Author Pseudonyms – When should they be used?

Author pseudonyms in today’s highly competitive and controlled book marketplace can often backfire.

Why would a writers choose to use a pseudonym? What are they hiding—or a better question might be, what are they afraid of?

Plenty. If they are an investigative reporter, for example, they may have obtained their material from individuals who are part of an underground network of journalists.

The reporters themselves might be part of this network—living abroad, for example--or under yet another hidden identity.

Dandelion’s authors, whether using their own names or anonymous ones, are well aware of these dangers. Even before Stranger Than Fiction was published, its author, who uses a pseudonym, started to receive threats.

Buy this book if you want to know why.

Another reason for author pseudonyms occurs when a notable professional tries their hand at writing fiction and ends up getting addicted to the fun of it all.

This has happened more than once; some of our bawdiest writers appear suited and Shinola-ed in the workplace and after hours, retire to their dens of literary iniquity.

One of Dandelion’s authors, Gower Leconfield, is a well-known international attorney and investigative reporter. His book, The Prince Must Die, is both naughty and irreverent. You’ll fall in love with the characters and laugh yourself sick.

Obviously the greatest challenge for writers who wish to promote themselves and get top sales for their books is a hidden identity. How can they have media conferences and sign books?

Publicity and promotion are self-defeating for anyone in hiding. The best they can hope for is to build mystique by booking themselves as naked celebrities.

For publishers, hidden identity is a nightmare. How can they put advertising dollars behind Mr. or Ms. Anonymous?