Anonymous publishing?

Question

What is the best way for any writer to publish anonymously, and how absolutely secure can any writer be, or how exclusively responsible is any publisher ready to be for any given work presented under a pseudonym or penname?
Bottom line, is there a way that any writer can put a work forth for publishing without risking ever being known? I seriously doubt it.

Answer 1

It depends on where you live, I suppose, and what kind of publishing you're interested in.

Vanity press, for example, is not likely to care who the heck you are as long as all your checks clear.

Other publishers, however, are taking a risk on you and have more of an interest in knowing who you are. Yet, having said that, I'd be surprised if all publishers could pick their authors out of a crowd. After all, the person who writes the book is usually not even in the same state as the person who prints it. Contracts are mailed or faxed back and forth, and as long as they are legally valid I don't think most publishers are going to worry too much.

In America you are legally entitled to use any name you like, as long as you are not trying to evade debt or commit crimes and the like. So you could establish a 'pen name' and use it to sign your contracts. I would set up an account with the bank in that name FIRST, though, to make sure you can cash your checks!

So all in all I'd say that it's not too farfetched an idea that even your agent and publisher don't know exactly who you are. That doesn't mean your identity is impossible to find out, of course - enough determination and the right tools can find out just about anything. But you would probably be mostly safe.

Answer 2

I imagine the trouble with total secrecy is that it's something of a challenge to others; if the media put their mind to it, you can be sure they'll trace you. However, if your work isn't much of a success, then it's unlikely anyone will be that bothered. My advice would be to use a pseudonym that doesn't sound like a pseudonym and be willing to take your agent and editor into your circle of trust ... otherwise, you might have a problem earning anything ... after all, who would your agent/publisher make your royalty cheque out to?