Comments on: Split Personality

By: Vivienne Westlake

Vivienne Westlake — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:01:35 +0000

I’ve thought about this as well, Crystal. Originally, I took my pen name because I wanted to keep my erotic romance writing separate from my regular life. I have written under my real name, but mostly articles. I used to have the intention of writing self help or new age books and I didn’t want that part of me to clash with the erotic romance part. Initially, I had the intention of writing traditional romance under my real name (people laugh because my real name sounds more like a romance writer’s name than Vivienne Westlake).

Recently, I’ve become a bit more open with co-workers and acquaintances about what I write. Most of them are really excited by it. They haven’t read any of the steamy stuff, but some have asked…

I have thought of wearing a wig and glasses for the future when I do book signings. I know it’s silly, but there is a part of me that would like to go incognito. Not sure what I’ll do when I actually need to do live book signings, but hopefully, I’ll work that out by then. I know there are authors who do not reveal their identity and hide from public appearances short of RWA, but I know I’d probably WANT to do public appearances eventually, if only to meet the people who’d actually buy my books!

If you come up with a solution, let me know…

By: Jax

Jax — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:27:10 +0000

Frankly, Jax is my real name and Cassidy could have been my real last name in a previous life. I got over the fear of being exposed. These days I proudly ‘roar’ — I’m an erotic romance author. For the most part, I’ve met people who are thrilled..some who are pervs…and some who are genuinely awestruck by me having books available in stores. I think when you become comfortable and believe this is truly a profession, a career, it’s easy to accept your other persona. I’ve always known you as Crystal Jordan so that’s who you are to me!

By: gwen hayes

gwen hayes — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:39:58 +0000

I thought I might write steamier than I ended up writing…so in deference to my four teenaged children, I chose a pen name. Instead I write YA, and the teenaged children pass out my pens at school. Life is weird.

By: Amanda Brice

Amanda Brice — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:16:15 +0000

“For me, it was a matter of separating my WORK writing for library literature under my real name from my FICTION…I didn’t want people googling my real name expecting to find information on libraries and instead finding my romance work.”

Crystal, that’s exactly why I write as Amanda Brice. It’s not so much that I care whether people know that I write fiction. But when they google the real me, I’d rather them find my legal articles, not my YA books about girls traveling back in time or solving mysteries at their dance studio.

By: Crystal Jordan

Crystal Jordan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:06:08 +0000

For me, it was a matter of separating my WORK writing for library literature under my real name from my FICTION…I didn’t want people googling my real name expecting to find information on libraries and instead finding my romance work. Then again…I didn’t start out writing erotic, I started out writing chick lit.

My family KNOWS what I write, but the pen name gives them some plausible deniability if they want it.

And Diana–you’ve never seen me at work, love.

By: Elaina Huntley

Elaina Huntley — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:53:11 +0000

I choses a pen name because I write a little steamy, okay…maybe a closer to tie-me-up-and-flog-me-you-hunky-stud-you! LOL

Privacy was the main concern. I read somewhere that men in prison often read erotic books :shock: and I would rather not have that fan base know my real name, thank you very much! Especially if they are early release!

Anyway, I have kids, I have a husband, I live in a tiny town. Plus my pen name is so much sexier than my real boring name anyhow.

By: Diana Castilleja

Diana Castilleja — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:42:29 +0000

If things go forward in a positive way, I’ll just be moving on to getting a psuedo. It’s not to protect the family. They’re big people. It’s my life. Piffle… LOL ;)

It’s actually to keep the level of writing separate for my readers. I don’t want to shock someone who’s gotten used to what I write NOW to pick something I may write that blows the norm out of the water. If they want it, it’s there, but I don’t want there to be confusion, if possible. It’ll still happen, I know, and take time to realize that I’m one and the same.

Now what’s this about you being staid? You’re kidding right??

By: Amanda Brice

Amanda Brice — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:38:05 +0000

Amanda Brice isn’t my real name, either. And I don’t write even the least bit steamy! Mr. Brice suggested that I take a pen name (Amanda is my middle name and Brice is his) to protect our privacy.

It used to be more of an issue when I wrote chick lit, but is less of an issue now that I’m writing YA. But I’m still using the pen name. Why? Why not. I’m not so concerned anymore about people I work with finding out what I do in my spare time, but I still like having my outside-of-work life mine, you know? Several of my girlfriends at work know, but they’re my friends. My boss doesn’t know, and I doubt I’ll ever tell him…well, at least as long as his daughter is too young to read…when she grows up a little bit, I might want another reader.

As for how I deal with it, so far it hasn’t really been an issue. I drop little easter eggs into my book to prove it’s really me writing it, but that’s just for my friends and family, because they think it’s funny.