The Harry Potter author was exposed as the writer of ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ at the weekend, having published the book as debut writer Robert Galbraith.
being Robert Galbraith is such a liberating experience
The discovery was made when a UK newspaper looked into how a first-time novelist could have produced such a critically acclaimed book.
The crime novel went to the top of the sales charts when it’s true author was revealed – going from 1,500 copies to 5,000 within hours.
Rowling – who is world-renowned for her best-selling Harry Potter series – described ‘being Robert Galbraith’ as ‘such a liberating experience.’
It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation
‘It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name,’ she said in a statement.
Although Rowling said she had ‘hoped to keep this secret a little longer,’ she managed to fool early reader’s of the novel – one reviewer had praised the male author's ability to describe women's clothes.
High Street booksellers have also been stumped by the announcement and are unable to match demand for the book now the true identity of it’s author has been revealed.
In an its Oxford Street bookseller joked: ‘SPECIAL OFFER: For today only, ALL of our books were written by JK Rowling!’
JK Rowling had previously hinted that she might consider writing under a pseudonym in 2001, when she said that the idea was ‘appealing.’
A follow-up to the novel by Robert Galbraith is due to be published next year.