Do you write under a pseudonym? If so, why? If not, would you ever consider it?
When Michael and my Sir Chocolate books were first accepted for publication by TSL Publications, I considered using my maiden name instead of my married name. I had published a number of non-fiction books and articles as Robbie Cheadle and thought it might be better to separate my work writing and my private writing by publishing as Roberta Eaton.
When I broached this idea with my husband, he wasn’t keen on my publishing under my maiden name. He preferred that I use Robbie Cheadle and so I did. I then proceeded to publish Silly Willy goes to Cape Town, While the Bombs Fell, co-authored with my mother, Elsie Patricia Eaton, and my poetry book, Open a new door, co-authored with South African poet, Kim Blades under that name.
When I started writing horror, supernatural and historical fiction for young adults and adults in 2018, I reconsidered using an alternative name in order to clearly separate my adult writing from my children’s writing. Once again I revisited my maiden name, Roberta Eaton, and once again hubby encouraged me to add the Cheadle. In retrospect, I am glad I went with Roberta Eaton Cheadle for Through the Nethergate and Whispers of the Past as I have been able to link my children and adult writer profiles on Amazon which makes finding my books easier for readers.
I did not realise when I published under an alternative name for Though the Nethergate that it would be like publishing my first book and I would have to put a lot of work into marketing it under that different name which people didn’t automatically link to Robbie Cheadle. In hindsight, it would have been easier to stay with Robbie Cheadle but I have done the work now and I think / hope it will be easier to market A Ghost and His Gold which I hope to release in October this year. I am also writing a book of short stories with a focus on South African history. I have one story started about the 1820 settlers from England and another about based on the van Rensburg massacre in 1836.
Do you write under a pseudonym? Would you consider doing so?
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Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak.
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Thanks for sharing.
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I don’t think I’ll ever publish under another name than Lela Markham. It’s easy to spell, it’s easy to pronounce and it provides a little bit of screening from weirdos who might show up on the porch. But I totally understand why some people use different pen names for different genres. One of my favorite mystery writers was (is, though she’s died) Barbara Michaels. She wrote under Barbara Mertz as an archeologist, then wrote a certain kind of mystery under Michaels and then was Elizabeth Perkins for another kind of mystery. It worked for her, but it’s too much effort for me as an indie author.
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Hi Lela, in retrospect, it is easier to write under one name but now that I have done it and have established two author names and profiles, I believe it is working for me and will be worth it in the long run. The names are linked which was a good move, I think.
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Always do what works for you.
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Common “wisdom” these days is to publish each genre under a different pen name. But when it only takes an internet search to connect the dots from one name to another, why bother?
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Hi Patricia, it was more because I didn’t want anyone to purchase one of my adult books under the misguided idea it was for children. I wouldn’t separate genres i.e. sci-fi and fantasy, but I wanted to separate children and adult.
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PS, it has been more work.
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I know a writer who has about four different pen-names, plus her real one, depending on genre. I couldn’t cope with all the remembering, the constant “who am I today” going on in my mind. I can see the privacy aspect but that’s about as far as I’ll go.
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Hi Richard, I most certainly won’t add another name to the pile. Two, which are actually variations of the same, is more than enough for me. Interestingly, I do have a different readership on my two blogs and profiles. People who enjoy my cake art work and children’s books aren’t necessarily interested in supernatural and horror.
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Hi Robbie – thanks for sharing your thinking about what name to publish under. I haven’t thought much about it but I think I would just go with my married name – if I ever publish! Name and brand recognition is very important – the way you did it with your different genres makes sense. Great post!
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Thank you, Barbara. It also keep hubby happy [smile]. It has been a lot of working establishing both profiles and brands, but I am happy about it now.
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I noticed that with the Amazon links, too, though I just used an initial for a first name (J instead of Jacqui) and it still found them.
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Hi Jacqui, Amazon linked my books under both names. If you go to my Robbie Cheadle author profile, it brings up Through the Nethergate and Whispers of the Past. If I look for one of these books, it brings up the link to Robbie Cheadle. I think its great. I am glad you have also had a good experience with Amazon.
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Lucky for me, I’m a one-trick pony!
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It can change as you go along, Liz. It depends whether you change your genre drastically like I have. I think it made sense to split children’s works and adults works.
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I could see that, yes.
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I say go for it since you already have done the work for multiple names. I admire that.
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Thank you, the only way is forward now.
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I flirted with a pen name for a while, but ultimately wanted to see my own name on my books. As for maiden name, well, as of next year I’ll have literally spent just as long alive married as unmarried (20 years married, 40 years old), so I don’t feel more attached to one than the other. In the end, I went with the married name because it’s a helluva lot easier to pronounce than the maiden name (KEDZIA). So, yeah. That’s my story ☺️
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It does make sense to use your own name, Jessica. I originally thought of using my maiden name purely because of the connection to my work publications under my married name. Terence seemed to prefer me to use my married name though, and I didn’t mind. I am glad I varied my author name for my adult books now that I have done a lot of the groundwork. It takes effort though.
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I think you should write using your real name, and then stick with it. It’s a way of building the brand…
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Thank does make sense, Jim. Both of these variations are my real names and I am glad I used different versions for adult and children’s books. It still makes sense to me.
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You seem to have the best of both worlds – using your real name, but each slightly different for different markets…
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I hope so, Jim. It has made my life easier that I used the same surname for both profiles on Amazon.
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I am sure that is a nice benefit…
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This is such an interesting topic and Mae Clair recently had a big discussion about it. It all comes down to branding and readers being able to find you. I have found that if you don’t use the same name consistently, Amazon doesn’t link the books to your Author page. That’s an inconvenience to say the least. I’m for sticking to one name. Thanks, Robbie!
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Hi Jan, fortunately, Amazon did link my books but the surname is the same which may be why they did. I wouldn’t go with something vastly different and would use a variation again either. To much work rebranding yourself.
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I don’t write under a pseudonym and have no plans to, even if my work spans different genres. If I get my novels published I have thought about using J.N. Fisher, but that’s not really a pseudonym.
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HI Joanne, most people don’t write under pseudonyms now as it is not really beneficial or necessary. It seems that using initials is popular so that is a good choice.
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Really Useful and insightful post. I think I will use a pen name. As my name, is surprisingly common. And there are others with the exact same name. Not sure how to come up with a pseudo name
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Khan is fairly common, Bella. I know several people here in SA with that surname. Bella isn’t that common among ladies with this surname here. Our community tend to have quite traditional names. I suppose you could pick a name you’ve always fancied – why not?
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☺. Please don’t mind me correcting, and please dont feel bad. My surname is Shah. And I am of an indian background. But no problem. When I google my name, there are many .
Hope you dont mind.☺
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HI Bella, no problem at all. Sorry, that was actually quite silly of me as I know it is Shah and I have a few friends with that name and also the surname Khan. Shah is Indian and Khan is middle Eastern as far as I know. Apologies for the slip up. Is Bella common in the Indian community. I seem to think it is Italian but I could be wrong about that.
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I write only under Kayla Ann, regardless of genre.
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That is good to know. Most people go with their real names it seems.
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I don’t published under my name because its too hard to pronounce and allows me privacy. I was going to use a different name for my kids books, but decided it would be too much. Besides parents buy kids books:)
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I didn’t know Finn wasn’t your real name, Denise. I didn’t mind using Cheadle seeing as it was important to Terence. I had originally thought he might prefer me to separate my writing from my life.
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Denise is my real name but my last is a long Italian name 🙂
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It sounds very romantic.
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With all the dots, of course mine is a pseudonym. But I plan on not changing from this pseudonym, so… maybe that’s good?
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