Should You Use Your Middle Initial On Your Book's Cover?

Should you use your middle initial on your book's cover?

Don't! Unless ... well, read on:

Let's say your name is Francine Lambert (I just made this up.) All your friends, relatives, and people you come in contact with know you as Francine Lambert. You introduce yourself at events as Francine Lambert. Basically, you are ... Francine Lambert.

You write a self-help book on how to save money in a tough economy and it's time for your publisher to put your name on the cover and into the necessary bibliographic databases. "How would you like your name appear on your book's cover?" the publisher asks.

You've decided you will not use a pen name or pseudonym, which is wise in your case. However, after you blurt out "Francine Lambert" you pause and say, "Actually, make that Francine J. Lambert." You believe your name with a middle initial looks and sounds more authoritative on your book cover. And you're right ... but you're making a big mistake!

As we've seen, people know you as Francine Lambert, not as Francine J. Lambert. When you've pitched your book to an audience or even just to friends, they will go online to look for your book. Instead of looking for the title of your book (which they may have forgotten), they will search on your name. They will search on the name they know and remember, which is Francine Lambert, but all online databases associate your book with the name Francine J. Lambert. Will your book show up on these searches? Yes, but it will not score nearly as well in generic Google search results as it should!

Therefore, don't use your middle initial on your book cover unless you have to.

When should you use your middle initial? I recommend it in two cases:

1. You share a name with another author or famous person. Your middle initial will distinguish you and your book from the other author's books. Online bookstore databases sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between two authors by the exact same name. One of our authors, John Lock, actually goes by J. D. Lock.
   
2. You have a very common (i.e., popular) name, like Mary Smith or Paul Brown. I suppose for this reason Michael W. Smith doesn't perform under the name Mike Smith. And that is the reason why someone known to all his friends as David Scott publishes under his full name, David Meerman Scott. You can get away with it, mind you, just ask Will Smith!
   

One last thing: If you actually go by the nickname Fran but you decide to put your full name, Francine, on your book cover, you should start introducing yourself to new friends and audiences as Francine (what's on your book), and not as Fran. Why? So people who know you could find your book more easily. I have seen one of our authors interviewed on prime-time network TV. The celebrity interviewer identified him by his nickname, and so did the caption on the screen (let's say the name was "Jack Jones"). However, his book cover, Amazon, and every single online database identifies him under his full name, including his middle initial (let's say the name on his book is "John Q. Jones").

Nobody who saw the interview will know that the author of the book by "Jack Jones" is actually "John Q. Jones". Fortunately, the book has a very unique and memorable title.

For book marketing purposes, you shouldn't use your middle initial or full legal name on your book's cover. If you do, then it's best for your book if you start calling yourself that way!

Sew, Do You Nim? Using Pen Names for Your Books

We are asked frequently about using pseudonyms by authors--should they use them, what are their options, etc.

I've compiled a list of the top reasons authors choose pen names and the pros and cons of each so you can decide whether you want to start flipping through baby name books.

Content will upset family and friends due to honesty, sexuality, or language
Frankly, this is the reason many of our authors consider pen names and for many of them, this was the correct choice.

Pros: If your family is wound a little tight and would disapprove of your thinly veiled character portrayals of them, or your church friends just wouldn't understand your desire to write sexy novels, or your language isn't suitable for your coworkers you may want to consider a pen name.

Cons: If you are writing a memoir, but don't want to let your family know, you are lying to your readers. Readers really don't like the veil of mystery when reading autobiographies. Those disapproving friends, family, and coworkers are the beginnings of your author platform, by alienating/not trusting them, you may be missing out on your most valuable reviewers.

Writing for different companies
Many musicians do this if they want to work off their contracted label. Authors may do this as well. By creating a new name, you can often shop your books to different houses without them knowing.

Pros: For traditionally published authors, this isn't always a bad idea, particularly if you want to write in different genres. However, it isn't always needed. Ricky Gervais, an often foul-mouthed comedian, writes very successful children's books.

Cons: This is a sneaky thing to do and if it comes to light (it usually does), you may find yourself having to answer for your behavior. Also, you limit the ability of your books to help market each other. Sites like Amazon.com automatically group books by the same author together, thus improving their chances of selling together. Multiple names won't create that valuable link.

Want a pen name that suits their genre
Many authors are concerned that their past success in one genre will damage their success in another. Stephen King did this. Concerned that his already burgeoning horror writing fame would prevent his ability to write non-horror books, he created the pen name Richard Bachman. He was found out and King eventually "killed" Bachman off.

A common form of this is male writers who work in romance. Some men feel that, because women are the majority market and majority writers, romance fans may balk at a hot little number of a book written by Lester Neebs.

Pros: You can create a dramatic name that suits your genre nicely. Pixie Sugardust is a terrible name for a legal historian, well actually, it's a bad name all around. Apologies to those named that.

Cons: Much like King was found out, it is possible you will eventually be brought to light and have to come clean.

Too common, too difficult or unsavory name
Pro: You say your name is John Doe? For an author trying to make a name for themselves, that's a bit to overcome. It already sounds like a poorly contrived pen name. Or maybe your name is impossible to say or type. That will also make it difficult for readers to order your book. Also, if your last name is really long, you may want to consider truncating it to make it easier to fit on a business card. And finally, if your parents named you something that you're almost embarrassed to admit (some playground tales of ignorant folks naming their girls after some nasty diseases because they sounded pretty do come to mind), you'll want to choose a pen name. Actually, if that is the case, you may want to look into legally changing it!

Con: Your mom might be mad at you for turning your back on the family name.

Better positioning with publishers
It isn't fair. But some authors have found that changing their name to a man's name or woman's name, depending on the circumstance, has actually made a difference in their acceptance to the (traditionally) published realm. In fact, many female authors have had better success when renamed more male-oriented names (cough cough Bronte sisters).

Pro: Your genre may be a bit tetchy about your gender. Like I've already mentioned, some people feel that romance novels are a sexist group. Another scenario would be, say, a book titled, The Women's Career Guide to Working with Other Women. I don't care if you are an expert on the modern psychology and sociology of women in the workplace. If you're a man, you are treading in choppy waters there. Gender studies that deal with gender-to-gender advice, generally should come from someone of that gender.

Con: I said it wasn't fair. And it isn't.

MOST IMPORTANT
If you are going to use a pen name and plan to send out marketing materials to all of your friends: Make sure they know it is you. We've historically had authors do this, but neglect to tell their friends, only to be confused when their loyal friends didn't buy the book.

The first surge of sales most independent authors experience are to their friends, acquaintances, and family. If they don't know who you are, you won't make the sale.

That may be the most important factor in deciding to use a pen name. How much is name recognition going to effect your entry sales and fledgling author platform?

In the end, it's up to you the author to decide!

Interested in some famous author pseudonyms? Check out this site here for a few you may not have known!