The points of issue
Cemetery Dance Publications first edition, 1998, in the Cemetery Dance Novella Series; signed limited edition of 450 numbered copies. Gauntlet Press issued a later trade paperback (2002) adding two previously unpublished stories.
Is this the true first?
The Cemetery Dance signed limited of 450 copies is the true first; the Gauntlet trade paperback is a later, expanded first-thus.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
N/A; limited-press edition with no book club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Right to Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cemetery Dance Publications first edition, 1998, in the Cemetery Dance Novella Series; signed limited edition of 450 numbered copies. Gauntlet Press issued a later trade paperback (2002) adding two previously unpublished stories.
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. The Cemetery Dance signed limited of 450 copies is the true first; the Gauntlet trade paperback is a later, expanded first-thus.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
N/A; limited-press edition with no book club issue.
I have a first edition of Right to Life — 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.