What's In a Name?

I've opted to use the pen name Kristen Tiu—a variation of my real name.

My actual name is a bit tricky to spell (and quite a mouthful to remember), so I figured this would make things simpler while still staying true to myself. 

A pen name, to me, isn’t about hiding. It’s about creating a space that feels comfortable to write from—a name that fits the kind of stories I want to tell.

“Kristen” is close enough to my real name that it still feels personal, while “Tiu” keeps a piece of my heritage intact. Together, they form a name that feels both “me” and slightly new.

In a way, choosing a pen name became part of my creative process.

It helped me separate the noise from the work, and approach the page with a clearer sense of why I write.