Dirty Dealing?

Uh-oh. It seems that writing erotic fiction can be a big moneymaker. The thing is, though, you have to pay your taxes on all that income. And allegations are that the pseudonymous Zane has not been doing so. The Los Angeles Times’ Carolyn Kellogg reports today:

Bestselling erotica author Zane has been declared the biggest individual tax scofflaw in Maryland by the state's comptroller. The writer reportedly owes more than $340,000 to Maryland in back taxes.

That’s not all: She apparently owes the IRS about $540,000, the Washington Post reports.

Zane was publishing bestselling steamy erotica for years before “Fifty Shades of Grey” was even a glimmer in E.L. James’ eye. Her first work of short fiction hit the Web in 1997; she self-published three books before landing a deal with Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Zane is the pen name of Kristina Laferne Roberts. Although her name has been public for some time, for many years she tried to remain unknown behind her pseudonym. “Publishing her name on the Web is one of the last steps we take in a very long process,” a spokeswoman for the state comptroller’s office, told the Washington Post.

You can read Kellogg’s full piece here.