rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 4:05:00 GMT
Hello. I am going to be retiring a book of mine off Lulu and publishing it directly onto Amazon through KDP, where I don't have to buy a proof copy every time I fix something and where the Kindle eBook has already been published since 2018. My question is, will I be able to use the same ISBN through KDP, since it will no longer be published through Lulu?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by benziger on Jun 13, 2021 8:15:31 GMT
The question cannot be answered like that, because it depends. - If it is your own ISBN and you offer the book unchanged, i.e. simply a reprint (possibly with spelling corrections) by another printer, then yes.
- If the ISBN belongs to the Lulu company (i.e. Lulu is the publisher) and Amazon or KDP becomes the new publisher, then no. This is the case if you have received the ISBN from Lulu free of charge.
I hope that helps. Fell free to ask again with more details for a more help.
|
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 9:04:26 GMT
Thanks for the reply. So I guess the answer is number 2, since I did in fact get the ISBN from Lulu. Can I ask them to let me keep it? Would they invariably refuse?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ken on Jun 13, 2021 9:12:56 GMT
By Keep It no you cannot if you want to use it to republish outside Lulu.
There is nothing to stop you printing your own copies and selling them directly yourself.
|
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 9:45:08 GMT
Right, so I’ll have to have KDP generate a new ISBN for me and then retire it off Lulu, correct?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ken on Jun 13, 2021 10:33:36 GMT
Why go thro the problems of retiring it?
Leave it where it is and let it meander along on its own gathering future sales.
In the meantime create a new version. Retain the name, content and ll the details embodying some small changes.
Then get a new ISBN from Amazon and republish with them.
Don’t forget to edit the ISBN in the book and on the cover.
|
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 10:41:58 GMT
Because if I don’t retire it on Lulu, the old version will remain on Amazon, and I only want the fixed version to be on Amazon, not the old version.
No, I certainly won’t forget.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ken on Jun 13, 2021 14:30:53 GMT
Fairy Snuff.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2021 18:11:25 GMT
Fairy Snuff. That was good help, Ken. Have a great evening. |
|
|
|
Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jun 13, 2021 18:50:05 GMT
You also wouldn't be able to leave the old ISBN version on Lulu Press without taking Amazon away as a distribution partner as it's a violation of the Lulu Press Terms of Service. Another point to consider, a book published through Amazon KDP doesn't need an ISBN.
For a print book you're also better off having Amazon as a stand alone and then distribute directly through IS.
|
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 21:02:54 GMT
You also wouldn't be able to leave the old ISBN version on Lulu Press without taking Amazon away as a distribution partner as it's a violation of the Lulu Press Terms of Service. Another point to consider, a book published through Amazon KDP doesn't need an ISBN.
For a print book you're also better off having Amazon as a stand alone and then distribute directly through IS.
Right, that’s another reason why I have to retire it from Lulu. You’re right that an eBook through KDP doesn’t need an ISBN, but a paperback certainly does, and it generates one for you if you don’t have one already. What’s IS? |
|
|
|
Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jun 13, 2021 22:25:13 GMT
IS, Ingram Spark. You're right, technically a print book in distribution needs an ISBN, one that isn't going through Ingram and has one sales point is a different story. Which had me do a bit of checking to find out a few things have changed with Amazon KDP and it's contract with IS. This article explains it fairly well. www.birdsofafeatherpress.com/print-isbn-amazon-ingramspark/Which begs the question what is the aim in publishing your book? If you publish print through KDP it's going to go to Ingram similarly to the deal you have with Lulu Press. If you're only interested in Amazon sales then use KDP and the KDP ISBN. Bookstores likely won't touch the book because they want the 55% discount and returns. If you're interested in widespread distribution and possible bookstore sales as well as Amazon sales, then get your own ISBN and go through IS. At times Amazon lowers prices it charges for books it sells [the seller still gets the royalty if it's sold under normal cost]. As an exercise I checked IS for cost on a sample paperback of 172 pages [the number of pages divisible by four is the norm]. The format of 6"x9", B&W interior on 50# paper, Matte finish cover, 172 pages, 55% discount and returns, prints for $3.41 [if memory serves] and nets the author / publisher $1.09 in royalty when listed for $10.00. The book would cost a bookstore $4.50 [$10 - 55% = 4.50] plus whatever shipping cost. |
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 13, 2021 23:12:14 GMT
IS, Ingram Spark. You're right, technically a print book in distribution needs an ISBN, one that isn't going through Ingram and has one sales point is a different story. Which had me do a bit of checking to find out a few things have changed with Amazon KDP and it's contract with IS. This article explains it fairly well. www.birdsofafeatherpress.com/print-isbn-amazon-ingramspark/Which begs the question what is the aim in publishing your book? If you publish print through KDP it's going to go to Ingram similarly to the deal you have with Lulu Press. If you're only interested in Amazon sales then use KDP and the KDP ISBN. Bookstores likely won't touch the book because they want the 55% discount and returns. If you're interested in widespread distribution and possible bookstore sales as well as Amazon sales, then get your own ISBN and go through IS. At times Amazon lowers prices it charges for books it sells [the seller still gets the royalty if it's sold under normal cost]. As an exercise I checked IS for cost on a sample paperback of 172 pages [the number of pages divisible by four is the norm]. The format of 6"x9", B&W interior on 50# paper, Matte finish cover, 172 pages, 55% discount and returns, prints for $3.41 [if memory serves] and nets the author / publisher $1.09 in royalty when listed for $10.00. The book would cost a bookstore $4.50 [$10 - 55% = 4.50] plus whatever shipping cost. Wow, thanks for all that very valuable info. When you say to get my ISBN and go through IS, do you mean to get my ISBN from IS? At this point, I’m not the least bit concerned about getting my books in bookstores. I’m fine with only Amazon sales. |
|
|
|
Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jun 13, 2021 23:41:04 GMT
|
|
rayme
Junior Reader
Posts: 14
|
Post by rayme on Jun 14, 2021 0:39:19 GMT
Wow, those IS ISBNs are expensive. It's fine, then; I'll just get my free one from KDP like I've done with three other books plus one I published through CreateSpace three years ago before it merged with KDP. I know that they're listed on Ingram and that this one will be too, so that's good enough for me.
Thanks again. You were extremely helpful!
|
|
