I have two different legal names (it's a weird consequence of dual citizenship). When I'm in Taiwan, I use my Chinese name on official business. When I visit America, I use my American name.

I'm wrapping up a historical fiction novel set in ancient China (the book is in English). It would make sense to use my Chinese name. The US copyright office would probably consider it to be a pseudonym, but I don't mind that. If I did write future books, I would only ever have them set them set in China.

But here's the problem. I don't look Chinese. I'm bi-racial. When it comes to the author photo, I'm afraid of people thinking I'm an imposter who stupidly made up a Chinese pseudonym without realizing that I have an American face.

My two options are to defend myself in my author bio (which would be weird), or foregoing the author photo entirely.

Are there any disadvantages of writing a book with no author photo? Would many readers notice the omission? If they did, would they care?

I have two different legal names (it's a weird consequence of dual citizenship). When I'm in Taiwan, I use my Chinese name on official business. When I visit America, I use my American name.

I'm wrapping up a historical fiction novel set in ancient China (the book is in English). It would make sense to use my Chinese name. The US copyright office would probably consider it to be a pseudonym, but I don't mind that. If I did write future books, I would only ever have them set in China.

But here's the problem. I don't look Chinese. I'm bi-racial. When it comes to the author's photo, I'm afraid of people thinking I'm an imposter who stupidly made up a Chinese pseudonym without realizing that I have an American face.

My two options are to defend myself in my author's bio (which would be weird) or foregoing the author's photo entirely.

Are there any disadvantages of writing a book with no author photo? Would many readers notice the omission? If they did, would they care?

I have two different legal names (it's a weird consequence of dual citizenship). When I'm in Taiwan, I use my Chinese name on official business. When I'm in America, I use my American name.

I'm wrapping up a historical fiction novel set in ancient China (the book is in English). It would make sense to use my Chinese name. The US copyright office would probably consider it to be a pseudonym, but I don't mind that. If I did write future books, I would only ever have them set them set in China.

But here's the problem. I don't look Chinese. I'm bi-racial. When it comes to the author photo, I'm afraid of people thinking I'm an imposter who stupidly made up a Chinese pseudonym without realizing that I have an American face.

My two options are to defend myself in my author bio (which would be weird), or foregoing the author photo entirely.

Are there any disadvantages of writing a book with no author photo? Would many readers notice the omission? If they did, would they care?

I have two different legal names (it's a weird consequence of dual citizenship). When I'm in Taiwan, I use my Chinese name on official business. When I visit America, I use my American name.

I'm wrapping up a historical fiction novel set in ancient China (the book is in English). It would make sense to use my Chinese name. The US copyright office would probably consider it to be a pseudonym, but I don't mind that. If I did write future books, I would only ever have them set them set in China.

But here's the problem. I don't look Chinese. I'm bi-racial. When it comes to the author photo, I'm afraid of people thinking I'm an imposter who stupidly made up a Chinese pseudonym without realizing that I have an American face.

My two options are to defend myself in my author bio (which would be weird), or foregoing the author photo entirely.

Are there any disadvantages of writing a book with no author photo? Would many readers notice the omission? If they did, would they care?