Why shouldn’t I write using a Pen-name called JK Rowling?

If JK Rowling can write using a pen-name Robert Galbraith and release her novel anonymously, why shouldn’t I publish a book using a pen-name called JK Rowling??? Fair enough, right?

Except that I will be SUED left, right and center by JK Rowling’s publishers!! ๐Ÿ˜› And even if a few (minusculeย number of) readers happen to read it, by the end of the first story/chapter, even a 10-year old kid will discover that the book has not been written by JK!! So, I guess I will not be able to sustain the suspense beyond a couple of days, if at all ๐Ÿ˜€

I am not able to guess whether I will be put in an Indian prison or UK prison or US prison? There is no way I’ll be able to pay all the fines, especially with the rupee inflating against Dollar, Pound, Euro and every other known currency, these days! ๐Ÿ™‚

But I guess I’ll become famous and my book might cross that 1500 (other sources put it at 500) copies that JK Rowling managed to sell under theย pseudonymย author’s identity. In fact, that news gives the perfect EXCUSE for all other newbie authors like me.

NOW I’ll have answers to all questions asked by others. Sample this –

Me: (Shyly) You know what? I published a book.

Neighbor: “Who is your publisher? I guess it’s some small-time unknown…”

Me: “No, it’s Amazon.com”

Neighbor: (Having no clue about self-publishing) Ha, Amazon.com?? The famous American company? How did you EVER manage to get to published by them???

Me: (Basking under ultimate glory): Well, talent always gets recognized eventually and in my case, it just happened faster… ๐Ÿ˜›

Neighbor: How many copies did your book sell?

Me: 5.

Neighbor: 5? (Unable to conceal his hysterical laughter)ย Hahahahahaha Just 5?? Don’t tell me that your family and friends were the only ones to buy it… Hahahahahaha…

Me: Actually, no. They refused to buy it. One is my own order and I am still investigating about the other four ๐Ÿ˜€

Neighbor: (His hysterical laughter getting even more hysterical) HAAAAHAAAAHAAAHAAA ๐Ÿ˜€

Me: (Innocently) Did you know that JK Rowling’s book published under an unknown pseudo-name, sold only 500 books? By that standard, my feat is not that bad!

Neighbor: (Thoroughly confused, doesn’t know what to say)

๐Ÿ˜€

So, thank you so much JK. All budding new authors are indebted to you ๐Ÿ™‚

I didn’t read her Harry Potter series because fantasy, witches andย wizardryย isn’t exactly my ‘interest’, but I’ll surely read this mystery book of hers – ‘The Cuckoo’s calling’ ๐Ÿ™‚

Destination Infinity

BTW, I have put up a LARGE preview link to my next book on the right sidebar and NO ONE even BOTHERED to ask me a word about it??? That’s ok, even if you had put up such a link on your blog, I would have done the same thing too ๐Ÿ™‚ But I need to tell you one thing – I will START writing that book only if 100 readers (of the preview) will request to be intimated by email once the book is released. I am DEAD SURE that will take a long time – Actually, it gives me a perfect excuse to procrastinateย even further ๐Ÿ™‚

46 thoughts on “Why shouldn’t I write using a Pen-name called JK Rowling?

  1. SG

    This is one funny post. But seriously, wish you all the best in your effort to publish a book. Also, JK Rowling or her publishers cannot sue you because “JK Rowling” is not a registered trade mark. Also it is not patented. (There are many people in USA named Robert Galbraith. How come no one is suing her?)

    1. Rajesh K

      But still, I am not going to take THAT RISK ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  2. Praveen

    Even I was thinking about publishing stuff under pseudo-name(thought about – ‘Bageera’ LOLs)
    And I read your posts on feedly so didn’t notice your teaser. ๐Ÿ˜›
    I will enroll in the email-intimation list. ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. Rajesh K

      Bageera is a good name, actually. That email intimation list is not for regular commenters. It is only for people coming in from the search engines.

      Destination Infinity

  3. Avada Kedavra

    Haha. publishing under a pseudoname is fun I guess ๐Ÿ™‚ I saw the teaser long back and saw the first story in it too. It was pretty good. Waiting for that book now. Want to be the first person to download that book too ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. Rajesh K

      Ha, you have become my favorite commenter now ๐Ÿ™‚ But I will not believe in anything said by people whom I know. I will wait for anonymous feedback. 100 of them ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  4. kirtivasan

    Why not is for science. Why is for art. I hope you like this reply.
    The best part of blogspot is posts can be deleted. I will delete some posts which are unsuitable. I am doing it.

    1. Rajesh K

      Why is for science and art? ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

      1. kirtivasan

        Your question marks seem to say Why not.
        Your efforts are commendable. There was problem using credit card over the net. Therefore I do not use it much. And I am unable to buy the Tourist guide book.
        Why not get in touch with Amazon and try to get OK for online bank payment? Your book will sell more.

        1. Rajesh K

          That book was not written for Indians/NRI’s. It was only for foreigners coming to India. Of course, you can buy the next book that I am writing, if at all I ever finish writing (and publishing) it ๐Ÿ˜›

          Destination Infinity

    1. Rajesh K

      Hmmmm… ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  5. Jeevan

    DI is also good to use it as Pen name. I too havenโ€™t notice the teaser, but now I finished reading your short story.

    It was hilarious! Even Hitler would have laugh reading it. Lolโ€ฆ But u hasn’t said what happens to DI? How did he come back to future? ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      I might continue that story in the book, but who cares about what happens to DI as long as he is long-time away? ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  6. Jas

    ha ha ๐Ÿ˜€ it might work DI but DI sounds cool so my suggestion is to stick to that ๐Ÿ™‚ All the very best for the book.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yea, I have to stick to DI anyway ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks…

      Destination Infinity

  7. Sandhya Kumar

    I was not active here for the past one month and haven’t noticed your book!

    You have got great sense of humour and definitely your book will sell…your readers/commentors at least will buy it, will buy happily…I will be the first, D.I.

    1. Rajesh K

      With this book, I am targeting a larger audience. So, marketing comes before writing ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  8. Ankita

    haha! that was a nice read..enjoyed it!

    1. Rajesh K

      I hope JK doesn’t read this post ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  9. Sandhya Kumar

    Even the teaser looks good!

    1. Rajesh K

      Thanks for reading it… ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  10. Kismitoffeebar

    Hmm. Well, one of the reasons why you shouldn’t write in her name is because it is YOUR work! ๐Ÿ™‚ Good or bad, you might as well receive the boquets or brickbats yourself ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      Another reason is – Legally, I can’t do it! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  11. Shilpa Garg

    LOL ๐Ÿ˜€ Very imaginative you are! ๐Ÿ˜€
    All the best to you for publishing your book. I surely buy it and read it! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      Thanks, but for this book I am targeting a larger audience, beyond blog readers ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  12. Ashwathy

    Oh yes even I want to check Rowling’s new book released under a different name.

    Errr…what preview?? Ohh!! :mrgreen: Just now saw it. Ok let me check it out ๐Ÿ˜›

    1. Rajesh K

      I am sure that ‘check it out’ will not happen in the NEAR future ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  13. Rachna Chhabria

    Don’t underestimate yourself Rajesh. I am sure 5 copies is not what the book’s sales count will be, more like 5k. You write well, so don’t bother with a pen name.

    1. Rajesh K

      I will use my favorite pen-name, ‘Destination Infinity’, which is still unique, I guess ๐Ÿ™‚

      Oh no, this article was written just for fun. I could have included this disclaimer at the end ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  14. Rakesh Vanamali

    Looool! U are giving me ideas now ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      You too wanna experience prison-life? ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  15. The British Asian Blog

    I think, once a writer has been established and popular – like JK Rowling, then that name becomes a Brand. Much the same way as Nike and Adidas.

    That said, the writing/book market is massive and is global, there is room for many more. I hope you do succeed.

    1. Rajesh K

      Actually the writing market is over-saturated and there is no room for more. But since it is easy to self-publish, people like me are trying their luck ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  16. sm

    nice written and Bageera is a excellent name

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, I might have to go with destination infinity, though ๐Ÿ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  17. Nisha

    Ha Ha… fun post!
    Do it and let me know. Then probably I’ll also think of something similar. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      Seems like you too have an admiration for being lodged at foreign prisons ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  18. Ramakant Pradhan

    So now you are a published author. Congratulations!

    Many authors use pseudonyms, some just at the beginning of their careers. But don’t know of a case where someone used a pseudonym of an established author to get some mileage.

    1. Rajesh K

      Well, I am a self-published author, not a published author in the traditional sense! You know what, self-published authors are hungry for any kind of attention to their books. If there was no prison anywhere in the world, I would have definitely used this technique. Maybe I’ll have to start campaigning for a cause – abolishing all prisons ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  19. Ashwini C N

    I am a great fan of Rowling and Harry Potter series so if anyone tries to mock Rowling’s style of writing, they know what they’re up against ๐Ÿ™‚

    And I request you 100 different times to kindly intimate to all of us your impending book ๐Ÿ™‚ Good luck ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Rajesh K

      How can I mock someone’s style, when I have not even read their books? ๐Ÿ™‚

      Ok, I will let everyone know when that book is released, if it gets written in the first place, ie ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  20. Motivating Ria

    Even I haven’t read the harry potter series, but I am thinking to read this book. I think the only reason she did it was because may be she wanted that pressure of ‘being the best’ off her shoulders.

    If I could use any pen name in the world, I would want Agatha Christie – rising from the dead ๐Ÿ˜› ๐Ÿ˜›

    1. Rajesh K

      The author maybe dead, but the publisher is alive, no? That’s enough for inviting a well-deserved lawsuit ๐Ÿ˜›

      Destination Infinity

  21. Pratikshya Mishra

    Haha, the post was very funny… The title itself was so catchy. Pen names or pseudo names are quite interesting, choosing one is an interesting job too.
    I don’t see your book preview in the side bars….

    1. Rajesh K

      I have shifted that book preview to the ‘My books’ page. It’s a temporary arrangement, I’ll bring it back to the sidebar, I guess.

      Destination Infinity

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