Do Books Outdate?

When you write your first novel or non-fiction work, is there any way to know for sure if the book will become outdated? Do authors even consider the possibility?
Gone With the Wind was released decades ago but remains a favorite and is truly a legend in the literary world. Yet an original and complete set of 1920 Britannia Encyclopedias are virtually worth nothing—why?

A well written fiction book should never outdate; a story is a story. But non-fiction writers beware, or should I say, “be aware.” Although history is history and will no longer change, many informational books suffer due to new science or technology. Even a family history book might be considered outdated once new family members are born into this world.

When and if your book outdates you can re-publish it with the same name as a new edition. Understand that with each new edition or format, you will need a new ISBN (International Standard Book Number). ISBN’s are assigned each time a book changes. If you create a recorded or CD version to sell, you will need a new ISBN. Any changes made to a published book with an original ISBN require a new number. FYI, printing additional copies with no changes at all, does not require a new ISBN.

There are few ways to get past the need for a new ISBN. When I wrote my latest non-fiction book, 100 Ways to Market Your Book for Free (or really cheap), I knew all along the book would outdate, and rapidly. I had to decide if I would be willing to re-write updated versions on a regular basis or come up with another solution—I did just that. I published the book as an e-book without an ISBN. Although this does limit my coverage in the book world, because I work directly with authors, I still get direct exposure through my Websites and Blogs. “My audience” is right here.

As an e-book, I can make changes to the text and update the content anytime the information in the book changes, i.e., Website links, new ideas, recommendations from the books readers. Then I simply re-publish the book with the same name. It’s not the traditional method of book publishing, but sometimes you need to think outside the box and do what works for your publication.

So when you are considering writing a non-fiction book, ask yourself these questions:

*Will the content or information in the book outdate?
*Will I need to re-publish the book with updated content in the future?
*Should I purchase a rack of ISBN’s (10-15) rather than just one?
*What is the most cost-effective and simplest way to produce the book based on the need to update the information?
*Should I make the book into a series (see post below at http://abookinside.blogspot.com/2010/01/are-you-considering-writing-book-series.html)?
Authors, please share your own insight in the comment section below.

For The Love of Helping a Good Cause-Book Donations

Many published authors choose to support a worthwhile and personal cause through their book sales. A portion of my own book sales goes to Breast Cancer Research as well as libraries affected by natural disaster. As the season of giving quickly approaches, I would like to share an interview I recently had with another author who makes her own contribution through her books revenue, Jo Fulkerson. Jo has been blessed with the talent to write a book and smart enough to have it published; now she contributes a portion of her book sales to her own personal cause. Read on.

Carol Denbow: How or why did you decide you needed to "work for the cause?" What is your mission?

Jo Fulkerson: I guess I decided to write for and about social issues dealing with young people because I have always been interested in young people and concerned for their issues. As a Wal-Mart employee for ten years, I couldn't help seeing so many young people practically ignored and left to their own devices by parents day in and day out. We raised five children, lost one at 14 in a car accident, and I very recently lost a grandson, so my feelings for young people run deep. If I have an actual mission, it is to create fictional "heroes" for young people to look up to and perhaps give them an incentive to make something of their lives, perhaps even unobtrusively showing young people that there are people who care about them and want to do something for them.

Carol Denbow: You told me about your idea to donate your book to schools. Why are the schools so important to you and how did you get involved?

Jo Fulkerson: The idea of getting my book into schools was not original with me. Somewhere along the line while researching promotional outlets, it was suggested, especially since my novel deals with teenagers. I have only just begun to expand on this idea, but realized that the cost of really doing this on a large enough scale to make any kind of impact was beyond my means.

Carol Denbow: What is your dream result from all your hard work?

Jo Fulkerson: My dream result would be to make a difference in the lives of young people, having my characters become special "friends" and reach out to anyone who might need a friend at a particular moment in their lives.

Carol Denbow: How can other authors get involved with your cause?

Jo Fulkerson: Anyone who would like to help further this can do so by buying copies of FOR LOVE OF TEDDY to be donated to schools, either in a designated area or in any area, or by making donations to be used to purchase copies of the book to be placed in schools. (If they order copies through me, they are about $10 less than anywhere else.) My Website is www.freewebs.com/thedesertwriter and info about the book and about ordering is posted there.

Carol Denbow: Tell us about the book.

Jo Fulkerson: FOR LOVE OF TEDDY tells the story of Michael Kirkpatrick, high school senior basketball star, and his younger brother, Teddy. Michael is determined to save his brother, Teddy, from the clutches of teenage drug dealers. Feeling responsible for Teddy's slight mental handicap, Michael wages his own war to get rid of the dealers and the supplier. Teddy is mistakenly singled out by the school's Assistant Principal who sees Teddy hand a small package back to Leo, a teenage drug dealer, not realizing the true circumstances of Teddy's involvement. Teddy is further duped and manipulated by the dealer to run an "errand" for him. Michael then becomes more determined to bring down the drug dealers by convincing Leo that he, himself, will get involved in Leo's dealings if Leo will leave Teddy alone. When Michael confronts the supplier, his own life falls into jeopardy and his basketball prowess comes into play as he fights for his life and to bring down the supplier.

Carol Denbow: Are there any future books inside Jo?

Jo Fulkerson: Although I have begun another young adult novel dealing with foster children, I have put that on the shelf and will be working on another novel dealing with teens and drugs in which I plan to reach deeper and more dramatically into the issue.

Carol Denbow: Jo, thanks you for being here and sharing your information with us; you are an inspiration.

For more information about Jo Fulkerson’s fundraising project, or to order her book, visit her Website at www.freewebs.com/thedesertwriter.