Stephen King cheers J.K. Rowling's try for 'anonymity'

Bob Minzesheimer | USA TODAY

Early in his career, Stephen King wrote several novels under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

When J.K. Rowling tried it, publishing The Cuckoo's Calling as Robert Galbraith, she didn't ask King's advice, but if she had, King says, "I would have told her it's an impossible secret to keep for long."

In an e-mail to USA TODAY, he notes he "got outed as Bachman by someone who recognized my style, and in these days of the Internet, that becomes more and more likely."

But, he adds, "Jo is right about one big thing — what a pleasure, what a blessed relief, to write in anonymity, just for the joy of it. Now that I know, I can't wait to read the book."

King also recalls a story about Paul McCartney suggesting to the other Beatles that "they try playing as Randy and the Raiders — or some such — and come onstage dressed in capes and masks. (John) Lennon laughed at him and said, 'They'd know who it was as soon as we opened our mouths.' "