I need some advice, Muses, so pull up a chair, pour some coffee and feel free to share you opinions and suggestions. Please.
As a reader, I’m the type who will read just about anything. I read for entertainment, always have. As a kid, I’d read the cereal box at breakfast every morning (the newspaper was much too stodgy for me).
The more I read, the more I love discovering new voices. New perspectives on stories. Unique settings. Original twists. A fresh side to a beloved author. As a teenager, I followed Kathleen Woodiwiss as she moved from one rich historical setting to another—medieval England, the American Civil War, colonial America, Russia. Then I discovered Judith McNaught’s Regency-set historicals. I adored her stories! I never wanted to read anything but historicals. The pure escapism factor was so appealing.
Until one day, my mom handed me the latest McNaught book, Paradise. It was set in modern Chicago. Horrors! But, Mom assured me I would love it. (Note: Mom assured me once I would love acorn squash—that didn’t go so well for either of us, so I was skeptical.) Taking my life into my hands, I started to read…and discovered that I love contemporary romance. Who knew?
From there, Nora Roberts lead me all over the modern globe with her wonderful romantic trilogies and romantic suspense. When I discovered she also wrote as J.D. Robb, I had to explore her science fiction police procedurals. I’d never pegged myself as a fan of futuristic stories, but I love her characters.
I don’t count myself as a huge fan of paranormal, but I was intrigued by Tina St. John’s medievals with paranormal elements. When I learned that she’d moved to writing the urban fantasy Midnight Breed Series under the name Lara Adrian, that was enough to make me brave reading about vampires. The same world-building skills she used in her medievals, she applied to this new unique world. I was enthralled.
Note that McNaught changed from historical to contemporary, but kept her name the same on the book cover while Robb and Adrian took on new names with their new writing genres.
I’m surrounded by talented and prolific fellow-writers here on MM. Cynthia Eden writes dark romantic suspense and sexy paranormals, Misty Evans tempts the devil with her paranormals and then writes international intrigue. Karin Harlow writes paranormal, but we also know her as Karin Tabke, author of erotic romantic suspense and compelling, sexy medievals.
And there lies my dilemma. My first book is a romantic caper set in modern-day Las Vegas. My next book is a historical saga set in Georgian and Regency England. Now, as a reader, while it doesn’t bother me in the slightest to discover an author writes two different genres of story or two different tones or styles, I realize that other readers might feel they’ve been somehow cheated or misled.
I have to make a hard and fast decision here very soon: release my historical under my name or create an author pseudonym for my historicals. I will say that while the tone and style of writing are different, the underlying themes are very similar: the hero and heroine find love while also resolving family relationships.
What do you think? Should I publish two very different stories under the same name? Or, as a reader, do you prefer to know exactly what you’re getting from an author when you see that author’s name? Help!
Good question, Amy.
I decided to write under Casey Clifford for my RS and my name for everything else. Overall my writing themes find themselves in RS or WF. I also pretty much let readers know I’m the same person but with a split personality as a writer.
As a reader I really didn’t like picking up a favorite author and not finding what I expected within the story. Some favorite authors who changed genre made me very disappointed because their voice changed with the genre to a voice I wasn’t comfortable with as a reader. My subjectivity at play there, not their lack of talent.
My take on your dilemma is you must choose what you are most comfortable with doing. Which is, of course, no real help to you.
It does help, Mary Jo. You told me that as a reader you’ve been disappointed. So, clearly, that author didn’t meet your expectations. My dilemma could be considered simpler–or more complicated–in that I only have one book out now. I’m not sure if this is a good time or a bad time to introduce a different side of me to readers, but I love this historical, and I really want to bring it to readers.
So many writers do sell in different genres under one name now, it’s not out of the ordinary. Because you’re so well known and admired (and revered and loved, lol) under Amy Atwell, I do think you should use it. If you weren’t as well known, then I’d say it would be up to you.
I just wanted to add that I have written women’s fiction as well as paranormal suspense. When I publish my WF, I do plan on using my name. I think readers can figure out which is which. And maybe some will try the other genre and love it.
Thanks for the feedback, Edie. On many levels, I agree with you. While Nora kept the J.D. Robb name separate for awhile, everyone now knows they’re one and the same person. And I’m the kind of reader who *has* tried another genre and loved it. I wish it were a simple decision.
Hi Amy,
Another consideration is the amount of time and effort to promote two names? Do you NEED more work on your plate? I’ve heard several writers say they wished they’d never gone with two names. Sometimes its necessary but if it’s not, I don’t think I would.
Dale
Dale, I don’t think anyone *needs* more work, and you’re right, promoting two names increases the time spent marketing. But, if I somehow offend the readers I have and drive them off, then I just shot myself in the foot. So I’m trying to look at this, as best I can, from a reader’s perspective. Thanks!
This is a tough one. As a reader I find when I discover a new author I want to be able to read EVERYTHING they’ve written. That doesn’t mean I will. I might just stick with the genre they write that I like (supsense). But I want the option to be able to read others. If they publish all of their work under one name it makes it easier to find them. If I have to track down who their aliases are I get annoyed. I know authors who write adult romances and YA and they publish them under one name. For me, the only exception I would make is if I published erotica. I might keep that separate from my mainstream books.
I agree with Edie. You’re known, admired and loved under Amy Atwell. Why mess with that?
Thanks for the feedback, Cindy. It’s helpful to know that you like to be able to pick and choose from all of an author’s titles. There’s no denying that one website, one Facebook, one Twitter account–that would all be easier to manage. As long as my cover art and descriptions are CLEAR these are two very different books. I appreciate you chiming in!
Amy, what a predicament, huh? Gosh, you’ve established a great following. If you do choose a pseudonym are you willing to do the marketing that tells people Amy ** is actually Amy Atwell? But then again, your following will promote you. Perhaps just use a different last name. No matter what you decide your writing will speak for itself. Can’t wait.
Donnell, thanks–I appreciate that I seem to have a following, but I hate to make anyone work harder if it’s not necessary. The single name recognition factor could be a tipping point for me.
FWIW, I think writers should be able to stick with their own name (if they want to keep it) for multiple genres unless the projects are SO different that it might cause a real problem with the readership (like an author of sweet YA who wants to also write erotica). I think most readers are more than capable of reading a book description or an author’s website and figuring out the different genres from that — but I’m curious about what others think, too
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Marilyn, as always, I agree with so much that you say! I fear that the industry sometimes thinks readers are less intelligent than they are. And I plan to make the new cover and marketing copy for the historical very obvious that this is a different type story. Yet, even my caper had some poignant scenes, and that’s what I play up in the historical.
Odd, you know, I hated my name in high school, but I’ve grown rather fond of it now.
Hey Amy, I’d vote for sticking with your own name too!
As a reader/writer I love having a beloved author out-front, and not worry about various pen-names. A quick read of any blurb will let a reader know what genre is taking place, and I’m a reader that loves variety. I want to see the whole spectrum of a writer’s toolkit, and using the one name makes it easier.
LaDonna, thanks for the input. It’s so helpful to hear it from the mouths of readers. Like you, I want to know the scope of an author’s works.
I think you should stay with Amy Atwell on all your stuff. It’s well known. And since you are still trying to build a fan build for Amy Atwell, that makes more sense.
Trying to build two different fan bases for two different names is tough.
Cyndi, I agree it would be easier. I’m just grateful that I’m hearing some people give feedback that, as readers, they also want to know all the books that an author writes. That makes it an even more logical answer. And easy. I love easy!
Good question, Amy. And one that I was considering myself. I write romantic science fiction under Liz Kreger, yet was considering a different name for the paranormal contemporaries and urban fantasy that I’m writing. But I think Dale has the right idea. It would take a lot of effort to promote two names … particularly if you’re unknown. I can see a big name doing it … but not someone like me.
Liz, Yes, for a newbie author like me, launching two names would take a great deal of time. So, if I’m going to write two distinct genres, maybe now is the best time to launch both. Best wishes on your new material!
Amy, I hear you on the difficulty. I write historical fiction, but I have a number of YA fantasies biding their time. Right now, I’m just not dealing with it, because the historicals are contracted, and I’m concentrating on them. But this will become an issue later, I know. My gut feel is keep your name, as the core market you’re appealing to is the same – adult women who enjoy romantic fiction. They are bright enough to know the difference between a contemporary and a historical novel.
Michelle–the things we learn here! I had no idea you were hiding some YA fantasies. How wonderful! Thanks for the advice. Yes, the core of the stories is similar. Based on what I’m hearing today, I’m going with my name.
VERY tough call! Here’s my .02.
If the genres (or sub-genres) are similar, then use the same name, but if they are going to be vastly different–then switch. If I were writing straight horror (perhaps one day!), then I would use a different name b/c I would never want my romance readers to go into one of those stories with expectations that wouldn’t be met. Good luck!!
Cynthia, thanks for the input. It’s easy to say the stories are different because the time periods are different (contemporary vs historical), but your point is valid. They are similar in that they are both quickly recognized as romance/women’s fiction. Huge help today–thanks, all!
I grappled with this same issue when I sold my light paranormal before my first suspense released, but I decided to keep my pen name for both as a test. Not I’m glad I did. I have readers who read both series and have no problem figuring which is which. The covers are totally different and so are the blurbs, so it’s not hard.
I’m with Edie, Marilyn and everyone else who thinks you should keep Amy Atwell, but every writer is different and it should come down to how you feel about keeping/changing your name as much as whether it makes good business sense. Readers will love you and follow you no matter what you decide, I’m positive.
Thanks, Misty. It helps to remember I’m not alone in this quest for how to develop my author name. Nor, as a reader, am I alone in wanting to see all the different things an author writes–even if I then decide not to buy all of them.
OMG, my mom told me I was the only one silly enough to read the cereal box!!
Amy, you have such a strong voice, it will shine through anything you write. You’ve worked hard to build that name, stick with it. The cover will tell people what kind of book it is. Congratulations on all your success!
Jill–I know, reading cereal boxes used to be fun. Remember when there were toys inside an 45 records (yes, made of cardboard, but they still played!) on the back?
And thanks for the cheer. Yes, based on what I’m hearing here, I’m more comfortable with simply sticking with one name right now.
Amy, OMG. I so had forgotten the records that you punched out of the box and played on the phonograph/record player that no one has anymore. LOL My brother and I fought to be the first to open the box. First one gets the prize.
I, too, have no problems with an author who writes in different genres using the same pen name as long as the genres aren’t that diverse. I did have to point out that Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series and her Dark Swan series are decidedly not YA like her Vampire Academy series to my local library (as a teen reader requested the books, they thought they were all YA). Otherwise, not a problem as long as the blurb and so forth are distinctly different (Christina Dodd and Lisa Kleypas come to mind). Sometimes, having all those pen names just confuse the readers even if each name is for a specific subgenre (Jayne Ann Krentz and all her names for example).
Thanks, Infinitieh. Yes, I’ve heard similar stories. They suggest that if I’m writing erotica and non-erotica, I might want to use different pen names. Or, if I’m writing YA and steamy adult content, that’s another good time to use two names. But, like you, I find it frustrating to have to search for Jayne Ann Krentz under Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick. I want to see all her books together.
I must have fallen off the mushroom truck this morning. Sorry being here so late.
It’s been done and works both ways. Sophie LIttlefield, relatively new to mysteries also writes YA and dystopian. If you look at her web page, you can see it openes to her face and three circles with each genre …
It was Nora Robert’s publisher who suggested another name for the “In Death” series, but once it became popular they started putting … Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb.
There is also Jane Anne Krentz who also writes as Amanda Quick.
I think you brought out something at the beginnig of the post. You, yourself, discovered different types of reading and learned to love all the varieties available in genre fiction … I think based on what you loved to do as a reader … might be what you secretly want as a writer. Do it all and let “Amy” take the heat, the credit and have all the fun in the bargain
As difficult decisions go, this is a great difficulty to face.
Thanks, Florence. I appreciate the perspective. I hope people will be drawn to the stories I write, despite the time period. And yes, I’m used to taking the heat for my decisions!