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.
Sandy,
I think like everything else, it depends on the way YOU act and think. If you write romances with love scenes and you decide and act like there’s not a thing wrong with that, then, although there might a little ruffle at the beginning when your students first find out about it, it will settle down.
But if you act embarrassed and can’t look anyone in the eye and are ashamed of what you write, then you’ll probably get the kind of reaction that warrants.
So write those scenes, hold your head up high and be proud. You’re a great writer. Yes, there will be sex, but sex and love are an important part of life. If there’s motivation other than plain lust, and there’s a plot and character development, then it’s a story about life and love. That’s what it’s all about, and there’s no reason to be ashamed of that, no matter what the age of your readers:-)
And besides, you won’t have to worry about that for long. After reading the excerpt from Murphy’s Law, I really think that as soon as you get published you’ll be on your way. So once you get there, just look toward the future and don’t worry about the rest:-)
Thank so much, Stephie! Great advice!! And I really appreciate all the confidence you have in me. It means the world to me!
Aww, I’m not trying to make you sad or anything. But that doesn’t mean i’ll stop
I know you’re just teasing. And I also know I don’t expect any of you to stop. I love you all just the way you are.