The folks at Booking Through Thursday asked:
- Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? Gotten their autograph?
- How about an author you felt only so-so about, but got their autograph anyway? Like, say, at a book-signing a friend dragged you to?
- How about stumbling across a book signing or reading and being so captivated, you bought the book?
I’ve never really seen the point in autographs on slips of paper, but I do like to attend signings when I have the opportunity. I’m also not really one to just interrupt someone and goggle at them. That being said, I have contacted a few authors whose work I enjoy, or think I’ll enjoy, and asked them to do interviews for me, for this site…there are two to be posted (one I’m late on) this month.
I’ve never been dragged to a signing. I did stumble into an author at one of the reception desks in a bookstore once, and ended up not only buying her book, but having it signed. (Um, I still haven’t read it though.) She was holding a signing I hadn’t known about.
Yes. See above.
I’ve stayed for readings at bookstores in SFO, too – there’s something so cool about hearing words read aloud in a public venue. It reminds you of how very much humanity is born of Story.
Stumbling into a signing would be a bit strange and I’d probably do the same thing – buy the book, provided it wasn’t by someone I detest, that is.
cjh
I admit to having done the same thing — I was at the bookstore with a friend, and, determined not to spend any money, I was hanging out near the front, where the author was sitting at her signing table. She started talking to me and I felt so guilty eventually (she was really nice) that I bought one of her books.
I even read it! It was not half bad.
I have never been to any booksigning or meet up with any of my favourite authors, but some years back I did write to a few and they replied to me via emails. But still I think it’s great to meet them in person to understand more about them and their works.
I’ve been to three book signings: Christopher Moore, Alton Brown, and Sean Astin. CM was totally unplanned; I was visiting a friend in Phoenix and we saw on tv that he would be at a local book store that day…I HAD to go, love his books! Went to the Alton Brown one with a friend who adores him…I like him, too, but not as much as she did. I, of course, had to ask him if anyone had ever mentioned that he looks a lot like Thomas Dolby…he said something to the effect of “duh!”. And Sean Astin…well…OMG SAMWISE GAMGEE! I almost fainted LOL!