#ISBNforBooks

I was recently asked if an author should change her ISBN (International System of Book Numbering) when she buys back the rights to her book from her publisher.

My strong opinion is that yes, any change of publisher or significant content in a book, or form of book (hard cover, soft cover, promotional copy, ebook, etc.) requires its own ISBN.

The ISBN identifies the publisher as well as the book. Imagine a book store trying to order your book only to discover that there are two publishers names attached to the book. From which one do they order? Will their accounting department pay the correct publisher? What if a corporation orders 20,000 copies of your book as a promotional item but people go online to order the book from you and by mistake try to order from the corporation?

Each version of a book requires its own ISBN. Imagine if every person named John Doe or Sally Doe had the same social insurance or social security number? Confusion? Right!!

Denise


www.inktreemarketing.com
www.publishacookbook.com