Comments on: Did you change your mind about authors buying a single ISBN?

By: T. FENDRICH

T. FENDRICH — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:45:30 +0000

Heidi Weber from BOWKER took 3 e- mails to state that you are not autyhorized to issue ISBN’S and she is not aware that you were authorized to do what you are doing. I am confused. AM I GETTING A SINGLE ISBN IN THE NAME OF AGA ENTERPRISES?????? FOR $99.00 OR NOT?????

By: Krissy Guidici

Krissy Guidici — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:59:31 +0000

Is there a website for us to check the books in print titles to make sure our company’s name is designated without payig a fee to Bowker? Would love to see how these companies are listed.

By: Nolan Lewis

Nolan Lewis — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:59:04 +0000

Hi Ron,

I don’t know how many times I have posted similar statements on various forums, and how violently other writers have defended their publishers for making it asy to get an ISNN. Hope you have better luck than I have had at getting the word out.

By: Miss Caroline Brandt

Miss Caroline Brandt — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:20:17 +0000

That’s a nice service you have over there, the single ISBN for ebook or self-publication. I only wish you had the payment by Paypal option, as it is often convenient to make online payments by Paypal.

By: Jeff Howard

Jeff Howard — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:27:15 +0000

Ron, since you are the expert, explain the breakdown of how these single isbn s work. I was under the impression that the second portion of the isbn represented the publisher ie 0-955521-111-2 (the publisher number would be 955521). I know that the single isbn from bowker and their agents all have 0-615 starting. If those of us who buy single get isbns, we all have the same 615 publisher identifier? How do stores know who is the publisher if we all have the same prefix? The ISBN system is based on the structure that there is one international agency and then there are local agencies--one per country. A local agency has the authority to set aside a prefix (a block of ISBNs) and assign them to self-publishers as single ISBNs. No publisher has the authority to do this. Only the official ISBN Agency in a country can do this. (Verbage straight from RR Bowker) IE: If you buy the single from Bowker, you\'re fine. If you buy it from another publisher, no matter how they disguise themselves, it\'s not. Ron

By: Helen Gallagher

Helen Gallagher — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:18:32 +0000

Thanks so much for the single ISBN offer, Ron. I’ve posted the December special on my blog, hoping to send a few clients your way.

blog: releaseyourwriting.blogspot.com

Helen Gallagher

By: Wallace H. Little

Wallace H. Little — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:10:55 +0000

7 November 2007:—What can you tell me about “on-demand” publishing?
I am in the process of writing a book on specific debatable religious doctrines. My goal is to get this out but only with limited press runs to fulfill individual small-number orders. I am well aware this is not a money-making approach, but deem it sufficiently important to make the effort.

Thanks.

Wallace H. Little

By: Esther Allison

Esther Allison — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:22:53 +0000

Thanks Ron. You answered my question about single ISBNs. I’m glad you have been named as an authorized agent for Bowker. I will be ordering an ISBN for my mother’s book. Thanks for looking out for us “dabblers.” Thanks also for the newsletter. This is my first issue and already I have learned very valuable information!

By: Etta Brown

Etta Brown — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:36:05 +0000

thanks for the single ISBN number. My self-publishing company insists upon using their own ISBN. Now I have the confidence to do what needs to be done.

By: John Ware

John Ware — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:31:18 +0000

Frederiko, would that vanity publisher happen to be authorhouse?