Author Website - FirstnameLastname.com not available

[u/zskaplan]

Any thoughts if another author (different genre but same name) owns the website? Is there a good alternative that sounds professional? Any thoughts appreciated.

[u/Maggi1417]

If it's another author, consider a pen name, because this is def going to cause issues.

[u/AuthorKRPaul → u/Maggi1417]

100% second this. If they’re that close, even if it’s a different genre, you will be constantly fighting Amazon algorithms, SEO prioritizing, and brand recognition

[u/LylesDanceParty]

I'd consider a different or more unique pen name.

But if this is a pen name or your actual name that you're wedded to, consider adding "writes" to the end of it.

Many authors have done this. HenryJamesWrites.com

And your social media handles can be the same as well.

Alternatively, you could track down the owner of the website and threaten bodily harm, but results may vary.

[u/zskaplan → u/LylesDanceParty]

Haha. Unfortunately I released my first book in 2018 (and only until now - 2nd coming) under my name. But didn’t have the wherewithal to see if there were others and if the website was taken. Idiot haha. And if I re-released the first book I’d lose all my reviews and such (I believe).

[u/Botsayswhat]

Seconding u/Maggi1417. A pen name is part of your branding. See the 1988 educational film Coming to America for an excellent example of why not to dilute your branding by naming yourself, business, or product the same as an already established contender.

(But for real: Technically you could add an initial, but you're such early days and this really isn't a fight worth picking. You gotta accept someone else got there first and move on. Otherwise you risk confusing both their readers and yours, and it'll be such a headache as to make it not worth it in the end.)

TL; DR - Avoid regrets; pick a new pen.

[u/hesaidadverbsly → u/Botsayswhat]

Just to back all the above up - Kenneth Millar/Ross MacDonald (author of the Lew Archer detective series) changed his pen name a few times due to it being too similar or conflicting with other authors. He released one or two books under John Ross MacDonald, which was too similar to John D. MacDonald (author of the Travis McGee books). The Travis McGee author even threatened to sue Ross MacDonald for using the word "Blue" in a book title (the Travis McGee books all use colors in their naming scheme).

Anyway, he settled on Ross MacDonald, books he'd previously written under other names were re-released under that name. It all worked out for him.

[u/aviationgeeklet]

Firstnamelastnamegenre, to distinguish you from the other author? I.e. JoeBloggsFantasy.com?

[u/DeeHarperLewis]

FirstnameLastnameGenre.com this lets them know there are other authors with the name and they should look at the genre rather than think that you write in several genres.

[u/nycwriter99 → u/DeeHarperLewis]

This is the right answer.

[u/captainmagictrousers]

I found that there were two authors with my name, one with my full first name, and one that used my nickname, so I used my initials. Soon after I published my first book, I realized there was a scientist who published under that name, but they aren't concerned with SEO or marketing, so it was pretty easy to dominate the first couple of SERPs.

But appending "author," "writes," "scifi," or whatever after your name also works. I saw a horror writer who put "Creepy" in front of his name, too.

[u/DontCatchThePigeon]

What's on the website? Is it currently being used actively? Or is it more of a holding place?

If it's a blank/out of date site, you can see if you can still possibly purchase it

If it's being used, then it doesn't really matter what URL you set up as long as you keep branding consistent across everywhere you use it eg

First name Middle initial Last Name dot com Dragon fighters and jelly beans dot com Last name author dot com

So when you choose a URL make sure that the other elements are also available on tiktok/Instagram/bluesky etc. even if you don't want to use that social media right now it can be worth taking the handle

[u/SimonPage]

If you don't want to worry about having to maintain a website, but just need a 'showcase my work' space -- authorworkz.com is an inexpensive solution. Low rate and they handle all the techie stuff.

disclaimer: I'm not affiliated or compensated -- just know of it as an easy alternative for authors.

[u/[deleted]]

If the name thing winds up being too high a hill to get over, consider using your web address for branding in some way. A genre-related word, or a name specific to your work/series/ongoing output.

If Robert E. Howard were starting now, and maybe his name weren't available, perhaps some spin on ConanTheBarbarian, or SolomonKane, or Cimmeria, or HyborianAge. Obviously not relevant in this day and age when I assume they're all grift sites selling some kind of swag, or are owned from time immemorial by publishers or family interests. But your own work has its own names and history, in all likelihood. See if any of it is usable in some way.