Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Hi, I need a librarian's help. A while ago, I decided to make some changes to my name on all my book covers, to use my nickname Markie instead of Marguerite (my legal name) due to another author having the same name. I emailed support and they fixed it for me. However, on two of my books they had me listed as my name on the covers, "writing as" my legal name. Which is fine. But I just tried to do the same thing with my third book, which wasn't changed, and now I'm finding that I can't edit it at all, even though it still shows as being mine on my dashboard! Is there some way we can get all three of these to read the same way, whether it just be Markie Madden or Markie Madden writing as Marguerite Madden? It doesn't matter much to me either way, just so that they're all the same.

Hello Marguerite,

I'd like to help, but I need some confirmation first: were all of these books first published under "Marguerite Madden"?

As for the reason you couldn't edit your books, I believe it would be because you were not logged in with the account that was the primary author (first name) of the book.

Hi Alex. Yes, they were all published under Marguerite, though the covers now say Markie. And I was logged in to the only account I have, the same one I used to update the name.

Are you not the person that has claimed this account? Markie Madden

Since it is also marked as a GR author, there must be an account for it, unless there's been some computer magic done behind the scenes?

The book you can't update, I assume, is the one that only has Markie as its author, correct?

I guess I'm both. I had originally signed up using Twitter as a "reader" before my books were published. Then, I got with support services and they changed me to an author account. So technically both are mine, but I use Marguerite Madden because that's where I can edit my author profile, etc.

I am actually both. When I first used good reads I was just a "reader". I had support change me to an author. But I guess at some point I'd forgotten if I signed in with Twitter or Facebook! I think that's why I have two accounts. I use Marguerite Madden profile since that's where I first started. Guess I need to delete the Markie Madden account?

Ok if I sign in using Twitter, the book shows on my dashboard too, but with all the info from my account I use when I sign in using Facebook. I can't edit my Markie Madden account because I don't know how it was created.

Using just my email gets me access to the Markie Madden account. But all my friends and stuff is on my Marguerite Madden account. Can I get these combined or eliminate the one I'm not using? I thought they did that when I had them add my reader account to my author account.

Would you prefer to have just one account for books of both names, keep Markie, or keep Marguerite?

In any case, I think the merging of two GoodRead Author accounts is firmly in the domain of GoodReads Staff, so you should use the Contact Us form and state which name you want to keep.

Please be clear about exactly what you want to do: if you want to merge the accounts so that all books only show under one name, you must state that and indicate which name you would like to keep (I'd suggest Markie, if that's what you will be writing under, as automatic updates will send editions that aren't already in the database to that profile anyway).

If you just want to close one of the two author accounts, leaving the author profile intact please state that.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do! :)

Alex wrote: "if you want to merge the accounts so that all books only show under one name, you must state that and indicate which name you would like to keep"

This is not an option, actually. Markie may certainly combine her two user accounts if she wishes, so she only has a single login. But since the books were originally published under Marguerite Madden, that needs to stay on all books that ever were published under it.

But I agree that Contact Us is the way to go.

Oh, oops, sorry about that. I thought the principle behind middle names (or is it just middle initials?) applied to pen names, too. Thank you once more for the save, rivka! :)

Two differences here than if John Smith went to John Q. Smith:

1) She switched from a more complete name to a less complete one.
2) The less complete one is not actually contained within the more complete one.

Ah, I see, thank you for the clarification!

I've an issue with a book, and am hoping someone may be able to help?

ISBN 9780300124019 (Edvard Munch Behind The Scream, by Sue Prideaux - paperback) seems to have the wrong title. All other details are correct. Thanks.

Edward wrote: "I've an issue with a book, and am hoping someone may be able to help?

ISBN 9780300124019 (Edvard Munch Behind The Scream, by Sue Prideaux - paperback) seems to have the wrong title. All other deta..."

Done. Description corrected also.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Edward wrote: "I've an issue with a book, and am hoping someone may be able to help?

ISBN 9780300124019 (Edvard Munch Behind The Scream, by Sue Prideaux - paperback) seems to have the wrong title...."

Thank-you.

It gets confusing when a thread linked to a specific book or author is also used for other books. I am closing this thread. Start new ones for other books.