roleat asked Rachel Eliason:

Why do you not publish science fiction, and fantasy work under your female name?

Rachel Eliason My first three novels were contemporary YA and I published them under my given name Rachel. When I started publishing more science fiction and fantasy I wanted to create some separation from those books, because they are different demographics of readers.
I didn't want a true pseudonym, I wanted fans to be able to find my books. But I wanted them to know at a glance whether the novel was in the Sci-fi/Fantasy genre or contemporary. So I went with my initials: R. J. Eliason.
It did enter into my thinking that using my initials was more gender neutral, and that some female authors in the past have done so to obscure their gender. Examples include C. J. Cherryh and J. K. Rowlings. But that wasn't the whole intent.
There is also a strong tradition of male writers doing this as well, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, H. G. Wells and even G. R. R. Martin are known either officially or unofficially by their initials. I don't claim to be as good as any of the writers (male or female) mentioned here. I would be incredibly proud if, after years of honing my craft, I was listed among them somewhere.
Thanks for the question and I hope that answered it.

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