Sometimes an author changes a book title or series name. There can be a host of reasons. Usually it’s about appealing better to readers. Sometimes it’s about avoiding a ban-hammer from Amazon. But sometimes, we come up against words and phrases that have legal restrictions.

I’m writing a book in a new multi-author series about super heroes with subpar powers. We had a series name picked out and revealed… and then diligent searching revealed that the word “superhero™” is trademarked by Marvel. And Marvel is not shy about protecting its trademarks.

Of course, we dithered, because there are a ton of books with superhero™ in the title or series and it’s even an actual category on Amazon. And yet…

In the end, we decided to go with Subparheroes for the series name. That’s fun and a pun, and I’m excited for the series. But if you’re searching on the original and don’t find it, yes, we changed it. Although not in order to confuse you folks. I hope you’ll enjoy meeting our hapless heroes whose super powers don’t come with invincibility or the ability to leap tall buildings, but which get them into, and out of, a lot of trouble with true love as their reward. These books are mostly mid-angst with a bunch of humor tucked in, although there is a range of intensity, of course. I’m having great fun with mine.

Look for the Subparheroes series starting in May.