The points of issue
Dell paperback original in the Twilight: Where Darkness Begins YA horror line (number 11), published March 1983 as by Carl Laymon (ISBN 0-440-95945-4).
Is this the true first?
Paperback original under the Carl Laymon byline; no earlier edition exists.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A (paperback original).
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Nightmare Lake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Dell paperback original in the Twilight: Where Darkness Begins YA horror line (number 11), published March 1983 as by Carl Laymon (ISBN 0-440-95945-4).
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. Paperback original under the Carl Laymon byline; no earlier edition exists.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A (paperback original).
I have a first edition of Nightmare Lake — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.