Edition update / withdrawn editions > Likes and Comments

**Like a Shag on a Rock — definitive Author’s Edition / series and edition update**

Hi,

I’m the author of *Like a Shag on a Rock* and would appreciate some help updating the Goodreads records for the book.

There have previously been two published editions of the novel. Both of those editions have now been withdrawn from sale by the author/publishers and are no longer the current text.

A new **Author’s Edition (2026)** has now been published. This is a substantially revised and expanded edition and should be regarded as the **final, definitive version of the novel** going forward.

The new Author’s Edition also establishes *Like a Shag on a Rock* as the **prequel to the Man in Flight series**, beginning the story of Tom Harding before the events of *Stone the Crows* and the subsequent novels. The revisions and additional material have been written in part to establish that continuity, so the 2026 edition is now the intended starting point for readers of the series.

I’m not looking to remove the historical Goodreads records or their associated ratings/reviews, as I appreciate that Goodreads retains records of previously published editions. However, could the records please be updated so that:

* the two earlier editions are clearly identified as **withdrawn/out of print**;
* the new 2026 Author’s Edition is added/updated with its current ISBN/ASIN and publication details;
* the 2026 Author’s Edition is made the **primary/default edition** shown for the work, if Goodreads policy permits;
* all three are correctly linked as editions of the same underlying work, while retaining their individual publication information; and
* the 2026 Author’s Edition is identified as the **prequel/starting point to the Man in Flight series**, preceding *Stone the Crows*.

I can provide the ISBNs, ASINs, publication dates, cover images, and retailer/publisher links for all editions if required.

Many thanks for your help,

Vaughan Humphries
Author

Only the author can set the default edition.

Thanks, Scott. I've now set the default edition and marked the two earlier editions as 'Retired' in the title. I understand these records can't be removed from Goodreads, and I'm not asking for that.

Two further requests, if possible:

1. Could the ASIN (B00A0P6WL6) currently attached to the first edition be cleared and reassigned to the Author's Edition?
2. Could the descriptions on the two withdrawn editions be updated to read: **This edition has been withdrawn and is no longer available - please look for the Author's Edition, which supersedes it.**

Happy to provide anything further needed to action this. Thanks again for your help.

That is a violation of policy. If you want to retain your author status, you must abide by the standards of Goodreads.

It doesn't matter whether a book is out of print here. Goodreads is for readers to log their reading, whether the book is old or new.

ASINs cannot be moved.

As this is not an adding book request (and you can add your own books if necessary) I will move this thread to the closed folder.

Hi Scott,
I think there’s a mix-up on the ASIN point. The Librarian Manual was updated in 2018 specifically to allow an ISBN/ASIN to move from an older edition to the newest one when it’s the same number being reused, and a 2022 update reconfirmed this for the Alternate Cover Edition tool. That’s exactly what’s happened here: KDP kept the ASIN and it’s already shown as the newer edition on Amazon, so it’s the Goodreads record that’s out of step, not my request.
I’m not asking for anything outside policy, so I’d rather this wasn’t closed on that basis. Could you take another look, or pass it to someone else in the group if you’d prefer?
Thanks,
Vaughan

• goodreads.com/topic/show/19254140-ann...
• goodreads.com/topic/show/22287108-ann...

Kindles do not get alternate cover editions. This change was implemented more recently.

Hi Scott,

Rather than working through more edits myself, could I ask the group to apply the following corrections directly? I've checked all of this against the original print copies and the current Amazon listings, so it should just be a data fix, no judgement calls needed.

goodreads.com/book/show/16176512-like... - FastPrint Paperback
Publisher: FastPrint Publishing
First published: 2013
ISBN: 9781780355467
Description: "First published in 2013. A substantially revised and expanded Author's Edition followed in 2026; see Other Editions for that version."

goodreads.com/book/show/20614523-like... - FastPrint Kindle (ASIN B00A0P6WL6 - please leave as is)
Publisher: FastPrint Publishing
First published: 2013
Description: "First published in 2013 under this ASIN. The Kindle edition has since been revised in place twice more, most recently as the Author's Edition (2026) - see Other Editions for that listing. Revising under the same ASIN rather than issuing a new one is standard KDP practice and compliant with Amazon's guidelines."

goodreads.com/book/show/22430547-like... - Albury Books Paperback
Publisher: Albury Books
First published: 2014
ISBN: 9781909958999
Description: "First published in 2014. A substantially revised and expanded Author's Edition followed in 2026; see Other Editions for that version."

goodreads.com/book/show/21871234-like... - Albury Books Kindle (ASIN B0DT1DBGRS, discontinued - please leave as is)
Publisher: Albury Books
First published: 2014
Description: same as the Albury paperback above.

goodreads.com/book/show/26861838-like... - Albury Books ebook (ASIN B0DWTPLKMF, no ISBN)
Publisher: Albury Books
First published: 2014
Description: same as the Albury paperback above.

The Author's Edition (2026) is already added, combined with these five, and set as default, so nothing needed there.

Thanks for your help getting this squared away.

Vaughan

PS - you'd think, given Amazon owns Goodreads outright, that their own documentation wouldn't contradict itself like this. Clearly a wider gap between the two sides than anyone in this thread could ever fix.