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I have both print and e-book version of several of my novels. The print version have different ISBNs than the e-book versions.I see no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a number I can get for free, so I get the print edition ISBNs from CreateSpace.com [which is part of Amazon.com for those who do not know].
I get my e-book ISBNs from Smashwords.com
The same ISBN can be used for any format (mobi, epub, pdf, etc. as long as it is the same story —(As long as the manuscript is the same and just converted to different formats) For instance e-books I have with Kindle Direct Publishing have the same ISBN as those that go to Apple or Barnes & Noble and those that appear on Amazon.com (which is the Kindle books, of course).
I do not feel there is any "stigma" attached to self publishing any more. Just a few years back, there was, true, but the market has changed.
Anyway, If you like to pay out lots of money for your own peace-of-mind, please do not let me discourage you.
On the other hand, we already have enough costs involved in publishing... No not the publishing itself —If you use Amazon or Smashwords, that is free, but I would advise any new authors that there is one thing I recommend you pay for.
If you could sell your books to a traditional publisher, they would pay for it, but if you are self-publishing, hire a decent editor to check your books over. Some charge up to $1000, but you can still get some who either charge by the hour (The more errors, the slower it goes editing your book) or by the page. The service I use charges $1.50 per page (at 1.5 line spacing / Times New Roman - 12 pt.)
That is my only real cost in putting a book on line, but I consider it well worth it.
That's my two cents worth for now. :-)
Dan M.
Added PS-I recently saw a number that some authors have had as much as 1000 e-book sales for each one print copy, but that probably depends a lot on how much you charge for the different ones; mine are not nearly such a drastic difference.
I think you have to pay for ISBN in the US but not in Canada. Although I put a ISBN on my ebook Amazon still added a ASIN number and it is that ASIN that is the look up for the book
Those places I mentioned are available for free in the US. —CreateSpace and Smashwords. Yes, they assign an ASIN to Kindle e-books, but the ISBN is required for certain markets. (I forget which for sure. I would have to look it up to see which ones.)
Taking advice from a company with a monopoly on selling ISBNs is very foolish. Of course they argue that you should have separate ISBNs for every eBook format, because that way they earn more money. You can avoid the issue by letting Amazon assign their ASIN for the Kindle version.
Don't you need an ISBN number for print and one for ebook?
Yes. You need one for print and one for ebook. As to one for each different format of ebook, I do not believe so. What I've read is that you need a different ISBN if the versions are significantly different (if the story or text of the book changes). With the companies I use, the different formats are created from the same manuscript (usually a .doc file) and consequently the title, ToC, and text are the same. Therefore you only need one ISBN no matter which format you have it in. It is still the same story and still an ebook.
You have to have a different number for each format. Meaning eBook, paperback and hard cover. You also have to get a new one for any substantial changes in a book and for new editions (versions).
That is what I am saying. any substantial changes, but different formats of an ebook (epub, mobi, etc.) are still the same book. You only need one for ebooks, no matter which format they come in — unless you change the manuscript substantially.
I got mine through bowkerI'm so glad I have my own ISBNs. It makes my published books feel genuinely MINE
the preciousssss...
lol
There was a comment posted here about this site http://www.epubbud.com/isbn.php which sells ISBN's in singles. Does anyone have any experience using that particular site? This is the first book I'm publishing and I don't have / don't want to spend 125 dollars on a single ISBN from Bowker
Anita, If you do not wish to spend a lot, consider getting a free one, then. It is just a number. I see no difference in where it is obtained. I doubt people can tell a difference. One legitimate ISBN is the same as another.That's my opinion.
Dan
The only thing about ISBN numbers is they trace back to the owner who bought it from Bowker. If you buy one from Bowker then the database will show you as the publisher in the Database. If you get one through Createspace for instance it comes up as CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. If you buy your ISBN from epubbud then it will have "ePub Bud" as the publisher listed in the database. None of this effects how you sell your book or the royalties you get to keep.
hello everyone!I have written a book (in french language) being in india that I should get printed soon. the process of getting an ISBN takes at least six weeks here but I am about to live india. the thing is I am not planning to sell the book online. can someone help me to find a site which can provide me an ISBN and its bar code being in india?
Quellie wrote: "hello everyone!I have written a book (in french language) being in india that I should get printed soon. the process of getting an ISBN takes at least six weeks here but I am about to live india...."
When you publish a book through CreateSpace you can get an ISBN for free
Yes, but the ISBN is registered to CreateSpace and that version is forever linked to CreateSpace...
Goodness - I can't believe that you pay so much for an ISBN. We're like Canada and have free ISBNs in New Zealand.
The other benefit of owning your own ISBN is the ability to go back and change information. For example, if you ever move, you can change your address. If you add an audio-book, you can go back to the original and cross-reference it. This can be done when someone else owns the ISBN, but it may take a while or cost you.
You can also buy a custom ISBN from CreateSpace for $10 and have it assigned to your own imprint. The only catch is that if you want to publish the print edition anywhere other than CreateSpace, you need a separate ISBN for that; you agree when you fork over the $10 to use that one only on CreateSpace. A mobile ISBN from CreateSpace costs $100, which is not much better than buying from Bowker—although it is more convenient.Having separate ISBNs for hardcover, paperback, and e-book is not a choice; it's the law. But since Kindle files are created from ePub and.doc files and vice versa, the general assumption seems to be that you need only one ISBN for all e-book formats. Whether Bowker agrees with that assumption is less clear....
Kindle will let you put a work in their store and NOT have an ISBN. Remember that this is a book locating service, and if people are already using Kindle then they will find it by title, author name or key words. But it is much more professional to have an ISBN, and you never know when it will become important. Better to just do it up front. I went on and spent $575 for 100 ISBNs. I figure that I'll be producing a number of works, some of them small, perhaps, and they will be print, eBook, audio and maybe even large print. It's easy to go through them. There's also something to be said for having a body of work out there. You'll become more "discoverable" based on that, too.
Still can't believe you folk have to buy ISBNs. That's terrible.
Gotta love Canada for that, but alas, here in the US we do need to buy them.What many authors don't realize, and that's because the information isn't that available, is when you let Createspace, or Amazon, or any other free ISBN come into the picture, that company has put their hand in your cookie jar, and in most cases, the company offering the free ISBN will become the publisher, as the ISBN will be traced back to them first, then to you.
It's a delicate dance and one each author should review. I, too, bought in bulk, and that blows, but it's an investment in my company. Keeping your legals straight only prevents issues in the future.
Is it more expensive to buy ISBNs or pay for a lawyer later on? (And even then the company that gave you the ISBN may not let go of it, or even worse, remove the book you gave them certain rights to.)
Johnny wrote: "What many authors don't realize, and that's because the information isn't that available, is when you let Createspace, or Amazon, or any other free ISBN come into the picture, that company has put their hand in your cookie jar, and in most cases, the company offering the free ISBN will become the publisher, as the ISBN will be traced back to them first, then to you."It's not most cases and it's not the companies' fault - this is how ISBNs work. They are non-transferable because the first 6-7 digits identify the publisher and the book is the remainder. So a Smashwords ISBN will always be a Smashwords ISBN. Even worse some retailers will use the ISBN to guess (wrongly) that Smashwords are the publisher and say so on your book page. When I saw that happening I decided that I had to buy my own and went for a 100 pack, which are a bit more that £3 each. Two book sales and I cover the ISBN cost for a book.
Robb wrote: "Here's what I have done with my ISBNs. Many publishers, such as Smashwords or Create Space will offer you an ISBN for free. In fact, at create space, if you want to sell through their library chann..."Aloha Robb:
Great description of the ISBN system. Many thanks!
A question: You say: "In fact, at create space, if you want to sell through their library channels or academic markets, you must use their ISBN."
I would like to use Create Space to produce my book (the system is easy to use) and to be able to sell my books through Amazon, but I would like to be my own publisher, with a few imprints.
In this scenario, I should accept the free create space ISBN (so I can sell via Amazon and the Create Space distribution system, but also buy a pack of ISBN numbers to use on other editions of my book (e.g. an edition sold under the name of my publishing company?)
Many thanks for any answer you can provide!
Mike
C.P. wrote: "You can also buy a custom ISBN from CreateSpace for $10 and have it assigned to your own imprint. The only catch is that if you want to publish the print edition anywhere other than CreateSpace, yo..."Aloha C.P.
I finally had the chance to read the whole thread. I never expected a topic like ISBNs to be so complicated. As we say here in Hawaii, "mahalo" (thanks) for all the information and advice you put out there. I've added your blog to my read list. You and Robb sound like veterans at this game. Robb: I found the answer I was looking for in the string.
Cheers,
Michael
ISBN numbers are only good for the publisher. As an author you get paid by the publisher for each ISBN number sold. I always copyright my books first with the government so I own the book, not the publisher. Authors beware! You may not even own the rights to your book unless you copyright them under your name.
Here in Australia I have never used an ISBN , & have 4 books published, however not withstanding the fore going, I am ablut to publish 2 books, I hope in mid Feb of 2015, & will be looking into getting ISBN's for both. I have looked at both create space & smash words, don't like either as they take too much in commission , i can publish & keep everything except printing costs, the only reason I am looking at these 2 having ISBN's is I want to sell outside eof Australia, so I'll be going with the ePub Bud ISBN for $19, this includes a barcode as well for the 1 price.
Charles I never knew that,I thought authors always had rights to their own work. Thanks for letting me know that, I am not an author but I have several friends that are authors.
Aloha all:Quick note from Wikipedia, FWIW: "In 1989 the United States enacted the Berne Convention Implementation Act, amending the 1976 Copyright Act to conform to most of the provisions of the Berne Convention. As a result, the use of copyright notices has become optional to claim copyright, because the Berne Convention makes copyright automatic.[24] However, the lack of notice of copyright using these marks may have consequences in terms of reduced damages in an infringement lawsuit."
Carolyn wrote: "Charles I never knew that,I thought authors always had rights to their own work. Thanks for letting me know that, I am not an author but I have several friends that are authors."
In US, Bowker sells batches of ISBNs. With an independent publisher shown (other than amazon) some independent bookstores will allow readings, figuring Amazon us trying to put them out of business, even though you may actually be publishing through CreateSpace. Jon Foyt
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