A pseudonym, also known as a pen name or a nom de plume, is a different name that an author chooses to use as the name under which his or her writing is published.
There are multiple reasons for the use of a pseudonym. In some cases, the writer could get into social or political trouble because of the content of his or her works. A writer who is well known for one type of writing may wish to launch into a different genre without carrying the baggage of expectations people have based on the authors previous works.
Another reason why authors have used psuedonyms concerns female writers who have used a male name in order to get their work out without prejudice from a male-dominated world. Authors such as James Tiptree, Jr., J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith and George Sand are examples of female authors using such pen names.
To see some of the articles about authors with pseudonyms, go to the Category:Pseudonyms.