Do writers generally do book tours/how do I find out?

May 30, 2023 5:22 AM

Lorrie Moore has a novel coming out in I think June. I would really like to get my battered copy of Birds of America that I've read a thousand times signed if she does a book tour but do established writers well into their careers even do that? If so, how do I find out where/when?
posted by less-of-course to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: Publisher Penguin Random House has tour listings on Moore's "About the Author" page (keep scrolling down).
posted by eschatfische at 5:35 AM on May 30, 2023 [4 favorites]

Do be aware that when authors do signing events, the expectation is that you will buy their new book. You can also bring older books and have them signed -- but if you only bring older books and don't buy the new ones, some authors and/or venues will be abrupt or impatient with you. It makes sense to me, they are trying to sell the new book, after all.
posted by OrangeDisk at 6:34 AM on May 30, 2023 [5 favorites]

Novelists published by major houses definitely do book tours. They will almost always have an event in New York or London -- more than one if the author lives in New York or London. Otherwise the itineraries can be short and/or eccentric. Self-published and small press novelists, mileage will entirely vary.
posted by MattD at 6:56 AM on May 30, 2023

Write to her, tell her you love her work, ask if she'll sign your book. If yes, send it with a Self-Addressed USPS Postage Paid mailer. Good chance she'll say Yes.
posted by theora55 at 8:04 AM on May 30, 2023

You could always write her agent (listed in book or website) . You may be able to get a signed copy via mail but hopefully will get to meet. If she still taught at UW, i could’ve told you where she got coffee, but sadly never when I was there.
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:58 AM on May 30, 2023

All the advice here is good - just keep checking back on that list of events because they add new ones pretty often when a new book is coming out.

Also wanted to say that I got to see Lorrie Moore a few years ago and she was great. I hope you get to see her and get your book signed!
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:19 AM on May 30, 2023

Response by poster: Thank you, I saw her ages ago in NYC and if memory serves, she read "Dance in America" which is a favorite, and it was at Three Lives or somewhere tiny like that and a lovely event.
posted by less-of-course at 7:40 PM on May 30, 2023