Merge?

[Rafael]

The author Joseph D. Pistone (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...) writes with a shorter name, Joe Pistone (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...). I'm not sure if I must merge the two profiles. In some covers there's "Joseph" in others "Joe".

As Joseph is a "complete form" of his name I guess that Joe must be into Joseph. I'm wrong?

I mean, "merge" because one book in his profile seems be written by another Joe Pistone. It's a religious book.

[lethe]

People looking for Joe Pistone won't find Joseph Pistone. The complete form only works if it includes the shorter name.

F.e., people looking for Joseph Pistone would find Joseph D. Pistone, but Joe and Joseph won't work.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Right. Ditto Rick for Richard and other shortenings which change the spelling.

[Rafael]

Some books have Donnie Brasco as the author (in the cover, his fake name for the mob), so This name must be replaced as the primary author? Keep in mind that it's not a pen name as a fake name for publish books with another name.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

That still sounds like a pen name to me.