all.

That is me up there, and it's not a wig. I was growing my hair for Locks of Love (a good cause, btw) and I let my friends Kimmie, Jenn and Rose at the Salon put makeup on and do my hair. That dark color is my natural color, but now there is so much grey that I gave up on keeping it dark. I used to wonder why, as women got older, so many went blonde. Now I know. It's one set of highlights - designed to mask the grey - at a time.

These are more recent (and real) photos of me from the Little Night of Romance, Mystery and Suspsense that Mystery Lovers Bookshop held last Thursday, to take advantage of all the great authors in town for RT. I got to interview the authors, which was a blast - tons of good photos (thanks Steve), but I only included a couple - one of Hank Phillipi Ryan, who won an RT award for best first mystery (Brava!), and one of Patty Smiley, who came all the way from LA. They are both terrific, as people and authors. (I'm the short round person on the right, in case you didn't put that together, and if that is the case, see your eye doctor immediately).

So (you can fake the drum roll now) my real name is Mary Kathryn Reschini Sweeney - Kathy Sweeney for short, which I am. I comment here all the time. And I have to say, it's been getting confusing. I tried to comment on my own blogs to keep people from guessing it was me. As if there is a CIA Operative out there on the case. heh.

How did I get to be a blogger at TLC with real authors who are also very cool ladies? Well, it all started, as so many capers do, at Daytona Beach. I was attending my very first RT Conference on behalf of the Mystery Lovers Bookshop - which is totally real and totally fabulous, and I do sell books there.

I knew Nancy Martin because she came to my book group several years ago - the book group is real too - Women Lawyers - who meet the first Tuesday of every month for the last 14 years. I'd met Sarah - as Bubbles at the Bookshop - because I was a big fan of Barbie Unbound. I'd met Elaine and Harley the same way - at MLB and at their Festival of Mystery. Daytona was the first time we really got to sit down together, and it was a riot. Add Nancie the Gun Tart to the mix, and we were all sore from laughing by the time we went home. (Of course, having a beach decorated with half naked male models trying to play volleyball and posing for portfolio shots in the surf, complete with subtle props like swords and spears didn't hurt, but that's another story.)

They were looking for someone with a sense of humor to blog anonymously about books. I know books. I read books. I sell books. I'd been writing e-mails that looked a lot like blogs for years, and Nancy was on my mailing list. So they offered and I accepted (those are legal words, y'know) and I did my very first blog right after RT. It was one of the few that really had to do with bookselling. The rest just kind of took off. No one was more surprised than me when my Friday blogs became popular. I even had my own fans - how cool is that?

I blog on Fridays, unless Margie notifies everyone that she is going to blog, in which case, I just stay out of the way. Truthfully? She scares me.

Anyway, it's been a blast, and I'm honored to be in this company - and by that, I mean not only the authors up there - including Michele, who came on board after I did, but the entire community. I've become real friends with people I met on the blog, and as I meet more and more members of our backblog, I am continually delighted at how smart and witty - and nice - you all are.

Plus, I have to admit, many time IOCHFTS myself. See - that is classic TLC stuff. What started as a joke in the comments has now risen to Google level. That's right - go to Google and put in "IOCHFTS" and the only things that come up are TLC Blogs - that is freaking fantastic! The more we do it, the more likely it will pop up. heh. We have probably earned at least a mention on The Colbert Report, right?

Whomever is keeping track of our TLC bumper sticker list, IOCHFTS should be moved up to the #1 spot, I think.

Whew. My big secret is out. I mean, look - it's not like I'm Wonder Woman or I can set things on fire or go through walls - which would be very cool, by the way - but for a reader and someone who writes all the time, it's a pretty big damn deal.

So - ya got a secret to share? Are you one of the IOCHFTS people? Talk to us.

Oh - wait! I need a new moniker now - suggestions are welcome, particularly any with a royal title of some kind. Maybe I'll just use my real name. I'm starting to feel a little like part of a witness protection program. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Comments

[toni mcgee causey]

Well, I heard the title Her Ladyship was taken by someone at RT, I think, and Her Ladybits probably wouldn't be a good idea, (I thought that's what someone was saying that title was the first time I heard it mentioned)... although you'd be even more popular at RT. But I'm thinking you need something along the lines of Supreme Commander of the Universe. You could declare every day a reading day, all books to be held and pages turned by the model of the person's choice... I am sure there are other perks that would go along with that.

(Glad you're finally outed.) (It's the eyes and the smile that give it away.)

[William Simon]

"Empress of the Universe As We Know It", or "The Empress" for short. Not that anyone asks for "The Empress" when they call your office. Oh, no. Just sayin'....

[Nancie aka Gun Tart]

I’ll second Toni’s suggestion for Supreme Commander of the Universe.

Okay, since Me, Margie, posted I took photos of her at RT I’ve been getting many interesting bribes to reveal her true identity or an actual photo. I’m sworn to secrecy and will not give up the info for any reason. Yes, Me, Margie, scares the hell out of me; besides she knows people I wouldn’t mess with for any reason, so sorry folks but I just can’t tell you anything about her for my own health and well-being.

[William Simon]

Someone asked me about Margie once. After due consideration, I agreed to discuss her, describe her, and provide a photo. Right after I relocated to Red China under an assumed name....

[ArkansasCyndi]

If you are going to be Queen of the Universe, do we call you HRH Kathy? or HRH Rebecca?

and Why did you choose Rebecca as your alias?

If I'd been the one who took pictures of Me, Margie, I'd be scared too. She's scary.

[michele]

I vote for either your real name or just continuing to use Rebecca. Funny, even though I've known all along, Rebecca is like a real person to me.

[Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney]

Hah - when I was little, and someone asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, legend has it that I did say "Queen of the Universe" - my mother, also a Mary Kathryn, somberly advised that the title had already been claimed by our namesake - the big Mary aka the BVM. oops.

How did I choose Rebecca? Good question! One reason is from the book and the other is from HBO.

Thanks for the suggestions - I am thinking some kind of Highness would be good - better living through chemicals and so forth...

[Joyce Tremel]

Kathy, you don't need a title other than "The One and Only Kathy Sweeney."

[JodiL]

Hijack! Sorry, Rebecca/Kathy. For you Bond people, here is the latest video and info on the accident involving Blond Bond's latest move: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7366939.stm

Back to regularly scheduled programming.

[Harley]

Oh, thank GOD it's over. The secret is out. I lived in fear of the Internet Police and the infamous Blog Squad using torture methods to get it out of me. Just the threat of waterboarding would have me screaming, "It's Kathy Sweeney, okay? Happy now? Kathy Sweeney is Rebecca-the-Bookseller!"

Whew.

[Josh]

I thought Rebecca was asking for some secret we have. I don't think I have any. Well, here's one: I have ABBA on my iPod, just above AC/DC.

[Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney]

Harley - if anyone threatens you, call Nancie - she has guns and she's not afraid to use them.

Oh Josh - now that we've met you, we know you have bigger secrets. BTW, have you had any puppet shows? hah.

Jodi - I read about that yesterday. How awful.

Hi Joyce - and thank you - I like that one! Will I see you Monday at the Festival?

[Buff]

I have always liked the sound of Rebecca the Bookseller. My mind jumps immediately to "Becky the Bookseller" and then, of course, it's not a far rhyming leap to "Debbie Does Dallas" and then I dissovle into giggles. You see, I too, work for the bookstore where Rebecca plys her bookselling trade and the thought of this place as a setting for a porn flick is silly enough to make me snort my coffee outta my nose.

[bea]

I vote for Joyce's "The One and Only Kathy Sweeney."

The acronym is TOOKS, though, which is perhaps an issue.....

[Joyce Tremel]

Kathy, I'll be there around 11 am with my goodie bags (courtesy of Pgh SinC) for all the authors. Do I need to bring more crime scene tape?

[peach]

I connected the face with the picture at last year's FOM when my daughter and I watched you doing your 'bookseller' job at the check out tables. I just didn't connect you to your real name until last Thursday night.

Amazing as I am horrible at identifying faces from pictures. You are one of a kind though.

My secret: My real name is Karen Pietsch (pronounced peach). I can't even begin to list all of the creative pronunciations I've heard over the years.

My daughter and I plan on attending the Festival on Monday so we hope to see you there.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Peach, I know what you are saying. My married name is Purtle. Looks simple enough, doesn't it? Turtle with a P...no problem. Yeah, right. I have probably heard 1000 variations on the pronunciation and even more on the spelling. And don't even start on the PP thing....

[Katie]

How about "Supreme Ruler of all that is TLC"? But if you're looking for a witness protection name, I'm sure Me, Margie could hook you up. I'd be willing to bet she has some - uh - Uncles on extended vacations?

[Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney]

Peach! It was great meeting you last week - come and find me on Monday - I want to see you and meet your daughter.

And you are very good at masking your shyness. You seemed very comfortable coming up and introducing yourself.

Sister Zip - I can see why you use that tag. My maiden name was butchered (still is) even by people who head it a hundred times.

Katie - very funny. I don't ask Margie about that kind of thing. I try not to ask her anything, actually.
Will we see you on Monday?

This is so nice, being able to talk to everyone without having to worry about which voice to use...

[Pam aka SisterZip]

You could always go by the Mary Engelbreit tag..."Queen of Everything" and wear a crown and carry a septur (sp, sorry)...just too excitiing.

The SisterZip tag came about in high school, so you can imagine just how dumb that is. But I got off easy. My best friend was known as SisterBitch.

[Chris]

Wow, when I heard "Rebecca was coming out, complete with pictures," I expected something a little different. I'm crushed.

As far as a new nickname, how about HBIC? (That's Head Bookseller In Charge, or something like that.)

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Or BBOC "Best Bookseller on Campus"...

[beachfla]

Whew. That's one less confidence I have to keep. I have to admit, it's been fun to see you blog as RTB. I kinda think of Rebecca as another friend. Titles for you - something superlative, of course. Will have to think on it!

[Tom]

Oh, come on, admit it - the drugs keeping the personalities separate just aren't working anymore. Right?

[Rebecca the Bookseller aka Kathy Sweeney]

Chris - nothing that exciting, unfortunately, but it's good to see you here.

Beachfla - I think of her as another friend too - which leads me to:

Tom - who told you? I thought all that was privileged...