Something that I really enjoy doing is listening to authors talk. Two weekends ago I went to the evening event of Writing for Charity in Sandy, UT. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to go for the writing workshop in the morning/afternoon. I've gone the two previous years, and it's a lot of fun. I contented myself with just the evening because, like I said, I love listening to writers talk. Its fascinating for me to hear about their experiences in writing, getting published, how they write, why they write. Authors are the coolest people in the world. Really. The Writing for Charity Evening Event was different than I expected. I was a little disappointed we didn't get to hear more from the authors, but they had already had a long day so I guess I'm over it.
Afterward they had author signings.
Something that I've been thinking about a lot lately is getting author signatures. I have a lot of books that authors have signed as I have gone to different events at libraries and bookstores to hear them speak. But I've begun to wonder why I care. What does a signature really mean?
I've been to Shannon Hale events at least six different times so every book I own by her (which is all of them) has her signature. A few years ago I watched her kids when she did an assembly at my mom's school. But does it mean anything, really? I might be able to prove I met her or that I stood in line forever to get a signature, but that doesn't mean I know her. She definitely doesn't know me. I'm one of thousands. It's a very superficial connection. So why do I care? Because I do care.
Just because I think these things about signatures doesn't mean I'll stop waiting in line to get them as I stalk my favorite authors. If nothing else, it's just a lot of fun. And good memories.
What about you? How do you feel about getting authors to sign your books?
2 comments:
I've had some very similar thoughts about getting books signed. I recently met Cassandra Clare, and there were over three hundred people there, waiting for hours just to get her signature. When I got my copy signed, I looked at it and thought - Why is this so important? Why do I think this is so cool? It's not like the author is going to remember me. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I like getting my books signed, maybe just because of the memory that goes along with it - getting to see the person that created a world I love.
I know. On one hand its just silly, on the other its a really good time
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