To Pseudonym or Not to Pseudonym

. . . that is the question.

This week, I got one bizarre-o rambling three-page email with picture attachments. I got one marriage proposal from a soldier in Iraq, including his phone number.

I am grateful none of my kids has my last name.

Erica Orloff is my name. I am not listed in the phone book that way. Way back when, my first editor asked me if I was going to take a pen name. Well, I've been Erica Orloff my whole life and I just really thought my dad would dig seeing my name on a book cover. So I kept it. Over time, I took pen names for YA, and for some darker fiction. I have a different pen name for middle grade.

I have been stalked. I have had presents sent to me by one particularly ardent fan.

I have had a few people in real life admonish me for writing sex scenes and using curse words. I have been "outed" as a writer by virtue of my name and appearances at book stores or what have you. I would mostly prefer people NOT know I write.

So when all is said and done, particularly after a week like this one, had I to do it all over again, I would have had a pseudonym all the way though. I am not a household name. I am a mother of four . . . I cannot IMAGINE the kind of weird mail some people get.

Have you thought about this? Made a decision one way or the other? And why?