Name Changer

Okay - I saw this article today over on Smart Bitches Trashy Books and honestly I don't even know what to say. In a nut shell, there are some self-pubbed and indie authors using the names of very successful authors (plus one initial) as their pen name in order to up their sales. In this instance, Nora A. Roberts and James A. Patterson.

I just don't get this. I mean I get why they are doing it. But...I dunno.

When I was considering using a pen name, the very first thing I did was start googling. I wanted to use my maiden name, Michelle Marquis. But that name was already being used by another author as her pen name. So I kept looking even though I probably would have been totally justified in using that name as it is actually MY name.

I tried Michelle Morrell (my first and middle names). There is an artist by that name who has a website that pops up. Not an author so it probably would have been fine. However, I wanted a name that I could purchase the domain for and that one was taken.

I kept going with possibilities until I found one that worked. And then I decided to stick with my own name anyway  :D

The real Nora Roberts is understandably peeved. Yet the people behind this strategy don't think there is anything wrong with doing what they are doing.

Thoughts?