I was just in Coliseum Books on 42nd Street, as I need a good emergency train book (I bought Strangers: Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, and I noticed they had my Kay Kendall bio on the shelf. So I told the cashier, “I wrote this—you want I should sign it?” He said, “Yes, thanks!” gave me a pen, put an “Autographed Copy” sticker on it and put it on a prominent shelf.
Funny thing is, he never asked me for any ID (I hadn’t bought the other book yet) or checked my author’s photo! I’m gonna start going to bookstores and signing, “Love ‘n’ Kisses, Dorothy Parker” and “All my best, Sylvia Plath.”
Well, Eve, I know you’re humble, but there’s no need to hide behind modesty here. It’s obvious the clerk knew who you were the minute you stepped in the door, and was trembling in his socks as he hoped beyond hope that you’d notice that he’d put your book on display. I’m sure as soon as you left he purchased it for himself, to become a treasured heirloom.
Wow, you could really have some fun with that. Maybe I could start offering to sign copies of Mein Kampf, or The Anarchist’s Cookbook or even The Unabomber’s Manifesto.
Years ago, I worked at Waldenbooks as an afterschool job. An avid SF reader, I was restocking the mass market science fiction section with the newest Jack Chalker book when a woman said, “Oh, my husband’s new book is here.” My face must have registered disbelief, because she went on to assure me that she was Chalker’s wife. I gave her a non-committed nod, which was intended to convey “You’re a customer so I can’t be rude to you, but if you think I’m buying this story you’re crazy.”
She read my expression perfectly, and produced a Maryland driver’s license identifying her as Eva Chalker with an address in Western Maryland. I knew Chalker’s wife’s name was Eva, and that he lived in Maryland, so I was instantly humbled and convinced.
But yeah, I needed the ID.
Rick
PS - My fondly held dream is that someday Eve will be able to autograph my copy of “Vamp” for me…
I just looked at your amazon listing Eve, and the thought occured to me that you would be a kick-ass dinner party guest. So…next time you’re at a dinner party, tell all the other not-as-cool-as-you-guests that they should REALLY appreciate your presence.
Well, Eve, the last time we were having lunch at the Algonquin, I pulled out my copy of <i>Kay Kendall</i>, and, though you’d do it for some random bookstore on the Deuce, you didn’t sign mine.
Eve, you are far too generous with your autographs.
I once had a book signed by Abbie Hoffman during a recess in his Chicago Eight trial (showing my age here). He handed it back to me and went back into the court room. Proud as could be, I opened the book to see what he had written.
I seem to recall autographing a few copies of BattleTechnology that featured a technical readout I had written and some artwork I had supplied for someone else’s fiction piece.
They never did pay me the amount we agreed upon in the contract… in fact, they never paid me at all. I guess I should just be happy that somewhen, somewhere, I was published. :rolleyes:
I say ‘frighteningly’ because an old girlfriend made me watch Bridget Jones’ Diary with her, with a couple bottles of wine for company. I was somewhat intoxicated when he made his cameo and I literally jumped off the couch because I hadn’t expected Dad to be appearing in a movie… they look that similar.
Eve, you rock. I didn’t know you had 5 books published. That is so cool. I know authors hate this, but I’m a library hound, so I’m going to go to the library to see if your books are there. Sorry for not buying them.
