Should I use a pen name?

I’ve worried about that question. Not that I don’t obsessively worry about a lot of things… But I find myself in a unique position because I’m a teacher.

All my students know I write books. I have never been able to be something I’m not, and writing is such a part of who I am, I’ve always been honest with students, parents, and my bosses that I write romance. I get positive reactions. Some parents are thrilled. Some have asked me to mentor their children who aspire to writing. Even one of my principals asked me to take a student under my wing to encourage him to continue his education because the young man has hopes of being an author. I honestly can’t recall anyone reacting negatively about my genre.

I do, however, get teased quite a bit. Mostly by boys. Yes, Tom, Drew, and Kyle. I’m talking to you. They love to say I write “smut.” I hope they know better and that they are simply having fun with seeing how red they can turn my face. But therein lies the rub.

If I publish, what happens next? As my books are released, will students see me differently because they can buy one of my stories and read how my mind wraps itself around a love scene? Will parents look at me differently? I’ve heard stories of romance authors who teach having problems because they write romance. Hopefully, those are just rumors. Yet, I worry.

I could take a pen name. My son has come up with one I love. But in my mind, that would make me a hypocrite. Everyone would know anyway. And I keep myself writing some days with a fantasy of sitting at my local Barnes & Noble, signing books. My ego would love that signature to be “Sandy James” and not a pen name.

Alas, I don’t think I’ll ever find a good answer and will eventually just have to decide one way or another. Any advice my blog readers have to offer would be greatly appreciated. I am averaging at least a hundred “hits” a day on my website. Unless I have a stalker who is repeatedly hitting the refresh symbol, someone is reading my words. Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

For now, I’ll just be me and hope for the best.