I have seen this issue skirted around several times. I love how you tacked it full on.

I don't know why someone would portray being someone they are not. I hope the true character of such posers would be reviled…they would have many unhappy readers to explain to …….

My life is pretty dull.

I do agree about the privacy issue and I respect anyone's right to privacy.

Now, to lighten the moment.

For the longest time I was sure one of my fellow authors at Loose Id was a guy because of the first name. I know Jules doesn't have a problem with me sharing that until we interacted online I thought sure Jules Jones was a guy! ;~D

She never said one way or another until one day during a chat.

Color me beet red.
.-= Jeanne Barrack´s last blog ..Guest Blogger – Neil Plakcy =-.

Serena – Thanks for the validation! *wink*

Mary – Deluded is a perfect word for what those people who lie are.

Dianna – I feel the same when I put on my reader hat. I've gotten really tight about who I spend my money on in this industry.

Lisa – I don't think anyone would ever think you're not telling the truth. Honesty shines from you!

Josh – I agree with you. Although, I have to admit that I wouldn't exactly put gossiping on the same level as backstabbing. I've gossiped (as in Did you hear blah blah? Yeah, I heard that too) and it's fairly innocent as in no one had any malicious intent. I've also been backstabbed by people in this industry who have lied about who they are. I've had people tell out and out lies about me. I've had people rip me off. These individuals are all sweet faced to the public and other authors too. I believe that the line to draw in the sand is whether someone's actions and speech about another was done or said with malicious intent.

Rick – Thank you! I think the best writers out there are pretty much putting all their creativity into their work rather than their "face."

Lisa – I am so with you on that. Not the pen name part but the rapport. *wink*

Three points:

1 – An author owes his reading public absolutely nothing more than the best work he can turn out. Period. That's the extent of the author/reader contract.

2 – A publisher or fellow author who gossips and backstabs about an author will gossip and backstab YOU in a minute. Believe it.

3 – Judge not lest ye be judged. If you don't have all the facts — and no one has all the facts about anyone else's life — then you're in no position to speak out about how someone should conduct themselves.

If someone has always treated me kindly and courteously, treated their fans kindly and courteously, been generous with their time, helped other authors when they asked for it, then that's what I go by. Because that's all I know for sure — all any of us can know for sure — and anything else is simply not my business.