Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Progress Posts 2016
>
29: A book by an author who writes under more than one name
date
newest »
newest »
I read Sanctuary.-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)? I have read many many books by both Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes? I think, at least in this case, having two different author names is a good idea. The two "authors" write very different types of books, so it helps you know what you are getting into...
-What are you reading this week?Absent In The Spring by Mary Westmacott
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yes, many books by Agatha Christie
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I can understand when authors write something very different than their usual type of books that they would take a pen name.
What are you reading this week? The SilkwormHave you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)? I had read The Cuckoo's Calling previously and of course some (but not all) of the Harry Potter series.
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes? I think this is a great example of a good reason for a pseudonym. J. K. Rowling is so inextricably connected to Harry Potter and Hogwarts, which are targeted at YA audiences that to me, she had no choice but to introduce Cormoran Strike under a new name. People get so possessive of their favorite books and authors that I would imagine that the reaction to this entirely new set of characters, mood and setting might not have been all that positive. So in order to give Strike a chance this was an excellent idea.
I've finished reading Gold by Dan Rhodes. A lovely and funny novel that depicts a small Welsh coastal village and its characters really well.
This is the first book I've read by the author who used the name Danuta de Rhodes for another novel...not sure why?
I'd prefer authors stick to one name - easier to track!
What are you reading this week?
By James Frey (also shares the pseudonym Pittacus Lore
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
No I haven't
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
In some cases yes. But I'd hate to miss out on some books I'd love if the author used a pen name that I didn't know about.
-What are you reading this week?This week I will be reading The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yes I have read all of the Harry Potter books and also the first instalment of the Cormoran Strike series, The Cuckoo's Calling which I really enjoyed.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I can see why JK Rowling wanted to try writing under a pen name - when she released The Casual Vacancy (which I thought was fab), the critics immediately launched into "can she write for adults?" and "is it like Harry Potter?". So for someone who is beyond famous for one set of books, I imagine it must be quite liberating to write under a different name and have your books read for what they are instead of who they are by.
Unfortunately for Ms Rowling her cover was blown when one of her lawyers breached his confidentiality agreement by yapping to his wife's best friend who then cheerfully blabbed it on Twitter before realising she had made a rather big error.
-What are you reading this week?A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Death of a dormouse by Patrick Ruell is high on my TBR list
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I can see why they do to try out an alternative genre, however with social media these days it must be hard to keep the author's real identity secret.
-What are you reading this week?This week I read Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts.
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Almost everything, I think.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think they're a great idea until people figure out it's a pen name. Then it seems kind of pointless.
What are you reading this week?United as One
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
I have read all of the other Lorien Legacies novels
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think writers should publish under whatever name they want. However, up until JUST RIGHT NOW, I always thought "Pittacus Lore" was a pseudonym for two friends who were co-writing the series. Just found out that not only is James Frey the guy that had controversy on Oprah for not being entirely truthful about his "memoirs", but the whole "Pittacus Lore" thing is a marketing ploy: the name is owned by Frey's publishing company. I kinda feel cheated >_< haha
What are you reading this week?Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
No; she only used her other name when she was alive (which was Ellis Bell).
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
Sometimes, if the purpose seems reasonable. I am not a fan of the author trying to create an entire fake persona with it, though...
I read A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
This is my first time reading anything by V.E. Schwab aka Victoria Schwab
I think it was very smart that V.E.Schwab uses this name for all adult books and Victoria Schwab for all YA lit. Makes it easy to distinguish
-What are you reading this week?Naked in Death (In Death, #1) by J.D. Robb.
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
I've read many of her books written as Nora Roberts.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I don't think there's a rule. There may be several reasons why someone chooses aliases. The reason in this case is the difference in genre: she writes romance as Nora Roberts, and detective stories/romantic thrillers as JD Robb.
What are you reading this week?
State of Fear by Michael Crichton10/16/17-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?no
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes? I would say that when they write under pen names their style changes , some times for the better and some times not, that for example : I've tried to read books that are writing by Nora Roberts but I just can't get in to them so I hate her books, so much I will never pick one up , but on the other hand while she writes as J D Robb I just love her IN Death Series and there's are the only ones I'll ever pick up by her , I guess what I'm trying to say while their the same person , the style of writing is completely different .
What are you reading this week?Blaze
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yes. A small handful.
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think they are a good idea because the author could want to explore other genre's and don't want to be viewed as betraying their normal writing style.
What are you reading this wek?And then there were none by Agatha Christie
Have you read anything by this author before or under their other name?
I have read other Agatha Christie books, but not Mary Westmacott...
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
No, I think authors will have different perspectives and it makes sense to separate their writing into a couple of piles!
-What are you reading this week?Under the Dome
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yes, two books.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I don't care :)
What are you reading this week?The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yep sure have! I have read all the Harry Potter books under J.K. Rowling and The Cuckoo's Calling under Robert Galbraith
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think that most authors do it so that they can write in a different genre without at lot of backlash. Sometimes that seems like it might be the only way for an author to branch out to something new without loosing their fans.
What are you reading this week?Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Nope
Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think it's useful if your books are in very different genres, but I think it can also get annoying if someone writes under several different names. I also understand having a 'pen name' and a 'real life name.'
Q: What are you reading this week?A: The Carnivorous Carnival
Q: Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
A: This is the 9th book of the Series. So, yes.
Q: Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
A: It's interesting in this case. Lemony Snicket is Daniel Handler (his real name). But Lemony Snicket is important because the story is narrated by him and he is also a character of another Series. Som in this case is isteresting, and also when J. K. Rowling wrote a book and she had to use another name, or the fans would blame her for releasing a book that is not from HP Series.
-What are you reading this week?I was quite at loss concerning number 29. That's why I do it that late in the year. I decided to re-read Missing You by Meg Cabot. She published the 5-volume-series under the name Jenny Caroll. But later, when her princess-Mia-books became popular, re-issues were released with Meg Cabot as the author.
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Yes, most of her YA stuff. The titles she wrote as Patricia Cabot did not fit into my hunting scheme, though.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
Hmm. I do understand the concept: Different pen names for different styles / genres / target groups. Especially when publishers do not want children to google their favorite writer and land on a homepage with bodice-ripper-illustrations. But on the other hand I think it rather makes a person more interesting when he or she can offer a variety of writing and does not feel the need to hide part of it.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Missing You (other topics)The Carnivorous Carnival (other topics)
Naked in Death (other topics)
The Silkworm (other topics)
Under the Dome (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.D. Robb (other topics)Michael Crichton (other topics)
Emily Brontë (other topics)
Nora Roberts (other topics)
J.K. Rowling (other topics)
More...
11/22/63
-Have you read anything by this author before (or under their "other" name)?
Actually no. I really enjoy King, and have read a few of his books. I want to read more, and would have no problem reading books published under his pen names.
-Do you think that pen names are a good idea or should the author just stick to one name for writing purposes?
I think pen names are interesting. I used to be annoyed at them but I think they can be very useful for authors to distinguish their works based on tone or genre. Using a pen name allows a well known author to publish a book in a genre they are not necessarily known for without it being prejudged based on their name, so I think that would be beneficial.