The Name Game: Writers and their Pseudonyms
J.K. Rowling caused an uproar last week when she revealed that she had published crime novel The Cuckoo's Calling using the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Of course, she's not the first to publish under more than one name.
Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine
As Ruth Rendell, the author publishes crime novels including the bestselling Inspector Wexford series. The Barbara Vine books are not mysteries at all but more character studies. After the publication of the latest Barbara Vine novel, the author hinted that she may retire that pseudonym.
The most recent titles are:
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No Man's Nightingale by Ruth Rendell
The Child's Child by Barbara Vine
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
Michael Redhill and Inger Ash Wolfe
In 2012, novelist, poet, playwright Redhill revealed that he is also the author of the Hazel Micallef crime novels published under the name Inger Ash Wolfe.
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Consolation by Michael Redhill
• eBook
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
A Door in the River by Inger Ash Wolfe
• eAudiobook
• eBook
Jayne Castle, Amanda Quick and Jayne Anne Krentz
In her early career, the author used her maiden name Jayne Castle, but resorted to publishing under other names after she temporarily lost the use of her own. She uses separate names for different genres. As Amanda Quick she writes historical romances; Jayne Castle is used for her futuristic novels; contemporary romances are published with the name Jayne Anne Krentz.
The Looking Glass Trilogy included one book from each pseudonym:
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In Too Deep by Jayne Anne Krentz
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Large Print
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
Quicksilver by Amanda Quick
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Large Print
Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle
• eBook
• Large Print
John Banville and Benjamin Black
John Banville has been publishing literary fiction since 1970, including the Booker Prize winning novel The Sea. In 2006, Banville released the crime novel Christine Falls using the pseudonym Benjamin Black. He has said that he considers his Banville works "art" and the Black novels "craft".
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Ancient Light by John Banville
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Large Print
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
Vengeance by Benjamin Black
• Audiobook
• Large Print
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
3 thoughts on “The Name Game: Writers and their Pseudonyms”
I think it’s sad that J.K. Rowling’s second name was released. I’m purely speculating, but I’m wondering if she wanted to know if she could achieve the same critical success without having Harry Potter behind her. “The casual vacancy” was alright but it fell a little flat for me.
I think it’s sad, too. It must be difficult to be an author like Rowling–all the expectations. I can imagine that it was a pleasure to be an unknown writer again.
This was such an interesting list – any chance of another blog of its kind being posted?