io9 has a nifty article up, “4 Authors We Wish Would Return to Science Fiction.” Me, Mary Doria Russel, Samuel R. Delany, and Karen Joy Fowler. Clearly, to fit in with the other kids I need a middle name, or at least an initial. Any suggestions? (Play nicely, now.)
And what’s your opinion? Did I leave? If I did, am I back? (Does it matter?)
Anyway, here’s a post I wrote last year on the subject. And here’s a link to a Strange Horizons interview where I talk about genre a bit more.
Nicola Griffith 
Need a middle name? What's your grandmother's maiden name? That usually works (that's how MK ended up with 'Tealey'…the other grandmother was a 'Snively' so you see why that wasn't used).
And I never thought that you went anywhere. You've been writing all along. Maybe it's the James Patterson syndrome of churning out books based on outlines with co-writers that has people wondering why book after book isn't just produced by authors. I dunno.
Well, I was thinking more along the lines of 'god'…
My name was Brian Cameron David Schwartz. When I changed it, I adopted the pseudonym I'd been writing under for years — Dianne Cameron, and made the mistake of adding Rebecca. If I were to do it all again, I'd go with two names.
You're perfect just the way you are, without embellishment of any kind. A third name would just be gilding the lily.
Ok, I'm going to answer this question exactly as put. No you never left – you just like to travel; you are uncontainable/unquantifiable. And so what anyway because it doesn't matter one iota. It only matters in some weird community consciousness where they reject otherism. Which by definition sf should not, right?
Now for the important stuff. Well, the first obvious Initial is Z. One should be left to guess what the Z stands for.
Then I was thinking, how about Nicola E.P. Griffith (after your (secretly) favorite singer)? Not quite right – must give it some more thought.
But now, I see it. Nicola G. Griffith. Ah yes, THAT'S IT!!
dianneordi, two names = definitely easier. I've never considered using my middle name. This post was just me being punchy. (Been to the pub since; feeling much, much more mellow…)
jennifer, well, my dad's initials are E.P. …
What a coincidence…
You left as in, it has been a little bit? Also, I liked “The Sparrow” but I don't know if I have any more room for Maria's particular brand.