I know that author!

Yep, we all get a buzz from knowing someone who is "famous".
I know my share of famous faces, but I have this curious affliction of knowing they are human beings, and not falling at their feet in complete awe.
It also means that you might know an author – and you don't know it.
But did you ever consider what it's like to be the "famous" author yourself?
How would you deal with it? Would you be prepared for it? Have you ever considered what it would be like to have your privacy threatened?
Imagine going shopping and everyone sticks a book under your nose to sign. Bliss, right?
Maybe at first. The novelty wears off fast, when you can't step out of the door in your jimjams and your hair in curlers to get the paper. I've known plenty of famous faces, worked with them, to have seen this first hand. I also know how tired they were of it, and how much strain it put on them.
This was in the days before the internet, imagine how much more information about someone is out there now.
So are you prepared?

Most authors choose pen names. Some because they don't like their name, some because they want to keep their writing life separate from their private life. There are many reasons for choosing a pen name. Some quite obvious  – who in their right mind would want to find some weirdo camped out on their doorstep, after all? Some not so obvious.
If you write erotic romance, you don't particularly want the parents of the second graders you teach put your name into a web search and come up with adult oriented books. I doubt they'd understand.
Another reason can be job hunting. I'm not kidding. Employers do research on potential employees, and I've heard a few people say they were questioned about their commitment when the new boss found out they have 2 books published, or are working to find publication. For some reason this myth of rich authors persists. (Thanks, J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.)
Of course we would all love to write for a living, but for most of us that's just not going to happen. Unfortunately non-authors don't understand this. They believe if you have a book out, you are automatically rich.
Not.
One thing you need to be aware of while you promote your book: Don't give too much about yourself away. Don't tell people where you live, don't show them pictures of your kids or family. Don't post details about them on your blogs or facebook.
People who really know you, already know about them. Your fans don't need to know.
It may seem innocuous right now, but what if you do hit the big time? Those details will still be around, cached on some server, for people to find — and abuse.
Be careful.
Being vague is okay, but specific details could come back and bite you where it really hurts.

I don't use a pen name. I probably should, but then… I have a unique name anyway. Truly unique, as in, I'm the only one I know of who has this first name / last name combination – in the world. (And I've gone through some 30 pages of links on Google, never found a single one other than me.)
But at the same time, I'm quite careful what I put out there. Yeah, you'll find links to posts from me, you'll find interviews I've given over 10 years ago, articles I wrote, blog posts I made. Personal information? Depends. I've made it a point not to list my phone number anywhere, or give people I don't know very well my real email address. (I have at least 2 dozen email addresses.)
It's not that hard to find an author's real name. Just open the book and it's usually right there. But at least a search might not reveal the two are linked. It's the reason I didn't bother with a pen name. Quite frankly, if you searched for my real name, you'd only get stuff about me. So what's the point in using a pen name?
For me, none. I don't teach kids, I don't work in a sensitive job, my boss knows I write, and any weirdo wanting to camp out on my doorstep will be challenged by my rather vigilant neighbors and get thrown out of the private estate where I live.
For others, this consideration is a valid one. So give it some thought and weigh up the pros and cons, if you choose to write under your real name. It may seem trivial when you start out, but God forbid you're the next King, Rowling, Meyer, Cartland or Sheldon.
Most of these were big names before the internet was ever available to the public. It's different now. Every bit of dirt gets pulled out and a flame war you had with someone five years ago (and have long forgotten) might be unearthed and used somewhere.
It may not be scandalous, but it could turn out as an embarrassment you'd rather not have everyone know about.
People will judge you from what they can find out about you.

So before you rush into posting about the family picnic, naming every child, aunt, uncle, cousin and spouse, or about a nasty fight you had in the shopping mall over some broccoli – ask yourself "What if I become famous?"

Silke

Silke writes paranormal romance, and knows a thing or two about things going bump in the night. Although it is usually her, creeping to the kitchen at O' Dawn Thirty to score another cup of coffee. She grew up in Germany, but her home of choice is in the UK, where she lives with her partner on the outskirts of London. Her first book Smitten is now available from Decadent Publishing.

Website - More Posts

Related Posts:

• On the 4th Day of Christmas…The Gift
• What makes a book a keeper?

Tags: Authors, Promotion, Publicity, Security