J. K. Rowling explains pseudonym: As a child, she had a personality Ella Galbraith. Rowling’s male personality has same surname. But what is their relationship?

At her Robert Galbraith website, J. K. Rowling explains: “…I rather enjoy having another persona…my inner bloke!…[His surname] Galbraith came about for a slightly odd reason. When I was a child, I really wanted to be called ‘Ella Galbraith’, and I’ve no idea why. I don’t even know how I knew that the surname existed, because I can’t remember ever meeting anyone with it.”

Judging by what Rowling says, she does not know what the relationship is between Ella and Robert, or anything else about her Ella personality. Indeed, does Rowling, herself, actually remember wanting to be called “Ella Galbraith”? Or does she have amnesia for Ella, and knows about her only as a family story that she has been told?

In any case, Rowling’s explanation is consistent with my theory: Most novelists have a normal version of multiple personality, and their pseudonyms are often the names of alternate personalities who want to publish.