C. B. Lee is an example of an author who uses only initials, but when you click their name from one of the book entries, there are no books listed. This is because the link is using C(space)B(space)Lee. In order to find them, you have to remove the first space and look for CB(space) Lee, even though all their book entries have the first version because the format is "C.B. Lee" and link changes the periods to spaces.

Book: https://www.paperbackswap.com/Backup-C-B-Lee/book/194505378X/

Linked Author page: https://www.paperbackswap.com/C-B-Lee/author/

Real Author Page: https://www.paperbackswap.com/CB-Lee/author/

Is there an accepted way to fomat the names of authors with initials so this problem can be avoided?

Oh, wow, Sarah, that is a good catch. I never realized I Might be missing out on matches due to limits on how authors who use initials get listed here 

The PBS editing guidelines for initials are to format as 1st initial period space 2nd initial period space last name; e.g. C. B. Lee.  But, of course the database service sends us every possible variation depending on where they pick it up (?), what the publisher sends them (?) or (??)..

It has always been a bit of a problem, but as more and more authors are using initials, it's becoming more difficult.  Plus publishers and even authors are inconsistent. 

For instance:  Two authors (Annie & Jess), all books 'independently published':
With books published as AJ Tipton, A J Tipton, and some as A.J Tipton, one as A. J Tipton, and some with a stylized period centered between the A J rather than on the baseline.

If you search KJ Charles by the two initials together, you get 15 listings. If you search by K J Charles you get 75 none of the 15 are in the 75 and none of the 75 are in the 15. That is to say, they may each have some of the same titles - but NOT the same ISBNs. The search treats them as two different names.

I did both of the searches in mid-July, so there may be some changes ...

To add to that, it can also matter which PBS search feature you're using.   If you put an author name in the search window of the blue banner (top of most pages) it will be treated as a 'keyword', and may not give the same data as an author name search (such as book browser or advanced search). 

I am not searching at all; I am clicking the author name on the book entry. It tells me the author has no books listed, which is obviously not the case since I was just looking at one of their books.