J.K. Rowling used the surname Galbraith for her crime novels featuring Cormoran Strike. The books were initially published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, beginning with The Cuckoo’s Calling in 2013.
Cormoran Strike is a private investigator, and the series is written in a markedly different genre from the Harry Potter novels. Robin Ellacott, Strike’s secretary and later investigative partner, is another major continuing character. The pseudonym allowed Rowling to publish without the immediate expectations attached to her established name.
The identity of Robert Galbraith was publicly revealed in 2013 after an investigation by The Sunday Times. Rowling subsequently acknowledged that she was the author. “Robert” was reportedly chosen in honor of Robert F. Kennedy, while “Galbraith” was associated with a family connection.