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Pen Names, Masks and Invisibility Cloaks

When I started out as a serious writer in the early 2000’s, I gave a lot of thought to choosing a pen name. I toyed with names like Seanna (Shawna) Smythe but everyone pronounced it Sienna so I tossed that one out the window. Then I tried Juanita Chavez (a play on my real name) and planned to write steamy romance set in exotic destinations, but I soon discovered that wasn’t what I wanted to write. Desperate to just get on with the job, I chose to write under my own name. Now, if you Google this topic, you will be inundated with information on the do’s and don’ts, so as writers we’re much more prepared than we were before the internet opened up a whole new world of research.

If I had my time over, I might have stuck with one of those chosen names because, over a decade later, things have changed. Back before computers, authors chose pen names for anonymity. As technology grew, they used them to seperate the different genres they wrote in. Take for example the great Nora Roberts who writes romance and magic but uses J.D. Robb to write futuristic suspense. I love her romance novels but I’m not a fan of her futuristic series, so that helped me identify which books of hers to read. Nowadays though, there is a more sinister reason to use a pen name.

To use or not use a pen name or pseudonym is a personal choice. There’s not really a right or wrong answer on this—unless you do share a name with a well-known author and/or celebrity. Just remember: If you do use one, be ready to take on that new persona.

ROBERT LEE BREWER

A surge in cybercrime has highlighted the need for anonymity. Using your real name as a public figure can now make you a target for hacks and scams. Sure, if a hacker digs deeply enough, they can find out who you really are, but some are simply too lazy to go that far. They want a quick buck, not a long term investment. Have you ever recieved a message on Facebook or Messenger from someone posing as someone you know? That’s a real danger for a user with a high traffic profile on social media. It can ruin friendships and cause you to lose credibility. Anyone can pretend to be you and scam your friends and followers. By using a pen name, you’re given a bit more of an invisibility cloak.

As technology gets smarter, so do cybercriminals. It’s becoming more and more important to protect yourself. Think of a pen name as installing anti-virus software. It puts up a defence barrier, and while that barrier may not be inpenetrable, it’s a layer of security that you never had before.

Burnout

Book 3
Book 3

When I wrote Burnout, the title reflected my state of mind. I’d worked hard across two publishers and dabbled in self-publishing while I held down a day job and was being commissioned for editing on the side, as well as raising a family. I’ve juggled real life vs my writing life since starting out in 2012. All while seeking that Golden Ticket of becoming a full-time author. Having a contract for a three-book series with Tule Publishing was a dream come true and an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

My mistake was to not have those three books written, ready to go, before I signed the contract. I pitched an idea, a concept that was unusual, and gambled on a much smaller reader target. I loved NASCAR, but would readers who loved cowboy romance grow to love a racing family who owned a ranch in Montana? I’m happy to say they did, judging by the reviews on Goodreads and Bookbub!

Then came the real race … writing three books in a short space of time. Editing rounds were intense, with a lot of rewrites, and often ended in tears of exhaustion. I was writing the next book while editing the one before it. And soon the barriers closed in, resulting in a crash as spectacular as Trinity’s was in Montana Daughter. Originally named Fast Lane, Trinity’s story was where I found myself. Hitting the track hard and fighting for first place.

Montana Baby, the first book in the series and by far my bestseller yet, was originally named Overdrive. And that’s the territory I found myself in as I started out on this series – straight into overdrive. I put enormous pressure on myself to get it written, get the right mix of romance and character strength, and somehow blend racing with ranchers. With the help of my editor, proofreaders and critique partners, I crossed the Finish Line and went from earning pocket change to earning a five-figure income. Winning, right?

By the time Mason’s story was due, the series had been re-branded to suit the Montana Born imprint at Tule, and while he became Montana Son, I was still in burnout territory. Covid hit, life changed, sacrifices were made and the walls closed in on me. At a time when my career as an author was finally taking off, my real world came crashing down.

When I first named these three books, I had no idea how symbolic they would be of my own life journey between 2019 and 2023 and the lessons I would learn along the way. For the last three years, writing has felt like a past life for me, one I thought I’d never get back into. What my mind knew but my heart refused to acknowledge, was that all I needed was some time out to refresh and regroup as I adjusted to my new normal.

So here’s a bit of advice for all those newbies out there, starting out on their writing journeys: make sure you have a complete series written before you submit to a publisher. And if you’re self-publishing, treat yourself like a traditional publisher and make sure you are ready to hit that button on the first three books at the very least. Because when they take off, you want to be ready for the rollercoaster ride that follows. And you don’t want to crash and burn if you get sidetracked by real life along the way.

Even with that advice in mind, though, readers will always be there looking for their next read. The publishing industry is growing and evolving every day. Don’t sacrifice your happiness and peace of mind in that race to cross the line. If you do, you might lose your love of writing, and that would be a tragedy.

I’ve had a few false starts in my race to getting back into writing while my head and heart heal. I still have two Calhoun siblings to write happy-ever-afters for. Three years on from the release of Montana Son, is it too late for their stories, Readers?