Just how important is a name

by Adrian Spalding
22nd August 2016

I am not sure there will be a right or a wrong answer to my question, so your opinions and guidance is what I am really seeking. My book is ready, so I am in the process of looking for an literary agent to represent me. The question is, should I use my real name or a pen name? The reason I am asking this question is, there is already an Adrian Spalding out there writing books. Admittedly, they are about butterflies and insects, whereas my genre is thrillers. So unless I am going to write a book about killer butterflies ( there's a thought, make a quick note of that one), there should not be too much confusion. Yet a change might still be called for. Plus is the name Adrian Spalding, with all those syllables not racy enough for the cover of a thriller? Would a tighter name, hook an agent, or is it solely those first three chapters? As I said, I doubt there is a right or a wrong answer, but I would be very interested to hear your opinion.

Thanking you in advance

Adrian Spalding or maybe Tom Butler.

Replies

If you're willing to risk a suit for copyright infringement, you could go for

Major Major Major Major.

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Emilie
van Damm
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Emilie van Damm
24/08/2016

More serendipity!

Have you considered calling yourself Amis Martin?

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Emilie
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Emilie van Damm
24/08/2016

A lordship for just one book???

Delusions of grandeur, my boy!

Andrew Lord Webber, MBE... PERHAPS

F*** ME! And I thought he was only a knight. But I typed in "Andrew Lord Webber" on wikipedia's search function, was told that the page did not exist (but that I could create it, so there you go!) and was offered the following alternatives (top 2 of a longer list, including bro. Julian, various Webbers and - I kid you not! - Lord of the Rings! [habitués of this web-site will hear my teeth gnashing]):

List of people educated at Westminster School

Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury (born 1948) Master of the Rolls Andrew, Lord Lloyd-Webber (born 1948), musician and producer Martin Amis (born 1949), novelist20 KB (2,281 words) - 17:24, 14 August 2016

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run58 KB (6,213 words) - 15:26, 19 August 2016

So... click on the 2nd and you get a photo of:

"The Right Honourable

The Lord Lloyd-Webber"

How does the man SLEEP at night???

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Emilie
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330 points
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Emilie van Damm
24/08/2016