This is a complicated question Peter, and I can’t give a definitive answer. You should have a contract from the former publisher. Check to see what it says, and also check laws in your country about the legality of publishing your book again.

Good luck!

I really appreciate your inputs on writing a new edition or revised edition. I hope you will be able to help me with my issue.

I published a fiction, “the elimination alternative” through a publisher in 2010. It can be found on amazone.com and on many other online book outlets. But it was never published in my country or even marketed in any way. I never got any royalties whatsoever from the book. At the same time, the book was not well edited and has many typos and grammatical errors. The publishing firm that I used has since gone under and the proprietor is not responding to my calls…he has probably changed his number.
Now I am working on a revised edition of the same. I am correcting the typos and grammatical errors as well as sweetening the story, enriching sentences, adding paragraphs, e.t.c. I intend to approach local publishers and see if it can be published locally. If not, I will again try kindle or createspace. My questions: Do I need authority from the previous publisher? Do I need to consult the current online outlets? What happens if I cant contact the former publisher?

Your input on editions is much appreciated. I wrote a book that’s been in print and digital since 2011, and is getting updated with 2 new chapters, enhanced front and back matter and, most importantly, a new cover, a new title and a new author name. Createspace requires a new ISBN if you change title and author name. Amazon will not communicate clearly on this matter, but I’m going to assume the same for Kindle.

My questions are:
1) How do I handle the copyright page for this new version, e.g., the name of the edition, the date of copyright, do I mention the name and date of original edition on copyright page?
2) What should I put on the Amazon sales page?
3) Do I need to register the book again with the Register of Copyrights?
4) How do I prevent people who bought the original book on Amazon from buying again thinking it’s a new book, then possibly getting annoyed and leaving a poor review?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
Jon

Neil, I would go with “second edition.” Also consider using “completely revised” on the cover and in descriptions of the book. Best of luck with it!

I wrote a niche book in 2010 on Grandparents rights. This is an evolving field and the time has come to step up. I plan to change the entire trajectory of the book and add a lot of new stuff. I plan to change the cover. My question is whether there is more power in “2nd Edition’ as apposed to “New Edition”.

In response to the writer who needed to update some resources I find that I list some resources that I doubt will change, ie. AARP and then direct them to our web site for additional resources that might need changing now and then.

Thanks for your thoughtful idea sharing site. Your followers are like minded folks with astute contributions.

Grandpa NEIL

Most people go with “Book Title, second edition.”

In your case, if you decide to update it, I would call it a “revised edition.”

I’m very sorry to hear about your publisher, Matt.

I suggest you have your book professionally edited, and then publish it on CreateSpace and Kindle via Amazon.