Cool Booksigning

[ASRomatifoso]

Just saw William Gibson a couple of weeks ago and got my copies of Pattern Recognition, Mona Lisa Overdrive, and Idoru (my only 1st editions by him) signed. It was one of the best book signings I have been to. He is very smart and personable but in a cool, detached sort of way. I have seen lots of people, including Clive Barker, Larry McMurtry, Johnathan Lethem, Martin Cruz Smith, Brad Garrett, James Lee Burke, Larry Block. Does anyone else here attend book signings, collect 1st editions, etc?

My most valuable book (monetarily, not personally) is a 1st of The Movie-Goer by Walker Percy that I had appraised at $1300 (has some spotting and slant which lowers the value a bit).

BTW, The Movie-Goer is not signed. Didn't mean to imply that it was. I get things signed if I like them, ditto for buying books. I don't buy things I won't read or get things signed just to increase their monetary value. However, if I like something and it is monetarily valuable, then that is gravy

 

[7th sextile]

I've only attended one book signing,an unreprepresentative one I hope,because it wasn't a pleasant experience.It was
Xmas season 1996,Frank McCourt touring Angela's Ashes .
He read from the book(good)made a short speech in praise of
independents(nice),then settled in to sign.Problem:the store
staff didn't seem to realize they needed to set up a line.(maybe
they were overwhelmed,a lot of folks showed up).I'd have left in
disgust pretty quickly,but I wanted a 'signed' as a holiday gift
for a relative who is a big McCourt fan.By the time I got to the
table Mr. McCourt looked like he would've sold his soul to the
devil to be back in a crumbling Limerick tenement .I almost got the
impression that 'Book Stars' are like rock stars-however brilliant
their creations,they have to hit the road to make big money.
Now I'm like the lazy sports fan in the barcolounger-I 'attend'
signings on C-SPAN's BOOKTV (Ever been on it ASR?-I know they
often do a bookstore in DC).It's introduced me to some of my
favorites,like Bill Bryson and Ann Fadiman.

 

[ASRomatifoso]

I've only attended one book signing,an unreprepresentative one I hope,because it wasn't a pleasant experience.It was
Xmas season 1996,Frank McCourt touring Angela's Ashes .
He read from the book(good)made a short speech in praise of
independents(nice),then settled in to sign.Problem:the store
staff didn't seem to realize they needed to set up a line.(maybe
they were overwhelmed,a lot of folks showed up).I'd have left in
disgust pretty quickly,but I wanted a 'signed' as a holiday gift
for a relative who is a big McCourt fan.By the time I got to the
table Mr. McCourt looked like he would've sold his soul to the
devil to be back in a crumbling Limerick tenement .I almost got the
impression that 'Book Stars' are like rock stars-however brilliant
their creations,they have to hit the road to make big money.
Now I'm like the lazy sports fan in the barcolounger-I 'attend'
signings on C-SPAN's BOOKTV (Ever been on it ASR?-I know they
often do a bookstore in DC).It's introduced me to some of my
favorites,like Bill Bryson and Ann Fadiman.

LOL, I agree with you on the whole touring thing. A necessary evil, I suppose, if you want to promote your book. Most of the stores here are real pros at book events, though. Orderly lines, plenty of seats, refreshments, etc.

I have never been on Book TV, though I have seen it. Occasionally, someone is on there that I really like. Saw Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation, Reefer Madness) a few months ago.

Billy Bryson is also one of my favorites. Very funny, very smart.

 

[Hexxenhammer]

I got hardcovers of Mystic River and Shutter Island signed by Dennis Lehane when he at a Barnes and Noble here in Minneapolis last year. He gave a really good talk and was very funny. The B&N people here are good about organizing this sort of thing.
I got my 1st edition (paperback cause that's all it was available in) copy of the first Dragonlance book "Dragon's of Autumn Twilight" signed by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman at Gen-Con a couple of years ago. I'll get more signed when I go this year. This is just sentimental though. My copies of the books are very worn from repeated readings. Margaret Weiss told me she'd rather sign a well worn copy than a brand new book any day.