How to Get Signed and Personalized Scalzi Books for the Holidays, 2013
Posted on November 11, 2013 Posted by John Scalzi 30 Comments
Once again the holiday season is approaching, and once again I am teaming up with Jay & Mary’s Book Center, my local independent bookseller, to offer signed and personalized books for gift-giving. It’s a great way to get a unique gift for someone you love (even yourself!) while at the same time supporting a great local business that does a fantastic job in its community.
So: How do you get signed and personalized books from me this year? It’s simple:
1. Call Jay and Mary’s at their 800 number (800 842 1604) and let them know you’d like to order signed copies of my books. Please call rather than send e-mail; they find it easier to keep track of things that way.
2. Tell them which books you would like (For example, The Human Division), and what, if any, names you would like the book signed to. If there’s something specific you’d like written in the books let them know but for their sake and mine, please keep it short.
3. Order any other books you might think you’d like, written by other people, because hey, you’ve already called a bookstore for books, and helping local independent bookstores is a good thing. I won’t sign these, unless for some perverse reason you want me to, in which case, sure, why not.
4. Give them your mailing address and billing information, etc.
5. And that’s it! Shortly thereafter I will go to the store and sign your books for you.
If you want the books shipped for Christmas, the deadline for that is December 12. That way we can make sure everything ships to you on time. Hey, that’s a month; more than enough time for you to make your selections.
Also, this is open to US residents only. Sorry, rest of the world. It’s a cost of shipping thing.
What books are available?
CURRENT HARDCOVER: The Human Division, The Mallet of Loving Correction (The latter is already signed but I will be happy to personalize it). Also in hardcover: The 21st Century Science Fiction anthology, which contains my story “The Tale of the Wicked.” I’ll be pleased to sign the anthology for you.
CURRENT TRADE PAPERBACK: Redshirts (this year’s Hugo Award winner!), Metatropolis (out 11/19/13). There may be hardcovers of both of these still around if you ask. But both are definitely in trade paperback.
CURRENT MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: Fuzzy Nation, Old Man’s War, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, Zoe’s Tale, The Android’s Dream, Agent to the Stars, The New Space Opera 2.
CURRENT NON-FICTION: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded (essay collection, Hugo winner), Book of the Dumb, Book of the Dumb 2 (both humor books) are all still in print. The Rough Guide to the Universe, second edition (Astronomy), and The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies (film) are now officially out of print but there may still be some extra copies in warehouses so they may still be able to order it.
AUDIOBOOKS: The Human Division, Redshirts, Fuzzy Nation, The God Engines, Metatropolis and Agent to the Stars are all available on CD and/or MP3 CD, and Jay & Mary’s should be able to special order them for you. Two things here: First, if you want these, you should probably call to order these ASAP. Second, and this is important, because the audiobooks come shrinkwrapped, I will have to remove the shrinkwrap in order to sign the cover. You ordering a signed audiobook means you’re okay with me doing that and with Jay & Mary’s shipping it to you out of its shrinkwrap.
If you have any other questions, drop them in the comment thread and I’ll try to answer them.
Happy shopping and especially thanks for supporting Jay & Mary’s. They’re good people and every year they do a good job with this. I’m happy to be working with them again on this.
And thank you!
Continentally handicapped again ;-). Will you be touring Germany anytime soon?
Jay & Mary did a great job for me with a personalized copy of Fuzzy Nation last Christmas. (/endorsement)
Martin:
No plans. I was there in 2011.
It’s wonderful that you support a local bookstore… :) Love it!
Thx ;-). Feared so…. Discovered your blog only after your return.
Probably going to have you sign somebody else’s book as a present for a friend of mine who introduced me to your writing in the first place. I like non-standard autograph items, they’re fun. Not sure what book though.
Will there be copies of The Human Division at the library this Saturday that I can purchase and have signed?
Yes.
This comment contains the first $ on this page. How much extra charge on top of the book is it?
Matt – I’m guessing that shipping costs will vary depending on where you are and how many books you order. Beyond that, in the three times I’ve seen our illustrious host, I’ve never paid a cent for an autograph. Your mileage may vary, I’m not him, standard disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer.
Matt Sayar:
I don’t charge for the signing/personalization. You pay for the cost of the book and the shipping, the latter of which I’m sure the store will inform you about.
Oh well, looks like my Christmas budget is now officially blown. Merry Christmas to me! Thanks for this opportunity, John…it is really appreciated!
Can I request to have it sent elsewhere as a gift? I promised my FiL a copy of The Human Division after getting him hooked with Redshirts.
“Also, this is open to US residents only. Sorry, rest of the world. It’s a cost of shipping thing.” If the buyer pays the shipping, this sounds a bit lame. Why not just say Jay and Mary’s don’t want the hassle?
I’ve paid international shipping to get signed a book before – the shipping cost more than the book (OK, it was a very large book)… it might end up being a lot of hassle for very little reward for the book store.
John, any chance of getting books for Hanukkah (which starts on Thanksgiving this year)?
Dsayko:
Order today from their existing stock and let them know you need it for Hanukkah (and give them a specific day) and see if they think it’s possible if I come down on the weekend.
so can I get one personalized to John Boehner and Ted Cruz? Ronald Reagan was a huge science fiction fan. They might be also.
@Guess:
I would pay money to watch Ted Cruz read the first chapter of “The Android’s Dream.” But only if I knew it was going to a cause he’d never support.
@stringmonkey
“Republicans buy shoes too”
Michael Jordan.
I think Ronald Reagan would have liked Old Mans War. He really was a big sci-fi fan. I can’t really see your boy Bill Clinton reading Sci-Fi or either of the Bush’s. Not sure about Barrack Obama. He might like it.
My fiction reading public, as far as I can see, is all across the political spectrum, and I am delighted that it is so.
@Guess – What kind of place are you in where you’d politicize a post that basically says “Hey, if you want to buy one of my books, I’ll sign it for you”?
What the hell? If you like Scalzi’s books, buy one and he’ll sign it for you. What do former presidents have to do with anything?
Blue-jay:
Ironically, you would be prolonging what you think is a side discussion if Guess answered you.
So let’s actually go ahead and draw it to a close, please.
Yeah, I know. I only posted that because I thought s/he would be unlikely to provide a cogent answer.
Done, John, and thanks. I appreciate it (and so will my cousin).
My husband is a big fan. He missed seeing you last time you were in Madison because of work, so this will be the perfect present for Christmas. Thanks for the opportunity, and thanks for supporting small businesses.
Should have gone to your own website before buying your stuff elsewhere…I could have supported (whichever-your choice is fine by me-I read the policy you took time=$ out of your coffers to write) charitable organizations, read more clever and humorous post threads, shared links to your blog with more friends, AND ordered tangible books graced with your autograph while supporting small business, giving me something wonderful to look for in my mail, and the opportunity to have something unique to give those I love in celebration of Christmas (IMO, the celebration of the greatest LOVE). Consider me a more conscious book addict.
(and a reader okay with stylistic run on sentences)
Huzzah! I purchased one of these books, for my boyfriend, I feel like I’m too good to him sometimes.
(He was at your signing in Bradford, the nervous big cheeked blonde.)
Anyway! I did ask to have it customized. I hope you enjoy my humor.
Well, I only had to remind the wife approximately 27 times that I wanted a signed copy of Old Man’s War for Christmas. She finally ordered today! The only other autographed book I have is a well thumbed copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson. I guess the two books will hang out together. . . .