Fantasy Book Club discussion

I went to a book signing this week for author Dan Simmons whose latest book is Drood A Novel. It was a delightful evening! Here is a photo of me and Dan: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30...

Book Signings are cool - There is a great site called BookTour where you can put in your zip code and it will show you who is coming when. I use it to track Michael's signings. I have found a bunch of interesting people "coming to town" because of this.

I've never been to a book signing before, but the books in the Mistborn trilogy I've got are all signed, which is cool. :)

I have yet to do a book signing. I did ask at my library once and they won't do it. They held one once and only like four people showed up. Taking care of my boy takes first priority so it is not really something I can hitch up on my own. I do what I can though. =)

http://www.cardshark.com/content/view...

I went to a book signing many, many years ago. I got a signed first edition of David Brin's Glory Season. (It must have been 1993.) It was at an independent bookstore that used to specialize in SF&F and mysteries, but now just specializes in mysteries. He talked to the crowd through the whole signing. He's really well-read, intelligent and interesting. He really seemed to enjoy interacting with his fans. When someone came up to have a book signed, he'd ask some sort of personal question and gear what he wrote to the person.

I noticed that Patrick Rothfuss is the guest author at Gen Con in Indy (Aug. 13-16)

http://www.gencon.com/2009/indy/pm/ev...

Didn't know if others were planning on going (I'm attending for one day). The Gen Con "Authors Avenue" will also have many authors. I saw Michael Stackpole listed.

I'm lucky enough to live within a few miles of Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, one of the best SF&F bookstores I've encountered. They regularly have signings, sometimes with major authors, sometimes local talent. It's always a lot of fun. I've been lucky enough to meet George RR Martin, Jacqueline Carey, Kage Baker, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (who both signed my ratty old copy of Good Omens).

Funny, I've DONE book signings as a YA author, but I've never been to someone else's signing. Hmm, that's kinda odd I guess! I am jealous of Stefan though...I wish I lived in California and could go to major signings. I really like Neil Gaiman. I hope to have a booth at Comic Con next year, so FINGERS CROSSED!

Stefan, Mysterious Galaxy is the BEST independent bookstore in the world! I really miss them as I now live in the bay area but whenever I'm planning a trip to San Diego, they are definitely on my list of places I need to go. I nearly always plan my trips to SD around their book signing schedule :-)

Heh, the only book signings I've been to were Robert Munch and David Sedaris.

Jeanne wrote: "I went to a book signing this week for author Dan Simmons whose latest book is Drood A Novel. It was a delightful evening! Here is a photo of me and Dan: http://img.ph..."

Haha! I went to a Simmons book signing for his Children Of The Night. He was so far from being "warm and fuzzy", and it looks like he is still the same. The man can write like few others, but he seems like the last person who should do book signings. But he did do a cool little vampire sketch in my book, and signed everything everybody had. He just wasn't all that crazy about socializing and when people would try and engage in conversation, he could get snooty in no time at all.

I wish I went to more signings. I think my signed books are probably my most prized possessions, and I wish I had more.

I've only been to one signing - Terry Pratchett. He was so funny and very friendly. He said something in his Q&A that I haven't forgotten. He said something about how there are no true synonyms - that even similar words have their own connotations and associations which make them not quite the same. As a sometime poet, who finds herself often struggling to find just the write word to convey a particular meaning, this held particular resonance with me, so I've never forgotten it.

I missed a talk by Gaiman in the area because I found out about it too late, which was unfortunate. I would've liked to have heard his lecture.

But, mostly, I'm just not that bothered. I'm not into the celebrity aspect, and don't really understand it that much. I certainly don't understand paying a boatload of money for something just because it's signed. Plus, since I'm not much for crowds and generally rather awkward meeting people, the whole standing in line and milling about in a crush of people just to watch someone sign a book while I gape on like an idiot is an entirely unappealing prospect. (Which is a reason why I missed out on all the HP midnight parties, and why I don't go to openings of things.)

Anyway, I digress.

If Gaiman was giving a talk in the area again, I would look into it. There are few other authors I think I'd really bother about, though. Maybe Holly Black or Garth Nix or a handful of others who've written favorites of mine - but only maybe.

Robin wrote: "Book Signings are cool - There is a great site called BookTour where you can put in your zip code and it will show you who is coming when. I use it to track Michael's signings. I have found a bun..."

Robin, I just discovered this site, and put up info about my upcoming tour. It is cool, it would be great to get more authors onto it.

I was at the American Library Assoc meeting and heard Gaiman's Newbery acceptance speech. It was awesome!! I'd love to get a copy of the text; they were supposed to publish it in The Hornbook.
And I've seen Tamora Pierce a couple of times. She mainly does Q&A but there are always so many fans and so many questions, it just flies by. Libba Bray is very, very witty, well worth hearing.
As an author who's going to be launching a book tour in October, I encourage you to get out and hear some authors! Not every stellar author is a stellar speaker, but they do work with words, you know!
For anyone who is interested in the BookTour site Robin mentioned, you can "follow" particular authors and be notified if they come to your area.
Here's a link to my page on Booktour.com
http://www.booktour.com/author/cinda_...

I am heading to ComicCon 2010 in San Diego. Reviewing the list from 2009, there were a bunch of Authors that were there but not on the “official” list. Has anyone ever been? I am thinking that maybe the publishing houses invite authors and hang around their table? How do I know who is going to show up if they are not on the “official” list? I saw how they work the raffle for autographs but it seems that is not how it always works.

Any insight to how it all goes down would be appreciated! I am secretly kicking myself for not going to the New York one, seems like they have more authors!

Thanks in advance!

I go to many cons throughout the year, but as a bookseller, not an author. Cons usually have a signing opportunity for their authors, and the nicer cons will let the authors who are there participate. Astronomicon was very nice in that respect, but since I was unknown no one came to me. Besides, since I signed all the books I sold at my dealer table there was no reason to come to me afterward. My publisher does book conventions as a bookseller and invites all the authors who want to participate to join in. Basically she gets the space and sublets parts of it to them. Since I carry every book she produces I go with everything that isn't already being represented.

I think I am just a nitwit. I took a closer look at the autograph signing and the people where listed. Some have the raffles and some just have a time frame for their signings. They have yet to list the 2010 schedule so I am patiently tapping my fingernails.. Waiting. :)

I am not so much awestruck by “famous” people. It’s more of the adventure that goes along with it. I have never been to the west coast in the states and I have never been to a Con before. My reasoning for wanting to go to San Diego ComicCon is I am hoping that Lynn Flewelling (she has a book coming out a month or two before AND she lives in San Diego) will be there and she will tell me how to say her last name. As I was telling my friend this, he was purchasing his ticket, then I ran back to my desk and purchased mine. If it was up to me, I would wing it BUT I am glad Shaun (Author of The Deathday Letter) is going because he's the planner. If we did it my way, we would end up being across town from the convention center, in a run down hotel and paying for over priced air fare.

Unfortunately, I don’t see many book tours here in South Florida. Glen Beck was at the local Books a Million and it was a mad house. If there were more fantasy or YA authors signing books around here, I would go just for the hell of it.


So if I wanted a signed copy of The Flame in the Bowl Unbinding the Stone, how would I go about that?

Thanks for the info!

So if I wanted a signed copy of The Flame in the Bowl Unbinding the Stone, how would I go about that?


The easiest way would be to send me money to cover the cost of the book and postage, and I'll mail it to you. A less-easy way would be for you to come to an event where I am and get it from me in person. The closest I get to Florida is the South Carolina Book Festival in February. My publisher, Echelon Press, has a table there every year and several authors are usually there. I go because I have all the books, and I sell what they don't.

Yesterday a friend (Shaun Hutchinson author of The Deathday Letter) had an extra ticket to see Amanda Palmer. She happens to be dating Neil Gaiman who was in attendance. Both kind enough to sign Who Killed Amanda Palmer? A Collection of Photographic Evidence. Gaiman also did a reading from it (He contributed the short stories, poems etc., that accompanied several of the pictures.) and signed Stardust for me!

I have to add Amanda Palmer was AMAZING!!! Her music was new to me, so I didn't have any expectations. She blew me away entirely. True performer. Best show I have ever seen.

Just received my signed copy of The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan.

Thanks for the bookmarks and stickers.. They will end up on the fantasy shelf in my local book store!

Hey guys! As of now, I think this might be the best place to post this. I'm not sure if there is anywhere else to post author signings. I work at B&N and we are having a last minute signing with Brandon Sanderson on Monday, March 22nd at 7:00 pm. I know there's a lot of us here who love his books, so I thought I'd let you guys know! It's going to be in Woodland Hills, CA, so if you're in the L.A. area, please stop by! =)

I will be in the dealers room at Lunacon this weekend, in Ryebrook NY. Hopefully some of you are in the area. The Author GOH is Tanya Huff!

It took me a few minutes to find this thread.

I'm heading to a book signing with Brandon Sanderson later this evening. It's for his new book Way of Kings. I excited about this. I've been to one of his before, but this time I have friends coming with me! Yeah for getting them hooked on Brandon's writing. (It's definitely nice to live in the same state as an author I like - I get to go to more book signings!)

Anyone here going to Brandon's book signing in Sacramento, CA on Nov 2nd? I'll be going and would love to meet up with some fellow FBC'ers!

If anyone's in the Denver area on February 12th, I'll be at Fireside Books at Hampden and Broadway doing a book signing. Cool little store. It's a 24 hour book store / coffee shop.

Robin wrote: "Book Signings are cool - There is a great site called BookTour where you can put in your zip code and it will show you who is coming when."

I visited the site you mentioned and it helped a lot. Been looking for that kind of link. Thanks so much for posting this!

Last weekend (the 15th & 16th), my university had a conference featuring Charles Vess, Tony DiTerlizzi, and Brian & Wendy Froud, plus the professor who organized it and has worked with Brian Froud, Ari Berk. It was amazing. I just loved listening to everyone talk. :) They all did a signing in the evening on the 15th. I probably got 10 books signed total. It was wonderful. :)

Stefan wrote: "I'm lucky enough to live within a few miles of Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, one of the best SF&F bookstores I've encountered. They regularly have signings, sometimes with major authors, sometim..."

Lucky punk! I've been there once, but Long Beach is so far away that it's rare I have the time to get down there.

Years ago I went to a Tad William's signing of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. He was great. AND how topical given that Dragonbone Chair is this months read!

The launch party for the release of Theft of Swords will be November 30, 2011 at One Page More Bookstore in Arlington VA. Find out more here.

RIYRIA REVELATIONS: Unlikely Heroes...Classic Adventure
There's no orphan destined for greatness or ancient evil to destroy…just two rogues in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a cynical thief, and his ex-mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living performing dangerous assignments for petty nobles…until a simple job to steal a sword finds them framed for the murder of the king. And so begins this simple tale that uncovers a conspiracy far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom.



I wrote all six books before releasing the first, and five of them were published by a small imprint run by my wife. They did well...I sold 70,000+ copies, and have 2300+ ratings and 500+ reviews here on goodreads. Now, Orbit (fantasy imprint of big-six publisher Hachette Book Group), is re-releasing them as a trilogy in 3 consecutive months: Nov, Dec, and Jan.



REVIEWS
"Filled with adventure and clever dialog and featuring a pair of not-quite-heroes whose loyalties to each other provide them with their greatest strength, this epic fantasy showcases the arrival of a master storyteller." -- Library Journal

Hair-raising escapes, flashy sword fights, and faithful friendship complete the formula for good old-fashioned escapist fun." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Wintertide (A++) is the second top-rated combo (with The Emerald Storm) of 2010 for me and establish the series as one of the best traditional epic fantasies currently being published and a top 10 novel of mine." — Fantasy Book Critic

I would love to meet other goodread people there!

Theft of Swords | Rise of Empire | Heir of Novron

For anybody interested, tomorrow is the Collingswood Book Festival in Collingswood NJ. They close off the street and fill it with booksellers, usually authors with their own books, sometimes writing groups will have a tent. Author Guy has been going there for years now. A beautiful town and great fun.

Marc wrote: "For anybody interested, tomorrow is the Collingswood Book Festival in Collingswood NJ. They close off the street and fill it with booksellers, usually authors with their own books, sometimes writin..."

Thanks Marc, wich I was in that neck of the woods. Last weekend was the Baltimore Book Festival and the National Book Festival (mall of DC) and both are similar events. I was at both (on a few panels etc) but the weather didn't cooperate much (lots of rain on Friday). Hopefully you'll have better weather in NJ.

Paula Broderick Book signings in December:

http://www.tobyandsox.com/#/news/4545...

Paula Broderick
The Quest - The first Toby and Sox Adventure
The Rowan Tree (The second Toby and Sox Adventure)

I'm doing a signing at LonCon (August 14th-18th) for my book Fae - The Wild Hunt. I'll be there for the entire event, selling books and generally hanging out and chatting. Hope to see some of you there.