Behind the Pen Name: 10 Female Authors with Ingenious Pseudonyms

 (AKA: Kristina Laferne Roberts)  Zane is a master of complex and deeply emotional characters. To say Vengeance is intense is an understatement as Zane tackles something new with this book. The story follows a beautiful but emotionally traumatized pop star who returns to her home town of Atlanta in order to exact her revenge against the people who attacked her as a teen. Caprice fled from Atlanta to New York after an unspeakable trauma. Despite her adoptive father’s wishes, Caprice returns to Atlanta, but now she’s the international pop sensation Wicket hell-bent on righting the wrongs of the past, but as she embeds herself into the elite circles of her former tormentors she begins to unravel. Finally, she agrees to see a therapist and pick up the pieces of her life, but can she really overcome a legacy of pain and suffering?  

(AKA: Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings)  Christina Lauren is the fabulous duo behind some of my absolute favorite romance novels, and I loved THE UNHONEYMOONERS immediately. First, let me just say, I am a huge sucker for a good ‘enemies to lovers’ plot. Olive considers herself unlucky in everything, especially compared to her perfect twin sister, Ami, who has the perfect fiancé and the perfect wedding. And of course, there’s the fact that the best man happens to be Olive’s worst enemy, Ethan. But when everyone in the wedding party gets food poisoning Olive finds herself the lucky recipient of Ami’s all expenses paid honeymoon to Hawaii. The only catch, Ethan didn’t get sick either and they both want in on a free vacation. Determined to avoid each other during the entire trip, Olive suddenly finds herself caught in a little white lie with her future boss forcing Olive and Ethan to act like loving newlyweds.  

(AKA: Nora Roberts)  J.D. Robb, also known as Nora Roberts, is the mastermind behind the bestselling IN DEATH crime series following homicide detective Eve Dallas set in a technology controlled future. The first novel in the series, NAKED IN DEATH, introduces Eve Dallas as she takes on the murder of a senators daughter and the secret life of prostitution she was leading. Eve’s case takes her into a deep web of politics and society, and to make things more complicated, Eve is attracted to Roarke, one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the world, who also happens to be the leading suspect in her case.  

(Originally published under Currer Bell)  While most of us know that Charlotte Bronte wrote JANE EYRE, the novel was originally published under the name Currer Bell. In fact, all of the Bronte sisters’ works were initially published under male pseudonyms with the last name of Bell in order to project more influence to explore gender issues. JANE EYRE is personally my favorite Bronte novel with just enough love and mystery that has enticed me to reread this story over and over again. Orphaned and outcasted most of her life, Jane is hired by the proud and troubled Mr. Rochester as a governess for his ward. Yet, despite his brooding nature, Jane finds herself drawn to him. But there is a terrifying secret at Thornfield hall that threatens Jane’s newfound sense of security.

(AKA: Mary Ann Evans)  What a novel. What a place. What a state of being. MIDDLEMARCH sucks you in with it’s rich exploration of people, love, life, art, society and politics. The narrative centers around idealistic and naïve Dorothea Brooke, Edward Casaubon the scholar, the brilliant but flawed Dr. Lydgate and the charming and very humorous relationship between Fred Vincey and Mary Garth. MIDDLEMARCH is rich and colorful with a very large cast of characters that examines provincial life, marriage and what it means to be a strong woman.  

Very different from Louisa May Alcott’s beloved LITTLE WOMEN, is her lesser known thriller BEHIND A MASK, OR A WOMAN’S POWER.  Set in the Victorian era, the wealthy Coventry family hires young Jean Muir as the governess for 16-year-old Bella. Jean quickly charms half of the Coventry family upon her arrival, but the rest remain suspicious. And rightfully so, because Jean is not who she says she is. With this darker story Alcott still manages to create gripping and in-depth characters in this subvert to the perfect world created in LITTLE WOMEN.  

(AKA: Christina Lynch and Meg Howrey)  I have always wanted to visit Prague and this insane novel just helps to fuel that desire. CITY OF DARK MAGIC is a compelling mystical mystery with a healthy dose of paranormal elements and comedy thrown in. It’s bizarre, and I had a lot of fun embracing that. When Sarah Weston, a music student, lands a summer job cataloguing Beethoven’s manuscripts at Prague Castle, she’s stoked. However, soon after her arrival strange occurrences begin happening. As she deciphers her mentor’s cryptic notes, she wonders if his death actually wasn’t a suicide and if the letters are actually warnings. What she stumbles into is an insane time-warping adventure involving drugs, a prince, a powerful senator and a dwarf. Embrace the unusual and read CITY OF DARK MAGIC.  

(AKA: Agatha Christie)  Agatha Christie's first non-mystery novel written under the name Mary Westmacott. In some regard it’s a love story, and in other’s it’s truly a testament to struggle and sacrifice. Vernon Deyre’s sheltered childhood did not prepare him for the reality of the world. A brilliant musician, Vernon is now faced with a crucial decision in order to write the greatest masterpiece of his life. But this decision comes at a very high price, especially to the two women in his life.  

(AKA: Alice B. Sheldon)  A compelling and excellent satirical science fiction novel from the 70s that examines gender roles and societal ideas of gender norms. When a solar flare sends a spaceship crewed by just men they are tossed thousands of years in the future where the earth’s population has been decimated by a pandemic. Suddenly, their ship is intercepted by a space vessel controlled by only women. What follows is an exploration into how men view women and how women view men in this dystopian novella that is still poignant in 2020.  

(AKA: Erika Leonard)  Ah, yes, the notorious 50 SHADES series by E.L. James. The erotic novel that everyone talked about. If you haven’t read the 50 SHADES books, just know that it’s not too late to pick up a copy and dive into this steamy, amusing and obsessive read. After interviewing the young and wealthy Christian Grey, the innocent and naive Anastasia Steele is shocked to find herself wanting this man. She quickly finds herself desperate to get close to him. Christian is unable to resist Ana, and confesses that he wants her too, but on his own terms. Christian Grey then introduces Ana to his erotic tastes that both shocks and thrills her.