87 Comments on “The 2014 Lock In Tour + How to Get Signed Books (Even If You Can’t Make the Tour)”

1. Denver! Yay!

2. Indiana! Ya… oh.

   I guess I can catch you in Chicago sometime. I don’t blame you, I don’t wanna be here either. :-)

3. Thanks, but what I really want to know is will you sign my threep?

4. Houston and Austin, but no DFW. The weeknights might make it hard to get down there. :-(

5. If you need, I work at the Bartow FL library and we could schedule an Author’s event…

6. Hmm .. no visit to Toronto? I’d love to thank you in person for Old Man’s War and Redshirts, the recommendation of The Martian by Andy Weir, and for your continuing entertainment value.

7. Thanks for including Chapel Hill, NC! Excited to see you there!

8. Cool. I’ll see you September 3rd to get mine signed in person. I can’t promise to top my signing line churro art from your last Seattle stop, though. I’ll try.

9. Ever think about coming to the UK??? I’m sure I’d travel (somewhat) to get a signed book :)

10. Vroman’s on a Sunday? AWESOME. No fighting traffic plus later dinner at the Oinkster. Thanks for the scheduling love, Tor!

11. Woohoo! See you in Decatur! Already preordered the book, but I’ll drop some cash on something else at the venue.

12. I never heard of Pentaluma, CA. I assume you mean Petaluma.

    I’ll try to make one of the SF area dates.

    Petaluma’s a nice town, even if my boss lives there.

13. You are coming within 20 minutes of my town, and I will be on vacation in another state at the time.

14. Yay, you are finally coming to Iowa!

15. Yay! Philly! We promise to be kind, seeing this will be your penultimate stop on the tour.

16. So if you’re not coming anywhere near my town on tour (and why would you, since I live in the middle of nowhere, NM) would ordering from Jay & Mary’s be preferable to you over ordering from the publisher? I see J&M’s got a Scalzi tab on their website but they don’t have an order link for Lock In yet.

17. @SusanB I have the same problem, except I’ll be in another country when he comes to my home town. I appreciate the tip about pre-ordering the book at the bookstore so that I can still get a signed copy.

18. We (Jeff and I) are excited you’re coming back to NC – and for two stops! Now just to decide which of the bookstores… (equidistant from Durham, and both good. Flyleaf has better speaking space, I think, ooh and right down the road from Sage….)

19. Hope to see you at Word in Brooklyn!

20. “Pentaluma” made me laugh.

21. I fixed the Petaluma typo. DON’T JUDGE ME.

22. First, the obligatory “No Minneapolis? I haz a sad.”

    That said, I love the idea of selling easily available signed books through Subterranean. I’ve gotten to the point where 90%+ of what I read is in ebook form. As a result, I don’t have much to add to my bookshelves, and yet I love the aesthetic (and ego stroking) that comes from having a full bookshelf that’s always changing and growing.

    As an example, I’ve read all of your Old Man’s War universe books and Fuzzy Nation, but they were all e-books that I purchased or borrowed from the library. So there’s no Scalzi on my shelf, despite how much of your work I’ve read. That makes me sad. However, it doesn’t make me sad enough to randomly buy paperbacks or hardcovers just to have something on my shelves, when e-books are just so much more convenient.

    Enter signed books. I decided a while back to keep an eye out for opportunities to pick up signed books by authors I enjoy. This way I have more of an excuse to buy dead-tree books. I’ll still mostly buy/borrow most of what I read in e-book form, but when I have the chance, I can add to the shelves by picking up books that are a little more special. So far this has only resulted in me picking up a signed copy of wunderkind Max Gladstone’s Three Parts Dead. But since I just finished pre-ordering Lock In, I’ll be adding to that.

    Long way of saying both “thanks!” and “this is a good way to make more money off of me!”

23. Road trip to Philly or Brooklyn. If there are any VA/DC/MD types who want to join me, find me on Facebook or ping me at @itsgayle on Twitter

24. Yay, Philly!

25. Hurray for Iowa City!
    Glad you’ll be stopping in!

26. I see that Jay and Mary’s actually has a “John Scalzi” link in their site navigation. Wow. Just … wow. :-)

27. Hmmmm…well, this is something of a quandary. Troy is about twice as far for me than Cincinnati (27 and 59 miles respectively). I’m assuming that Troy will be the regular kind of meet and greet with a bit of a reading, some Q&A and the like whereas Books By The Banks looks like more of a convention-style event of just signing. Is that a correct assumption?

28. wonder if we will see some youtube videos where scalzi goes ‘hello ‘city name’ and its the wrong city.

    damn is that 4 weeks away from home? doesn’t look like you have any scheduled trips home. i believe other authors have told me they can’t get any real work done when they do tours either. thats alot of lost productivity.

29. Saratoga!!! I can’t wait!

30. There’s a great little pie shop around the corner from Copperfield’s in Petaluma. If you don’t get pie I *will* judge you.

    I will come look at you at Mysterious Galaxy.

31. Hah! I saw Northshire Books on the list and got excited for a moment: their original store is here in Vermont. They just opened up the Saratoga one last year, I think.

32. You totally should make tour shirts! I’d love one! Especially if they are in RED!

33. University Bookstore in Seattle is wonderful. so glad you are making them one of your stops. As much as I like Elliot Bay books, University Bookstore is still my favorite place to browse for books. September 3rd is on the calendar!

34. BookPeople’s a totally awesome store with not quite enough shelf space for SF, but the best stock of graphic novels, kids, and YA in town.

    Look forward to seeing you in August!

35. And the final obligatory question: Can you sign my copy of [one of your other books] while I’m there too? Looking forward to seeing you in Denver!

36. For Denver, any word on which Tattered Cover location? It’s not yet on their site.

    Love the place, definitely one of the classic independent book stores.

37. I lived in Chapel Hill for 4 years in the mid-90s, and was back there just last month. If you’re there for dinner, I recommend the shrimp and grits at “Crook’s Corner.” Lunch, I really like the “Acme Diner” in Carrboro. And breakfast, a chicken and cheese biscuit from “Time Out.” (Although if you value your heart health, perhaps skip that last one.)

38. Will try to make one of the SF signings!

    Re Pent–er, I mean Petaluma: I know you like guitars, so check out Tall Toad Music down the street if you have not in the past. They’ve got quite the lovely and affordable selection. Very dangerous if you’re an impulse buyer. ;)

39. Yay, Denver! For you I would even find my way to the Highlands Ranch store somewhere out there where the streets go all weird
    , but I hope it’s either Colfax or LoDo.

40. Booksmith! A personal fave. I’ll try to be there.

41. It’s very hard for me to complain that you’re not coming to my town when my town doesn’t have a bookstore since Borders closed.

    And there’s over 140,000 people here.

    There is *so* much wrong with that…

42. Pentaluma is what the Wiccans call it. And the pie shop is excellent. Was going to try for a pentagram/pi/circle joke there, just… couldn’t… quite… stretch it…

43. Will you sign copies of your older books in addition to Locked In? And I can’t wait to see you in ATX!

44. How the heck did Gurnee get picked? Was it so you could hit 6 Flags?

    Stopping at the TWIT Brickhouse in Petaluma?

45. See ya at the Brazos in Houston. Cool beans.

46. University Bookstore! Yes!

47. YES! John Scalzi will be appearing right down the road from me! Woo-hoo!

    John, quick question: Do you tend to have sinus trouble in the fall? For example, can you still smell — hypothetically speaking, of course — chloroform?

48. Damn, I miss your Southern California visit by a week. You have an open invitation to visit me in Shanghai, though.

49. Hmm, might have to go back to the U-District after my dentist’s appointment Sep. 3rd. U Bookstore is where it’s at.

50. Hmmm … office pool of when you look around and go “Where am I? What city is this?? What hotel is this???”.

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52. Does the publisher send someone with you, or are you on your own?

    Either way, when you’re in Massachusetts, plan a trip across the river to the Taza factory. Fantastic chocolate, made the Mexican way…and the tour starts and ends in the outlet store with free samples. The cinnamon is a traditional flavor, but I adore the salted almond in the summer.

53. Decatur Book Festival! I might even drag myself away from DragonCon to come see you!

54. I notice there is no stop at Powell’s Books in Beaverton, Oregon where we saw you last time. Hopefully that was a simple oversight and will be on the list next time. Remember this is the home of VooDoo Donuts…

55. Mmmmm. Texas in August. Be sure to wear your air conditioned pants.

56. Which Tattered Cover? There are 3 locations, and you aren’t on their calendar yet.

57. No idea. We’ll update when we have more details.

58. Ugh. I know, I’m whining. But there’s this whole other Illinois south of I-80! True! Ask your publisher to think about Champaign, or Peoria, or Springfield, or Bloomington.

59. Oh, yay! I may get to see you on this one! Saratoga’s an easy drive from Troy.

    Northshire is an awesome bookstore. I will happily support them by buying your book there. And probably 3 or 4 others, as long as I’m there. I don’t get a lot of excuses to swing by.

60. Yes, I do want a T- shirt. L or XL, please …

61. I was so bummed, thinking I wouldn’t be getting back to Denver in time to make the signing. Then I realized that not only do I get back from Atlanta that morning, but while I’m in Atlanta you will be in Decatur. So clearly I’m stalking you, and I just didn’t know it. Now to decide on Denver, Decatur or both… (That Decatur Book Festival does look like my kind of fun.)

62. About time Denver gets some love!

63. Looking forward to trying to see you sometime in NC.

    Speaking of book signings…I really, *really* wish that hardbacks in bookstores didn’t cost 200% of what the ebooks cost off Amazon.

    [snips long justification for buying ebooks]

    What if…what if local bookstores who were holding signings also sold “Gayrunteed Offeeshall Slipcovahs” or “GO Index Cards” for signing by the author in question? (+/- bringing in the ereader to demo previous purchase) I’m having an ereader cover made with a transparent slot on the outside – I’d tuck the signed GOS into the slot and make like I was reading Scalzi when I was really thumbing through Capital in the 21st Century or something equally mindnumbing.

    Look, there – author profits when I buy ebooks, bookstore profits by selling me a printed 8X11 page for 3-5 bucks, I profit by having books in a form I like (which is also cheaper) AND a token of swag from the great mind hisself. Underpants for everyone!

64. So sad that the Mysterious Galaxy in Redondo Beach closed :( Might be able to make it to the Pasadena one though.

65. I’ll probably drive up to Troy to say hi and buy a book or two.

    My question is: Will cake be served?

66. @keranih If you have an android based tablet, or are looking to switch in the near future, look into Kobo. They may have a partnership with your local bookstore. Then you can associate your Kobo account with your chosen bookstore and whenever you buy ebooks through Kobo, a percentage of the proceeds will go to that store.

67. Denver. Nice!

    Look forward to meeting you.

68. @Georgia S – thanks for the tip! Not looking at changing over any time soon, but will keep that suggestion in mind!

69. I am pleased to see Petaluma getting some love.

    Hope I’ll be able to make it to at least one of the Bay Area signings, and as usual, despite my best efforts, I’ll probably be in a suit. :/

    @Wendy, I don’t know why you guys are always pushing Voodoo Donuts when you have the Pearl Bakery…..

70. I did not scour all 69 comments so I apologize in advance if I am repeating a question:
    *Which* Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia will you be at? I am guessing that you will not be at the University City at Penn’s campus – because they are a rather feeble lot – with the Kelly Writers House and all kinds of other good stuff going on, I guess they abdicate the idea of being a good bookstore and rely on the professors (fewer and fewer) who don’t order their books at one of the local independent bookstores (which actually are crappy and run by socialists who never buy enough books ahead of time for the classes).

    Oops sorry my question disintegrated into a small rant. It is an issue close to my heart.

    So, in summary: Which B&N in Philadelphia? I want to be sure I’m not guessing wrong!
    Thanks. And bear up! That is quite an ambitious tour you’ve got going on!!

71. AllieMDA:

    The downtown store. I’ve updated the link to reflect that.

72. Thanks!

73. Is your Saratoga stop going to be a ticketed event? Sometimes Northshire has normal book readings with authors where you show up for free, and then buy something if you’re so inclined, to show appreciation to the store for hosting the author.

    Other times, especially with bigger authors, they have ticketed events where you pay whatever the event fee is and get a signed copy of the book being promoted as part of the cost.

    If it’s not going to be a ticketed event, I’ll swing up to their store and buy Lock In on 8/26 when it comes out and then bring it with me. If it IS a ticketed event, I’ll hold off and get the book on 9/17.

    Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide! It probably won’t get posted on their website until sometime in mid-August.

74. Adam Lenhardt:

    I don’t know how they plan to do it. It’s best to check with the store.

75. Thanks for the quick response. I’ll hold off on any purchasing decisions until I see how they announce it. Excited that you’re making it to my neck of the woods this time around.

76. I am a huge fan of your work, but I am also legally blind. Thus, buying a physical copy of your book from the bookstore to get signed is sort of, other than your signature, a poor use of my money. I plan to get the books on audible.com, but you can’t exactly sign those… How can I get a signature and also support you at the store?

77. Really looking forward to seeing you in Philly! I hope you’re okay signing a few of your other books (in addition to Lock In, which I will of course purchase) that I already own when you’re doing your signing?

78. What Derek said – if I’m buyin’ Audible, how do I get a signed copy of that?

79. Just a heads up. You may want to reach out to the Decatur Book Festival. As far as I can tell (and I looked pretty diligently), the Decatur book festival does not have you listed (1) in Fantasy/Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction (or any other genre as far as I can tell) or (2) scheduled at all on Sunday.

80. Keyton:

    https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2014/authors/detail.php?id=628

    But it’s true I’m doing nothing on Sunday. I am flying home to spend a day with my family.

81. Strange. 3 weeks to go before the Denver Tattered Cover visit and still nothing on their website calendar.

    Are you sure Tor booked you in my timeline?

82. September 3rd at University Bookstore in Seattle? (went to 1st grade in University Elementary just up the street) but no visit to Powell’s City of Books in Portland, just 3 short hours south of there? I definitely haz a sad!!! How can one tour without stopping at Powell’s, the most awesomestly humongous bookstore of all time?

83. I actually emailed the Tattered Cover (Denver) to check, and they said they are still “finalizing details”. I hope it works out!

84. Philly!! See you there

85. I will miss you in my hometown (University Bookstore rocks!) but will catch you in, of all places, Gurnee, where I will be on vacation!

86. Laura W:

    Excellent. Bring everyone you know, please.

87. Do you know what time the signing is in Cincinnati? Will be in Dayton the next day for a half marathon, so would like to stop in Cincy on the way there from Nashville. You’ll love the Gurnee Library – it’s very nice. I used to live about 10 minutes from there.