Change to Alternate Cover

[Chris]

Hi,

I've created an alternate cover version here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...

Can you make it so this cover appears on the other edition: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17... or tell me how to do it?

Also how do we make the alternate version invisible to search, etc. once the cover version is changed?

Thanks,

Chris

[Deon]

Msg 3 and 4 explains GR policy on covers
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Chris]

Thanks, Deon. I went back and forth with Rivka last night. She suggested I make an alternate cover version. I did that, but am not sure how to proceed, even after reading the help section. Based on the thread she pointed me to, I needed to create an alternate cover version (done), put a note in the description that said "This is an alternate cover version, the ISBN is xxxxxxx," (done) "And then have the cover come up as the default." It's this last part I'm unsure about. I've combined the editions, but if I make the Alternate Cover Version the default it will have the "This is an alternate cover version, the ISBN is xxxxxxx," stuff in as the description. So I am confused. Is there not a way to just have the correct cover come up as the default cover, without having to make it the default edition?

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

My understanding (current reader, former librarian):

Any moving around of isbn information (including deleting the entire edition) is something goodreads actually considers vandalism of the database (not to mention the havoc it plays with members who have shelved or reviewed specific editions although they are honestly more likely to notice cover changes taking placed on Their bookshelves than an isbn change until visiting a book page or searching). The workaround for more than one edition of a book using an isbn is to have those notes.

The original edition on goodreads with an accurate isbn/asin always keeps the isbn/asin. Future editions that don't bother getting new isbn/asin* will always instead show the note that they are also using that asin/isbn. Not allowed on goodreads to move correct isbn numbers around from edition to edition ( policy exceptions are usually only granted for some "wrong" isbn things like putting kindle asin number on the paperback edition, trying to shove isbn13 number into isbn field so it gets chopped off, etc.)

Authors can set (sounds like you got a handle on that part) one edition to be the default/primary edition shown in search results, on their author page, etc.; librarians can't set primary editions. If not set by author, the most popular edition gets used. (Authors having trouble setting primary editions have to contact support staff as only goodreads actual employees can alter. Not something librarians unwilling to do or help with, they actually can't—only authors or staff).

Authors are not the only ones using book data on goodreads so you are kinda arguing that the potentially millions of goodreads members that saw a book cover (and maybe shelved) can have that cover taken away from them. If shelved, changing a book cover is the equivalent of a print edition author breaking into someone's home and stealing books with older covers off a reader's bookshelves.


*(something new to publishing because several booksellers and online distributors like amazon and smashwords started allowing ebook authors to reissue with new covers under old book id numbers just by uploading a new image. Print editions once isbn system had been in place a while only accidentally re-used isbn numbers as new editions and covers were produced.)

[Chris]

Debbie wrote: "My understanding (current reader, former librarian):

Any moving around of isbn information (including deleting the entire edition) is something goodreads actually considers vandalism of the data..."

Thanks, Debbie. Extremely helpful. I think I've got it right now. Not perfect, but it'll do ;)