tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post5654653365071429724..comments2023-12-16T08:34:19.484+00:00Comments on Kiru Taye Writes: Thrusty Thursday - A Rose By Any Other NameKiru Tayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-9437749850201160482012-03-22T14:50:00.980+00:002012-03-22T14:50:00.980+00:00Hi Kiru, this is something I've been debating ...Hi Kiru, this is something I've been debating on recently too, and I've opted to use a second pen name. I've posted about it on my blog http://susiemedwell.blogspot.co.uk/<br />I haven't yet published anything as Susie Medwell, but am working towards publication of contemporary romance. However, I have just signed a contract for an erotic novel and my concern was that I may alienate readers if they buy a book expecting a low heat level and get explicit sex, and vice versa. Although it means maintaining two blogs etc. I felt it was best to use two separate names. I did deliberate over it long and hard though! It is interesting to read everyone else's take on this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150396615203179461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-68681088279578322882012-03-16T10:02:36.961+00:002012-03-16T10:02:36.961+00:00Lol @ pen names not meeting.
I certainly understa...Lol @ pen names not meeting.<br /><br />I certainly understand the fear of losing readers. If using different names brings more new readers, then it makes sense.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-83622216705874042602012-03-16T10:00:07.896+00:002012-03-16T10:00:07.896+00:00This is certainly an interesting reader perspectiv...This is certainly an interesting reader perspective and I'm glad you shared it. I wonder if other readers think the same. <br /><br />I love writing romance but I'm not sure I'd liked to be placed in just one box category as I like to think I'm a versatile writer. :)Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-71334482126326322622012-03-16T09:53:49.242+00:002012-03-16T09:53:49.242+00:00Hi Gabby,
I certainly agree that it can be confus...Hi Gabby,<br /><br />I certainly agree that it can be confusing sometimes dealing with multiple names especially with favourite authors.<br />I really would rather vote for better labelling and categorisation on books so readers know what to expect rather than having to change your name each time you write a different genre. I'm sure the author get muddled up sometimes about which persona they are at each given point. <br /><br />I certainly agree about choosing a name that is easy to read and remember. Best wishes with your publishing endeavours.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-70053497048885654152012-03-16T09:36:38.820+00:002012-03-16T09:36:38.820+00:00Thanks, Myne. By the looks of things this is quite...Thanks, Myne. By the looks of things this is quite common place and worth considering seriously. I'm still not sure it's worth the change for me though.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-43932521502164403562012-03-16T09:34:35.535+00:002012-03-16T09:34:35.535+00:00Hi Jean,
Thank you for stopping by and sharing th...Hi Jean,<br /><br />Thank you for stopping by and sharing the NY Times article. It was really insightful and I can certainly understand why those author would use alternative names.<br /><br />Jayne Ann Krentz case is more baffling though because a label on the book tells me what genre it is not the author name. I guess if it works for her that's cool but I don't see the relevance as a reader.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-74680988808768447032012-03-16T09:24:44.178+00:002012-03-16T09:24:44.178+00:00Hi Shakir,
I guess that would work especially if ...Hi Shakir,<br /><br />I guess that would work especially if there are overlaps with both names. I noticed you maintain one blog for the two aliases. So you're not doing 'double' work.<br /><br />I hope the new alias works well for you.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-44918215726667929062012-03-16T09:18:06.096+00:002012-03-16T09:18:06.096+00:00Hi Romy, I can just imagine the hassle and that...Hi Romy, I can just imagine the hassle and that's the nightmare I want to avoid.<br /><br />Would you consider merging the two--writing under one? Or is that now out of the question?Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-40941040087012542332012-03-16T09:12:46.912+00:002012-03-16T09:12:46.912+00:00Thank for the clarification, Victoria. BTW, I thin...Thank for the clarification, Victoria. BTW, I think you're going to do great as Victoria Vane. :)Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-7209658845547275302012-03-16T09:10:38.837+00:002012-03-16T09:10:38.837+00:00Hi Shakir, I didn't know that about Stephen Ki...Hi Shakir, I didn't know that about Stephen King. I've learnt another new thing. Thank you. :)<br /><br />I've never heard of Richard Bachman and I'd be interested to know how well he did under that alias.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-20470468841552826452012-03-15T22:06:01.104+00:002012-03-15T22:06:01.104+00:00I write under two names as well. There is no way I...I write under two names as well. There is no way I'll ever let them meet. Sometimes, the people that read one genre just do not want to know about other. In fact, they don't even want to know you are writing those genres. It could lose you more readers than you bargain for...so...different names. <br /><br />Other examples of SUCCESSFUL authors with more than one name: Johanna Trollope (3), Sophie Kinsella (2).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-7406362535674702072012-03-15T19:48:00.851+00:002012-03-15T19:48:00.851+00:00I hope this helps:
When the Datsun line of cars di...I hope this helps:<br />When the Datsun line of cars didn't do so well, Nissan cut that branch off with little impact to the Nissan brand name.<br />I love Robin Williams as an actor but I will need some serious convincing to watch him play a crime boss. That is because I have him boxed-up in the comedy section. I'd do the same with authors too.Think-About-Ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04361623292147095716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-39714152120205071502012-03-15T18:57:25.571+00:002012-03-15T18:57:25.571+00:00Hi Kiru!
My publisher as Emery Lee is Sourcebooks ...Hi Kiru!<br />My publisher as Emery Lee is Sourcebooks (TEH HIGHEST STAKES was released under their historical fiction imprint and the second, FORTUNE'S SON under their romance imprint.) These titles are both romantic historical fiction which is very light on sex. I think they may have some erotic authors in the mix but it's not what they are known for. My first erotic historical was A BREACH OF PROMISE with Ellora's Cave and now, as you know, I have four more erotic historicals coming from Breathless Press.Victoria Vanehttp://authorvictoriavane.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-52327874323389327762012-03-15T18:35:45.931+00:002012-03-15T18:35:45.931+00:00Hi Ms. Taye!
This was great post and really made ...Hi Ms. Taye!<br /><br />This was great post and really made me think. As a reader with a memory like a steel trap some days, I don't really mind if an author has multiple aliases.<br /><br />Although I sometimes prefer it if they just have one for me to remember Sherrilyn Kenyon for example, I think she writes under another name for her Lords of Avalon series and even though I haven't read that series yet I still sometimes remember the other name.<br /><br />I'm usually happy with whatever name the author decides to go with be it the name he/she was born with or be it a name of his/her own creation.<br /><br />Me myself personally if I ever get to the published stage I've contemplated using a different last name if I ever become an author just something that rolls of the literary tongue a little better.<br /><br />You never know though, and if using another name makes the author happy and makes things easier for him or her then that's fine with me too!<br /><br /><br />Great post Ms. Kiru!Gabbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17239198794692068127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-2085288864992903832012-03-15T17:42:36.495+00:002012-03-15T17:42:36.495+00:00I wanted to give you the example of Jayne Castle, ...I wanted to give you the example of Jayne Castle, but I see another commenter beat me to it. So many other authors have been very open recently about their aliases including Nora Roberts and Stephen King. I agree with you that it is easier to do when you have a big publisher promoting the names. I am definitely considering a different name if I write in another genre.Mynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07595087387069634003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-16687861137978034532012-03-15T17:11:29.171+00:002012-03-15T17:11:29.171+00:00Sometimes it comes down to numbers, cruel numbers....Sometimes it comes down to numbers, cruel numbers. See this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/books/patricia-obrien-as-kate-alcott-sells-the-dressmaker.html" rel="nofollow">NY Times article</a> on the author of The Dressmaker. <br />Robin Hobbs (fantasy author) faced the same problem and changed her penname as well. <br />As far as branding goes, some would say that using the same name for a fantasy book would dilute a romance author's brand. I'm not sure if that's true, but I have wondered if Barbara Hamby would have done better overall using different names for her mystery and fantasy books. And as Jayne Ann Krentz says right up front on her web page: Jayne Ann Krentz is Amanda Quick is Jayne Castle. She explains why <a href="http://www.amandaquick.com/biography.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <br />This is a tough issue to resolve. May whatever decision you make bring success!Jean Huetshttp://jeanhuets.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-64582359132451649602012-03-15T15:34:46.643+00:002012-03-15T15:34:46.643+00:00Hi, Kiru, I happened to stumble upon your blog fro...Hi, Kiru, I happened to stumble upon your blog from FB :) <br /><br />When I originally began writing, I, like you, wanted my pen name to reflect my love for African culture (in my instance, Egypt), which is how Shakir Rashaan was born (grateful prince in ancient Egyptian and Swahili)... Shakir deals in the erotic, and only the erotic, even with the crime fiction that I write, it has erotic elements to it... and that is how I've been able to build my brand<br /><br />About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at something a little different, going into the romance category the first time around... that's how Curtis Alexander Hamilton was born<br /><br />With CAH, I can stretch a little bit and play around with different concepts and ideas, but when I get the "itch" to jump back into the erotic, I have Shakir to fall back on...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-25306833734440013852012-03-15T15:18:09.763+00:002012-03-15T15:18:09.763+00:00But even Stephen King wrote under two names: most ...But even Stephen King wrote under two names: most readers know Stephen King, but he has an alias under which he writes in the same genre, Richard Bachman (the inside joke is that he did it as an experiment to see if readers liked his work or just bought because of his name and fame)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-15344964890472278642012-03-15T15:06:47.611+00:002012-03-15T15:06:47.611+00:00Hi Kiru. I loved Victoria's comment above. I w...Hi Kiru. I loved Victoria's comment above. I write under two names for two different genres - one is a little more erotic than the other. <br /><br />That said, if I'd known then what I know now, how hard it is to maintain two online personalities, I might not have done it!Romy Sommerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14989655739656698541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-25378078693871924362012-03-15T15:00:33.151+00:002012-03-15T15:00:33.151+00:00Hi Emery,
I guess when its forced on you like tha...Hi Emery,<br /><br />I guess when its forced on you like that you have no choice. I can also understand if there's been a big shift in writing styles then you may want to differentiate the two.<br /><br />But I thought your original publisher also publishes erotic romance?Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-77012132794306365502012-03-15T14:01:18.271+00:002012-03-15T14:01:18.271+00:00Hi Kiru!
Since you mentioned me in the post, I tho...Hi Kiru!<br />Since you mentioned me in the post, I thought I would provide some insight on why I write under two names. First off, you are 100% correct about author branding. It takes a heck of a lot to create name recognition to begin with, especially now that publishing is in the midst of this digital revolution. However, sometimes "rebranding " is not by author choice.<br />It was last spring when my agent quit the business and my print publisher turned down not one, but three of my partial manuscripts, that I entered into a serious crisis of confidence as a writer. When talking with an author friend about my difficulties, she suggested I try writing something short that I could submit on my own. With this goal, my first novella, A BREACH OF PROMISE was born. Long story, short, I got an offer on this NON-EROTIC romance from a primarily erotic publisher. This caused my print publisher to go into a tailspin for fear that my name association with an erotic publisher would confuse readers and destroy my "author brand". In this situation, I saw little choice but to write under a second pen name. Once that decision was made, I decided to embrace the wild side and write erotic historical romance as Victoria Vane. - Emery Lee/Victoria Vane<br />http://authoremerylee.com<br />http://authorvictoriavane.comVictoria Vanehttp://authorvictoriavane.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-10438416013320608652012-03-15T13:47:13.127+00:002012-03-15T13:47:13.127+00:00You're right. If an author is experimenting wi...You're right. If an author is experimenting with a new genre, it might make sense to use a new name as her established fans may not like it.<br /><br />But wouldn't they just go back to reading the author's original genre anyway?Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-20264398506034584612012-03-15T13:44:44.104+00:002012-03-15T13:44:44.104+00:00I can see your point here. I guess if someone like...I can see your point here. I guess if someone like Stephen King who is well known for writing horror started writing erotica, he might want to use an alias. :)Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-26042430004783323632012-03-15T13:42:34.237+00:002012-03-15T13:42:34.237+00:00Hi Doris, I totally understand your perspective. W...Hi Doris, I totally understand your perspective. Why change a name that's working so well for you?<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Kiru Tayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285263322486836620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-504800520107358646.post-67456484435509767092012-03-15T13:13:17.013+00:002012-03-15T13:13:17.013+00:00I've read where writers use alias because if t...I've read where writers use alias because if the new genre isn't accepted, their fans will still buy under their original name. Authors don't want to take the chance and have a reader say: I didn't like their last book on ______. I was so disappointed. I'm not buying anymore of their books.I Am An Author - Deneen A. Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076437194794994388noreply@blogger.com