Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*.

Last year, I wrote this post about not really giving a toss as to whether an author used a pen name or not.


I did, however, make the point in both the post and the comments that the exception to this was when an author appeared to misrepresent themselves.


A number of people agreed on the issue of misrepresentation and several went on to describe the example in m/m romance and erotica of when an author has created a profile of someone with the opposite gender.


The issue of an author’s gender was a topic that Wave took up in late 2010.  She asked if this was actually something which really mattered to readers and the post generated some interesting discussion.


Since then, I have found out a couple of extremely popular m/m romance and erotica authors writing as gay men are actually women.


As I said in my original post, I couldn’t give a flying fuck if the books I like are written by gay or straight, boys or girls, etc because, for me, the question of the authenticity and legitimacy of the work of one author over the other doesn’t come into it.  Quality is all that matters.


Ordinarily, that is.   Remember that proviso I made?


Yeah.


In these particular cases, what really, REALLY bothers me is that these authors have been deliberately misleading, if not down right dishonest, about their gender and sexuality.


Such is the extent of the complex web these authors have weaved that they have created elaborate bios and lives around this persona.  Even going to the length of sharing photographs as well as establishing connections with the broader GLBTQ community to, it has to be assumed, ‘prove’ they are who they say they are.


Flabbergasting.  Appalling.  Bullshit.


I call complete and utter bullshit.


I hope to the Book Goddesses no one gets hurt by this when the shit hits the fan – as it inevitably will with the m/m community being so small.  I can’t help but feel, though, there will be a lot of feelings of betrayal given the popularity of these authors.


I also wonder if it will be really worth it when it’s all said and done?  Who knows.


So, what do you think?  Is this type of misrepresentation a step too far for you?  I mean, seriously. What you would really do if you found out your fave gay author of m/m romance was actually a chick?  Can you honestly say this wouldn’t effect how you feel about them or influence your buying habits?