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Reviewer Scott Shoger of Nuvo News awards 5 stars out of 5 for child audiences to the Indy Fringe Show “When Cats Could Fly…” This show by storyteller Brother Wolf will be opening three more times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week. Scott Shoger of Nuvo News Writes… “Cats could fly back during Brother [...]

The Art of Storytelling with Children podcast successfully fuels the rebirth of the storytelling community in a new technological format. The podcast has created a format where anyone can learn the ancient art of storytelling.

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I have to say that I look less at the name on a cover than I did even a few years ago. Being visual, the cover snatches my attention first.
I read then the back cover blurb, deciding from there whether to buy.
Few exceptions, unless I hear that everyone dislikes a book, then I'm likely to read it and see why.

There are so many authors, and even the seasoned authors who have written in a particular romance genre for a long time are-- due to various demands-- changing genres, or blending genres in their romance writing. Some keep their names, and others choose a pen name.
As more blending of genres occur, the line of gender writing is becoming less and less distinct,IMO.

Like someone said-a good book is a good book, after all. If I'm going to spend hours at a B& N, likely I'm looking for a good story.
Now I will admit, that if I read a story marketed as 'romance'(sub-genre/elements or gender-hopping names notwithstanding) and it turns out without the HEA,(historical romance fiction based on real life- exempt) I might be a bit miffed. No, make that, I throw it against the wall.

Which I suppose is another topic, for another time-has the requirement for the HEA Happily ever after) changed in the romance genre?

Amanda McIntyre

I actually think it's interesting when an author is a surprise. I remember reading Brett Lott's "Jewel," specifically the part where the main character is describing first realizing she is pregnant. I remember being amazed -- even skeptical -- that a man had written it. I kept thinking, how did he know?!

Anon 10:18 thanks for that laugh!

In the YA market it actually does matter. Female authors that write "boy books" often use their initials and last name as opposed to putting a feminine name on a book cover.

It would certainly give a special little fillip to signings and public appearances.

Not to mention the author photo at the end of the book...

Based only on the people I've met and spoken with, men seem to have more trouble with it than women. I've met men who won't read books written by women, no matter what genre. A few of them seem proud of this, which is interesting, seeing as that bullheadedness isn't usually considered an accomplishment.

And I could see some women shying away from romances written by men. It's less familiar. Still, I think you could miss out on a lot of good books with either attitude.

I suppose if the author was really worried about public image, he or she could simply use initials until the book is well established, then show up at the readings.

After all, Norah Roberts did just fine as J.D. Robb.

p.s. my husband said he'd go straight for the back cover to see what Candy Cane looks like.

I have been surprised--and shocked, I guess--at the number of times on listservs that I have heard--typically women--say, "I won't read a book written by a man." Or, "I won't read a book with a female main character if it's written by a man because men can't do it."

I haven't heard men say this, though I don't doubt it's true. So there probably are good reasons to put the gender-bending pseudonym on it, although it seems to me that the initials are a dead give-away.

J.K. Rowling
J.A. Jance
J.A. Konrath
J.A. Kerley (this one is new; Jack's early books have his name on them, but he notes that his British publisher is requesting the J.A.. Sure are a lot of J.A.'s there, which brings me to).

P.J. Parrish
P.J. Tracy
P.J. O'Rourke

To which I can only plead: if you're going to go this route, please, please avoid the initials PJ or JA.

Hmmm. J.K. Terry. Got a nice ring to it.

hey he/she could always show up at booksignings in drag!

It doesn't make any difference to me. When I'm reading something new the gender of the author doesn't really register with me until I come across a scene or piece of dialogue that makes me think, sounds like a woman/man wrote this book. Then I check the name of the author to see if I'm right. Pseudonyms really throw a monkey wrench into the works but it's all fun.

This reminds me of a story a friend who was a romance editor a long time ago told me. She had a male writer who wrote under a female pen name. He/she was invited to do an interview, but didn't want to reveal his identity--or maybe the publisher didn't want him, too,I don't remember--so my friend, the editor, had to pretend to be him. As I say, this was a long time ago--maybe the early 80s.

I don't know any gender hopping authors personally, but one of my friends who writes under a pen name mentioned one interesting pitfall of pen names in general. At first when people at conferences or large book signings would call her by her "first" name, she wouldn't respond--she didn't realize they were talking to her. So the next friend who took a pen name, keep her first name the same, to avoid that confusion.

If I ever gender hop, I think I'll stick to initials. Signing a man's name would be a little too schizoid (sp?) for me.

To pen name or not to pen name--I debated with that question on the eve of my first book hitting the e-shelves. My real name doesn't slip trippingly from the tongue, so I took the initials route with a combination of my first and middle names. It wasn't to conceal my gender, especially since my picture is on my website.

The gender of an author is immaterial to me when I read a book. I'll give any author a try.

A.L.Debran

When I think of amazing romance novels, I think of Nicholas sparks, so no, I wouldn't be opposed to a man's name being on a romance!

It wouldn't matter to me at all, but I do remember an interview with P.D. James where she said she went with the initials because she didn't think Patricia James would be taken seriously as a mystery writer when she started. I believe JK Rowling echoed the same sentiments.

I think some people have misunderstood what I meant by a man who understands women. I don't mean someone who can discuss fashion with me. I mean a man who can read women and knows what buttons to push to get the reaction he desires. The man who knows the hot spots. The man who can immediately sense or within a short time sense, what will drive a woman insane.

I once had a discussion with one of the three guys such as this I bounce ideas off. We were discussing a scene and I was floored by the emotional and even erotic aspects he tossed out. I think he probably understands what makes women tick better than women do. I told him he ought to be writing romance. He responded he has, he just really doesn't enjoy them. He'd rather practice than write about it.

When you find a talented, in more than one way, man like that who reads women and can go into a romantic scene with an understanding of what is going on with both partners, I would think that is magic.

I wish I understood men as well as these guys understand women. I would switch from fantasty with romantic undertones to romance with fantasy notes.

I don't know if I'd be disapointed or not, but I know that the book signing would be a bit akward...

Many years ago, my brother was horrified to learn Andre Norton was a woman. When she started writing, people believed no one would buy science fiction by a woman. Well, despite the revelation, my brother kept buying her books. The funny thing was, I'd been reading the books after him (I was maybe ten or eleven) and I assumed "Andre" was a female name because it seemed clear to me the author was female. In any case, an author's gender means nothing to me. I just want to read a good book.

It makes a huge difference. I've yet to see a thriller/action novel I like written by a woman.

My first point I'd like to bring up is it isn't necessary to utilize initials. There are also countless uni-sex names from which to choose, which again puts the reader into an "oops, my bad" scenario, and does offer more freedom to choose. Another option would be to make up a name. When I say my first and middle initial for instance, I hear an inventive opportunity in its sound, and have considered it as a possible flip.

If we are going to be expressive as writers, we might as well keep up the good name...maybe one that is so unique it will cause the reader to remember!

zzCrapshooter, can you say without a trace of doubt the "male" writers you prefer are in fact male?

Years ago, there was an author by the name of VC Andrews. The majority of her audience was female. And there was no surprise to find out this initial-toting writer was female.

The interesting twist to this story is—no one knew she was DEAD.

After she passed away (1986), her family hired a ghostwriter to keep both her memory and her unique stories alive. (No unkindness intended, but I imagine the royalties didn’t hurt the cause either.) There were more VC Andrews books written after she died, than were written by her while alive. I’m not certain at what point it was announced she had passed away and a ghostwriter existed, but it was a solid stretch at any rate.

If our glorious industry can make millions of people believe someone is alive, rest assured they can make at least a hundred believe a woman is a man—or vice versa—and you might just be one of those hundred.

In addition, a man carried her legendary “female author” career forward through time. Kudos to her for bringing such fame to a name, and to him for having the capacity as a writer to keep her alive in the hearts of her fans.

As a guy, I don't have any trouble reading books by women, no matter what the genre. And if the techno/spy-thriller is strictly man territory, someone forgot to tell Gayle Lynds that before she took over the reins from Robert Ludlum and then started writing her own best-selling thrillers.

I couldn't care less about a writer's gender if I enjoy the book, but I always wonder about the practical aspects of assuming not only a different name but a different gender. How would Alfred promote his romance novel? Attend the RWA conference in a dress? Hire a beautiful, romantic-looking young actress to do signings for him? What if his book became a runaway success and everybody wanted interviews with "Cassandra"? What if that beautiful young actress decided she wanted to actually *be* Cassandra and old Alfred was in her way? Good plot for a mystery -- but I think somebody's already written that story.

Mmmm...interesting. I think names are important and do help sell a book. The gender wouldn't put me off: I would read romantic fiction penned by a man, or military fiction by a women. However, I do think the name itself is a trigger in the selling process. I am a female and write horror/fantasy. I have chosen the name Akasha Savage as my pen-name, I feel that my real name, Debi Sands, doesn't lend itself comfortably to that genre.

I would only assume a pen name if I decided to write a memoir and the chances of that happening are zilch.

I could care less about names on a cover unless they are so contrived it makes me wonder if the writing is so bad the author needed a gimmick.

The movie Don't Tell Her It's Me features a romance author with a poetic name. The no-nonsense reporter is positive the name is made up, but it really is her name.

I want people focusing on my writing, not wondering how long it took me to come up with the name I.C. Fingers for my zombie romantic mysteries.

As a man who has tried to find a home for several women's fiction novels I know more about this subject that I ever thought I would.

I will say querying with only initials as oppsoed to my full masculine name, raised my "Interested-send me more rate" from about thirty percent to just over fifty.

I'm sorry Travis...

But I can't help it, but I don't want to read romances or women's fiction written by a man. I don't feel that women are portrayed correctly by men, and sometimes I've even noticed books that felt off...I didn't bother to research them, but I suspected the use of a pseudonym. I've even been put off by some mainstream novels where women characters are written with far too much machismo.

So yeah, stick to the pseudonym and hope your readers can't tell!

Hi Jessica,

I really appreciate that LLC takes time away from their busy schedules to post information like this.

Here's what I don't understand about pen names: On the page of the novel where the copyright goes, the writer's real name is often listed. So, if you want to keep that name confidential, you'd probably have to incorporate, wouldn't you??????

How common is that? and at what point would an author incorporate?

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks.

Nancy

My decision to use a pseudonym was made early, and it helps that it's my maiden name. Just a few days ago, I went into a bookstore to approach the owner about ordering my book, and she recognized me right away as Sandra Cormier, only because we knew each other in my pre-marriage days.

I've stopped using both names in queries, keeping it simple and straightforward. Why confuse the agent or editor?

When it's contract time, usually there's a space for both names, so no angst needed.

Nancy, the copyright can be done under your pseudonym. All my Wolf Tales have been copyrighted under Kate Douglas w/o any problem. I wish I'd been smart enough to do that with my earlier stories, as I'd just as soon not have my real name floating about.

I am not pub'd and I haven't done anything with a pseudonym yet. I only want to change my last name when the times comes to get a contract -- I don't want my real name on a shelf.

My biggest reasoning -- sometimes my mail gets forwarded to the postoffice if it doesn't fit in my mail box (nothing bigger than letter does) and to retrieve the mail, I have to use photo id...

I've read (in a lot of places) you should use it from the get go. I'll just have to worry about it when I get there.

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for covering this topic as well... I'm using my maiden name and was told to use my married/legal name on query and correspondence but the pen name on the ms - which might be confusing... This makes it simpler, I'll just order letterhead with my maiden name for fiction.

I am really enjoying your posts - if only you represented my genre. Oh well, I'll keep reading anyway, it's wonderful information. Thanks so much.

Tiffinac,

Another author, I think on Jessica's earlier post about pen names but it might have been on another blog, said she listed her pen name as a dba. She got a separate bank account for the pen name and a credit card with both her pen name and real name to avoid confusion with identification.

My name is just, well, dull. I've never liked it. I'll have to think of a cool pseudonym before I start querying.

Kate, at what point in the process did you copywrite your Wolf Tales (i.e., pre-agent, post-agent, pre-sale, etc.)?

Thanks,

Zee

Oops, I mean copyright! Duh! So, pretend I spelled it correctly. :-)

Zee

Thanks Kate!

Nancy

This one is close to my heart--I can't be the real me because another author owns the name, so I'm Kate Douglas...all the time. I even got a credit card in my Kate Douglas name and that allows me to register at conferences w/o giving out my "other" name. The best part is that the author me is a lot more fun and outlandish than the real me. I've discovered I can do things in "Author mode" I'd never dream of in real life. It's like an invitation to role play.

You are a mind reader! I was just going to ask a question about how to address the nom de plume (French is always sexier and I hate the idea of being a pseudo anything) because I'm currently in the middle of writing a romance and although "Laura Kramarsky" is fine for a mystery writer, it's just not very romantic.

What if you've established yourself as in author in one genre but you want to write fun and sexy romance novels under a different name on the side and not reveal your mainstream identity???

Is that okay/acceptable?

Anon:

In fact I have more than one author who ask that they never have to reveal their real or other names. That is perfectly acceptable. You will probably have to reveal that to your agent though, assuming she doesn't already know. She may or may not want your publisher to know, but it never has to go beyond that.

--jhf

Question for Kate Douglas: How did you get a credit card in that name? Did you file DBA papers in your state?

Question for Jessica/Fessica:
Would you sign a contract for a million dollar book deal :-) as Jessica or Fessica? How about your contract with your agent?

Isn't that how JT Ellroy got into trouble? By signing her pen name to a contract?

Josephine - love those questions. I'm looking forward to hearing the answers. They ran pretty much what I was going to ask.

I've been thinking of a pseudonym and am having a difficult time deciding. For those who have one, how did you decide what to use?

Everytime I think of one it ends up sounding like a porn name. lol

I think JT Leroy got in trouble because the author using that pseudonym pretended Leroy was a real person writing a memoir, and the author had taken this person under their wing, and made up elaborate biography for that person, who didn't exist.

Regarding the early adoption of pseudonyms: I actually disagree with Jessica here. I've seen plenty of authors go to great length to adopt a pseudonym so wretched ("porn star name," as Lori said) that their agent or publisher has refused to let them use it, and all their effort has been wasted. I say wait to adopt a pseudonym until there is a deal on the table and all parties involved can agree on one.

Well, this is just another thing that leads to confusion like agents saying they don't take short stories but won't consider a query on a novella with more publishing companies opting for novellas. Because to me a short story and novella are completely different.

But that's another topic - about pen names/pseudonyms - I agree with Jessica.

People talk about building a brand or name recognition. And that unpubbed authors and writers need websites and blogs as marketing. It makes sense to adopt a pseudonym, if you feel you need one, and build your website and blog using that. Same with message boards and forums when you comment. So I guess it is a catch 22.

When I decided to use a pen name, I used it on everything. Then I started reading that I should sign my real name with "writing as" under it. I did that a few times, but it just didn't feel right, so I went back to just the pen name. But, of course, my publisher uses my real name on the contracts. And on the checks.
I've considered having my name legally changed to the pen name because I have no attachment to my real last name.

Well, that's a relief. I'm using my maiden name anyway so it's easy to autograph stuff!


--Chumplet writing as Sandra Cormier but I'm really Sandra Turnsek...

The fun thing about being a writer is that you get to have all these multiple personalities--not only do you create your own fiction, but you get to create your persona.

I'm Michele Dunaway the mother, the full time teacher, the nationally recognized educator, and the author. For each one there's a different dress and another pair of shoes. (PS--I am not Michele Dunaway the painter, or the news broadcaster in Michigan.)

I took eight pairs to RWA and wore all but one. I was in dresses I'll only wear once all year. At the national journalism conventions I present at, I don't need those things. One pair of nice black pumps and I'm done. RWA had a shoe and jewelry for every outfit. In my classroom, the same two pairs of comfortable shoes every other day, same few outfits in rotation. As I get up at 5:30 AM, I will not be a high end fashion plate at work, but would dare not be otherwise at RWA.

At home, shorts, sweats, t-shirts that would never see the light of day outside my house.

The joy of a pen name is that you can play that person, go home, and take off the mask you have to present. Writing with your own name means you are "on" every time you're in public--although how much you want to disclose is up to you. It's playing dress up all the time--depending on what role mode you are in. The way I sign my name also varies as well.

As for being Michele Dunaway (which is my former married name), my best friends and my family rarely blink at "the author." They simply aren't awed, since to them, you're just you no matter what since they've known you forever. That's a nice fact--it grounds you if ever your head gets too big.

Re: credit card question. I merely applied for a "small business" account which did not require a DBA application and got it in my author's name (as business) and my real name is listed below, which is good if I have to show ID, since my driver's license is in my real name.

Re: question on how I chose my nom de plume (Gee, Laura, I like the sound of that!)I wanted to keep my first name because I'm too dense to remember to answer to another name, and I took my husband's name, Douglas, because he has been so supportive of my writing career and it seemed like a good way to include him.

As far as name branding goes, I've been really lucky writing a series with the same title for each book. It's made it easy to make Kate Douglas synonymous with Wolf Tales.

Kate, if I chose my pen name the way you did, I would be: Kate Douglas, lmao.

I chose Kate because I also wanted to keep my first name, but Scott was just a random choice, though I love all things Scottish, lol.

Lori..
As I'm unpublished as yet it's a moot point, but I chose my pen name, Lucie Charles, from relatives that meant a lot to me. Lucie is to honor my mother and step-mother since they were both named Lucille. Charles was the name of a favorite uncle.
Petrina

Thanks, Jessica! You alluded to this issue when you were doing query critiques so it's nice to see the full story.

I'm a rank beginner but I feel I have to have a pen name because I teach high school in a conservative city at an even more conservative religious school. What with substitute teachers being fired and prosecuted for ACCIDENTALLY showing 2 seconds of a porno in class, what kind of fit teacher can I possibly be writing erotic love scenes for a living (some day, I hope)!?!??!!?!?

I chose my last name because it's my maternal great-aunt's maiden name and she introduced me to romances. It's also Scottish and I'm proud of that history. I chose my first name from a name book that I won in the raffle on the very first day I attended my local RWA chapter meeting. I thought it sounded romantic. My real name begins with a "C" too so I hope I won't get confused if I ever "make it".

Camille Kirkland

I write under my own name and a pseudonym. This year, at RWA, I had both names on my badge, because (1) I was a GH finalist under my real name and also just had a book released under my real name; and (2) because I wanted to spark interest in my pseudonym, as my first release as Kate St. James is coming out in December. It seemed to work, and no one I met was confused.

Next year, in SF, unless something changes with my real name's writing and I miraculously have an unplanned release come out before then, I plan on just putting my pseud on my name badge, because I'll be signing at the Lit Autographing under that name and of course will want to promote that release. I figure, from this point forward, whichever name is up for an award or whichever name is the one that just had a book come out or about to come out, etc., is the one I'll use.

I decided to use a pen name because my father-in-law was a minister of religion with a rather narrow outlook on life. No way would he have ever spoken to me again if he'd known I was writing romance, let alone erotic romance. So I used my maiden name plus a corruption of my real name for my first name. I was called Alex as a kid so answering to it now is easy. My biggest fear was someone would call my name and I wouldn't answer to it.
Now I constantly dodge questions from my mother-in-law as to when she's going to get a copy of one of my books to read. Not likely! The poor woman would have a heart attack.

One hint from me: Try to use your name first name, if possible. I have a radically different "real" first name (which is also so unique, it would pretty much negate using a pseudonym if I went with it) from Bella, and it took a good year or so to figure out how to answer the phone calls for Bella or meet industry people as Bella.
~ Bella Andre

Colleagues at work knew me in high school, so I still turn my head when they call out, "Hey, Cormier!" Even after twenty-plus years of marriage.

I also have a large extended family spread all over the world, and it'll be easy for them to remember my pseudonym.

Works for me.

My first name is extremely common for a romance writer. I didn't want to be just another ______, so I decided to get a pseudonym. I chose a romantic first name and an easy-to-remember-and-spell last name (which also happens to be my son's name). Then I googled it to be sure it was acceptable. Next I bought the website and reserved all the e-mail accounts I could.

And, I have become Olivia Charles.

Two people writing under the last name Charles. That happens to be my real last name and the one my novella is coming out under. My first name is unique enough to stand out and despite being books they'll never read I know my family will be happy to have my name on the cover.

Interestingly enough using my given name feels like using a pen name because I have an entirely different online identity that feels like my "real name" and the "real" me.

I keep wondering if I should have gone with it since my entire web identity is under it, but using my given name allows for a certain anonymous quality to things.

How incredibly odd, huh?

Xakara

I'll admit that I answer to Deanna.... even when people aren't talking to me. It's happened once or twice in a store, there is this "darling" little girl named Deanna that I see all the time in the grocery store. The first time I ever say her-- her mother was screaming "De-ANNA!" and I turned around and asked 'What?'.

So- funny.

I'm curious though. For contractual issues you have to sign your legal name. So therefore, wouldn't you use your real name at this point and not a pen name?