New, confused author

[Kathryn]

Please help, if you can. I'm a new author with a lot of books already up here. I have several versions of some of the same books up, some with the wrong covers. Someone already helped me to consolidate them,but that needs more work. I need to have the right covers. And I have a new e-book up on Kindle that I would like to include. I also have a lot of old children's books with reviews that are under my pen name, not my name. Where do I start? What do I do? I'm Kathryn Lance.

[mlady_rebecca]

If you let us know your pen name, your two accounts can be linked. And your name can be added as a secondary author on the books you wrote under your pen name.

Usually for covers, you include a link for the book that needs to be updated, and a link to a copy of the correct cover.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Kathryn wrote: "some with the wrong covers"

Do you mean that they were never published with those covers, or that they have been republished with new covers? If the latter, then the covers are NOT wrong, and should not be deleted. However, new editions with the new covers can be added as well.

[Kathryn]

Thanks, guys. I meant that I have new covers for the e-editions, which are the only ones "in print." My pen name is Lynn Beach, and there are quite a few books... I think between ten and twenty. I do have copies of covers for some of the books with no covers, but they are all out of print. Is there any point in sending a jpeg of the covers for them?

What about the new book I have up on Kindle? Should I include a link to it? ON Kindle? For the other books with new e-covers should I include a link to Kindle or to Smashwords?

I want to get all this straightened out, and then try to become active in the author and fan community.

Best,

KL

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Kathryn, you can actually upload covers directly for any book that you have a jpeg for. In the same way that you uploaded that picture of you (with your lovely friend ;) ) by editing your author page, just edit the specific edition's book page. Or you can email the covers to support@goodreads.com, if that's easier. Users love their books to have covers, whether out of print or not.

I'm not sure I understand the rest of your questions. A Kindle edition is a different edition than a Smashwords ebook -- the former has an ASIN, and the latter an ISBN.

[mlady_rebecca]

I linked the accounts from the Lynn Beach side and duplicated your bio information. If you want a similar link in your Kathryn Lance profile, you'll have to add it. Standard librarians don't have access to Goodreads author profiles.

Did you want to have Kathryn Lance listed as a secondary author on your Lynn Beach titles?

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

[Kathryn]

Thanks again. I really appreciate the work you guys have done for me. I have to get offline now, but I'll look at my pages tomorrow and see what I can do about uploading jpegs, which I have for several covers. I know I have a lot to do to get immersed here. I do have a new book up on Kindle. Can I add it to my list of books?

[Beth]

Please do upload the covers...even for the out of print...those missing covers drive some of us OCD members nuts. :)

[mlady_rebecca]

Kathryn wrote: "I do have a new book up on Kindle. Can I add it to my list of books? "

Usually searching for a Kindle title from Amazon will automatically import it.

[Kathryn]

Well, it's getting better. I was able to search for the new book (The Ptorrigan Lode), but it has not yet been added to my books. And my Kindle covers for Pandora's Genes, Pandora's Children, and Going to See Grassy Ella, have all disappeared from my page. As those are the only copies in print, this is disappointing. I know I'm doing something wrong, but I don't know what. As for jpegs--where or to whom should I send them? Sorry to be so demanding. I want to immerse myself in Goodreads, but not till my page reflects what I am trying to do.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

I think those are all due to caching issues -- the author page's cache only resets every 24-48 hours. I forced a reset. Did that help?

[Carolyn]

I'm seeing them all on her page now rivka, so that seems to have done it.

[Kathryn]

Thank you, Rivka. The Ptorrigan Lode is listed now. But my Kindle covers for Pandora's Genes, Pandora's Children, and Going to See Grassy Ella are still missing. They should be the first ones shown on the first page, but they aren't, and they aren't on the second page either. Is there anything *I* can do to help resolve this?

KL

[rivka, Former Moderator]

The edition that shows on the author page (and author's book list page) is always the most popular (shelved/rated/reviewed) edition. Since the Kindle editions have not yet been shelved by many users, they are not the covers that show on those two pages.

[Kathryn]

Thank you, Rivka. That is disappointing to hear. However, there are TWO versions of the old paperback showing on my pages, one on the first page and one on the second. Since there was only one version of the paperback, couldn't the Kindle covers be substituted for the second set of paperback covers? I spent a lot of time working with my designer on the Kindle covers, and really want potential readers to have a chance to see them.

[rivka, Former Moderator]

I'm seeing the same covers here and here. I'm not sure where you're seeing the others?

[Kathryn]

Yes, that is where I am seeing them too. They are identical; identical editions, same reviews, etc. But they appear TWICE, both on each of my two book pages. Is there any way that one set could be removed and the Kindle editions put in, instead? On either page?

[rivka, Former Moderator]

On both the two pages (one is the author profile and the second your list of books), the default edition (and therefore cover) is based solely on which edition has been shelved/rated/reviewed by the most users. Selection for those pages is completely automated, and cannot currently be changed manually. (Although adding such an ability is something we'd like to do at some point.)

[Kathryn]

Thanks for explaining. That is extremely disappointing. The original cover for Grassy Ella and the Kindle version are both great. This is the version for print-on-demand, and it's terrible. I can't believe it has gotten the most reviews, and think there may be a mistake here. I have had big plans for getting into Goodreads and hoping to attract readers, but I doubt anyone would be interested in my books with bad covers all that is available. Is there any way around that? Can I post the good covers somewhere else?

Kathryn

[rivka, Former Moderator]

I have seen authors add cover images to their blogs.

[Kathryn]

I really am new and confused. Is there blog capability here on Goodreads?

[rivka, Former Moderator]

Only for authors. You posted one blog post here in April: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

[Kathryn]

Okay, right, thank you. I will get on that and post covers, I think, among other things. I appreciate everyone's efforts to help me.