ISBN search and links

[Lapo]

Hello,

I am having two problems.

1) I searched my book by ISBN by it did not show up, so I added it manually. On Shelfari and LibraryThing, though, I could find it easily, so I don't know if there is something wrong with your database. I have another two editions (another paperback ISBN-13: 978-8890715419 and a kindle ebook ASIN: B0070B3JAK) to add and would like to know if I have to do those manually too.

2) My book is available only through Amazon (and Createspace, but that does not matter). I don't see a way to direct the reader straight to Amazon. I see that everybody can list their favorite booksellers links, but that will basically make it impossible for people who prefer Barnes and Nobles, for example, to find my book. Is there any way to make only the Amazon link appear, or to add a direct link to the book buying page somewhere else?

Thank you.

[J.L.]

I want to add my ebook "The Eternal Sorceress" from amazon.com. ASIN: B007NOLDBQ
How do I do that?

[Cait]

Lapo wrote: "...so I don't know if there is something wrong with your database."

I'm afraid a large part of our database -- the part connected to Amazon -- got messed up two months ago when Amazon revoked the data contract that GR had with them. Kindle editions in particular lost a lot of data or disappeared entirely, and we haven't found an import to restore them or add new ones yet.

So, yeah, you'll have to add the new editions manually. :(

"Is there any way to make only the Amazon link appear, or to add a direct link to the book buying page somewhere else?"

No, there isn't. GR is primarily a book-reviewing site, not a book-selling site, so hard book-selling links aren't part of the book data we record. Users who are looking for Kindle editions will generally know to look on Amazon for them! If you want to make a promotional post about your print editions, you might try making a blog post; you could ask in the GR Authors group for other tips, perhaps.

[Cait]

Jessica wrote: "I want to add my ebook "The Eternal Sorceress" from amazon.com. ASIN: B007NOLDBQ
How do I do that?"

Jessica, if you provide all of the data for your book, a librarian can add it for you. (It's easier to start a new thread for it than to mix up the request in an existing thread, by the way.)

[Lapo]

Thank you, Cait for the quick response.

[Lapo]

Just a note, though. Since you have authors being able to become "Goodreads Authors" maybe you should implement an easier way to show where their books are available. I mean, why have the links if they go everywhere else but toward the book they are about?
When I was looking at other titles, It found that very frustrating. I am Italian, but I never used bol.it, it sucks, and it was predefined on all the books I was looking at. Now I have Amzon predefined, but I am sure there will be books that won't be there and I will have to manually scour online sellers for them. My question is why? It is an excess of options that it counterproductive. Why not simply show the links the authors provide. That would save a lot of confusion and frustration.
And again, an author puts his books in here so that people can go and buy them. I certainly appreciate you offer that, I think it's great, but I just think the linking is made unnecessarily complicated.

Thanks again for your quick response.

[Cait]

Lapo wrote: "And again, an author puts his books in here so that people can go and buy them."

Well, I would say that an author puts his/her books in here so that people who have read them have a place to talk about them.

I do understand that it would be a convenience for people who are wanting to purchase books which are not widely available to have links straight to the specific limited bookseller who is currently selling that book, but there would be problems with maintaining those links as well -- and anyway, adding a feature for this sort of thing would be a suggestion to raise in the Feedback group. You could suggest some way for authors to provide links there; I think it might generate some interesting discussion.

[Lapo]

Ok. Great. Thank you, Cait.