Greybeard
Minstrel
Do you wonder if gender plays any role in the publishing world?
Years back I read a story about mystery author J.A. Konrath. He had initially intended to write under his full name, Joseph Konrath. But his publisher insisted that he use J.A. Konrath instead, to make his gender less obvious to prospective readers.
I also read the same story about J.K. Rowling. Her publisher demanded that she use two initials. Because Jo Rowling has no middle name, she picked K after her grandmother.
Why is this? How big of a role does gender play in publishing?
Years back I read a story about mystery author J.A. Konrath. He had initially intended to write under his full name, Joseph Konrath. But his publisher insisted that he use J.A. Konrath instead, to make his gender less obvious to prospective readers.
I also read the same story about J.K. Rowling. Her publisher demanded that she use two initials. Because Jo Rowling has no middle name, she picked K after her grandmother.
Why is this? How big of a role does gender play in publishing?