Authors using pen names?

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Lincolnshirelass
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Re: Authors using pen names?

Post by Lincolnshirelass »

The historical mystery writer Edward Marsden also has umpteen other pen-names (not sure which is his real one) which in a way is understandable as it relates to the different time periods (he covers everything from Roman times to contemporary) but I wonder if he doesn't overdo it a bit!
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Post by ReyvrexQuestor Reyes »

Pen names are necessary when writing certain books. For instance, a male author needs to adopt a female pen name when writing romance books. Especially if the narrative is in first person, it does not sit well with men to kiss-and-tell.
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Post by Scrawling Pen »

I have always found it interesting when authors use pen names. I believe that some publishers suggest that authors use pen names in order appear more favorably in the public eye. The fact that gender can influence an audience's likelihood of buying a book is slightly disturbing to me. I also find it interesting when a well-known author begins to use a pen name (Such as J.K. Rowling did in more recent years with the name Robert Galbraith). I suppose that this is a good way to determine if it is the name or the work that actually draws in the readers.
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Post by Tzara Drusak »

J.R. Ward's real name is Jessica Bird and Lewis Carroll's Charles Lutwidge Dodgson,
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Post by Bunnygirl »

Authors using Pen Names???

This idea of Authors choosing a pen name isn't a bad idea. Though I do enjoy being able to find an author's work all together. Writing to separate ones work so that it is weighted on its merits verses the author's already exsisting reputation can make a huge impact on how it is seen.
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Post by Camille Turner »

Lemony Snicket comes to mind. His pen name was a fantastic idea because he incorporated the author as a character in his kid's books.
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Post by KRay93 »

There are many. Here I leave two authors who wrote under different pseudonyms for a particular book:
- C. S. Lewis = Clive Hamilton
- Isaac Asimov = Paul French

Now, here are some who, like so many other artists, find a commercially more attractive name in a pseudonym:
- E. L. James = Erika Mitchel
- Mark Twain = Samuel Langhorne Clemens
- Pablo Neruda = Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto

The first cases I suppose that have something to do with publishing books out of their usual category, or perhaps to prove if their "reputation" is what actually attracts readers. From the second list, I find it logical to employ shorter and more striking names (just look at Neruda's case), maybe even create an own "artistic" identity.
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Post by GabbiV »

I know George Elliot is a pen name, and while I think having a pen name is cool, in the case of women writers I think it's a shame that they had to don one in order to publish their work or be taken seriously. And it's not even an old-time practice either! Like in the case of JK Rowling, she felt that she had to use JK so she would be perceived as a man so her sales wouldn't be affected.
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Post by ScoutWrites »

I remember hearing somewhere that when Robert Galbraith's true identity was leaked, Rowling was very upset. But then I'm convinced it was only this knowledge that compelled me to read Cuckoo's Calling and the two following novels. And I loved them. I guess what I'm trying to say is I understand wanting to distance your new work from your first wildly successful series, but there is something about keeping the audience you previously established.

Of course, cases like George Eliot are an entirely different story. Didn't the Bronte sisters originally write under male pen names as well?
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Post by Amanda Nixon »

I believe Stephen King has published some books under a different name
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Post by Jude Austin »

anix67 wrote: 05 Apr 2018, 17:46 I believe Stephen King has published some books under a different name
Yeah, he wrote a few under the pen name Richard Bachman. Pretty good stuff.
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Post by Amanda Nixon »

JudasFm wrote: 05 Apr 2018, 20:04
anix67 wrote: 05 Apr 2018, 17:46 I believe Stephen King has published some books under a different name
Yeah, he wrote a few under the pen name Richard Bachman. Pretty good stuff.
Okay awesome! Thanks for letting me know!
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Post by Dael Reader »

George Orwell = Eric Arthur Blair
George Eliot = Mary Anne Evans
Robert Galbraith = J.K. Rowling
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Post by Mallory Porshnev »

I just discovered a newish series by Robert Galbraith who is apparently J. K. Rowling.
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Post by Ali hamza »

George Eliot.
Robert Galbraith.
Real name: Joanne (J.K.) Rowling.
bell hooks.
E.L. James.
John le Carré
George Orwell.
J.D. Robb.
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