I've spent the last couple of days trying to make a decision. I've been told having my name on books like How To Rape A Straight Guy and Rape In Holding Cell 6 make it improbable anyone would want to read one of my books aimed at younger readers. That this is what's hurt David Martin. Someone can go online, look up me up on Google and the first thing they're likely to see is one of those in-your-face titles. And they're right; it is.
Meaning they think I should use a pseudonym when I do the novelization for Bugzters and publish it. It's too late to change the author of David Martin; Amazon will always have the Kyle Michel Sullivan version up on its site. The assholes. They'll happily dump my work when they feel like it, but when I ask them to drop the old editions of my books, they swear they just can't. It's ludicrous. So when someone goes on their site, they see I'm not only the author of an off-beat book like The Lyons' Den but also what many people think is gay porn, so even gay readers might pass it up thinking it's going to have tons of porno-sex in it when it doesn't.
But...my feeling is that if I do use a pen-name, it's like I'm ashamed of my work. And I'm not. Sure, I've had people say my books should be banned...and Amazon and Kobo have done it based solely on the titles...but I've gotten praise, too. And I'll put passages of HTRASG and RIHC6 up against any other author's, that's how proud I am of them. Granted, I'm no Tolstoy or Hemingway, but I'm not Dr. Seuss, either.
At the same time, the reality is...a lot of people will not read my books based on the subject matter and titles, and that will bleed into my other work. My books don't sell all that well, but they are high-profile enough to have been referenced on Queerty (positively) and Fox News (disparagingly), and have invited not only good comments but vicious attacks (which probably means I'm doing it right).
I dunno...I can't figure out which way is the best to go. Maybe I should try publishing Bugzters under the Michel Grasley name and see what happens. I'd like it to be read...and that would give it a chance to work on its own instead of being weighted down with my past books.
Or is that giving in to fear?
Meaning they think I should use a pseudonym when I do the novelization for Bugzters and publish it. It's too late to change the author of David Martin; Amazon will always have the Kyle Michel Sullivan version up on its site. The assholes. They'll happily dump my work when they feel like it, but when I ask them to drop the old editions of my books, they swear they just can't. It's ludicrous. So when someone goes on their site, they see I'm not only the author of an off-beat book like The Lyons' Den but also what many people think is gay porn, so even gay readers might pass it up thinking it's going to have tons of porno-sex in it when it doesn't.
But...my feeling is that if I do use a pen-name, it's like I'm ashamed of my work. And I'm not. Sure, I've had people say my books should be banned...and Amazon and Kobo have done it based solely on the titles...but I've gotten praise, too. And I'll put passages of HTRASG and RIHC6 up against any other author's, that's how proud I am of them. Granted, I'm no Tolstoy or Hemingway, but I'm not Dr. Seuss, either.
At the same time, the reality is...a lot of people will not read my books based on the subject matter and titles, and that will bleed into my other work. My books don't sell all that well, but they are high-profile enough to have been referenced on Queerty (positively) and Fox News (disparagingly), and have invited not only good comments but vicious attacks (which probably means I'm doing it right).
I dunno...I can't figure out which way is the best to go. Maybe I should try publishing Bugzters under the Michel Grasley name and see what happens. I'd like it to be read...and that would give it a chance to work on its own instead of being weighted down with my past books.
Or is that giving in to fear?
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