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General Discussion > 'Get a copy" doesn't go to my book

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message 1: by Cindy (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments The title of my book is "Bread & Butter: The Murders of Polly Frisch." Problem is Goodreads truncates the title to just "Bread & Butter" so if you click on the "get a copy" mine is no where to be seen in the list of choices. It's mostly food related titles.

I got the Amazon one to come up because I put in the ASIN#. I know part of the problem is it doesn't have an ISBN. But even in "libraries" it doesn't come up and it is in a few libraries and comes up in worldcat when the full title is used. Any way for GR to have the whole title come up in the "get a copy" search?


message 2: by Cindy (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments Ah maybe the ampersand is messing it up and not having an ISBN. I don't think I'm explaining right either. Let's say you go to "get a copy" where my book is listed in my author page. For example get a copy>online stores>google play. You get the google ebook store search results for "Bread & Butter" not the whole title "Bread & Butter: The Murders of Polly Frisch." hence mine is no where on the search page, just books on food.

So it has to do with what title goodreads sends to the search engines when you click on one of the "get a copy" choices be it (for example), online stores>google play, book links>libraries It only sends "Bread & Butter" not the whole book title.

It was published originally in 2000. My co-author found a couple cases of seconded edition when she moved. Can an ISBN be added after the fact I wonder? Maybe I'll just wait till I do the createspace thing to worry about it. The Amazon link works and its the only place I'm selling it, but there are some libraries that carry it.


message 3: by Paula (last edited Jan 14, 2013 03:13AM) (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments Only Kindle and audio.com books have ASIN's. We do not use ASIN for any other format of book even if Amazon assigns one

I have removed the one you added to the paperback.

Edit: The book buy links are customisable by each user

ISBN's will make the search work so add a new edition when you get an ISBN


message 4: by Paula (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments The Colon was preventing the search, change it to a comma (not perfect) brings the book up in a search on amazon


message 5: by Cindy (last edited Jan 14, 2013 09:28PM) (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments Sigh... Now I'm sorry I said anything. In my original post I said, "I got the Amazon one to come up because I put in the ASIN#." But now that it is taken out, it goes to a search page of mine plus others selling the first edition used. I'll just add the ASIN back into my goodreads book description because it does give me the option so at least the Amazon one will work.

Thank you for explaining. I'll get an ISBN so it comes up in the other internet book sellers. And see for now how to customize the book buy links as you stated.


message 6: by Paula (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments Do not add the ASIN to the paperback edition. GR Policy is to use ASIN for only kindle and audio.com editions


message 7: by Cindy (last edited Jan 15, 2013 06:22AM) (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments Oh sorry. It came up as an option when I listed the book and I put in it was paperback (actually it's perfect bound 5 1/2 x 8 1/2). So I guess just delete the Amazon link altogether then. My page isn't showing as an option, only the sellers of the used first edition and I certainly don't want to promote sales for them, ya know?


message 8: by Cindy (last edited Jan 15, 2013 06:28AM) (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments My link is this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B... if that helps any. Which leads me to ask why that policy? Don't kindle books need an ISBN?


message 9: by Paula (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments No they use the ASIN on Amazon and on here, kindle editions may have an ISBN but it is hidden and of no use on GR since Amazon do not use it but instead use their own ASIN.


message 10: by Cindy (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments OK, I guess. Sort of makes no sense to me as Amazon also uses their own ASIN for my book too. So then I guess my next question is, is there a way to edit the Amazon goodreads link to not go the used copies of my 1st edition being sold by other people at Amazon? Or do I need to do something in my settings?


message 11: by Paula (last edited Jan 15, 2013 01:46PM) (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments No there is nothing you can do. Those links are also editable by user not author or book.

If you have a website then u can link to your website (not a bookseller) in the URL field

Edit: or post a direct link in your author profile


message 12: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 199 comments Cindy,
Did you not get an ISBN with the print edition? If you published with CreateSpace, Lulu, or Bookbaby, the company will have assigned you an ISBN.

Note that you cannot use the same ISBN for the e-book edition as you do for print. Each format must have its own. But you may have a print ISBN and not know it.

If you published an e-book through Barnes and Noble, then B&N assigned you a number for that edition, comparable to the ASIN, unless you supplied the e-ISBN. That number works for B&N and only for B&N.

And if you went through Smashwords, then Smashwords will have assigned one or more ISBNs, because Apple will not accept your book without one.


message 13: by Cindy (new)

Cindy Amrhein (historysleuth) | 55 comments Thank you Paula and C. P. for all your help. I was going to do createspace for it as we still get request for it even though it was printed in 2000. BUT my co-author found two cases when she moved so I'm am going to try and sell those first. At the time, not knowing anything, I did not request an ISBN. I thought only locals would be interested in the story and I wouldn't have to worry about someone scanning them in a register or needing it. Who new?

So when I do get to the createspace point I will get a block of ISBNs and use one for that (and what ever other format) and still have some for other books I'm working on.

So thanks again and I appreciate your patience with me. :)

Right now I'm just direct linking on everything, which will be good enough.


message 14: by Paula (new)

Paula (paulaan) | 332 comments When you get an isbn and publish a new edition then a new edition is added to GR.

We would not add an isbn to an edition that was not published with one. When u publish with create space a second edition is created with an ISBN


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