Pseudonyms … who needs them?
That’s the question that’s been plaguing me and I’m not even sure if I should worry about it. I do have some books in other genres that I’m working on and when I submit to publishers or agents I need to make the ultimate decision, do I use my name or do I publish under another one?
Should Michel Prince publish in a contemporary romance genre or young adult adventure books? I can’t just drop down to my initials M. Y. Prince, too tacky.
What about M.H. Prince for the YA adventure book, maybe. Then there’s always Michel Yvonne for contemporary romance and let’s not forget my stripper name Samantha Pleasant. Since I chose to work editing for public policy think tank instead of stripping to pay for college I never got to pay homage to my first pet and the street I grew up on. Samantha Pleasant does have that girl-next-door feel to it.
But then there’s Judy Blume, she was able to have best sellers from Freckle Juice and Superfudge to Forever and Wifey. She is able to write Adult, Young Adult, and Children’s books. All with the same name.
Then you have J.R. Ward who wrote as Jessica Rice then had to reinvent herself as J.R. Ward and now she has a link on her J. R. Ward page for Jessica and has rereleased her Rice books. Sherrilyn Kenyon did the same thing and now all the books are under the same website, but then again websites weren’t a major part of marketing when she first wrote as Kinley MacGregor.
I’ve read other articles about those who say they did everything right by publishing under different names and still stalled out and failed and then had to find a new name and agent to publish under.
Who do I ask for help? My Rebel marketing rep Bethany who has her wicked and then sweet side. You are branded not only with a name, but also with what you write in that genre … She’s successfully written under multiple names, but does say it is hard. Heck, between Ellie’s music picks, my blog and interviews I’m swamped just using my name. Now what will I do?
Do I create an alter ego or do I allow the narcissist in me to take over and possibly hurt my sales? How ‘bout I get the dang books written and quit worrying about what might be until it is.
That’s the question that’s been plaguing me and I’m not even sure if I should worry about it. I do have some books in other genres that I’m working on and when I submit to publishers or agents I need to make the ultimate decision, do I use my name or do I publish under another one?
Should Michel Prince publish in a contemporary romance genre or young adult adventure books? I can’t just drop down to my initials M. Y. Prince, too tacky.
What about M.H. Prince for the YA adventure book, maybe. Then there’s always Michel Yvonne for contemporary romance and let’s not forget my stripper name Samantha Pleasant. Since I chose to work editing for public policy think tank instead of stripping to pay for college I never got to pay homage to my first pet and the street I grew up on. Samantha Pleasant does have that girl-next-door feel to it.
But then there’s Judy Blume, she was able to have best sellers from Freckle Juice and Superfudge to Forever and Wifey. She is able to write Adult, Young Adult, and Children’s books. All with the same name.
Then you have J.R. Ward who wrote as Jessica Rice then had to reinvent herself as J.R. Ward and now she has a link on her J. R. Ward page for Jessica and has rereleased her Rice books. Sherrilyn Kenyon did the same thing and now all the books are under the same website, but then again websites weren’t a major part of marketing when she first wrote as Kinley MacGregor.
I’ve read other articles about those who say they did everything right by publishing under different names and still stalled out and failed and then had to find a new name and agent to publish under.
Who do I ask for help? My Rebel marketing rep Bethany who has her wicked and then sweet side. You are branded not only with a name, but also with what you write in that genre … She’s successfully written under multiple names, but does say it is hard. Heck, between Ellie’s music picks, my blog and interviews I’m swamped just using my name. Now what will I do?
Do I create an alter ego or do I allow the narcissist in me to take over and possibly hurt my sales? How ‘bout I get the dang books written and quit worrying about what might be until it is.
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