Books With a Dead Name
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Reclaim the Archive: A Fundraising Workshop for Cody’s Books
on Sunday November 9 Dear Reader,
Today in Behind the Scenes of Business I come to you with a request for advice that is sensitive. I feel stumped, and so do many of my peers. So I thought I would bring you into the fold. I have so few examples of trans authors who have changed their name after a book has already been in print, I am coming up short for for resources.
My request pertains to How to Not Always Be Working and Getting to Center which both currently are in bookstores worldwide with my deadname on them. It bums me out, hurts my heart, and as a small business owner reads to me as bad and confusing for sales. Combined — these books have sold over 50k copies, been translated into multiple other languages, and are very special to me.
If you want to read more about my name change read along here :
My former publisher has been difficult to work with on changing my name in print and I have been presented with a big decision to make. I’ll tell you the story and lay out the details as best I can, and in the comments you are welcome to share your thoughts. We’ll talk exact numbers, pricing, and transparency as always.
My next book The Practice of Attention : Cultivating Presence in a Distracted World comes out with Sounds True on March 17, 2026.
In a world where things are in alignment - leading up to the sale of this book and DURING the launch of this book, all of my former books would clearly say Cody Cook-Parrott on them, as this is my chosen, legal, and business name for almost two years.
My old publisher has worked with me to get everything ready for a reprint that clearly says Cody Cook-Parrott on the covers, spine, and back as well as change my name and pronouns in the text itself. For this I am grateful.
However, with the remaining books in the warehouse - 214 copies of Getting to Center and 776 copies of How to Not Always Be Working - they will not budge to work with me on putting stickers on these covers or triggering an earlier reprint for the book and their estimate is they won’t sell before The Practice of Attention comes out.
After months of asking, today I was given the total amount it would cost to buy the books back myself and trigger a reprint, which is $8820 with my author price of $9 a copy. This is more money per copy than How to Not Always Be Working is currently listed at on Amazon.
In no particular order here are some facts and considerations :→ In no way do I have an extra $8820 laying around, saved, or in a bank account for me to do this today.
→ If I were to save up and buy back this many copies of my books, what would I do with them?
→ Would I make name plate stickers myself and have a big sticker placing party somewhere and have a blowout sale and sign copies of them and sell them for super sale on my website?
→ Does this then compete with selling the new reprint copies? Or does that not matter?
→ My old publisher is suggesting “I simply wait for the reprint” - am I overreacting in how upsetting it is to see my deadname everywhere?
→ If I don’t do this, what do I do instead?
→ Is it appropriate to fundraise for the $8820 - or do a sort of presale for these copies? I am sensitive to the many needs in the world right now (always)
→ I can’t use Kickstarter because it isn’t a new project and with GoFund Me I couldn’t give the book as a reward for contributing
→ Is there another site or way to do a fundraiser/pre order of sorts with a GOAL to reach and rewards to be given that IS NOT my own website?
→ My understanding is I would have them on a Net30 contract, meaning once they are in my hands I would have thirty days to come up with the money to pay for them
This is where I run out of ideas. Having 980 books on hand feels ultimately overwhelming, but also a bit exciting to think about all the things I could do with them. If I did buy them all back it feels clear I’d need to also order stickers for the covers.
I wish so badly my old publisher would just let me pay for stickers for them to place on the books - but they have said no multiple times. I offered to pay for them, fly to NYC, and put them on myself. They still said no.
When I did my residency at Atland in August I brought my books to put on the merch table and it wasn’t until I got there that I realized how painful it was to see my deadname on the covers. I cut up post it notes to write Cody on and stuck them on the books. My students insisted I push to have a reprint done earlier or stickers made. I am so grateful to be surrounded by advocates and allies in this way.
It was then that I really started to realize how important this was to me. How disorienting and dysphoric it feels to have M@rlee Gr@ce written all over these books when I feel so far from that name.
I also am noticing that some bookstores are confused when I email them, not linking that I am the same person (even though I am clear about it in my email).
One of the reasons I didn’t change my name for so long was the fears that are now coming true. That having my deadname on so many books in the world and in the warehouse would confuse the buyer, the reader, and be painful. These fears have all come true.
I am so glad I changed my name and didn’t wait for the fear to go away. Not only has it persisted, it was real all along. Sometimes we have to do things for ourselves at the detriment of our careers, our bank accounts, and our comfort.
This brings me to you dear readers.
For my trans and non binary readers, have you been through something like this, and how did you handle it?
For my cis readers, how would you advocate for a trans person going through this?
And for all of you - what would you do?To keep it easy, here is a poll. But I’d love for you to elaborate in the comments.
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→ Are.na
→ info@codycookparrott.com
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