Question from Reader
How do I set up a book copyright page with a proper copyright notice?
John’s Answer
The only thing you absolutely need on the copyright page for your book is a proper copyright notice. There are many other things you can add but that’s the only absolute requirement.
The Copyright Notice
Here is how the copyright notice should read:
Copyright 2012 by John Kremer
or
© 2012 by John Kremer
Where the date is the year of the copyright and where the author’s name (or name of the copyright owner) follows.
Other Elements of a Book Copyright Page
You can follow the copyright notice with a rights reservation statement, something like the following:
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.
And you might add a permissions request statement at the end of the above statement:
For permission requests, write to the publisher in care of Attention: Permissions Coordinator at the address below.
For promotional purposes, I believe you should always include the name of your company, address, phone, fax, email, and website – something like this:
Open Horizons
P O Box 2887
Taos NM 87571
575-751-3398
Fax: 575-751-3100
Email: info@bookmarket.com
Web: http://www.bookmarket.com
You might also include a printing statement such as the following:
Printed in the United States of America
With a statement of the printing (using numbers like the following, and then delete one number at the end for each new printing):
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
And, perhaps, an edition statement:
Second Edition
You can also include the Cataloging-in-Publication data or Library of Congress number but, quite honestly, they are becoming more and more irrelevant for most books. They don’t really lead to additional sales.
But do include the ISBN number for the edition of the book and, if you want, a list of other editions of the book with their corresponding ISBN numbers.
In addition, you could feature quantity order information, bulk pricing, or trade distribution – something like the following:
Special discounts are available for bulk purchases by associations, corporations, schools, etc. For details, contact the publisher’s special sales department at the address above.
Bookstores and wholesalers – Please order from our distributor, National Book Network, by calling xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Finally, you could feature a statement about the typeface used, the non-toxic soy-based ink, recycled paper use, etc. – especially if you want to appeal to libraries (who like acid-free paper that last a lot longer) or environmentalists (who like recycled paper and non-toxic inks).
No trees were harmed in the publication of this post.
John Kremer is the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books as well as the developer of the following programs:
Book Marketing Magic: http://www.bookmarket.com/novelmarketing.htm – How to market novels, children’s books, memoirs, and more. $48 special offer
15,000 Eyeballs Internet Marketing Program: http://www.bookmarket.com/15000eyeballs.htm – Ten lessons on how to get thousands of impressions for you, your book, your blog, or your website. $50
Real Fast Book Marketing: http://www.bookmarket.com/realfastbookmarketing.htm – How to sell 100 to 200 copies of any book in two weeks or less. $97
Blog Tour Palooza: http://www.bookmarket.com/blog-tour-palooza.htm – How to carry out a blog tour or virtual book tour that gets millions of impressions, builds your brand, and sells thousands of books. $297
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