An author of some knitting books is going to be in town this weekend for a book signing. I’ve been to two book signings in my life. The first, for Dick Francis, I didn’t buy a book and didn’t get anything signed because I was young and scared and not sure what was going on, and I had brought no money with me. I brought one of his books I already owned, and that was wrong, I guess.
The second, for Earlene Fowler, I bought her new book there at that bookstore. Paid more than I would have liked to, but there it is, a hardback sitting amidst all the paperbacks of hers I own.
Now for this book signing this weekend, for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, I’m torn. I’m too broke right now to buy her new book, but if I weren’t, and bought it elsewhere, is it okay to bring it to the competitor’s bookstore? I know the whole point of a book signing is to get you to buy the book there, but what if I had bought the book there the day before and had just heard about the book signing that morning? Are they going to check my receipt? And I have one of her previous books (it’s actually Lillith Fairs’s that I borrowed two years ago and have yet to return) that I’d like to get autographed (sort of as a thank you to LF for letting me borrow it for so long). I have a feeling it’s not allowed to bring in old books to be autographed, but I may be wrong about that. Or, if I buy the new book there, can I ask her to also autograph the old one?
And why don’t they post the “Standards of Behavior” for book signings somewhere so I don’t have to agonize over this?
Ask the bookstore. Policies vary. I attended an Anne Rice signing once (madonna, was I ever that young…) where there were big “ALL BOOKS MUST BE PURCHASED HERE” signs and an Alice Walker signing in an indie bookstore where you were allowed to bring your own copies, so it depends strictly on what their policy is.
If it’s a bookstore, though, I doubt they’ll let you.
In my experience, it is not required for you to purchase the book at the specific store…it’s ok if you already own it, you can just bring your copy, and it’s no big deal. Also, at most signings, you can bring other items, such as older books, and the person will happily sign them (as long as it’s not more than a couple of items). If there is a reason that they don’t want any additional items signed, the store will make that announcement (usually it’s if the store is expecting a very large crowd, or time is otherwise limited). I would go ahead and bring the second book you want autographed, and if the store does not make such an announcement, go ahead and ask the author to sign both. She will probably be happy to. I love going to book signings & meeting authors, and they usually are very, very appreciative of their fans.
My knowledge of this is limited, but I have been on a listserv with authors who sometimes shared some thoughts. Some of the authors were universally tickled that anyone would like their autograph. Others thought it was tacky to get a paperback signed, rather than a hardback. They were universally aghast about asking for advance reading copies to be signed (the ones reviewers get for free, marked Not for Resale). But as far as I can tell the authors welcomed anyone who had purchased a hardback. Paperback would be OK if the book was only issued in paperback, of course. Something like “My dear friend Lilith Fair recommended your book to me and wanted me to get her copy signed” should go over OK.
The bookstore is obviously hosting this event to make money. They are not the public library. But if you can buy something there on the day of the signing, I think you’re in clear with fair-minded people. Your purchase wouldn’t absolutely have to be the specific book the author is signing that day, in my opinion, to show your good faith.
Every signing I’ve been to has allowed you to bring older books to be signed. It’s only polite to buy the current book at the store holding the signing. It is also considered bad form to have more than two books signed at a time. If you are going to have a dozen signed, get back in line again, lest ye be smited.
I’ve seen some that say in the ads/promotional materials that you have to have the receipt, dated that day, accompanying the book, but those have usually been larger, Borders-type stores.
This is being held at a Joseph-Beth in the ritzy “lifestyle center” on the east side of town. I really can’t afford to buy a book right now, though I would like to go and hear her speak, if she’s going to give a short talk or do a Q & A session like Earlene Fowler did.
I’ve been to book signings where they were really explicitly clear about what would be signed (“You must buy one copy of the author’s current book and show your receipt, and you may have one other of the author’s works, purchased at any time, signed.”) and at other signings that were complete free-for-alls as long as the line kept moving. So yeah. Check with the bookstore. And have fun seeing the Yarn Harlot
She’ll be tickled pink. Bring along a sock on the needles, and she’ll let you take her picture while she holds it. (And probably take a picture of you holding hers!)
Also, it’s a good idea to put a post-it on the front of the book with the name of the intended inscribee clearly printed, for reference. This helps if you get tongue tied or stutter or babble inanely. (One signing I was at had a person stationed at the front of the line to provide such post-its, but most don’t.)
i’ve been to signings and haven’t had a problem with having a pre-purchased book. also worked at a bookstore and we didn’t search people for reciepts and concealed books.
what did get us a bit worked up is: if some one nabbed a book, had it signed, and walked off without payment.
There are always exceptions, but most authors are happy to sign any books you give them. Authors who draw a big crowd will have a limit to give everyone a chance, but if the line isn’t long, they’ll sign whatever you give them.
The problem is usually the bookstore. Some want to force people to buy books. It’s not a good policy (some people will always buy the author’s books from the store, and those who bring in books to sign might buy other books while they’re in the story, and it’s not like the signing is costing the bookstore anything).
If they do have such a policy, they should state it. I’d bring any books you own in any case – the author might be willing to bend the rule.
The irony of this is (and if I’m misusing the term irony…bite me) that this author is big on supporting your LYS (local yarn store), so I’m sure a lot of her readers would like to buy the book from the LYS. But the book signing isn’t at an LYS, it’s at a big-chain bookstore that wants you to buy the book there. Of course, only the big-chain bookstores can afford to have authors come in to town for events like these, so if her fans want to come and get her autograph on their book, they will have to NOT support their LYS.
It’s all a moot point for me right now…Lillith Fair has given me money to buy the book there for her and get it autographed, since she’s going to be getting home from her vacation 4 hours too late. And after searching my entire house, I’ve located her other book, so all I need is my traveling sock, my camera and the felted tote I’m finishing the lining on, and I’m good to go! Okay, the tote was knitted by Lillith Fair, not me, but my felted purse is too small to carry all this stuff and this tote is hugely impressive to other knitters…so I’m borrowing it! One of these days I’ll post a picture of it…she did a great job (it’s an entrelac French Market bag) and it’s stunning.
I have had authors sign my copy of their books many, many times, and only rarely is there any restriction on the books to be signed. Only rarely is there a restriction that the book has to be bought at the store where the signing takes place. Only rarely is there a restriction on the number of books that can be signed. Bring whatever books you want signed and ask at the store if there are any restrictions.
I buy many of my hardbacks used, or after they’ve gone on clearance. So when I’m taking a book to be signed, I have to make sure that it doesn’t have that little black mark on the bottom indicating it was a cut-out. I’d feel bad asking the author to sign one of those.
You can also go direct to the source, at least with some authors. I have a hardbound copy of “The Past Through Tomorrow” signed, with a short note, by Robert Heinlein. I’d written to him a fan letter with an inquiry whether he’d be willing to autograph a book for me. He graciously replied yes, I mailed it to him (with stamped return envelope), and he did it.
Unless the author is the shy and retiring type, you should be able to get a mailing address from their publisher.
I’ve been to a couple of book signings at the local JB. You should be able to hear the author speak without a ticket, but you will not be able to get in line for an autograph without a ticket.
Tickets are generally free if you’ve bought the book there, but you have to buy a ticket if you didn’t buy the book.
Again, the local JB is really cool about bringing additional things to be signed.
If you have any questions how the event will be run, just give your store a call. They’re usually happy to answer any questions, no matter how banal (trust me on that one).
That brings back some crap memories. I went out of my way to get her book of poetry signed when she was at an indie shop in DC, to give to my friend. Did I get a copy for myself? No. F**ker tells me he doesn’t really like poetry. :smack: That’s fair, but damn, just say thanks and enjoy having an autographed book. Of course it was probably ripped up by his psychotic wife by now. :mad:
