The World Science Fiction Convention took place on August 5 - 9, 1998. I was brought to mind the intricate process of getting books signed. I'd like to give you a couple of pointers.

1. Read the trade magazines, and the local newspaper for local conventions and books stores having author signing sessions. [My local Waldenbooks had an unannounced Esther Freisner signing a year ago, and I didn't find out about it until the day after.]

2. Keep a list of either the books that you want to get signed, or note the fact that a book is signed on the plastic bag or dust jacket protector of your book. Another way to mark the book is to put a thin white paper book marker between the front cover pages. I also suggest that you confirm that the book you are bringing to a signing session is NOT already signed.

3. When you go to a signing session, go early. It is better to wait a half hour before the session, than an hour on a line. You also meet the nicest people on those lines. Remember, they like the same book that you do.

4. Most signing sessions have some rules. The primary rule may be a limit on the number of books to be signed, or that books that have to be purchased at that store. Usually, if you purchase one book, you can get a second book signed. The number of books at these sessions is usually 3, but this may vary depending on how long a line is. There is seldom a restriction on your getting back in the line, though I have also had that happen. Please follow the rules.

5. Mark the page you want signed with either a white paper book mark or by tucking the dust jacket in the page. I prefer the white paper. I also like to use the title page (the one with the copy right information on the back) for signatures of author, editor and illustrator. Sometimes there is a title only page just before the title page. I only put signatures there if the page has the author's name, or if I need room for 2 or 3 signatures. For Anthologies I like to use the table of contents (I never did find a signature that was 'supposedly' somewhere in a book that I bought).

6. If you want a book inscribed to you, neatly print your name on a piece of paper. This is another good use for that white page marker. I suggest Pencil to write this, just to avoid ink blots. Don't get upset if the author is not doing any personalizing in books; several authors have problems that prevent them from long signing sessions.

7. Bring your own pen. The author will probably have their own pen, but just in case the reader prior to you just stole that, bring an extra. AND be prepared to give that pen away. I rarely use my "Andre gave me that pen" for signing, since I don't want to loose it. I don't suggest felt pens, unless you have tested it and it doesn't bleed through the pages.

8. Some pens are designed to write on glossy surfaces. These don't dry right away, also some pens do bleed through pages. I suggest carrying a couple of pieces of Wax paper. OK, so I don't take this advice myself - but I always have the bag that I store the book in, or my white sheet of paper.

9. Leave the dust jacket at home: I'm of mixed feelings about this. I use dust jacket protectors, so My dust jacket, and my book are protected by them. HOWEVER, if the book in question is older, the jacket may be half of the books worth. So, I'll leave the jacket for YANKEE PRIVATEER & RALESTONE LUCK at home, but keep TIGER BURNING BRIGHT in the jacket.

Problems, and what to do about them.

The most common problem is that an author didn't show at the convention. You dragged a half-a-ton of books across the country to that little convention, and your plane leaves a half hour before that Sunday signing session. This has happened to me. There is no solution to this problem. I would suggest putting some volunteer hours into the convention, making friends in high places, and asking them to post a personal letter to the author that you have missed. Most conventions won't give out addresses, but they will forward your fan letter to the author. There is also a chance that the author might be able to spare some time on another day, but the way to find that out is to have a convention Staff person ask for you.

I currently make little convention plates. These use logo, banner and date of the convention and are photocopied onto an index card size piece of paper. That way, the next time that Phyllis Miller shows up at a signing session unannounced I'll have something for her to sign. These aren't as good as having a signature in a book, but Phyllis Miller was there and the Seven Spells to Sunday book was in the car, and I didn't have anything!!! Warning: Photocopies are not archival safe. The printing on a photocopy comes off. I put these little papers inside of archival bags and place those inside the book. I don't paste them in.

Another way to get a book signed is to mail it to the author. I don't usually do this. In fact, I've only done it once. Usually the author's address is only available by writing to the publisher, but most author's don't mind signing books. I would send a letter first, suggesting the book signing. In that way you can either schedule a visit, or ship the books. ALWAYS enclose an envelope, mailing label, and enough postage for shipping the book back to you. I would not suggest this for anybooks older than 2-3 years. If the book is lost in transit, a new book is easier to get replaced.


On the question of Signature versus Inscriptions:

When purchasing a book, the more of the author's hand writing that is in the book, the more a dealer will usually charge. Lately there is about a $25 dollar difference in the price of two otherwise identical books. Your name, and the authors signature, uses more ink than the signature alone. The "To" before your name uses more ink. It they DATE the autograph, this is more valuable, and if a short sentence is written, well that is more ink. An inscription to someone famous, is usually worth a price hike, and the "Presentation" copy, which is usually a copy the author gave to the people it is inscribed to, can be worth $100. The dedication copy, of which there is seldom more than one, can double the price of a book. [This is the copy inscribed, and presented to the person that the book is dedicated to.]

I usually request that the author just sign my book. This is a personal thing. I'm feeling guilty about having 12 books in my bag (even if I do get on line 4 times), or perhaps guilty about having a friend hold one of my books.

This holding of someone else's books is usually done on an exchange program. Could you hold one of my Anne McCaffrey books on that line where Anne is only signing one book per person, and keep me company? If you hold some of my Andre Norton books on this line, I'll hold some of your M. Z. Bradley books on that line. At one convention, a number of people formed a support group during the long wait for an Andre Norton signing session. [World SF Con 1989]. The day before they had closed the room, way before I even got to the door. So the next day, I was determined to get there early, very early, as soon as they unlocked the building early, 2 hours before the session early. There were around sixteen people up that early. There were people before me, but there was plenty of time to talk and plan. For the next few days I saw these same people, whom I now knew pretty well, at other author signing sessions. I'll hold your Lackey book on this line, could you hold my one Nye book. At a later convention, I met a great group of people at the before convention registration bag 'stuffing' volunteer sessions. These people and I travel to conventions in loose people groups. We have dinners together, save seats in lectures, and wait and talk on signing session lines. These people are my support group. I am the early to rise type of person, so if you would please, please join me on that afternoon signing session line, I'll get there early for that other signing session line, and hold you a place.

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