What's in a Name?

​We (the Thinklings) have discovered a problem when people search for my book on Amazon. If you just type "Hunter's Moon Awa" it changes my last name to Away and doesn't bring up my book! I didn't know about that for a while, because when I search in Amazon, I almost always include the author's first name, so I was typing "Hunter's Moon Sarah Awa" and even though it changed Awa to Away, it still did show my book. But I bet most people don't bother to type authors' first names. Argh, Amazon!! We will have to email them about that.

My last name certainly isn't common. Maybe people in Hawaii have heard of it, and people in Okinawa, which is where it originates (and where my father-in-law's parents were born). But I'm sure it's largely unknown in the continental US and most anywhere else. Yes, it's one of the rare short Japanese surnames like Ito or . . . I can't think of another one that short. Lol. It's written with the kanji for "peace" and "harmony" - yes, two kanji for a 3-letter last name! :) Here they are - aren't they pretty? 安和 (I hope those show up on your computer/phone.)

​Anyway, so please do search first names as well as last names, even if they're rare! I wonder if other authors have had this problem. . . .

Has your name ever caused you any weird, unexpected issues?