Poll

My pet peeve is when authors have many other pen names. If I like the writing style of an author it is so much easier to follow them when they use just the one name or even two.

Seven pen names is a tad much.

Inferno wrote: "Seven pen names is a tad much. "
It is, but I think that lately she writes only under three, and they help you distinguish the type or, in this particular case, the time period they are happening in. I like them all, but i.e. my sister reads only the ones written under Amanda Quick pen-name.

Inferno wrote: "My pet peeve is when authors have many other pen names. If I like the writing style of an author it is so much easier to follow them when they use just the one name or even two.

Seven pen names i..."
She wrote under the others early in her career when she had a deal that she could not write under her own name except for this certain company. That is why there are fewer now. That is usually the reason and then the reason they republish the more popular books under the current pen name, ya know?

Mimi wrote: "Inferno wrote: "My pet peeve is when authors have many other pen names. If I like the writing style of an author it is so much easier to follow them when they use just the one name or even two.

S..."

So true but still makes it difficult at times to manage reading lists and disappointing when purchasing a book you had thought to be a delightful new read only to find you have it already. I commend those authors who put the fact it is republished with a new title on the cover or in the book info.

This is a neat poll. My pet peeve with pseudonyms is when they sound obviously like pseudonyms, as most of these do. I've seen worse, though. Some pen names are just plain silly. Of what's listed in this poll, I think "Jayne Bentley" sounds the most natural.

Rottgrl88 wrote: "It always confused me why an Author would use a pen name. What?? Are they embarrassed about the book that they don't feel comfortable enough to put their own name on it? I feel that if you wrote it..."

Some authors choose pen names when writing in different genres. A writer of mostly erotica who decides to write children's books is an example. A writer of religious material who decides to write erotica is another. That kind of thing. Stephen King wrote a few books under "Richard Bachman" because he wanted to see whether these books could stand on their own merit, as people were buying his books throughout the years as much because of story as because of "Stephen King" splashed on the cover. J.K. Rowling wrote under "Robert Galbraith" so people would buy the Cormoran Strike books without any expectations, which they no doubt would had she put her real name on them. There are other reasons, but these come to my mind now.

Inferno wrote: "My pet peeve is when authors have many other pen names. If I like the writing style of an author it is so much easier to follow them when they use just the one name or even two.

Seven pen names i..."

I agree. It is puzzling to have so many. My favorite writer only has two other pen names and even that can be confusing.

Caroline wrote: "Some authors choose pen names when writing in different genres. A writer of mostly erotica who decides to write children's books is an example. ..."

Good point when they way different genres. Here they are printed in different languages under another same pseudonym and it does become a mess.

I wish Goodreads still had the most read author statistic in their reading stats. They say you can always order by author but here they are wrong because of pseudonyms and different names that are starting at different letters like "Q", "K", and "C" for this author. Also, you have to count and anyone who reads a lot has an issue after reading more than 10 books with the list with covers and scrolling. I came here after going to Quick, Krentz, and Castle and books written and scrolling through to count there as that is easier. Why take away this easy feature to keep?