
This is for all self-published writers, both new and old. I recently uploaded a corrected version of the text for my latest novella The Forgotten People to the original I had added and published on the 17th of March this year. Brilliant, I can now expect it to be posted to my books page on Amazon. Right? Wrong!
After communicating with the people at KDP, I realised that it was a case of wasted effort on my part. Why? Because they do not ‘update’ text on any book you’ve already published on KDP. Why not I hear you cry? Why not indeed! While they acknowledged that they could see I had done as I said when they took a look for themselves, it soon became blindingly obvious that while they are there to answer queries, that’s as far as they will go!
Instead, first you have to unpublish the original. Next, once more add the book, its cover and text etc, with ‘version 2’ also added for good measure. Then after all that, click ‘Publish’ once again, and wait for it to go live.
Once it is live, go to the ‘Author Central page’ on your Amazon Book page and ‘add’ it to your collection, as I did before writing this post on Thursday last. Then I had to wait until Amazon finally get round to doing their part by adding it to my book list, before it is seen by the book reading public. This can, and does, take several hours! Regarding my book appearing on my book pages, in this instance Amazon.com were the first to do so, taking three hours to complete the task. Unfortunately here in the British Isles, Amazon.co.uk’s woeful response meant it lagged behind, taking eleven hours…
What a rigmarole? Thank god I don’t often update a book’s content! Remember – KDP don’t help, they only ever provide us the writers with the tool to self-publish our work. As always, we do all the work – not them.
Learn from my first-hand experience. It’s in your interest to do so.
PS – By the way. If you would like to get yourselves a free copy of The Forgotten People, you have from today Saturday the 3rd, until Wednesday the 7th of this month to obtain it from the Amazon site of your choosing…
Good reading,
Jack
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Thank you very much for the useful information. It seems KDP has no versioning implemented The best, you had nailed it. Great, and thank you also for the wonderful offer. Have a beautiful weekend, and if you are celebrating enjoy nice Easter days. Michael
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Thanks Michael 😉
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:-))
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Makes me wonder what else they don’t do that we have always assumed they do?
Thanks for the heads up, Jack!
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Until you try something like I did, you simply don’t know…
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This must be recent. I updated a book a few months back and the new version is live
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It’s not recent – Simply put, they do not update. You have to publish a new edition. End of story!!!
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As I said, my book was updated and I had no problems with it. New version went live within minutes
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Lucky you. Believe me, it doesn’t happen anymore. You should take the time to read their rules!
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I’ve always assumed my re-uploads went through OK as I’ve had messages saying the book was available afterwards. Cover replacements have certainly happened as expected.
I’d better go back and look (if I can remember what my last changes were… 😦 )
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With KDP never assume anything!
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That is the truest statement ever…
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Thanks my friend. Much appreciated. 😉
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Reblogged this on Just Can't Help Writing and commented:
I didn’t know this! It’s worth checking your KDP publications to make sure your buyers are getting the edition you want them to have. Thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape for sharing this.
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Make the choice simple for them – unpublish the previous editions befopre you upload the latest one…
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Reblogged this on wordrefiner.
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I can’t thank-you enough for this information. I am planning on doing this with my book as well. You just saved me a lot of time and frustration.
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I’m glad I could be of service. 😉
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I have never had a problem updating my books (even for a simple missing comma that a reader found). The process is quite simple. What they do not do though is push that update through to previous buyers. However, you can send them an email and they will do that.
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Not in the British Isles…
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