The prejudice runs both ways, but given that most men prefer not to write women's fiction, you don't hear much about it in the other direction. Yes, women are still asked, on a regular basis, to use initials or take on a male name for works like mystery, thriller, etc. because the presumption is that men do not prefer to buy a book written by a woman and therefore less men will pick it up. I don't think publishers dreamed this up. I think they have the numbers to support it. They have every reason to want a woman's book to be successful, so I don't think they'd make the recommendation unless they thought it would equate to higher sales.
Also, for those of us that write women's fiction, that's the preferred title. Chick lit has been completely and utterly dead for years and in fact, if you use that description in a query, you're not likely to even get a read.
I write ST mystery/romances and I also write for Harlequin Intrigue. One of the fairly well-known Intrigue authors is a man, but readers do not know that and likely never will. But that's ONE case I know of in all of women's fiction. Not saying there aren't others, but I think the case of men asked to take women's names is much, much less.
But in the end, none of us can do anything about it but write a great book and wish people weren't so narrow minded.
Also, for those of us that write women's fiction, that's the preferred title. Chick lit has been completely and utterly dead for years and in fact, if you use that description in a query, you're not likely to even get a read.
I write ST mystery/romances and I also write for Harlequin Intrigue. One of the fairly well-known Intrigue authors is a man, but readers do not know that and likely never will. But that's ONE case I know of in all of women's fiction. Not saying there aren't others, but I think the case of men asked to take women's names is much, much less.
But in the end, none of us can do anything about it but write a great book and wish people weren't so narrow minded.
