Let's E-Publish a Book

Step Two: My New Name

By Charles Atkins

Okay, I've decided to E-Publish my novel GO TO HELL, a just-written urban fantasy.  My next thought is to do this under a pen name.  Why?  Here goes, first this book is a new genre for me--urban fantasy.  GO TO HELL is a Faustian tale with a variety of supernatural beings, including Lucifer and a sexy pair of succubae.  It's quite a departure from my previous real-world mysteries and thrillers.  

I've also done a couple non-fiction books where I--or probably the publisher--decided to leave the MD at the end of my name.  Charles Atkins, MD made perfect sense for books on Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer's and Dementia.  And Charles Atkins was fine for mysteries and thrillers.  Also, back in the day (sometime last month) when thinking about bookstore shelving was important, having a name begin with A was good. 

But first let's be frank...or Sheila, or Harry, there are other reasons for me to pick a nom de plume.  They all apply to varying degrees.  Charles Atkins is not a bestseller.  This does matter in the world of publishing.  It's tremendously important in traditional publishing where your advance, and whether or not someone is even willing to take a risk on your next book has everything to do with your sales numbers.  So even if I weren't looking to e-publish it's not unusual for a mid-list author to pick a new name in an effort to re-start a career.  Like wiping the slate clean.  Sure, Charles Atkins isn't a best seller, but maybe Germaine Floxbottom will be.

Next, there's the matter of the content of the new book.  While primarily an entertaining read; it's also a parable and contains quite a bit of social commentary.  GO TO HELL is a fun look at the whorish nature of the relationship between physicians and the drug companies.  It's the story of a doctor selling out the human race for profit.  In his case, it's with the best of intentions, but the result is the same.  In truth, doctors are heavily influenced by the big pharmaceutical companies.  Ethical boundaries are crossed and no one seems to notice, or if they do, it's rapidly dismissed with--"it's in the patient's best interest" or "just because I go to the free dinner, sporting event, show...Caribbean cruise loosely disguised as a continuing education event, doesn't mean my medical decisions are being influenced".   Right, so what does this have to do with my name?  While a smaller point, I do think the book's content can create a distraction for my day job.  And so the nom-de-plume offers a separation between me the author and me the doctor. 

I don't see a tremendous downside to using a pen name.  I guess you don't get the same ego rush from seeing your name on the book jacket--or whatever it's now called on an e-book.  I think that's a small thing.  And yes, there is something to be said for your grandmother leaving copies of your book scattered around her apartment for all her friends to see, but I've had that experience.  It was great.  It's time to move on.

And now to pick the new name.  Some have recommended I go with an anagram of Charles Atkins.  Unfortunately Larches Skinta, Carl Shetkains, Harel Catskins etc aren't doing it for me.  So...what I've chosen is an amalgam of family names.  My Dad's in particular.  He doesn't use his first name--Jaspard.  I think it's rather groovy, and for urban fantasy it's got a slightly freakish edge.  So I'm taking Jaspard and combining it with my mother's maiden name--Marks.  There we go, I'm now a new person, or at least a new author or...whatever.  GO TO HELL by Jaspard Marks, that should work.

As a psychiatrist I don't want to over think what it means to rename yourself.  Or worse still, split myself into two people.  Maybe a better context is to think of this as starting a new business or product line.  There's Charles Atkins, Charles Atkins, MD, and now--new for 2012--Jaspard Marks.