Writers and Publishers Network

by Ellen Byron and Maria DiRico
In the process of writing two mystery series under two different author names, I’ve learned something important about myself: I would make a terrible spy.
If you’re wondering why I’m writing my second series, The Catering Hall Mysteries, under a pen name, there’s a simple explanation: the publisher requested it. Why a publisher might request this has to do with the vagaries of publishing. It can be a question of an author’s previous sales or the publishing theory that it’s easier to promote a “new” author. Sometimes it’s a way of separating an author from other genres they write. If Mary Smith penned both an erotica and cozy series, that could make for some jaw-dropping Google searches. In my case, “Maria DiRico” seemed like a great pen name for a series set in Queens that revolves around an Italian family. It happens to be my Nonna’s maiden name. My mother was born in Italy; I’m first-gen on her side.
So, now I have two Facebook Author pages. Two Goodreads and BookBub identities. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive it from both Ellen Byron and Maria DiRico. I haven’t added a second account to Instagram yet, but eventually Maria DiRico share some posts on that platform as well. My other series, the Cajun Country Mysteries, revolves around a Louisiana plantation-turned-B&B. It’s a bit of a 180 to go from that languid setting to the hustle and bustle of Noo Yawk, but I hope fans of my first series will make the journey.
Keeping the two identities separate yet equal is a challenge. Luckily, there was a five-month break between the launch of my fifth Cajun Country and my first Catering Hall mystery. I spent two months promoting Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron, then dove into greasing the wheels for “Maria’s” debut, Here Comes the Body. The trickiest part has been making sure my newsletter heralds both “authors.” When Maria has a launch, she takes precedence, but the newsletter is built on signups from readers who follow the Cajun Country Mysteries, so Ellen can’t disappear completely from an issue.

Back to why I’d make a terrible spy.

Granted, my insight into spies is solely based on books, movies, and TV shows. I’ve never met a real one. But a major job requirement seems to be the ability to keep all the facts about your false identity straight. I can tell you now from personal experience, remembering whether I’m Ellen Byron or Maria DiRico is hard. Someone calling out to Maria could go hoarse trying to get my attention because I forget that’s me. I needed to double-sign a book on multiple occasions because I signed as one author when I was supposed to sign as the other, which is why several readers have ended up with an inscription that reads, “From Ellen Byron and Maria DiRico!” or vice versa. I guess the advantage spies have is they get to live in one identity at a time.
Remember that legendary scene in Chinatown where Faye Dunaway keeps saying, “She’s my daughter, my sister, my daughter, my sister?” At a mystery convention, I can be Ellen one minute, Maria the next, then back to Ellen – and occasionally both at the same time.

But these are definitely high-class problems.

I get to write two very different mystery series I absolutely love, each inspired by people and locations that helped form me and shape my world. Ellen and Maria both count their blessings that they’ve been given such a wonderful opportunity. But don’t send either of them out on a spy mission. I can guarantee you they’d forget whose name was on the fake passport.

Ellen Byron writes the Cajun Country Mysteries. Mardi Gras Murder won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. The series has also won multiple Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards from Left Coast Crime. Fatal Cajun Festival is the latest addition to the series. The Catering Hall Mysteries, written as Maria DiRico, debuted with Here Comes the Body. TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. Fun fact: she worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.