A writer who penned semi-autobiographical books where he claimed to be a 25-year-old male prostitute and drug addict is actually a woman.

JT LeRoy gained a number of fans after writing about growing up as a child hustler who was HIV-positive. But LeRoy is really Laura Albert, a 40-year-old woman, reports Ireland On-Line.

Albert previously claimed to have rescued LeRoy from the streets. She also took credit for launching his literary career.

A lawyer for Albert's estranged partner, Geoffrey Knoop, said she actually wrote the books.

Knoop apologized for his role in the lie and said keeping the secret had become too stressful.

"He's wanted to come clean and let JT fade away," said his lawyer Eric Feig. "He wanted to take the high road."

The couple separated in December, and have one son together.

Feig said Knoop, 39, has a deal to make a film about his story.

Albert gained fans such as Winona Ryder, and Courtney Love after writing "Sarah" and "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things."

A New York magazine article in October questioned LeRoy's identity and suggested Albert was the real writer. This was followed by a New York Times Article last month which said the person who appeared as LeRoy in public was Knoop's half sister, Savannah Knoop.