Can I use author names in KDP keywords?
No, you should not use competitor author names in KDP keywords to capture their readers. Your own author name is already supplied through the author field, and another author's name does not accurately describe your book. Use relevant genre, trope, theme, setting, and audience phrases instead. Your author name is entered in the author field of your KDP book setup and is already associated with the listing. Repeating your own name in a keyword box usually wastes character space that could cover new reader search vocabulary. The author field, title, subtitle, series information, description, and keyword boxes each have different jobs in the listing. A competitor author's name identifies that other writer and their catalogue. Adding it to your keyword boxes can make your book appear relevant to a search that is actually looking for that person, which is misleading unless the name is genuinely part of the book's accurate content and permitted under current KDP rules. Do not use author names as a general discoverability tactic. Replace a competitor name with the concepts that explain why a reader might enjoy your book. For a second chance contemporary romance, relevant phrases could describe the relationship trope, setting, emotional experience, character situation, or audience, such as second chance love, small town reunion romance, or divorced parents finding love again, when those descriptions are accurate. This approach captures the reader's underlying intent without claiming a connection to another author. Search for autocomplete suggestions, analyse category language, and use a KDP keyword tool to find phrases that real readers use. Then remove any terms that do not genuinely fit the story or that duplicate words already covered by the title, subtitle, series, and description. Comparable author research is useful when it focuses on categories, reader expectations, and recurring search vocabulary. Note the sub-genres, tropes, settings, themes, and audience descriptors that appear across successful books in your niche. These patterns can help you discover phrases that accurately describe your own work. Do not copy an author's name, book titles, character names, series names, or distinctive branding into your KDP keyword boxes. If a reader searches for that author specifically, your book may not satisfy their expectation. A better match between search intent and book content supports healthier discoverability and reduces the risk of metadata complaints.
Do not use competitor author names in KDP keywords to capture their readers. Learn how to use accurate genre and audience terms instead.