The Next Best Book Club discussion

I just got my first book signed by its author this past Thursday. Jhumpa Lahiri was at my local Barnes & Noble for a reading and book signing, and I got my copy of Unaccustomed Earth signed.
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Do you have any signed books? Whether you got them personally from the author or given to you as gifts? For which authors would you definitely go to a book signing?

Kris, thats really cool!

I have a bunch that have been signed. I have a shelf here on goodreads just for signed books.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

I met both David Maine and Christopher Moore when I got their books signed. The meeting with David Maine was amazing. It was a one on one conversation for over an hour!!!

The others have all been sent to me from the authors Ive met through Goodreads! I am merciless with them here, and basically sell my soul to get free copies :)

I used to have a signed copy of 'Salem's Lot that was given to me. I lent it to a boyfriend and when we broke up he suddenly "lost it". Insert expletive here.

I also have a signed copy of The Case of the Haunted Health Club by Carol Farley. She came to my schol when I was younger. Unfortunately I don't get many opportunities for signed books because no one will come out here to do them.

I love getting signed books. I really prefer to get them signed in person, but like Grace, we don't have a lot of authors come this way.

I do have a few signed books by Charles J. Shields (Harper Lee biographer) and one by Vicki Grove (YA author.

I have a signed copy of Beatrice Beecham's Fete of Fate Book One, which I won from a GR giveaway. Not a major author, but a signed book nonetheless.

I have a signed copy of Waiting for Gertrude A Graveyard Gothic, which I found in a Used Book Store.

I have a signed copy of Illusions by Janet Dailey. She was a guest on a radio show that I was producer of way back in the day.

I am lucky, being a book seller, that I get to go to the BEA (Book Expo American) when it is on my coast and get many signed editions. I have books ranging from Neil Gaiman to Jamie Lee Curtis.

The coolest signed books I have are about five from Dean Koontz. I actually didn't get to meet him as the line at my bookstore was way too long, but luckily I know the owners pretty well and they took my stack and said they'd try to get them signed.

I fully expected him to just sign his name, but every book was personalized, had a little message, and one even had a little drawing.

Can we switch lives? :)

I have a signed copy of Dead Man Walking by Sr. Helen Prejean. She was a neat lady to meet.

I have Jodi Picoult novels signed, Alison Penton Harper novels signed.

Like Roseann, I have a ton of books signed by the author as a result of attending several BEAs. But here are my questions: Do you prefer them to be personalized? or just the author's signature?

Also, do you try to take much better care of your autographed books? Or do they get the same treatment as unsigned books?

I tend to get all mine personalized, but i have been told that if someone actually cares about the 'collectability' or 'value' of a book, it is better to have them non-personalized. Mostly I don't care and get them personalized anyway though...

I definitely make a conscious effort to keep better care of my autographed books than the others. And I rarely lend them out - and NEVER to those people that tend to destroy books ( i think everyone has one or two of those friends...)

Bridgit wrote: "Like Roseann, I have a ton of books signed by the author as a result of attending several BEAs. But here are my questions: Do you prefer them to be personalized? or just the author's signature?

..."

I tend to always have them personalized as I am not getting them signed to resell as many booksellers are. I don't usually wait in line for something I am not interested.

I take care of all my books the same way, my husband always says that none of my books look read, althogh most are.

The only time I lend out a book is if I expect to never see it again, that way I am not upset when it finds a new home.

I attended an International Reading Association Conference when I was in college, and I was able to meet Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Paul Curtis. They both signed books for me. Also in college (all thanks to the same professor, Dr. Elizabeth Poe), I met Michael Strickland, a poet and editor, and he signed two books for me, and I spent an evening with Jennifer L. Holm as part of class for Dr. Poe, and not only did she sign my book (Our Only May Amelia), she read to us from her then-current manuscript, Boston Jane.

I would love to get a signed book by Barbara Kingsolver.

I've never really understood the whole autograph collecting thing. I do have one signed book that I got when I was a teenager from Anne McCaffrey. We didn't really have a conversation because I was too star-struck (let's face it, authors are my rock stars!) and I really wasn't expecting to see her when I walked into that mall...I hid behind the potted plants just watching in disbelief for a while until my dad drug me into the store, bought me the book, and actually spoke to her when it was our turn in line...

I was painfully shy when I was a teenager. Only slightly less now, but I think I could at least say "hi" instead of squeaking.

I have the beginnings of a collection of signed first editions - I'd guess I have about 30-40 that I've accumulated over the years. Many were gifts from my mom (who's a huge collector), so it's becoming a sort of mutual hobby for us and a nice way to connect.

I have a feeling that once I move to Portland I'll be attending a lot more signings, seeing as I intend to pretty much live at Powell's if they'll let me. : )

I went to my first "real" author signing this past Saturday. I got Water for Elephants signed by Sara Gruen! And I was exactly like Jensownzoo: our entire interaction consisted of "Hi!" and "Thanks!"

I have another book by Wendell Berry. I didn't really know who he was, but I had to go to a talk he gave at my college, and I liked what I heard so I bought a book of his poetry and he signed it.

I've picked up signed copies of Charles de Lint's Little (Grrl) Lost (Newford Book 20) and Lauren Willig's The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, but they were just in the bookstore. I didn't get to meet the authors. Charles de Lint is my very favorite author, so I was upset when I found out that I'd missed meeting him in person. I signed up to be on my bookstore's mailing list after that!

I also have something to confess. My aunt loaned me about 40 of her books in December. Some of them were signed. I always take good care of my books. Like Roseann, most of my books don't even look like they've been read. So, I'm eating dinner alone at home, with my aunt's signed copy of People of the Book propped open in front of me, when a huge meatball rolled off my slice of pizza and plopped onto the book! I panicked! I tried to pat it off, that didn't work, I grabbed a wet paper towel, that did a little better, but it's obvious something happened there. I told myself that it was actually kind of ironic that it happened with that book. Maybe 400 years from now someone will be able to trace the book by the kind of tomato in the sauce or something. I never did tell her. I'm afraid to. I hope she doesn't notice.

One more reason why I NEVER read and eat at the same time!

I have a signed copy that my mother in law gave my family of the Third Harry Potter book. I have it put away up in my closet and then we have like 2 or 3 other copies that we read. :~) I just love my mother in-law. hehe!!1

JG wrote: "I also have something to confess. My aunt loaned me about 40 of her books in December. Some of them were signed. I always take good care of my books. Like Roseann, most of my books don't even l..."


That is wild and ironic (anyone who's read the book knows why). It was fate for the book, I wouldn't be that upset.

I have a lot of books that are signed as my husband and I love to go to author signings. We've been lucky in that alot of our favorite authors have come to the LA area, and there is the Festival of Books at UCLA every year. Some authors I've met and that have signed my books are Anne Rice, Terry McMillan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Arthur Golden, James Patterson, Lisa See and John LeCarre. At this year's Festival of Books we bought an autographed Widow for One Year by John Irving that I was very excited about.

Lisa, I'm very jealous of your signed Harry Potter!

I'm very jealous of the signed Harry Potter as well!

As far as taking care of signed books, after getting UE signed I told myself I wasn't going to let my sister borrow it, knowing that she almost always messes up my paperbacks. Well, I bent the bottom front cover before I even had a chance to warn my sister! :D

JG/Roseann - How ironic indeed! Perhaps Brooks can write a PotB sequel, including a story connected with a meatball stain. :)

I wish that I lived closer to a larger city. Rarely anyone comes here for anything but an odd concert or two.

I have a few signed books two by Ted Kooser (an author from NE who lived not too far from where my parent's do) he's the poet Lauriate for the United States back a few years ago. Then I got the book Unbowed by Wangarii Matthai signed by her when she came to the college I was at in KS. Some signed by my mom's favorite Author scott hahn for I used to read him a lot too. Other than that I don't have too many signed books.

Wangarii Matthai. That's awesome! I've only just heard of her (I know! I'm such a loser) from a couple of documentaries I recently saw on PBS. An inspiring woman.

I have a few signed books. One of them is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, another is Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams (that book was very meaningful), two by Fay Sampson which I have not yet read and a collection of Joy Harjo's poetry signed by her.

Jessica wrote: "I have the beginnings of a collection of signed first editions - I'd guess I have about 30-40 that I've accumulated over the years. Many were gifts from my mom (who's a huge collector), so it's becoming a sort of mutual hobby for us and a nice way to connect.

I have a feeling that once I move to Portland I'll be attending a lot more signings, seeing as I intend to pretty much live at Powell's if they'll let me.

The company that I work for just announced last week that they are moving the annual conference from Portland to Las Vegas. I probably am the only one that is bitterly disappointed as I used to pack an extra suitcase for my haul from Powell's given that I spent all my free time there when not in meetings. Maybe I could "accidentally" forget that they changed locations and go up there anyway? Powell's is MUCH more interesting than meetings anyway...

Roseann wrote: "It was fate for the book, I wouldn't be that upset. "

Thanks, Roseann! That makes me feel better.

I'm jealous of the HP book and the Bill Bryson book. Did you guys get to meet them?

Jensownzoo, I vote for Powell's. If your meetings are like mine, they're a waste of time anyway! :-)

I have one signed by Jasper Fforde - the Thursday Next series. I went to a reading/signing he did at a local bookstore.

I'm jealous of you too! How was Fforde in person?

I found out that I do have two more books that are signed that I'd forgotten about. The Witching Hour by Stephen Krensky and Season of the Witch by Christopher Knight. I hadn't realized that was signed until I started reading it.

I don't expect anyone to know about this book. I have one book that is signed by the author: Voices from Cemetery Hill by Allen Paul Speer. Dr. Speer was my college history professor (I took several of his courses, including my favorite Southern History). He was/is an awesome professor. He has a second book out that he said he'll sign when I get a chance to visit school again (it's 8 hrs from here).

Jensownzoo wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I have the beginnings of a collection of signed first editions - I'd guess I have about 30-40 that I've accumulated over the years. Many were gifts from my mom (who's a huge collect..."

Be warned: bring books, there may not be any bookstores in downtown Las Vegas. Maybe they are out in the residential areas (if there are any) but nothing to write home about downtown.

I only have one author signed book. We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land A Plan That Will Work. I was excited to get a glimpse of Carter because he was one of my grandparents favorites!

This is terrible....

When I was in the 5th grade I borrowed my father's signed copy of Roots and LOST it. I still feel guilty about that. I was so excited to read it and then one day....poof! no book.

Dionisia - one word....UGH!!! what were you like, 10 years old? You must have been SO scared to have to tell dad, too.

I have the following author signed books:

Mary Higgins Clark
Connie Willis
Lincoln/Childs
Tommy Franks
David Hackworth
Nicholas Sparks

JG - Fforde was funny and self deprecating. He was very nice to all the folks that came to see him - signed books, took pictures. He a read an excerpt and then talked a bit about his writing habits and answered questions.

I think signed books are cool. I only ever owned one. The author had signed at the bookstore during a signing but not for me. He signed a whole stack of them and I happened to buy one. I'm not sure what happened to it, I think it got lost in the divorce. I don't have it anymore anyway.

These days all my books are ebooks. I wonder how many authors I can get to sign my laptop : )

I have a couple of signed books, and I love that, but honestly, I didn't realize how many people enjoyed them like I do. When my book, CAST THE FIRST STONE, was released in March, I was very pleasantly surprised at how many people entered my contest for a signed copy. And you're right Irene about signing the laptop :) Somehow I can't imagine author's signing a Kindle either. :)

Tom wrote: "Be warned: bring books, there may not be any bookstores in downtown Las Vegas. Maybe they are out in the residential areas (if there are any) but nothing to write home about downtown. ..."

Sigh. Figures. Guess I'll have time to work on the TBR stack, then.

Jensownzoo wrote: "Tom wrote: "Be warned: bring books, there may not be any bookstores in downtown Las Vegas. Maybe they are out in the residential areas (if there are any) but nothing to write home about downtown. ...."

When I stayed in Vegas about a year ago I spent a day going through the Used Book Stores of Vegas. Once you find one they have this great brochure showing where many of the stores are. You will need a car though, they are not close together.

JG wrote: "Roseann wrote: "It was fate for the book, I wouldn't be that upset. "

Thanks, Roseann! That makes me feel better.

I'm jealous of the HP book and the Bill Bryson book. Did you guys get to meet t..."
JG, I didn't meet him, but he came to speak when my parents worked at Denison University. My mom helped bring him in so she drove him around some. I had gotten her A Walk in the Woods for her birthday and she knew I was disappointed not to meet him so she surprised me by getting it signed for me.
I'm a bit jealous of Jasper Ffode--my scifi/fantasy club at Exeter Uni (in the UK) hosts a small convention every year and Fforde was meant to come--I REALLY wanted to try The Eyre Affair and get it signed, but he at the last minute he couldn't make it.
However, the convention will still happen next year and my boyfriend will probably go, so who knows?

I have a signed copy of William Faulkner's The Hamlet. Also a signed copy of Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Can't remember if my copy of A Ring of Endless Light is signed or not.

When I was a kid, I went to a signing by Bonnie Pryor. She signed a copy of Seth of the Lion People for me.

My husband also came upon a real find. He bought a book by Lewis Grizzard at a used book store for ~$4 (Grizzard was a popular Southern comedian in the 1980's). When he got it home, he opened it and it was signed by Grizzard. The book was I Took a Lickin' and Kept on Tickin'. Grizzard dated the page, "Christmas '93", so he signed it just a few months before he passed away. Kinda sad, but a real treasure for my husband, who is a fan.

I have a signed paperback copy of The Passion of Artemesia by Susan Vreeland. And that just because it was on the bookshelf at Borders after the fact. I've never met any authors or stood in line for signings. :(

^That was a good book.

I have a few signed books - a shelf for signed books sounds cool - but I only have a few. Here are the one's I have signed - of course 2 of these are easy for me to get signed - the author lives with me ;-)

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed and Other Things I Have Learned | Stardust | Neverwhere A Novel | Year of Wonders | The Crown Conspiracy| Avempartha

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The only book I have signed is Blessings in Disguise A Tale of Redemption, a book I won on Goodreads recently =)