Anyone here been to a book signing?

[RescueFarscape]

I planning on going to one today, if I'm off work in time. Timothy Zahn is in Salt Lake City. :D :D I've read five of his Star Wars books. It'll be cool to see him.

It's my first time so I really don't know what to expect. Any advice?

:)

[chri-baby]

get there early pick up the book and stand in line, thats all there is to it!

[DRD2001]

If it is busy, you will probably only be able to say how much you enjoy his work. If it is slow, you may actually be able to ask him a serious question.

Gone to book signings for Robert Lynn Asprin and Ray Bradbury. No time to talk to either. Very long lines.

But you can still have some interesting conversations with other people in line. Ask them if they like Farscape too. ;)

[SabaceanBabe]

I went to a book signing for Roger Zelazny once - it was kind of a cattle call at a convention, so no time to ask questions or anything. On the other hand, I also went to one for Anne McCaffrey and had time to chat with her, in spite of the lines. (In case anyone is wondering, fire lizards are based on her cats.)

[Hank]

I've been to signings for a friend's first two novels. (He just finished number three.) Those were also readings and Q&As, which to me are the fun parts. Getting an autograph isn't nearly as interesting (to me) as hearing a writer talk about their craft.

A while back a few of us Scapers got together to attend a signing by Terry Pratchett. And in the end we took one look at the line and decided we really didn't care for the signing all that much. So while people waited in line, we talked Farscape in another corner of the store. I think we made the right decision. :)

[janey_13]

Long lines...

I went and got Alton Brown's (Good Eats) cookbook signed. It was crazy! I thought I'd be the only big nerd there and there were hundreds of people (downtown Ann Arbor Borders). He talked a bit and answered questions and then we all got in line, wrote our names out on a post it, and he signed the book. You could get your picture taken (I didn't have my camera :( ) and chat with him, they didn't rush you at all.

[Antrobus]

The one time I went to a book signing just as I got ready to say something to the author one of her entourage members spoke to her and all I got was a sig, no chance to say anything!:(

However, one time in a small concert setting I got a well known singer's autograph on one of her CDs and had a nice chat with her.

So....it's hit or miss!

[samati75]

Anne Rice in New Orleans. LLLLOOONNNGGGG lines. We bought the book and had numbers, so we drive around for an hour. She was nice. I got the Violin something-something book. Didn't care for it all that much, gave it to Mom, who liked it. End of pointless story.

[Digger]

Went to a Robert Parker signing last year. He spent about an hour before hand just talking to the crowd before he sat down to sign things. It was a great time.

[RescueFarscape]

Thank guys!

So you actually have to buy the book there? I was just planning on bringing one of mine...

[who45]

My Mom is a big fan of Charlton Heston and a few years back he came down here to do a book signing. My Mom had already bought his book, but there were some at the signing you could purchase.The line was long, but moved quickly.He was a very nice... impressed me.

[TheBladeRoden]

If you're gonna ask a question, make sure it's only one clause, cause if it's more they will only answer the first claus and the answer won't make sense in regards to your complete question at all. (Had that experience with John Edwards's wife today, and had to vent it somehwere)

Oh well, Wisconsin will all be forgotten in a week anyway, so I refuse to lose skin from my nose!(ends pointless rant)

[Alexxia]

Last year, my English 101 class was studying This Rock by Robert Morgan in preparation for his visit to campus. There was a question and answer session, after which he signed our books. I've never been to a signing at a book shop, though.

[BillFrugge]

My sister and I went to an Anne Rice signing. We estimated it'd be about 2 hours before signing. We gave up and left.

[SabaceanBabe]

Originally posted by RescueFarscape
Thank guys!

So you actually have to buy the book there? I was just planning on bringing one of mine...

Naw, RF, you can bring one of your own. At least, I've never been to one of these things where they gave anyone a hard time for bringing their own. Of course, Piers Anthony gave an old high school friend of mine a hard time when he asked for an autograph, but that's because my friend found his address in Florida and sent him five books to sign. Mr. Anthony signed them very nicely, paid the money to ship them back, and included a note saying don't ever do that again. :rollin: