Two books, one title

[cyn2write]

I received this letter this morning:

RE: The Novel Title "Dead River"

Are you aware that the title of your new novel is the same as another novel published February 2010?
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-River-Fredric-M-Ham/dp/1450202713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345085916&sr=8-1&keywords=Dead+River

Professional courtesy would call for you to change the title

Comments

What are your thoughts about two books having the same title?

[isfdb]

We at ISFDB have to cope with them. It's not that difficult until it turns out a book is released under a pseudonym and then under the real author's name (or another pseudonym).

Re: What are your thoughts about two books having the same title?

[cyn2write]

It must be happening a lot more, though, yes? So some authors release the same book under two different names?

Re: What are your thoughts about two books having the same title?

[isfdb]

Yes, there seem to be more and more reused titles. And a lot of authors have slightly different names in different countries, or change over the years - e.g. "Robert A. Heinlein", "Brian M. Stableford" "Stephen R. Donaldson", "Dean R. Koontz" all appear sometimes without a middle initial. "Richard Bachman" was revealed as "Stephen King" and the Bachman book's were reprinted under the King name. And there's many "X writing as Y" books, and worst of all, shared house pseudonyms.

[anywherebeyond]

Most all my butt. The only time I check to see if I have an overlapping title is in Google, because I want my book to come up first in the search. Good on you for setting them straight. I don't know who comes up with all these bizarre "professional authors do x" ideas, but it's pretty clear they're not professional authors.

[cyn2write]

Haha. I know, my response should have been, "Most professional authors also lack social skills and rarely shower for work, so clearly I do not want to be a professional."

[anywherebeyond]

Oy, which reminds me, I need to go take a shower. LOL

[cyn2write]

I am jealous of your professionalism.

[boothyisawesome]

I honestly don't care. What matters is on the inside of the book. Plus, is this person going to email other authors about their books having the same title as something else? I mean, it happens all the time. What's wrong with this person? Good on you for setting them straight. If they reply back, I hope you post that too.

[cyn2write]

I try to keep an open mind. I have been researching about this industry for many years, and I'm still learning. I know there are a lot out of people out there that aren't as immersed in the publishing world as we are.

But if they're not, do some research. Sending emails off willy-nilly, accusing authors of being unprofessional, is not the way to win friends and influence people.

[cyn2write]

Exactly. Twice I've had completely unique titles, and my publisher has changed them to titles that were the same as other books available, because they were shorter and "easier".

I also wonder if it might be a benefit to the author, because their book will come up when someone is searching for my book. Not that many people search for my book, but, in theory...

[cyn2write]

Haha! And so then you can claim the following:

"The Bible is the best-selling book ever, and I wrote The Bible"

and it would be 100% true!

[writertessa]

You're way too professional, Cyn. I would have told Name Redacted where to go, using a very naughty word ;)

[cyn2write]

LOL, I guess the mean things some "reviewers" say about my books must be hardening me, because I didn't even bat an eyelash at the insinuation that I was unprofessional. That's nice compared to some of the things I've been called!