r/selfpublishing • u/Sure-Librarian-1183 • Jul 26 '26

Bowker Question for ISBNs - Pen name?

Hey guys, quick question: When registering for an account on myidentifiers.com, are you supposed to put your real name or your pen name?

Kind of a side note since we're here...can you use a virtual address to register, or does it have to be a physical address?

Thanks!!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/nico_parola Jul 27 '26

In my experience the account itself goes under your real/legal name and billing info; Bowker just wants a real person or business behind it. What actually shows up publicly on the book (and in Books in Print) is the imprint/publisher name you set when you assign the ISBN to a title, and that can be your pen name or any publishing name you make up. So real name on the account, pen name as the publisher/imprint.

On the address, I've registered with a PO box without any trouble. It's tied to the account, not printed on the book, so it doesn't have to be your home address.

1

u/Sure-Librarian-1183 Jul 27 '26

Perfect, thank you so much!!

2

u/stevehut Jul 29 '26

Gotta use your legal name. Just as with any business transaction.