Natasha Walker has entered the Australian literary scene last year to a rousing success. Her erotica series "The Secret Life of Emma" has sold more than 50,000 copies since its debut. But just like Emma, Natasha has also been living a secret life... as a man.

Unmasked, John Purcell, a father of two, admitted that he is behind the "mummy porn" trilogy. He "invented" Natasha to be able to connect with his target readers.

"A long time ago it was women who weren't ever able to be published as writers. Now it's the other way around in the world of erotic novels," he told Sunday Mail.

"I started writing under Natasha's name because those sort of stories would only appeal to women if they knew a woman had written them. Like a secret club in a way.

Hiding behind a woman's name paid off for him. "The Secret Lives of Emma," which was first published in July 2012, reached the Top 10 in the Australian charts, making him the third highest selling debut author of the year, according to Adelaide Now.

But as rewarding as his deception had become, it had also been tiring. Aside from being an author of racy fiction, he also has to lead his real life. He is the head of marketing and chief book buyer at Booktopia, the largest online bookstore in the country.

"I was at times finding myself talking to other authors who would start bringing up Natasha's name and having to skirt around the issue. I had to run separate social media campaigns for myself and Natasha."

Although it was years ago when he wrote his stories, it was only after the success of "Fifty Shades of Grey" that he had been able to find a publisher for his work.

"All of a sudden erotica was hot property, so I have my big manuscript to my agent and the rest is history."

There's a big difference between E.L. James' Ana and his Emma, though. Unlike the innocent Ana, Emma isn't a helpless miss. Purcell said that his readers told him that they "like the idea of Emma being the one with all the power."

He still hasn't made up his mind if he will continue to write under his female pseudonym, but he said that he also wants to publish books under his own name.

"The Secret Life of Emma" is about a housewife with uninhibited sexual desires who struggles to become a good wife to her husband. But suppressing her passionate nature is harder than she thought, especially if temptation comes to her in the form of a young neighbour.