Is Your Author Name a Product Name?
By Beth Kery
When your name appears on a book, does the reader have the right to have certain content expectations given your past books? In other words, does the name ‘Beth Kery’ (or insert your name/favorite author’s name) come with certain guarantees, sort of like you might buy or avoid ‘Honda’ or ‘Rolex’ because you know what you’re getting?
These are questions I’ve been tossing around recently. I’ve been considering an additional pen name. Little did I know that there were some larger underlying issues hiding beneath the relatively innocuous seeming question—additional pen name or not?
Usually I write full length novels with fairly traditional romance elements and heavy sexual content. But I also enjoy writing shorter, raunchy romps once in awhile in addition to mainstream romance. A reader might be disappointed if they buy the romantic novel when they enjoyed the sexy romp and vice versa. Recently I had a situation arise where a reader made it clear she was disappointed in one of my books because of what she perceived as a lack of the romantic and emotional intensity that she’d grown accustomed to in my writing. I started thinking about the possibility of an alternative pen name to address the issue.
At first, it seemed like a great idea. Why not streamline my product?
Although I have to admit, I’ve had reason to be irritated as a reader when I buy a book under one name only to discover the book I bought is actually authored by someone I’ve decided I don’t prefer. In the particular instance I’m thinking of, it wasn’t content that was the concern but the author’s style of writing. Here, the use of a pen name made me feel mislead as a consumer.
After considerable deliberation on the topic, I’ve decided that my opinion is that an author name does not come with certain guarantees in regard to content. For me, the creative endeavor is fundamental. If I start writing for Reader A and leave out Reader B, I become little better than a book factory chugging out books that appease Reader A and everyone like her. My creative integrity has been forfeited.
.
I admit that I want to sell books. Most authors do. I’m interested in hearing how a book worked for a reader and I sincerely hope I haven’t disappointed or disgusted too many. But for now, I’m going to continue to write the books I enjoy writing under a single author name.
The old saying ‘you can’t please all of the people all of the time…’ certainly holds true in this instance.
What are your thoughts on the issue?
May 17th, 2008 at 6:16 am
I dont think you “become a factory” if you take two pen names. Lori Foster did it to differentiate between her two styles of writing. Nora Roberts did it; Sylvia Day did it. You even say you like writing two different kinds of stories, and maybe i’m looking at this wrong, but a reader can know what to expect when they pick up a book published under one pen name vs another. And I think it’s in a writer’s best interest to be versatile–it keeps us from getting bored and can keep us published.
All that said, if you keep one name, you could do your readers a service by sorting the two types of stories on your website so they know what they’re getting into with story type a vs story type b.
Ok that sounded kinda…pretentious…and I totally don’t mean for it to. It’s an interesting dilemma to be sure
May 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hi Beth. I think author branding is important. But it doesn’t work for everyone. And if you’re writing books that are close enough together in the genre spectrum or even the heat spectrum, I don’t think you need to add another name.
It’s when an author completely deviates from what they originally were writing and became known for that the change in name is important. JR Ward/Jessica Bird, Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley McGregor, Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Lori Foster/LL Foster
It’d be like me all of a sudden going off to write light contemporaries. I’d definitely have to go with a new name.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Beth,
I think I’m with you on this one. I write all my books under my own name regardless of genre or heat level. Most of the readers I’ve talked to say they want a Denise read…they know what I’m giving them.
Denise A. Agnew
May 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Hi all! Sorry I didn’t get back sooner. I was at my parents and they don’t have internet.
Anyway–hi Amie! Sorry if I sounded “black and whitish” by saying “factory.” I was just sort of thinking aloud on this issue. It’s not the hugest dilemma in the world, I know, but I have been thinking about it a lot lately.
I’ll be the first to admit I might change my opinion tomorrow, but for now, I’m sticking with one author name.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Hey Vivi,
Yeah, I don’t think my content is different enough to warrant changing my brand/name. I think that’s really at the core of what I’m getting at with the post. At what point does it become ’significantly different content?’ Opinions on that could vary, but for now, I’m going to trust my gut on the issue. Thanks for the feedback.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hi Denise!
Just what I need to hear–an author who feels confident about the issue (and rightfully so.)
Thanks!