Similarly, readers can have preconceptions about author names in other genres. King concealed his true identity for about five years until a bookstore clerk named Steve Brown determined that the two authors were the same person. However, we can add one common name of your choosing to each book published under each of your other pen names. The immensely successful science fiction author Isaac Asimov used a pen name to avoid having his own name associated with a young readers’ novel that was commissioned to serve as the basis of a television show. 9 Famous Authors Who Used Pen Names To Reinvent Themselves 06/18/2014 02:00 pm ET Updated Aug 18, 2014 My latest mystery/crime novel Third Rail (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) has it all -- a charismatic but troubled cop who loses his gun, a deadly smart drug, a small town in turmoil, and a big city wrestling with corruption. Draft2Digital manages author names in a similar fashion to KDP. Are pen names legal? derived her pen name from her maternal great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks. It may be surprising to you to learn that a number of famous authors are actually using a pen name, pseudonym, or nom de plume. Using an author pen name on Draft2Digital. Knowledge of Alcott’s alias did not surface until the 1970s when historians discovered letters from the author signing off with the androgynous pseudonym. A pseudonym, also known as a pen name or nom de plume, is a fictitious name that a writer or author uses instead of his or her real name. But, why do authors use pen names? The Bronte Sisters originally published their work under the pen names Currer, Acton, and Ellis Bell, for example. Iain M. Banks, “Matter,” First Edition. Then as many Author Central accounts (3 pen names per account) as you have pen names. Try to start from your real name and make little changes. In the 18th century, many female authors used male pen names in order to be taken serious. Henry Kuttner. This name can also be called a nom de plume or pseudonym. A good pen name should be as creative as your writing is. Learn more about the stories of these bizarre author pen names, gender reversals, and all around wackiness. J. K. Rowling. THE MOST COMPLETE PEN NAMES LIST ON THE WEB! his father had always wanted him to pursue a career in medicine. In the early stages of Dickens’s writing career, the author often published his work anonymously. Alf Wight the vet's last practice was at Thirsk, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Author David Cornwell started publishing his acclaimed espionage novels as John le Carré while serving the British intelligence in the 1960s. Some authors write exclusively under their pen name, while others write under both their actual name and their pen name (or multiple pen names, in some cases). You can use your KDP details to create the first Author Central account for your first three pen names. The outing of Richard Bachman as a pen … This name generator is unique – we use every single name in the United States, which amounts to essentially every single name in the English-speaking world. | Writer’s Relief Of all the possible pen names, those used by romance writers are often the most dramatic and unique: Celeste Sky, Azure Moon, Mina St. James, La Loria Love…you get the idea. Subscribe. Choosing a pen name is sometimes more than just a marketing strategy, and there are many ways an author decides on a pen name to embody the essence of their chosen alias. Under the pen name Mary Westmacott, Agatha Christie was able to divert from her usual realm of writing mystery and crime novels. Why he used a pen name: Geisel was banned as editor-in-chief from a magazine for drinking during Prohibition,... Stan Lee. Other stories indicate that Mark Twain had been used by Clemens’s former riverboat captain when he worked on the Mississippi river. And I spoke to another author recently who is terrified of marketing her books (written under a pseudonym) in case anyone discovers her true identity and reveals her author career to her abusive ex. Because her family was still living in Soviet Russia, Rand did not want to risk putting her family in danger with her outspoken, and often critical, works. While writing The Hunters, he had chosen James Salter as a pen name to hide his identity from his colleagues and superiors.“There was contempt for writers,” he said. If you are wondering how to choose a pen name and where to get started just browse through some of the pen names to get ideas. Maybe this will inspire you to become the next Colleen Hoover. There are a few reasons why some writers or artists pick pen names: 1. Generate a name: Female Male. The author’s name would not have aroused Mattson’s suspicion. During public appearances, Handler will introduce himself as Snicket’s representative explaining to the audience that the real author could not be in attendance due to some unforeseen disaster. How to create your author pen name? In some cases, authors also try out pseudonyms and pen names when they want to add a touch of mystery or appeal to the work they are producing. Yes, one KDP account to manage ALL of your books. page. Here’s a list of 21 famous writers and their real names you might not have known until now! Regardless of why or how writers choose their noms de plume, there is no right or wrong way to go about it, for the work is bound to speak for itself. Rhyming Song 4. By 1946, Neruda legally changed his name to match and embrace the poetic and politically charged identity he had created for himself over the years. A pen name, also known as a nom de plume or a pseudonym, is an assumed name used by an author, in place of their own name. He left his job in 1964, one year after The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, to devote himself full-time to writing. Why she uses a pen name: Her publisher wanted to disguise that she was a woman so her books would appeal... Dr. Seuss. Franklin is one of the few male writers to take on a female alias—in fact, he often used his feminine personas to create a social critique of the patriarchy. Agatha chose her new name by combining her middle name (Mary) and the family name of distant relatives (Westmacott). Who are some famous authors who used pen names? Dickens would call him “Moses” after a character in Oliver Goldsmith’s The Vicar of Wakefield. ... pen names. The name was adapted from the author’s birth name and his mother’s maiden name. Watkins never capitalizes her pen name in order to preserve and honor the memory of her great-grandmother; a women she admired for her sharp opinions. In case … A positive adjective that could be used to describe you A weapon An adjective that could be used to describe the weapon (e.g. Need a prompt? New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz has admitted to writing under at least ten names. Choosing a pen name is sometimes more than just a marketing strategy, and there are many ways an author decides on a pen name to embody the essence of their chosen alias. His first pen name was Silence Dogood, a satirical middle-aged widower whom Franklin created when he was only fifteen years old. We tried to compile every known science fiction and fantasy writer's pseudonym, pen names, even "house-names" (for various publishing houses); if you know of any we missed, drop us a line. He translated the first two parts of his name (Charles Lutwidge) into Latin, which gave him “Carolus Ludovicus.” He then reversed the order and translated the name back to English, which left him with“Lewis Carroll.”, Real Name: Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller Christie. Now a household name, Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in 1928. A pen name, also called a nom de plume or a literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. Male names, female names or both, in batches of up to 500. Pen Name Generator. It wasn’t until the Brontë sisters traveled to London to meet their publisher in person were their true identities revealed and, fortunately, they were given the credit they deserved. Married briefly to a Greek sailor named Tosh Angelos, the pen name Maya Angelou was created when the writer combined her nickname (Maya) with an alternative version of her ex-husband’s last name. Literary types call it a nom de plume and they're quite common. Real Name: Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto. Switching Genres. Some say that Geisel was saving his real name to one day publish his “great American novel”; others suggest that Geisel simply felt more inclined to tell an “entertaining” story rather than a “true” one. This would automatically bring together all of your titles on your author page. Author of bestselling books The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand is known for promoting her philosophy of Objectivism. Why do authors choose pen names? The bestselling author of the Harry Potter series has adopted a few different pen names throughout the course of her career. His real name was Alf Wight, his pen name James Herriot, author of a series of books titled 'All Creatures Great and Small' and 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'. Some of the authors featured here are regarded as the most beloved in the industry and many are even Nobel Peace Prize or Pulitzer Prize winners. 2. Erika Leonard started out by writing fan fiction online under the name “Snowqueens Icedragon.” When she wrote her first “real” novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, she adopted a more professional pen name. Real Names: Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Brontë. Throughout the 1970s, he published as many as eight books a … The author's other names may be added in the other author fields. As we’ve seen as well, the majority of writers adapt them from their birth names—using abbreviations, translations from foreign languages, or variations of nicknames—to mark a personal claim on their chosen pseudonym. Digging deeper, they were able to find other works published by Barnard in various periodicals. Most people know that Mark Twain was the alias of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. A pen name shared by a famous person not only creates a likelihood of confusion, but could get you into legal trouble for identity theft. Author Pen Names. An author of a copyrighted work is allowed to use a pseudonym or a pen name. In the old days of using a traditional publisher, you could hide behind that wall and they would still pay you in your real name. Stephen King. Authors who tended to genre-hop would establish various pen names to avoid being pigeonholed into one specific category. Also author rank is per author, so yes, all authors (pen names) will have a different rank. However, if the author with your ideal pen name exists but has not published many books recently or hasn’t sold many books, you may want to just use that pen name anyway. … Pen names can also be used for marketing purposes. We tried to compile every known science fiction and fantasy writer's pseudonym, pen names, even "house-names" (for various publishing houses); if you know of any we missed, drop us a line. Avoid famous names. You never know. Pen name : Richard Bachman Even Stephen King has written under a nom de plume. The most popular theory remains that “Voltaire” was an anagram of a Latinized spelling of “Arouet,” but others claim it could have been Arouet’s nickname “Voluntaire” (French for “volunteer”), which may have been a sarcastic nod to the writer’s stubbornness. A pen name, also known as a nom de plume or a pseudonym, is an assumed name used by an author, in place of their own name. Once the secret was out, King retired Richard Bachman, crediting his death to the “cancer of the pseudonym.”. Pirate Name 5. Daniel Handler’s alter ego becomes a character in his stories, giving his Series of Unfortunate Events books another layer of detail. Rowling, who has no middle name, took the “K” from her grandmother’s name, Kathleen. Salter’s given name was James Horowitz. Sometimes pen names are close to the Author’s real name. For example, author Iain Banks created the pen name Iain M. Banks when writing science fiction, and romance novelist Nora Roberts wrote as J.D. page. Lewis published his first work titled Spirits in Bondage (1919) under the name, Clive Hamilton to avoid ruining his reputation as a tutor at Oxford University. All you need to do is add your new author name when you publish your work. Author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Initially, Emily’s Wuthering Heights and Charlotte’s Jane Eyre were both published under their male names. Unfortunately, we are not currently set up to accommodate multiple pen names – each member profile can only be attached to one author profile at a time. A pen name is an assumed name an Author uses in place of their real name. often had to conceal their identities by adopting a masculine “nom de plume” in order to even be considered for publication — He adopted the name George Orwell so his family would not be embarrassed as he recounted his experiences growing up in poverty. John le Carré: A pen name is a necessity when identity is a matter of national security.Author David Cornwell started publishing his acclaimed espionage novels as John le Carré while serving the British intelligence in the 1960s. In fact, the use of a pen name in place of an author's real name has been quite popular throughout history of writing for a variety of reasons, from avoiding a political danger due to a controversial literary work, avoiding a previous failed attempt at literary success, or utilizing a false name in order to completely distance and author from his or her public identity to write a different genre. Author Pseudonyms. Go random! His first pen name was Silence Dogood, a satirical middle-aged widower whom Franklin created when he was only fifteen years old. Automatic pen name generator tool. While some changed their names simply for easier English pronunciation, others had to worry about readers' perception in the days before, you know, everyone realized women could write good books. Lists about novelists, poets, short story authors, journalists, essayists, and playwrights, from simple rankings to fun facts about the men and women behind the pens. Each of these writers are using pen names for different reasons but both feel their writing will be doomed to obscurity as a result. How to create your author pen name? Should You Write Under a Pen Name? While scholars have never been clear about the origin of Clemens’s pseudonym, the most recent investigations suggest that the name Mark Twain came from a short-lived, popular humor journal that he often read. could not be in attendance due to some unforeseen disaster, The Top Book Each State Needed Help with the Most in 2017, 10 Black Authors You Need to Read Right Now. Lewes oversaw Evans’s work and encouraged her to pursue her literary ambitions. 45 Responses to “Pen Names” Kathie Thomas, Author on June 16, 2008 11:50 am. The Ultimate Romance Pen Name Generator . Tell us what your pen name would be! Author Pen Names. As a dynamic writer, Rowling ventured into writing crime fiction where she adopted the pseudonym Robert Galbraith to release new work without hype or expectation. Clerk to again avoid being identified as the author. E.L. James. sharp, pointy, hard) Another dangerous noun (e.g. Get the best daily book deals delivered to … Choosing a pen name can be a difficult process for writers. Pronounced through the nose, the name became Boses, and was easily shortened to Boz. Even on HubPages and other online freelance writing websites, the majority of writers have chosen names that are usually not even close to their own. Apparently, King came up with the name on a whim while on the phone with his publisher; with a Richard Stark book on his desk and a Bachman–Turner Overdrive song playing in the background, Richard Bachman was born. Maybe use your middle name, or initials, or a name that’s almost the same but a little cooler. Her pen name, George Eliot, came around 1857 when Evans published her first short story titled “Amos Barton.” Evans took the name “George” from philosopher and her lover George Henry Lewes to whom she never married but lived with until his death.