When a Book Isn’t “One and Done”

I’m about to release a second edition of my novel Knitting Through Time—a little more than a year after the first edition came out. You might be wondering why. Didn’t we used to think of books as fixed in stone, printed, bound, and forever done?

That was true when publishing meant typesetting and ink on paper. But these days, books don’t have to be “one and done.” Publishing has gone digital, and that opens up all kinds of possibilities for writers like me.

I’ve started to think a little like a software developer: get Version 1.0 out there, see how it performs, and don’t be afraid to revise. If something needs fixing, or if readers offer insights that help make the story stronger, I can go back in and improve it. No shame in the update—it’s part of the creative process.

We tend to treat the publication of a novel as one, holy, unchangeable work of art, but the truth is, art evolves. Whether it’s a painting, a symphony, or a story, creativity is a living process. Technology now lets us circle back, rethink, and reimagine.

And I’m hardly the first to do it!

• F. Scott Fitzgerald revised The Great Gatsby for later printings.
• Toni Morrison made small but powerful edits in later editions of The Bluest Eye.
• Stephen King expanded The Stand into an uncut edition years after its first release.
• Even J.R.R. Tolkien tinkered endlessly with The Hobbit to make it fit better with The Lord of the Rings.

So, here I am—embracing my own “second edition moment.”

I loved my first edition of Knitting Through Time. It wove together storylines from different eras, showing women in various centuries facing the same questions about faith, purpose, and belonging. But some readers found those weaving timelines a little confusing. They wanted to follow one thread at a time.

So, I listened. The new edition tells the same stories, but in chronological order, so readers can move more smoothly from one generation to the next. It’s less experimental, perhaps, but it honors what I value most: clear storytelling and meaningful connection.

This new edition is on its way to Amazon now, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon.

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Happy Reading! Cindy

Cynthia Coe is a novelist, knitter, and spiritual writer whose books explore the power of community, craft, and quiet faith. She’s the author of The Prayer Shawl Chronicles series and several church resources used in congregations across the country.

She is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and St. Augustine, Florida.

➡️ Explore her books on Amazon: amazon.com/author/cynthiacoe