Dear Readers,
It’s time for me to practise what my book preaches—find that silver lining.
This post is meant to explain and clarify a few things regarding my book(s), The Wishing Flower.
First, I would like to thank everyone who has purchased a copy of my book. I truly appreciate all the support and enthusiasm.
So, I originally published my book in January, but decided, for several reasons, to get it republished. The republication date of my book is April 8, 2022. However, the publication date will appear as January 13, 2022 (and will remain so regardless of how many times it gets republished, as is the case for any published book).
I was unaware that there is an “ingestion” period of 2-3 weeks between when a book is revised/republished and being deliverable to a customer. Upon finding out that people have received the older version of my book, I emailed my publisher and below is the response that I received:
Please be assured that the revised edition of your book The Wishing Flower has been submitted to our distribution partners and printers. And, we are no longer printing the January 2022 version.
Some of the reasons why a customer will receive outdated copy(ies) of the book is when:
· The order was placed prior to the ingestion of the updated/revised edition. Normally, ingestion will take 2-3weeks from the completion date of the revised book.
· If the reseller (Amazon) has stocked copies of the book, Amazon will deplete their stocked copies regardless if outdated.
We do not handle the fulfillment of Amazon book orders. If a customer received a defective book copy or for any concern about the quality of the book an Amazon customer received, it must be reported to Amazon Customer Service so that Amazon can send a replacement or refund.
Something else that has been brought to my attention from a couple of people is the condition of the book that came in the mail. Please also note that if the book is damaged/defective, you can request for a refund/replacement in your account under “Returns & Orders.” We suspect that any defects to a book like dents, marks, scratches are due to the careless handling of when the book was packaged or during the delivery process.
Amazon allows for 200 characters in the comment box when making a request. A suggestion for what you should write:
I received a copy that is outdated and should no longer be sellable. I would like to request a replacement order for the correct version of the book, which was revised and republished April 8, 2022.
For anyone who has purchased a copy of my book from Amazon in April (or plan on ordering one), I kindly ask that you hold off until Monday May 2, at the earliest, to place an order for an updated copy, if you choose to, so that we can ensure that you receive the correct one.
Outdated version (published January 13, 2022).
Updated version (republished April 8, 2022).
I spoke with a fellow author who had something similar happen to her. She had reprinted her book and received a copy of the old version after having placed an order on Amazon. It seems like the typical "wait-time" is 2-3 weeks, however, it's always best to confirm with your publisher as it may vary for each channel/online seller. Lesson learned.
I am so grateful for everyone who bought my book and I apologize if you received an outdated version—it was not the one that I wanted you all to have on your bookshelves. That being said, I am embracing the fact that it is out there for all to see. A part of me is glad that you did get to see it, as it is one of the initial versions of my story (I'm calling it "Version 1"). There are slight differences between the two, but the main ones, really, are the ending (I called it an “alternate ending” when I showed it to a friend) and the blurb about the book.
The one that was published in April (and the one that you were supposed to receive) is “Version 3.” As part of rectifying the situation for my friends and family who got the “wrong version” of my book, you will be receiving a free electronic copy of “Version 2.” This one I consider a “narrative poem” as opposed to just being a “narrative”—so it is the structure that differs. I wanted to sprinkle more poetic bits into the first one, however (hence one of the reasons for the republication), in case I end up not publishing the narrative poem, so that it would be the best of both worlds. I had planned to publish it sometime next year, but now feel called to get it out sooner and share it (Version 2) with you all. But, should you decide to keep the original one that you received, I would be fine with that as well.
So in total, there are three versions of The Wishing Flower, and if you end up reading all three, I would be delighted to get your feedback on which you like best. I have actually read both the narrative poem and narrative to a few friends and classes that I taught and they all liked the narrative version better, so that was one of the reasons that I decided to publish that one first.
Another thing that I would like to point out, is for my friends outside of Canada, if you cannot find my book by simply putting in the name of the title, you may want to try including my name as well. For some reason my book doesn’t appear with just the title entered at Amazon.com.
I have personally reached out to those whom I know received an outdated version, but if I am not aware that you currently have the “incorrect” one, do reach out to me and let me know.
I sincerely apologize for the mix-up and for any damages/defects that your book may have. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for bearing with me and for your continued love and support!!
Yours Truly,
Alice
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