What makes for a superior signed book?
November 5, 2014 2:43 PM Subscribe
I have a book signing coming up for my new novella. This is not my first signing. I feel I should write something more than "good reading" or "enjoy" and my signature. Other than those authors who know you and made a personal note, have you seen good book signing quotes? I won't be signing many so length (within reason) is not an issue.
Perhaps a useful book-related quote? The novel is a western-thriller if genre helps in the decision.
Perhaps a useful book-related quote? The novel is a western-thriller if genre helps in the decision.
Best answer: My husband brought my copy of a David Sedaris book to one of his book readings for signing afterwards. David Sedaris asked him who the dedication was for and he said, "my boyfriend". Mr. Sedaris then relaxed a bit and said that he was glad he didn't hear the word "partner", which seemed to him a sterile and impersonal, if popular descriptor. After a pause, he then opened the book and drew a little doodle of Abraham Lincoln inside, a cartoon bubble voicing out, "Boyfriends make better lovers."
Maybe make a little small-talk with your audience and find out little interesting details, working them into memorable vignettes — perhaps which relate to the story, but that might not be a requirement. I'm not a professional writer, so I don't know how difficult or tiring this is, but I imagine a personal touch would make you rather popular with more dedicated parts of your readership.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:01 PM on November 5, 2014
Maybe make a little small-talk with your audience and find out little interesting details, working them into memorable vignettes — perhaps which relate to the story, but that might not be a requirement. I'm not a professional writer, so I don't know how difficult or tiring this is, but I imagine a personal touch would make you rather popular with more dedicated parts of your readership.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:01 PM on November 5, 2014
Best answer: My habitual signature for my graphic novels is "For [name]!" and a drawing of one of the characters of the book - always one character in book 1, another one in book 2, and I'll pick another one for book 3 when that's out. It's the same drawing again and again for each book, it's kind of ritualized.
When I had a printing error on book 2, I made a few copies of the misprint available. I signed these with obvious misspellings of the person's name, a mutated version of my usual signature, and a drawing of the lead character with her face drawn on her head sideways. Because a defective book obviously needs a defective signature.
Sometimes when I sign my Tarot deck I write something like 'hope this mostly tells you good fortunes!'.
For a western/thriller, you could probably brainstorm a few random stock phrases along the lines of 'keep your bullets dry' or 'happy trails!' or somesuch? Or maybe doodle a little wanted poster for the person you're signing? A smiley/frowny face is fine for the picture if you're not An Artist, just find something amusing to make them wanted for...
posted by egypturnash at 3:22 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
When I had a printing error on book 2, I made a few copies of the misprint available. I signed these with obvious misspellings of the person's name, a mutated version of my usual signature, and a drawing of the lead character with her face drawn on her head sideways. Because a defective book obviously needs a defective signature.
Sometimes when I sign my Tarot deck I write something like 'hope this mostly tells you good fortunes!'.
For a western/thriller, you could probably brainstorm a few random stock phrases along the lines of 'keep your bullets dry' or 'happy trails!' or somesuch? Or maybe doodle a little wanted poster for the person you're signing? A smiley/frowny face is fine for the picture if you're not An Artist, just find something amusing to make them wanted for...
W A N T E D
DEAD OR ALIVE
for
INDECENT
EXPOSURE
------------
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
------------
EGYPT URNASH
reward: 3¢
Fitting the theme of the book definitely sounds like a good plan to me.posted by egypturnash at 3:22 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Best answer: My favorite signed book has a doodle by the author. (The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. She wrote a nice, brief note to me then drew a sun by her name. It doesn't have to be elaborate!) Doodles are so fun, even if you're not at all a great artist - it just somehow feels more individualized and authentically yours.
posted by estlin at 4:21 PM on November 5, 2014
posted by estlin at 4:21 PM on November 5, 2014
Response by poster: So far, so much better than what I wrote for my first book.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:32 PM on November 5, 2014
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:32 PM on November 5, 2014
Back when publishing web comics in bound form and selling them on your webcomic site was new, I'd request the inscription:
"You're not going to sell this on eBay, right, Buttons?posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 4:46 PM on November 5, 2014
-- $Author"
David Sedaris is pretty well known for writing funny things in peoples books. I went to one book signing where he asked people what their favorite animal was. It was a starter for a bit of small talk, and then he drew the animal. My friend said she didn't have a favorite animal so he drew a picture of her vomiting blood.
I went to a Mary Roach book signing for Gulp, and she wrote "Gassily Yours, Mary" which was just perfect. So maybe come up with something that has to do with the book?
posted by radioamy at 5:30 PM on November 5, 2014
I went to a Mary Roach book signing for Gulp, and she wrote "Gassily Yours, Mary" which was just perfect. So maybe come up with something that has to do with the book?
posted by radioamy at 5:30 PM on November 5, 2014
I enjoy the lame pun thing, honestly. My fave is a geological history/driving tour book inscribed "Geology rocks!" but maybe that's a little too corny?
posted by bluebelle at 6:40 PM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bluebelle at 6:40 PM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Something along the lines of what egypturnash wrote, I think I'll try drawing the classic hangman game character and spell out below the reader's name.
(I'm not much of an artist).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:58 AM on November 6, 2014
(I'm not much of an artist).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:58 AM on November 6, 2014
Aside from works of art, there are a couple of big things that have made book signings memorable for me (good and bad):
- Look the person in the eye, and if they are with them, also make eye contact with the other person. I once got a book signed by a famous behavioral psychologist who just took the book, didn't really acknowledge us, and signed before moving on to the next person. I still dislike that person. I really don't care about the inscription because of that.
- Definitely a set of stock phrases you can use. My sister got a book signed for me by a famous politician, and when she told the politician that it was for me, who was interested in politics, the politician signed it "To Troytroy: we need more good people in politics. I hope you run." I later found out that many people received that inscription, but it still feels special to me. Don't worry about making everything unique.
- The chitchat is almost worth more than the inscription. I got to talk to one of my idols, and she as impressed at the grad school I was going to. She just signed her name, bu I will remember that interaction fondly.
Congrats on the book!
posted by troytroy at 8:03 AM on November 6, 2014
- Look the person in the eye, and if they are with them, also make eye contact with the other person. I once got a book signed by a famous behavioral psychologist who just took the book, didn't really acknowledge us, and signed before moving on to the next person. I still dislike that person. I really don't care about the inscription because of that.
- Definitely a set of stock phrases you can use. My sister got a book signed for me by a famous politician, and when she told the politician that it was for me, who was interested in politics, the politician signed it "To Troytroy: we need more good people in politics. I hope you run." I later found out that many people received that inscription, but it still feels special to me. Don't worry about making everything unique.
- The chitchat is almost worth more than the inscription. I got to talk to one of my idols, and she as impressed at the grad school I was going to. She just signed her name, bu I will remember that interaction fondly.
Congrats on the book!
posted by troytroy at 8:03 AM on November 6, 2014
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Be heroic!
Happy re/reading
To one of my heroines—
And the like. People have responded really well to them being actually related to the book at hand. Maybe you can tie in to your characters, a certain "candy bar" scene in your book, a fun Wild Westy phrase?
posted by mynameisluka at 2:58 PM on November 5, 2014