How I Got the
Name an'ya
When I first started
writing haiku, I wasn't sure whether to use my Serbian
name (Andja) or my American name (Andrea), until someone
gave me David McMurray/Asahi Haikuist Network/Asahi Evening News' email
address.
Late one night (over there in Japan) I
emailed David and he christened me with the pen name of an'ya (loosely
meaning a surprise light in the peaceful night") because it was
a peaceful night when my surprise email came to him I guess.
What is strange, is that when I taught school, the kids
nicknamed me Miss Anya, so the pen name was perfect and I've
used it ever since. Actually, this is the only name anyone calls
me now.
