nizo's Journal: Book signing etiquette?

Is it considered bad form to bring an ex library book to a book signing? I tend to buy all of my books used, and a sizeable chunk of those are former library books.

kind of

[mschuyler]

Well, it's kind of tacky. It also lets the author know the library has thrown the book away--can't be a good feeling. Maybe if you took the approach that you were "saving" this book from oblivion the humor might carry the day. It won't add value. ex libris arent worth aything.

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[nizo]

Huh, so even signed ex library books aren't worth jack? Interesting.... though seriously, I am mainly going to meet the author.

Oh, and I guess mentioning I found the books in a dumpster behind the Goodwill wouldn't go over well either. :-) Ok so they all came from used bookstores and through amazon, which isn't much better......

I am hoping to buy the author's newest book at the signing, which hopefully would go some way towards making things look better too. "Wow, I was so happy to have stumbled across thes

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[linvir]

I am hoping to buy the author's newest book at the signing

I think that makes it okay. With a freshly bought copy of the new book in your hand, you are the ideal fan and customer for the author and the store, so surely you get a little leeway from that.

I think it'd be alright

[StalinsNotDead]

As long as you don't say something like "Could you hurry it up? This thing is due back today."

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[Shadow Wrought]

LOL, thanks for that;-)

I think its OK. I buy all my books used, too. I agree with the first poster (sorry, forget the name) that a humurous comment would certainly help. Especially if you tell them how great they are, too.

Out of curiosty, who's the author/book?

Out of threadjacking, a paralegal I used tow ork with once worked at a SF bookstore in LA. Heinlein himself came in for a book signing. Some poor schmoe brought up one of his earlier works which Heinlein hated, so Heinlein took, ripped page

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[peacefinder]

Holy cow. Any idea which book he [heinleincentennial.com] ripped up?

That might explain a particular bit from Stranger in a Strange Land which has always cracked me up: "You have to give an editor something to change, or he gets frustrated. After he pees in it himself, he likes the flavor much better, so he buys it." There seems to be some authentic bitterness in that barb...

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[Shadow Wrought]

I just realized that I'm an idot. It wasn't Heinlein, it was Harlan Ellison. I have no idea which book. You are not far off on Heinlein, either. Expanded Universe is a collection of stories and essays and include many a tidbit, too. He started writing because he needed money and knew he could do it better than the other hacks;-)

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[johndiii]

Yeah, Ellison would totally do that. He has a thing about Christmas cards, too, IIRC. And don't *ever* ask him about Last Dangerous Visions. :-) Heck of a gifted writer, though.

I will try to remember to answer this later

[nizo]

Because there is a story involved, sorta :-) So hopefully this will remind me.....

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[Shadow Wrought]

How about now? Are you ready to answer now?

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[nizo]

I recently bought the book:
Clem: The Story of a Raven by Jennifer Owings Dewey

She is a local author. The story was awesome, because it reminded me of the raven we had when I was a kid (quite a long story all by itself). This true life story has some other things strangly like things from my childhood too. Anyway, apparently she is having a book signing at a local bookstore, so I am hoping to go to meet her, as well as get a signed copy of her newest book :-)

There have been several author signings/appearance

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[IamBMETammy]

Ha, thanks! I needed a laugh.

It is not as good as a book you bought before

[WillAffleckUW]

Even if you bought a different book by the author, a used library book is not quite as good.

But, the main thing is that you did buy a book - some authors do well from money from library usage, so I don't know any who would refuse.

hmmm

[artifex2004]

I discovered that many stores around here didn't want you in line for the book signing unless you bought the book there, that day, with receipt stuck in it.

I've only had a couple of books signed, and I probably won't do any more. I know I've heard the author in person, but he or she's not my personal friend, so why do I need a memento? :)

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[nizo]

Naw I don't think an insult was intended; it is a good point that others have raised as well too. It does make me consider; what exactly is my motivation for getting a book (or books) signed? It could certainly raise the value of a book, but to me meeting the author (and supporting the author and the store hosting the signing) are more important.

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[ces]

I've had books signed at SF conventions, but at those any old copy of something by the author is OK.

I wouldn't go out of my way to go to a bookstore signing. The few times I have it was usually as part of a reading/talk with an author I really like. In those cases I've had a book signed either because I was picking it up there in the store or because I owned a rare volume or first edition.

I think it would depend on the author

[arb]

Some won't sign anything other than their current book they are promoting; some will only sign books you purchase on the day; some will sign anything (Terry Pratchett will even sign print outs of his short stories, emails, banana bread recipes, tea towels, books written by other authors, etc.)

Try checking on a couple of fan sites/forums to see what other people have said about previous signings to see what the author has signed at previous appearances. I would personally make sure to buy the current book at

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[nizo]

Hehe; nice info about Terry Pratchett (who I know nothing about, but already sounds cool based on what you said). Of course the smartass in me would be tempted to bring a Sharpie and say, "Hey, while you are signing all that..." as I start to unbuckle my belt. Thanks for the info :-)

p.s. Ahhh, he is the Discworld author; now I know why the name sounded familiar. Which of his books are your favs?

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[arb]

Terry is indeed a cool author. Way back in the day, before the "web", newsgroups were quite the place to be and when someone started up alt.fan.terry.pratchett, well it wasn't long before a certain terryp started posting. Always had a lot of time for his did Terry. Some of Pterry's book signing tours have become legendary - at least amongst Discworld fans. Breadstuffs and bananana daiquiris were commonly presented to Terry at signings, especially during the early days of alt.fan.terry.pratchett.

Favourite Pr

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[Shadow Wrought]

A further Dicworld question... Do you need to read them in order? There are quite a few of them and since I rely more on the library than the bookstore for my reading material, it'd be nice to know whether I need to start at the beginning or if I can just pick up which ever one they have.

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[arb]

The books can generally be read in any order as they are stand-alone stories. There are a couple of groups of books that feature the same characters which might benefit from reading in order - Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax in Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum; Sam Vimes and the City Watch in Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, Jingo, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch, and Thud!

I found this reading guide [lspace.org] on lspace, which seems to be a pretty good guide,

It depends on the author...

[RM6f9]

I actually cheated half a shift off of a job to meet Richard Bach at an Elliott Bay Book Co. reading he did - very nice man, very gracious, personalized and signed an interior page of "Illusions: Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah", when he was there promoting his newest book "Out of my Mind" - He's the one gave me the bug I have about wanting to fly (via "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"), but I like him anyway...

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[Shadow Wrought]

If you have not read Stranger to the Ground than you should certainly read that one also. My instructor (and good friend) gives it out as a gift to all of his students who solo. And, FWIW, we have taken to calling him Bichard Rach because, well, it helps mangle the Enlglish language, and that's the way we roll;-)

I'd also recommend Fate is the Hunter though I forget the author right now.

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[RM6f9]

Read it, and most of his other works as well. Of course, in my happy little delusion, I don't need equipment or machinery to fly... in the real world, I'm looking at getting a powered parachute ala www.sixchuter.com and over $20,000.00 for the whole set-up...

Ah, book signings... humiliating memories...

[bersl2]

Maybe four or five years ago, my favorite writer (at the time) came to town.

First of all, he's known for a series of books ostensibly for young adults, but since I like the particular subset of the fantasy genre he writes in, I read them. I'll bet I was the oldest person there who wasn't he, his wife, a parent, or an employee of the bookshop.

Now, I bring the paperback copy that I have of his first book, with the hope that I'll muster up the courage to ask him to sign that instead of the book he's promoting,

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[Shadow Wrought]

At least you didn't refer to him by a different authors name;-) I have had to kick myself more than once for saying something regretful at the wrong time. At least you're not alone.

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[Tet]

He's most definitely British, but his surname looks and with all likelihood is French in origin

Hmmmm. Until that line, I was thinking you might have been talking about David Eddings, but in light of that, I think I'll guess at Brian Jacques instead.