AboutCathy Clamp Expertise I'm happy to answer questions about any aspect of getting published through commercial publishers, ebook publishers and self-publishing I can help with writing a query letter and synopsis to an agent or editor. I can explain publishing terminology, acronyms and manuscript formatting. I can also assist with questions about verifying the credentials of agents/publishers and how to proceed once you've been accepted for publication.
Experience I'm a USA Today bestselling author of romance fiction in the Tor/Forge Books paranormal romance line. Along with a co-author, I've published eight novels (combination of mass market and trade softcover) since 2003, and have contracts for six more books through 2009. I've also published short stories in regional and national magazines as well as freelance feature articles.
Organizations Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Western Outdoor Writers, Horror Writers of America.
Publications Books: Tor/Forge Books, Western Reflections Publishing; Magazines: Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, Guns & Ammo, Fur-Fish-Game, many others.
Education/Credentials My educational background is limited to real life experience of publishing novels commercially for the past five years.
Awards and Honors USA Today bestseller, Waldenbooks Mass Market Paperback Top 20 bestseller, Nielsen BookScan Top 20 bestseller, Book Buyers Best Award for Paranormal, 2007, Romantic Times Best Werewolf Novel, 2006, Write Touch Readers Award, EVVY Best Historical Chronicle Award, The Lories Best Paranormal. Many others.
I was productive last year, and wrote roughly sixty poems. They would look swell on a printed page.
Trouble is, these poems concern feminine subjects. The struggle for equality in America, and so on. I feel that publishing these poems under my real name may not win affection from female readers.
In my cover letters, should I request the editors publish my poems under a female pen name? Supposing some of my poems are accepted, of course.
Half my mind says, "Stop being an ass. Submit under your usual name." The other half says, "Women will love these poems if they believe a woman wrote them."
Help, please :)
Best,
Alan
Answer Hi, Alan!
You're right to ask the question because there have been plenty of occasions where writers have failed to take this issue into account and have wound up annoying the reader. My best advice would be to go with initials or a "gender-neutral" name. Fibbing and going with a female name could come back to bite you if the book is a success and the publisher wants to have you go out on tour. Readers will be expecting a woman behind the table and that could have negative "spin" on sales. But if, instead of "Alan Smith" or "Mary Smith" you went with "A.B. Smith" or "Pat Smith" it would work. Is it Patrick? Is it Patricia? Who knows?
Or maybe "Terry Smith." Terrence? Theresa? Doesn't matter. Pen names (pseudonyms) are perfectly acceptable. Former Air Force lieutenant Ken Casper has written romance novels as K.N. Casper for years. Same with Tony Kariyianni, who writes as Tori Carrington.
Here's a nifty online list of gender neutral names to look at.
