FIRSTS AND SECONDS
Yesterday I got TWO of my ten allotted author’s copies of NO MARK UPON HER from Pan Macmillan, UK. For a writer, there’s nothing quite like the first time you hold a book you wrote in your hands. An actual BOOK. Not a printed or copy-edited manuscript, or type-set pages, or a bound galley. A real BOOK. Bliss.
There was, however, one small disappointment. They were second editions. The first printing sold out before the official release date–none left even for the author.
This, of course, is very happy news for me, although not so happy for book collectors who wanted–or ordered–signed first UK editions.
For those who are curious, here’s how you tell a first edition from a second:
There is a string of numbers on the lower half of the copyright page.
A UK first edition looks like this: 135798642
If the 1 is missing, it’s a second printing. If the 2 is also missing, it’s a third printing. And so on.
The numbering is formatted a little differently in the US, strictly from right to left, as in: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
But the principle is the same. If the 1 is missing, it’s a second printing, etc.
Unfortunately, my photo doesn’t convey how gorgeous this cover is–it’s much greener than it appears in the picture. And it depicts Temple Island, just north of Henley-on-Thames, one of the most scenic spots in Britain and where much of NO MARK UPON HER takes place.
The cover of the US edition, out in February, will be quite different but also very striking. And while the first US printing from William Morrow will undoubtedly be bigger than that of the UK edition, if you want to be sure of a signed first edition, pre-order from The Poisoned Pen or Murder by the Book, where I’ll be signing in February.
And in the meantime, thanks to all you readers for buying up those books!
A little book-collecting lesson, and some fun sneak-peek links for the setting of NO MARK!
YAY!!!! Can’t wait to read it! When will it be in Canada??
Wish I were holding one in my hands.
All of the shipment we got in were firsts.. Phew!!!
McKenna, whew! Leslie, it will be available in Canada at the same time as the US. (Unless, of course, you want to order a first UK edition from Murder by the Book, if they still have some:-))
Loving it Deb !
I am soooo thrilled I pre-ordered from UK long ago and got 1st edition from there – I also ordered a signed copy from PP in united states, can’t wait for that one to arrive also……………………………..non-reader hubby doesn’t get why I would want two copies of same book (rolling my eyes)
)
Congrats on sell out in UK that book needed second printing already ! Hope USA prints enough, I’m sure many have ordered also ordered signed copies and are waiting for those to arrive in mailbox.
Looking foward to # 15 !!!
hugs
Mar
P.S. for those who did not order from UK – the cover is beautiful, a very serene color green
Congrats, Deborah! You’re right…there’s nothing like it. Enjoy!
I got my first edition from Murder by the Book
and I’m thrilled to see that you’ll be signing there again in the spring.
Well now I am intrigued. I wonder if my Kindle edition is a ……….. who knows what it could be. I would suspect that as it is a transcription of a book it could well be a 1st edition as the numbering system must follow the same format. I would have to sneak to the end to ascertain this information.
I’m sure it is wonderful! All your books are!
Kindle editions get updated. They usually notify you when they do it. I LOVE my kindle, but when I met another author in my bookstore, WHILE I WAS READING HER BOOK ON KINDLE, I suddenly realized she couldn’t sign it!! so, I bought copies for signing. See. Books will be with us always.
PS: Deborah, please come to Virginia!
I have just finished No Mark Upon Her and am feeling very sad. It was the best I have ever read .Please dont keep us waiting too long for the next one. I love to read but nothing will live up to your novels Deborah. By the way I pre ordered my copy from Amazon as soon as I knew about it and it is a third edition! I agree it is a lovely cover picture and it is even nicer to know where the scene was taken. Every good wish with many more books to come!
I couldn’t wait until the US edition comes out, so I pre-ordered from the UK and got what I now know is a second edition…but where is the map? Does that only come in the US edition? I love the maps! In fact, I’ve always wished your publisher would make the maps available for purchase. I’d love to frame them and have a couple of my favorites on the wall. Just asking…
Like Jan, I pre-ordered the UK edition, and was disappointed by both the 2nd edition and the absence of the MAPS! I agree that the maps could be sold separately, especially those of the London area.
I loved the book – all your books – but No Mark is not as layered, nuanced, or detailed as I’ve come to expect. This is not a criticism, but an observation. When I finished the book, I waited two days and re-read it because I missed it so much.
I realize you have a life, as they say, and are not a writing machine, but I hope there are more to come and am waiting for the next. I think I’ll re-read them all in order. You have captured a real slice of current Britain and distilled it so that all can experience it. I am an anglophile who has spent a lot of time there, over the course of twelve visits and long stays. Please keep it up.
Please could you explain why the american edition is published 6 months after the british one.
I find it utterly ridiculous. I live in Argentina and reading the ebooks is treal solution for the post problemas. I love the books and cannot buy britishebooks/
Please do something about this wheb your future wonderful books are published.
Best Regards
Diana
Dear Diana– I’m sorry you’ve had an issue with the order of publication, but I’m afraid it has nothing to do with me! These were scheduling decisions made by the completely separate publishers in the US and the UK, and for this particular book it worked out that the UK edition was slotted first. I’m glad you enjoy the books and hope you’ll find NO MARK worth the wait when the US edition publishes in February.
best
Deborah
Thanks, Sheila! I’m so glad you liked the book. The UK cover is lovely, and is of course a view of Temple Island. Very appropriate!
Audrey, the inclusion of the maps, like the order of publication, is not up to me. The maps are commissioned from the wonderful illustrator Laura Maestro by the US publisher, Harper Collins, and therefore only appear in the US editions. Once the book is published in the US the map will go up on my web page, as have all the previous maps. Thanks very much for your comments.
I just started reading No mark upon her on a flight to Portugal today and immediately fell in love. Having been a rower at Oxford some years ago myself and also familiar with the sites around Henley (even though I never was able to row there…), I very much enjoyed all the memories the beginning of your story brought back to my mind. Besides – as a non-native English speaker – it was so funny to see all the rowing therminology in writing. It ocurred to me that I only spoke rowing language so far. Unfortunately the book got lost on the last leg of our journey so I will have to help myself to another copy as soon as I get back home. But I already feel like it won’t be the last of your books I’m up to buy