After more than 23 years of writing under a pseudonym, bestselling author Freida McFadden has unveiled her true identity as Sara Cohen. The revelation came during a recent interview where she expressed readiness to end the long-standing mystery surrounding her name.
Cohen, 45, shared that she grew weary of the speculation and rumors about whether she was a single individual or a collective of writers. “I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret. I’m tired of people debating if I’m a real person or if I’m three men,” she explained. “I am a real person and I have a real identity and I don’t have anything to hide.”
In addition to her literary success, Cohen has maintained a demanding career as a physician specializing in brain disorders. For years, she kept her writing and medical professions strictly separate, even going so far as to appear in public wearing a wig and glasses to conceal her identity. While the glasses were genuine, the wig was a deliberate disguise to protect her anonymity.
The choice to adopt a pen name was primarily motivated by her medical career. Cohen wanted to prevent any potential conflicts or misunderstandings at work, ensuring that her patients and colleagues continued to see her solely as a medical professional. “My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was ready to step back from my doctor job,” she noted.
In a significant development, Cohen’s disclosure marks the end of an era of secrecy, allowing her to fully embrace both facets of her career openly.
