Happily Ever After Book Club discussion

I know a lot of authors write under pen names for varies reasons. I actually appreciate it when an author writes YA books under one name and their more adult books (or adult content) books under another. Then I know which ones to avoid. It’s tricky finding pen names used though, some authors like to keep it quiet, while others are a little more open about it. I admit, I don’t get why authors use pen names when they write in the same genre. Seems kind of pointless, but I’m sure there is some reason behind it. I’ve heard that sometimes they will use different pen names for different publishing houses. I guess when it comes down to it I don’t really care why they use pen names, but I would like to know if a favorite author writes under another name. Simply because I want to read all their books (as long as they are clean). So, I thought this would be a fun place to list pen names.

Janette Rallison aka C.J. Hill, Sierra St. James
Kieran Scott aka Kate Brian, Emma Harrison
Lorraine Heath aka Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker

Jennifer Armentrout uses this name for her YA line, and J Lynn for her more mature content books. Again, I appreciate when an author does this. I wish authors like Sophie Jordan and Sarah MacLean would have used a pen name to separate their clean lines from their not clean lines, although it seems like Ms. MacLean has only written one clean book and decide to stick with the racier stuff (which is sad, because I really liked her book The Season.)

Anna Banks writes YA mermaid stories Of Poseidon and Of Triton and as Anna Scarlett she wrote a new adult like novel Degrees of Wrong, which was still clean (hooray!).

I think like you said, Kathy, sometimes authors use pen names with different genres or publishers. I like how it sorts out the dirtier adult books. I like to read Meg Cabot, but it is amazing what a full spectrum her books run on steaminess(even the YA ones). When ordering on Amazon as opposed to off the shelf at they bookstore, it was harder to tell which books were even YA. I would have loved to have her books sorted out with the use of a good pen name.
I was very excited a few years ago when I learned that Sierra St. James was a pen name for Janette Rallison. I'd loved books by both authors and now I could see how the witty writing was the same.

Kelley Armstrong aka K.L Armstrong
Melissa Marr aka M.A. Marr
Nora Roberts akaJ.D. Robb
Kim Harrison aka Dawn Cook

Heather Justesen aka Heather Tullis

I just learned this today...

Shannon Guymon aka Katie Lee O'Guinn

I haven't posted here before and have kind of been reading various topics on the list to find out what is here, but this topic brought me out. I don't know how up to date this is, (fairly, I think) but here is an extensive list of author pseudonyms--and a great place to at least look for them: http://www.fictiondb.com/author/pseud...

Hey Alfie-
Thanks for the link, I'll be checking that out. I like finding authors pen-names!

Bria Quinlan aka Caitie Quinn

I love when authors use pen names! It makes it so much easier to know what I'm getting into before I get into it. Another author with a pen name is Jolene B. Perry. For her LDS fiction she use Jolene B. Perry Or Jolene Betty Perry. And for her YA books, which are a little steamier and use language, she sticks with Jolene Perry (no middle name or initial).

Rachel Ann Nunes aka Rachel Branton aka Teyla Branton
Anita Stansfield aka Elizabeth D Michaels

Kathy, you are amazing to even find stuff like this! This is so interesting!

Thanks Chrissy, I think its fun to find out their pen names. Some I had no idea they wrote stuff under another name! I was especially excited when I found out Shannon Guymon wrote under a pen name (Katie Lee O'Guinn) I really enjoy her contemporary books and it was fun to see she was writing some paranormal ones too (under the pen name).

Mary Jane Hathaway aka Virginia Carmichael, and I'm still trying to find the authors real name, these are both pen names.

*Update: received a nice message from the author and thought I'd share part of it: "My real name is Mary Virginia Munoz. Carmichael is my maiden name, and Hathaway is my mother's maiden name."

Tiffany wrote: "I love when authors use pen names! It makes it so much easier to know what I'm getting into before I get into it. Another author with a pen name is Jolene B. Perry. For her LDS fiction she use Jole..."

I can never remember which of her "names" writes the clean stuff so I just avoid all her books. :(

Jolene B. Perry aka Jolene Betty Perry aka Jolene Perry aka Mia Josephs

Kathy, what if all the author's writing is clean just different genre's? I have worked on a pen name and it's not easy. T.M. McKinley or T.J. Austin. I still just like T.M. Peck. I can understand having a pen name to avoid certain unpleasantness.

I know of a lot or authors who use a different name for different genres. Helps keep the different worlds separate. Doesn't bother me. I know Shannon Guymon and Janette Rallison both do that.

Hmmmm, ok.

Nancy Campbell Allen aka Kari Gray

I've read all of Nancy's books and love them. She is starting a new novella series and will be publishing it under a new pen name (Kari Gray) since it has more of a paranormal element. The cover is super pretty! Can't wait to read them.

Christina Dymock aka Lucy McConnell
Janet Halling aka Jeanette Lewis

Rebecca Winters aka Rebecca Burton aka Rebecca Brown Burton

Okay, can someone tell me if her books are clean? I've had people recommend her books, but wasn't sure about their steam level...

I read Rebecca Winters. I like many, some not. All are about a PG rating. Passionate kissing, some implied marital sex behind closed doors. I rate them as clean.

Thanks Nanci! :) I had heard she wrote clean ones, but I know that Harlequin has different steam levels and wasn't sure where hers were at. :)

Tristi Pinkston aka Sandra Norton Flynn aka Paige Timothy aka Amelia C. Adams

Elana Johnson aka Liz Isaacson

Heather B. Moore (real name) aka H.B. Moore aka Jane Redd ( her new YA/NA pen name). All clean work pen names. Just different genres.

Veronica Rossi aka Noelle August

Just learned a new one! Kimberley Griffiths Little aka Kimberley Montpetit

L.L. Muir aka Bella Bowen

Jaclyn Weist aka Jaclyn Hardy

Mary Jane Hathaway and Virginia Carmichael? Color me surprised!

Carmen Caine aka Madison Adler aka Erin Rye

Cheri Schmidt aka Clair Traveler

Sophia Summers aka Jen Geigle Johnson

Kathy wrote: "Just learned a new one! Kimberley Griffiths Little aka Kimberley Montpetit"

I knew this one but not Jaclyn Weist/Hardy.

Kathy wrote: "Christina Dymock aka Lucy McConnell
Janet Halling aka Jeanette Lewis"

I didn't know either one of these!!

Kathy wrote: "Nancy Campbell Allen aka Kari Gray

I've read all of Nancy's books and love them. She is starting a new novella series and will be publishing it under a new pen name (Kari Gray) sin..."

Thanks for this information.

Shari L. Tapscott aka Shannon Lynn Cook

Sariah S Wilson aka Sariah Wilson

Liz Isaacson aka Elana Johnson

K.M. Shea aka A.M. Sohma

Shari L. Tapscott aka Shannon Lynn Cook