11 comments

1. 

   Rebecca on 28 October, 2007 at 1:36 PM #

   i like signed books, but only if they’re signed in person. i enjoy meeting authors, so i don’t usually buy signed stock copies on the chance that i’ll get to meet the author someday. it’s unusual for me to get books signed if i haven’t already read them, b/c when i go to a signing, it’s almost always b/c i read the book and liked it enough to go meet the author.

2. 

   zebediah on 28 October, 2007 at 4:33 PM #

   Yes!!! 🙂

3. 

   jonathan on 28 October, 2007 at 6:09 PM #

   Like Rebecca, I tend to get signed books only when I hear or meet the author. The book I get signed might be one I’ve already read, or a new book by an author I already like.

   A notable exception was grabbing a copy of “foundling” by d.m. cornish at the reading matters conference this year. I’d never heard of him let alone read his book. I got a copy signed based largely on his illustrations, hearing him speak, and exchanging a very small amount of words with him.

   at the same conference I sort of went backwards with margo lanagan & got an older book “black juice” signed since this was one of the first YA books I read & was largely responsible for getting me excited about ya lit.

4. 

   capt.cockatiel on 28 October, 2007 at 6:21 PM #

   I’ve never bought a signed book that I haven’t read or whatever. I just keep a look out for when authors are in town and get them signed then.
   I think it was Patrick Carman who came a few years ago to do a signing and he told me approx. what each of my books were worth now that he had signed them. That was really funny. (: I love getting books signed and talking with authors.

5. 

   Justine on 28 October, 2007 at 6:28 PM #

   I, too, am only interested in a signed book if I’ve met the person. It’s a nice way of remembering the meeting. But it is a bummer when you have a book personalised to you that you no longer want . . .

   Capt. Cockatiel: Really? That’s hilarious! I doubt my signature adds much value. Also I thought the signature only added value if the book wasn’t personalised.

6. 

   Kadie-Wa on 28 October, 2007 at 10:40 PM #

   I’m so jealous of those people. Darn

7. 

   capt.cockatiel on 28 October, 2007 at 10:53 PM #

   Justine: I don’t know. He was a funny guy… all, “Oh! This book actually has an extra chapter in it! it’s worth about fifty dollars!” and i was like, “umm… okay? i wasn’t planning on selling it…” But I don’t really know anything about it. He just went on and on about first additions to me. I have no clue if he was right or not. I know nothing about signatures adding value. Nothing at all.

8. 

   Lizzy-wa on 29 October, 2007 at 12:03 AM #

   i LOVE signed books! there so foolio. i have this signed book by this guy whos name i cant pronounce. i can hardly pronounce the book! plus its like 200 years old! it was my grandmas. yet, it is in the front of my bookshelf. hehe.

   -Lizzy-wa OUT! 😛

9. 

   Megaera on 29 October, 2007 at 4:33 PM #

   such a shame… wish I were still living around those parts. O well, it was much better meeting you in person. Several months ago when you ran by my school in Tyler, Texas, on account of the Landers, who i believe are related to Scott Westerfeld. You told me that if I liked Holly Black then I should read CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clair and get back to you once i had read it. Well I finally got the book a few days ago and haven’t been able to put it down since. Only just now did I finish this phenomenal book that made me want to laugh, cry, scream, dance, etc., etc. Thank you for the recommendation. I can hardly wait for the next two volumes!!!

   🙂

10. 

    niki on 29 October, 2007 at 6:59 PM #

    well..talking about personalised signed books..this one seemed to do ok:

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/books/potter-tome-conjures-big-auction-price/2007/10/26/1192941297119.html

    “Two other Potter books signed by the author – one a paperback with the inscription “To Ella – I know your Mum!!! And she beat me in the quiz but we won’t mention that – love from Jo (aka JK Rowling)” – fetched £1,250 ($A2,844).”

11. 

    kris on 7 November, 2007 at 10:13 PM #

    I have a strange obsession with collecting signed books. It really began last year at the Texas Book festival where I got several books I had not read. I’d never even heard of the authors before I saw some of them speak. My obsession also led me to Humble when you were there, but I still haven’t read the MM books (sorry, I’m getting there, but I’m also finishing grad school) but of course I got you to sign one. My latest additions are Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willams (such a rock star), Hero by Perry Moore (found out about it by seeing him speak) , and …Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. (I’ve only read Knuffle Bunny so far.) And i got many other books signed at the festival. You really should come to the Texas book festival one year. It’s amazing.

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