
Pen Name Conundrum
Just choosing a pen name may be easy but this situation is a little different so I come to my #1 source asking for input.
Considerations in the decision to have a pen name or not and how to go about it:
1. I've sold a few of these products as test/beta things with my real name on them. Few = less than 100.
2. Many friends and all my family and some previous customers know who wrote this stuff or that I've been working on it.
3. On the main focus piece that is being launched now, an extremely close relative with the same last name is my coauthor.
She has various degrees and professional licenses that may be important to the credibility of the thing in the minds of some people.
An example would be I'm a diet (not our market) "expert" who has lost 100 pounds and written a book but she is a practicing physician with 40 years experience, thousands of clients, commas behind her name, etc.
To compound the problem, two other close family members with the same last name - one the same as her with the commas - are closely related and will be known to the public as associated with the project.
4. Part of the first wave of massive marketing will include us (mostly me) doing in-person marketing presentations, seminars, etc. I'm afraid I'd forget to use my pen name or I'd see an old girlfriend or old friend from church or whatever! Then what??
So, there are 4 people that may or may not need a pen name that all have the same real last name and two of them have licenses that may require them to use their real name.
The main reason to even consider this at this point is to eliminate the family ties as a possible negative. Or do you think it's not a big deal?
Imagine your mom, dad, and brother used your how to make $500 a week program and they really made the money and have done so consistently for 2 years. List them as testimonials and there isn't a soul that would believe them. This is the kind of thing I want to avoid.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Mark
Sid Hale
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