Learning to Juggle Pen Names

Being a writer is tough enough with one pen-name. Juggling four of them can be quite the challenge. I started out the year with a carefully planned schedule meant to give each pen-name equal time for the year. But that all fell apart when that schedule was derailed. Now, on the verge of completing Taming Trish, I am looking at what I’ve completed this year, and what has fallen to the wayside and I’m thinking to myself that no matter what I’ve scheduled, four pen names are difficult to keep up with!

Whenever I go to writing groups, conventions, signings etc… I am always asked the question: “How do you manage four pen names?”

Not too well, I’m afraid.

By the time the end of 2016 rolls around I’ll have released three novels by three different pen names, five novellas spanning two pen names (which amounts to the word count of a regular novel), four small mini-guides from my non-fiction pen name, and two short stories. I’ve hit each pen name with at least one release. Not bad for as difficult as the year has been. For those keeping score at home that’s S. J. Reisner (1). Anne O’Connell (2), S. Connolly (4), and Audrey Brice (7).

It’s easy to see the pen name I’ve given the most attention to. There was a clear winner there. However – I did manage to release something for each one of them, which is amazing in and of itself.

So I guess I didn’t do so bad after all.

The beginning of 2017 is going to S. J. Reisner, which makes sense since she’s been neglected this year. As long as I have a healthy 2017, it should be easy to hit all the pen names again next year, but readers do end up having to wait longer for new books and stories.  That’s a small price to pay in exchange for being my own boss and being able to do what I love for a living. 🙂