By Ashley Ladd (Guest Blogger)
Have
you ever found out that one of your favorite authors uses a
pseudonym? Have you ever wondered why an author might choose to do
so?
I’ll
come forward. I’m one of them. “Ashley Ladd” is my pseudonym
for my erotic romance novels.
I,
like many other authors I’m sure, have several good reasons for
using one.
First,
my mother’s family is very straight-laced and religious. I couldn’t
envision telling my very sweet aunt or my very prim and proper uncle
that I write graphically explicit male-male-male love scenes. As it
turns out, one of my children is now transgender female, and when I
admitted that to them, they couldn’t, wouldn’t accept her.
Secondly,
I work for a religious ministry full-time. I have a suspicion that my
employers wouldn’t look favorably upon my extra-curricular
activities. I might very well end up unemployed if they were to learn
about my erotic romance novels. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to
retire and write full time. Not yet anyway.
Unfortunately,
one of my coworkers discovered my alter ego. One day we were friends
and the next she unfriended me on Facebook and ran away from me at
lunch. When I got up the nerve to ask why she’d unfriended me, she
admitted she was disappointed in me. She’d found out I wrote erotic
romance.
Additionally,
I don’t want my activities to adversely affect my family. The
mother of my son’s best friend stopped allowing her child to play
with mine because my husband had made and displayed a ceramic dragon.
She was very religious and thought we’d joined a satanic cult
because of a silly figurine. I can only imagine that she’d look
even less favorably upon what I write.
I’m
sure other authors have other good reasons to hide their identity as
well. I’d love to hear them.
Deciding
to use a pseudonym was only the first step in the process. Next I had
to choose a pen
name.
I
was watching a Cheryl Ladd movie during the decision-making process,
thus it was one of many last names on the list of possibilities.
Next, I wanted to choose a first name that was popular with the
twenty-forty year old crowd. After that I made a long list of
possible combinations and asked my critique group which one they
liked. Ashley Ladd won the vote.
However,
I wasn’t done there. I didn’t want to use another author’s or
famous person’s name, or even a name I found on the Internet. Then
I googled the name. At that time, no one else named Ashley Ladd came
up on a Google search. So I adopted the name. When I googled Ashley
Ladd to find mentions of my recently released romance novel Cooking
Up A Storm, however, I found at least five other people named Ashley
Ladd. Worse, a few years ago I received an email from another Ashley
Ladd accusing me of stealing her name. By then, I had several books
published as Ashley Ladd, and hopefully a following.
I
don’t know if it’s possible to choose a unique name. I work with
a large data base at my day job and very often see two or more people
with the same “unusual” name. Most of the time when I speak to
someone like that they presume they are the only person on Earth with
that name, so I know it’s not a family member.
Should
I have made up a really unusual name like Swanzetta to use for my
pseudonym? It probably wouldn’t have helped. I’ve seen this name
for a real person.
For
better or worse, I am Ashley Ladd. To date, Ashley’s name is on
seventy plus books, the most recent being a contemporary male-male
erotic romance Business or Pleasure just made available today
(July 25) for download at Totally Bound. It will be
available on Amazon, ARe, and other booksellers as of August 22.
Blurb
Guy
Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Beaudreaux. As
a passionate vegetarian and animal activist, he’s ecstatic that Tom
is a kindred soul. He could never be with a carnivore. Unfortunately,
Tommy isn’t really a vegetarian or animal activist. He never said
he was either, he just didn’t eat meat when he was with Guy. And
maybe he emptied his house of all meat and dairy products before
inviting Guy over. In fact, Tommy’s family owns the most popular
barbecue restaurant in town and if his family has their way, he’ll
manage the new location.
When
Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant
that is a monument to eating meat, he’s livid and doesn’t know if
he wants anything else to do with Tommy.
But
then Guy’s life gets crazy –his dad’s paranoia blossoms into
violent dementia, he gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill, and
then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him
through all his trouble and does everything he can to help him, Guy
wonders if he’s been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can
learn to live with people who have opposite views.
Excerpt
Tommy
looked at him and mouthed, “Shit! You don’t think…?”
“I
hope not. I don’t know.” Guy pressed the gas pedal to the floor
and the car shot forward, fish-tailing.
Tommy
fisted the door, hanging on tight. “I hope we’re wrong.”
Guy’s
intuition told him he wasn’t. His knuckles turned white they held
the steering wheel so tightly. Unafraid for himself but scared for
his dad, he pulled into his driveway and jumped out of the car, with
Tommy close on his heels.
The
woman next door ran outside screaming, tearing out her already
tattered hair. She pointed at her front door. “Your father’s
shooting up my house and is holding a gun at my dad’s head. He’s
going to kill him. You’ve got to do something.”
Tommy
yelled as he began dialing on his phone, “I’m calling the
police.” As if on cue, police sirens blared in the distance and
grew louder by the second.
“I’m
going in. I have to stop him.”
“Wait
for the police. Don’t put yourself in danger,” Tommy ordered
forcefully.
“I
have to take the chance. He could kill someone before the police get
here. I can’t let that happen.” He put himself in harm’s way
for animals, so certainly he could risk his life for his own father
and other fellow human beings. He had no choice. It would be his
fault if someone got hurt.
So
he ran through the open door flailing his arms, hoping he would be in
time. “Dad! It’s Guy. Don’t do anything. I’m here. You’ll
be okay.”
“He’ll
be okay? What about me? He’s got a shotgun pointed at my head
threatening to blow it off,” the elderly neighbor cried.
Buy
Link
Publisher’s
website: https://www.totallybound.com/business-or-pleasure
Contest! Leave me a comment with your email, telling me what you think about Guy and Tom. I'll give a $10 bookstore gift certificate to one of you!
About Ashley
She's
been told she has a wicked sense of humour and often incorporates
humour and adventure into her books. She also adores very spicy
romance, which she weaves into her stories.
You
can find Ashley at:
20 comments:
Wouldn't it be great if we lived in a world that was open minded and accepting (not just tolerant). But until then, you have to do what you need to, to be able to follow your dream. Keep moving forward (don't look back)!
Guy is going to have to learn to look a little deeper when it comes to picking out potential mates. We don't always know what is best for us. I'm Tom will teach him that.
magenta 2 red [at] gmail [dot] com
It is sad how some people are so narrow minded. My daughter is gay but that does not change who she is. We love her for who she is. I have also gone the dementia route with my mother. While she did not become physical, she did become verbally abusive.
debby236 at gmail dot com
It's rather ironic that you explained why you use a pseudonym (totally understandable!) and your story is about Tom hiding behind a facade more attractive to Guy.
skadlec1@yahoo.com
Guy & Tommy sound like an interesting pair. And no matter what their differences are, I'm glad it sounds like they try to get through them.
And I just have to say that I totally understand why you have another name to write under, but it's really sad that ppl wouldnt want to still be your friend because of your writing. =(
Take care, & I hope you have a really great day! <3
Brandi
BLeigh1130 at yahoo dot com
I'd say whatever allows you to feel comfortable getting the work out there is the right choice! Your work is new to me, but I'm always excited to find new m/m!
Trix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
I can understand why you have to have a pen name it's kind of sad that there are so many narrow minded people in the world.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Oh that was a great blurb and snippet! I am surprised Tom would empty his house of meat and dairy for Guy... instead of trying to show his true self. Too many people try to hide things about themselves... Be true to you, not someone else.
As for writers and pen names... I am fine with it whether it is for different genres or you just do not want your names out there for a reason. Heck, I have given myself a nickname twice because I liked the sound of it. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your release!
greenshamrock at cox dot net
I'd like to read more of Tom & Guy. Thanks for the giveaway.
turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com
I wonder if they'd let me watch and take notes. ;)
Thanks for stopping by.
kimberlydtalbot@gmail.com
Thanks for the post and the excerpt. I want more Guy and Tommy. :-)
Mhupp20032003(at) yahoo(dot)com
It's a shame that people have to hide who they are or what kind of books they write or like to read. This sounds like a awesome book.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
Thank you Lisabet for hosting me and Business or Pleasure. Also I want to thank everybody who left comments and entered my contest. :) Ashley
Thank you for the interesting post. It's a shame that people are so closed minded and let their interpretation or beliefs affect their relationship.
sorry forgot my email:
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
I too am dismayed that people can be so self-righteous in their beliefs that it colours who they will talk to and be friends with, or remain to be family with. I can only hope that as time goes by and the younger generation grows up (who seem to be much more accepting), that these old out-dated ideas phase out. I would also like to read more of Tom and Guy to see how it all pans out. Mind you, I'm in Australia and we're STILL waiting on same-sex marriage to happen here. Problem is, a church-going Prime Minister who won't allow his cabinet to have a conscience vote on the issue... which means his agenda is the one we all have to follow! kelsey@netspace.net.au
Yeah, I totally see a reason to get a pen name. Some people.... well.. you just never really know how someone, someone close even, will react when you tell them your secret love of male romance or of writing any erotic romance. Which Is why I myself still hide the fact that I love and read MM romance. I'm afraid to see what a family member or other would react.
Heh, I really liked the blurb! I am so excited to read Business or Pleasure. Thank you for the chance to win!
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
Interesting sounding characters
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Awesome excerpt Ashley, I think if an author wants to use a pseudonym it should be their choice. I don't have too much patience for people who get all upset about people who are different, EVERYONE is different in one way or another.
Thanks for the awesome contest Ashley,
Mindy :)
Birdsooong@comcast.net
Thank you every for leaving such awesome comments for me. I let my son pick a name from all your names, out of a hat and he picked Sue Ahn's name. Please congratulate Sue Ahn. She's the winner of my $10 Amazon gift card and she's already received it.
You're all awesome. Ashley
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