Comments on: On the Signing of Books http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/ DEVISING A SYSTEM FOR REMEMBERING EVERYTHING Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:29:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Stuart Forman http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-152593 Stuart Forman Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:42:41 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-152593 Maybe one day you will be famous enough to charge $1000 for a framed hardcover copy like this one. http://tinyurl.com/lx8lco It's a book signed by Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11. I have a friend who went to a convention where Aldrin was there and was charging $300 per autograph. Maybe one day you will be famous enough to charge $1000 for a framed hardcover copy like this one.
http://tinyurl.com/lx8lco

It’s a book signed by Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11. I have a friend who went to a convention where Aldrin was there and was charging $300 per autograph.

]]> By: chinese restaurant owner http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151431 chinese restaurant owner Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:00:08 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151431 Roxanne @ 24: <i>Note that minimum wage laws and child labor laws always exempt family members. Chinese restaurants and family farms would be impossible otherwise.</i> As well as every other family-run small business. Roxanne @ 24: Note that minimum wage laws and child labor laws always exempt family members. Chinese restaurants and family farms would be impossible otherwise.

As well as every other family-run small business.

]]> By: jasonmitchell http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151428 jasonmitchell Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:40:37 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151428 as the proud owner of several Sub Press editions (signed) I can say there is sumething extra nice about having them. 1) Sub Press signed editions usually made better, on acid free/ thicker paper - I like to KEEP my books an these both have a longer shelf life but have a nicer look/feel to them - plus often have illustrations etc. 2) I feel like authors who offer limited/signed editions do so with their BEST work - work THEY think is worthy etc. (I am making no particular comment re that EVERYTHING scifi/ fantasy that John wrote is offered this way - he may thisk all of it is his best work - so far I like it all) 3) resale value - I can justify to my spouse that I NEED books to read on my commute to work. As long as I am buying books anyway, I might as well get books that have some value - if I needed to sell off assets in case of dire emergency - signed copies go fo more on Ebay 4) I'm old fashioned in this - you can't autograph an eBook - as the proud owner of several Sub Press editions (signed) I can say there is sumething extra nice about having them.

1) Sub Press signed editions usually made better, on acid free/ thicker paper – I like to KEEP my books an these both have a longer shelf life but have a nicer look/feel to them – plus often have illustrations etc.

2) I feel like authors who offer limited/signed editions do so with their BEST work – work THEY think is worthy etc. (I am making no particular comment re that EVERYTHING scifi/ fantasy that John wrote is offered this way – he may thisk all of it is his best work – so far I like it all)

3) resale value – I can justify to my spouse that I NEED books to read on my commute to work. As long as I am buying books anyway, I might as well get books that have some value – if I needed to sell off assets in case of dire emergency – signed copies go fo more on Ebay

4) I’m old fashioned in this – you can’t autograph an eBook -

]]> By: Stan http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151427 Stan Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:24:00 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151427 It's a wise person who knows their strengths and weaknesses, their preferences and dislikes, and acts accordingly. It's not anywhere near a blanket refusal to sign books so no big deal. It’s a wise person who knows their strengths and weaknesses, their preferences and dislikes, and acts accordingly.

It’s not anywhere near a blanket refusal to sign books so no big deal.

]]> By: Todd Dashoff http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151423 Todd Dashoff Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:47:27 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151423 If you do e-mail Larry, be aware that he and Sally are in the middle of peak con season. A quick run through the Locus website shows Inconjunction, Readercon and Confluence all within the next month. Since each of these requires packing the van, traveling to the con, unloading, selling, and then repeat in reverse, you should allow some time for acknowledgment of your request, let alone fulfillment. I'd hold off requests until after Confluence; they'll definitely bring Scalzi stock since John is GOH, and there should be sufficient signed stock remaining after the con. (Note that if you were planning to do your annual purchasing binge at Worldcon, they will not be attending.) If you do e-mail Larry, be aware that he and Sally are in the middle of peak con season. A quick run through the Locus website shows Inconjunction, Readercon and Confluence all within the next month. Since each of these requires packing the van, traveling to the con, unloading, selling, and then repeat in reverse, you should allow some time for acknowledgment of your request, let alone fulfillment. I’d hold off requests until after Confluence; they’ll definitely bring Scalzi stock since John is GOH, and there should be sufficient signed stock remaining after the con. (Note that if you were planning to do your annual purchasing binge at Worldcon, they will not be attending.)

]]> By: iain http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151421 iain Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:41:32 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151421 You're far more polite than Ringo was about his signing policy. You’re far more polite than Ringo was about his signing policy.

]]> By: Ibid http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151420 Ibid Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:38:33 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151420 My girlfriend got me the hardcover versions of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series last Christmas. She wrote to Piers Anthony to see if he'd sign them. He told her that he doesn't do that since he can't guarantee that he'll get them back in the mail in time for whatever they want them for and doesn't want to take the blame for packages getting lost in the mail. What he DID do was autograph some stickers for me to slap in the book of my choice. My girlfriend got me the hardcover versions of the “Incarnations of Immortality” series last Christmas. She wrote to Piers Anthony to see if he’d sign them. He told her that he doesn’t do that since he can’t guarantee that he’ll get them back in the mail in time for whatever they want them for and doesn’t want to take the blame for packages getting lost in the mail. What he DID do was autograph some stickers for me to slap in the book of my choice.

]]> By: Kevin S. http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151417 Kevin S. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:51:43 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151417 Whenever someone begins a sentence with "on the..." I read that sentence to the tune of "On The Turning Away" by Pink Floyd. "On The Signing of Books" fits really well into that. On the Signing of Books Both on sale and misbegotten Of the words I wrote Which you do understand Don't expect that by sending in It's not a case of entitlement Or you'll find that your book is being Sent back today Whenever someone begins a sentence with “on the…” I read that sentence to the tune of “On The Turning Away” by Pink Floyd. “On The Signing of Books” fits really well into that.

On the Signing of Books
Both on sale and misbegotten
Of the words I wrote
Which you do understand
Don’t expect that by sending in
It’s not a case of entitlement
Or you’ll find that your book is being
Sent back today

]]> By: Steve Buchheit http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151415 Steve Buchheit Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:08:58 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151415 It's more fun to interact with Scalzi in person than through the mail. Through the mail you don't get to see the permanent sunshine glow that surrounds him. Also, the wicked California Ninja moves just don't translate well through a padded, media-mail envelope. It’s more fun to interact with Scalzi in person than through the mail. Through the mail you don’t get to see the permanent sunshine glow that surrounds him. Also, the wicked California Ninja moves just don’t translate well through a padded, media-mail envelope.

]]> By: Roxanne http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/06/18/on-the-signing-of-books/#comment-151413 Roxanne Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:36:16 +0000 http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=7744#comment-151413 I'm with @Keri. You're not taking sufficient advantage of your potential in-house mailing agent, and I say this as the parent of a toy-starved 11 yo. Give them a path to earning what they want, and they'll *run* down it. "Put these books in these envelopes, slap labels on them, here's how you use the USPS postage site," and you'll have happy customers and a richer kid. Note that minimum wage laws and child labor laws always exempt family members. Chinese restaurants and family farms would be impossible otherwise. I’m with @Keri. You’re not taking sufficient advantage of your potential in-house mailing agent, and I say this as the parent of a toy-starved 11 yo. Give them a path to earning what they want, and they’ll *run* down it. “Put these books in these envelopes, slap labels on them, here’s how you use the USPS postage site,” and you’ll have happy customers and a richer kid.

Note that minimum wage laws and child labor laws always exempt family members. Chinese restaurants and family farms would be impossible otherwise.

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