I'm a new author who is starting from zero. I intend to release three ebooks of a science fiction series in fast succession at Amazon KDP-KU, with paperbacks and hardcovers at IngramSpark. I was going to delay the purchase of a block of ISBNs until I'm closer to publishing, but there are a couple of things that may accelerate the buy. I'm not interested in the discussion of whether or not I need ISBNs for ebooks, take it as a given.
It appears to me that it is a good idea to set up my author page at Goodreads and BookBub well in advance of first publication because it gives me access to additional tools.
I already have a moderate presence at Goodreads as a reader. The minimum trigger to be able to convert that presence to an author page is either an ASIN or an ISBN. Since I won't have an ASIN until I publish, the ISBN will do.
I just set up a profile at BookBub because I intend to use their ad platform as an author when the time comes. There are better tools available there if you engage with the platform. The earlier you start engaging, the faster those tools become available. I've asked BookBub what the minimum trigger there is to convert a regular profile to an author profile, but it's the weekend and I haven't heard yet - no diss on them. I asked them - Is it the registration of the ISBN, or do I have to wait until the ebook is listed for pre-order? Does anyone here know?
When I do get my ISBNs, I will associate the first three numbers with the three ebooks that I'm about to publish. Print numbers will follow later as I set them up at IngramSpark.
Here are the questions:
At MyIdentifiers/Bowker, can I just upload a cover for each one of the three ISBNs for the ebooks, and stop there until I have more to add?
If so, when I tell Goodreads and BookBub that those are my ISBNs and ebooks, will they pull in that cover to my author page/profile?
I'll followup with the same questions to MyIdentifiers, but I've held off there to give them time to recover from the hack. I figure this week should be good to go.
ETA: Clarifications