Readers who were excited to see a new author on the scene may be mildly disappointed now.  The critically acclaimed novel “The Cuckoo’s Calling” was released this past spring under the name Robert Galbraith, but it turns out that Galbraith doesn’t exist, except for in “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling’s mind.

No one is sure who let the cat out of the bag, but it was revealed over the weekend that Rowling wrote “The Cuckoo’s Calling” under a pseudonym.  Despite receiving rave reviews, the sales for Rowling’s crime novel were lackluster, something her publishing company expects to change now that everyone knows who wrote the novel.  While an almost guaranteed increase in sales–and royalties for the author–should be exciting, Rowling is disappointed that everyone is in on the secret.

“I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer, because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience. It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name,” Rowling said.  Since it can be difficult for authors to get different genres of work taking seriously, especially those who are famous for a particular series, it’s understandable why she wanted anonymity with the new novel.

“The Cuckoo’s Calling” takes place is London and is centered on a private investigator named Cormoran Strike,  a veteran who lost his leg in Afghanistan.  Strike and office temp Robin Ellacott are hired to look into the supposed suicide of a famous model.  According to Rowling, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” is the first in a series of private eye novels based around the Strike character.  “Robert fully intends to keep writing the series, although he will probably continue to turn down personal appearances,” Rowling stated.

This marks the second adult novel Rowling has published since wrapping up the Harry Potter series.  Rowling’s first adult novel, “The Casual Vacancy,” was released in 2012. Even though Rowling is writing for more mature audiences now, she still has plans to write for kids.  Near the end of 2012 Rowling confirmed rumors that she is working on some children’s books, which she says are geared for audiences younger than the average Harry Potter reader.

Rowling isn’t the first major author to publish a book under a pen name, and she probably won’t be the last.  Stephen King had nearly a decade long run of publishing under the name Richard Bachman, which ended in 1985 after he was found out.