For his novel WHISKY SOUR, author Joe Konrath did over a hundred drive-by signings last year (that’s bookstore-speak for dropping in to sign stock without an official booksigning event scheduled) In some cases, he found himself driving for hours to sign three copies. Not the best use of his time. So, for his new mystery, he visited an Indiana book distribution warehouse and "handsigned" 3000 copies books. He tells the story today on his blog. Was this four-hour warehouse signing a better use of his time than visiting one-on-one with various booksellers? Who knows. He’s certainly getting more signed books into the marketplace than he would have personally visiting stores on a book tour…but is it the signed books that count, or the personal interaction with sellers and customers?
It’s the personal interaction that counts to me. Ted Arnold is a local author who writes & illustrates children’s books. I bought one of his books for a relative and had him sign it. I probably could have purchased a like-new signed copy through alibris, but the signature wouldn’t have meant anything to me, not really. It’s like meeting a celebrity.
It’s the personal interaction for me as well.
I’m with Mark on this one. Besides, how will I get his photo on my blog.
I have to say that I enjoyed WHISKEY SOUR and all the shorts written around Jack Daniels. I’m looking forward to the new book. Konrath has a very bright future ahead.
Having recently signed 2,000 copies at the HarperCollins warehouse in Glasgow, I can see where he’s coming from. Yea, it’s always nicer to have that personal interaction with the author, something a bit special, but given the choice between buying an unsigned copy from a store, or one that’s been pre-signed – I’ll go for the one with the scribbling every time.
And I ain’t alone in that. As the saying goes in the industry, “a signed copy is a sold copy”.