Prudence Breitrose: Hello. My name is Prudence Breitrose. I'd like to think that my parents chose Prudence because I was their fourth daughter in quick succession, and they were telling themselves enough's enough, which is one way you can interpret the word prudence.

Breitrose is my married name. My husband's family came from Russia, where it was probably pronounced Bret-ruse, meaning broad Russian, but the spelling and the pronunciation got changed in America, though people don't always get it right, and I find myself being called Breet-rose or Bret-rose more than I'd like.

I was going to use my original name on my first book Mousenet, Prudence Martin, but my agent said, "Are you nuts? With a name like Prudence Breitrose at your disposal?" I agree, it's a great name, as long as people pronounce it right.