"Read Book" Button on Limited Excerpt - HELP!

[Rob]

Hello all,

Last week, I uploaded a full EPUB of An Irish Miracle, with the following options checked:

= Members can read this ebook in their browser and download it for free. (ePub and PDF compatible)

= I am uploading the full book. Cut off excerpt at 20%

I chose this combination, assuming that it would result in members being able to download the *limited excerpt* so they could read it in their browser or offline, similar to getting a sample from Amazon on one's Kindle. Although the form allowed me to choose "Cut off excerpt at 20%", the full ebook was made available for download, which is not what I intended. I contacted GR Support, and Claire was kind enough to limit my EPUB to a 20% preview.

My dilemma is that now there is a "read book" button under the cover image of An Irish Miracle that leads to a 20% limited preview, ending with the message "To continue reading, buy book." Twenty-five members have either marked the book as currently reading or to read, but I'm afraid they're going to be upset when they get partway through Chapter Five and see the "Buy Book" message.

I could probably delete the e-book entirely and try re-uploading it with a different combination of options that would hopefully result in a "read excerpt" button instead of a "read book" button, but I'm concerned about pulling the rug out from under those members who have already found and added the book to their shelves.

Any suggestions on how to remedy this situation without making fellow GR members feel duped would be greatly appreciated!

All the best,
Rob

[Rob]

Hello all,

Here's a brief update. Apparently as a result of the first upload, detailed in my previous comment, in addition to the "read book" button leading to a limited preview of An Irish Miracle, the entire EPUB file was made available for free download, so I inadvertently ran a free e-book giveaway, with several GR members downloading it. Hopefully, I'll at least get a few reviews.

I finally deleted the e-book from and re-uploaded it with these options checked:

= Members can only read this ebook in their browser for free. (ePub and PDF compatible)

= I am uploading the full book. Cut off excerpt at 20%

This combination resulted in another "read book" button leading to a limited preview, but at least it didn't look like the entire EPUB file was available for free download. I've since deleted the e-book for a second time.

Still no reply from GR Support on my two inquiries on this. I'm going to try reaching out to one of the group moderators directly.

All the best,
Rob

[Rob]

A kindly group moderator sent the answer below, and it worked! I now have a "read excerpt" button that leads to a PDF excerpt that I prepared and uploaded.

Answer:

"After looking into this, it looks like the only thing that produces a "read excerpt" button is if you upload only a partial portion of your book and select the "I am only uploading an excerpt, not the full book" option. Otherwise, you're always going to get that "read book" button. I think this is because if someone has purchased an ebook (we used to have the option to sell your book through us, but it is currently disabled), then we want the "read book" button to be there for people who have purchased it."

I hope this helps others, too.

All the best,
Rob

[A.D.]

Thanks for this! I was just looking into it myself.

[Gloria]

If I understand this correctly, only an excerpt of your e-book is uploaded. So, if anyone wanted to buy it, they would push the button that shows where the full book is sold, as at Amazon, Smashwords, or some other place. Right?

By the way, (change of subject) I see an add book/author thingee at the top of this comment box. Being new here, I'm wondering if I'm required to fill that out, and if so, how is it not promotion? In case it's considered promotion, I'm ignoring it.

[Rob]

Hi Gloria, you are correct. The excerpt on goodreads is the first 20% of the book in PDF format.

Unfortunately, I've found the goodreads "get a copy" buttons to be not very reliable. They only search for the ISBN of the version that is currently being viewed, which may not match up with that particular online retailer. Three versions of An Irish Miracle (trade paperback, Kindle and EPUB) are published at various online retailers with three separate ISBNs.

The best way to find An Irish Miracle (or any other book on goodreads, IMHO) to buy is to navigate to your favorite online retailer (Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.) and search for it by the title. Excerpts are available at some of the online retailers, too.

Hope this helps!

[Patrick]

Gloria wrote: "If I understand this correctly, only an excerpt of your e-book is uploaded. So, if anyone wanted to buy it, they would push the button that shows where the full book is sold, as at Amazon, Smashwo..."

That's to add a book or author to your comment. We try to add a shortcut so you don't have to build an HTML link to a title or author. You can also add the book color.

For instance, if I want to mention
Lucky Jim in this comment, I can just use that handy tool.

[Gloria]

Patrick wrote: "Gloria wrote: "If I understand this correctly, only an excerpt of your e-book is uploaded. So, if anyone wanted to buy it, they would push the button that shows where the full book is sold, as at ..."

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.

[Abby]

I actually had exactly the same thing happen to me on my book - A Deal with the Devil. I was actually trying to make mine available for purchase with a 20% excerpt for free. But, like Rob, I got a "Read" button beneath which made the whole thing available for download. I sent an email to support as I couldn't figure it out and they told me books are no longer for sale at Goodreads (unless they're already out there). So, I pulled it down. In that time, five people downloaded it, but I'm hoping they read it and enjoy it and give it a review.

[Rob]

Abby, if you still want to put an excerpt of your book on goodreads, the way that was finally successful for me was to prepare just the excerpt in PDF format, and upload it using the "I am only uploading an excerpt, not the full book" option. You should then get a "read excerpt" button under your cover image.

I see that you're running a goodreads giveaway on your book. I am, too, and I think that's a great idea to generate additional views and interest! Best of luck with "A Deal with the Devil"!

[Abby]

Great idea Rob. I will do that. Best of luck with yours as well. I truly appreciate your generosity in sharing information (as I have no idea what I'm doing yet). ;)

[Rob]

Abby, thanks, and you're very welcome! I'm somewhat new to goodreads, as well, and I've found all the administrators and folks in the forums here to be very welcoming, helpful, and supportive.