Book Signing

While at Barnes & Noble, I saw what was set up to be a book signing. It was kind of sad really. The author was sitting behind a small table, on which was a stack of his books. There were no fans or interested readers at the table or talking to the author. There was no apparent interest in the set up at all. This is why I would never want to do a book signing. I’d be embarrassed to sit there.

The books stacked on the table were standard-size paperbacks — the cover was just a woman’s face, but the title font suggested a science fiction novel. Unfortunately, the words on the cover were illegible from ten feet away. I didn’t want to approach the table to see what the book was, because I didn’t want to insult the author by not buying his book.

I was in the B&N on a specific buying mission, and I didn’t have time or inclination right then to investigate anything else. So I would have just approached the author’s table, said, “Hi,” picked up the book to read the title, put it back down, and said, “Bye.” I would have been embarrassed for him.

I don’t buy books just because I meet the author — unless the author is actually a personal friend. I guess I probably should “support a local,” but really, I don’t even patronize a nearby restaurant just because it’s owned and run by a local. If I hear the book or food is good, then I might buy in on a recommendation. But there’s nothing inherently better about “local” stuff — books or food. I don’t expect my neighbors to read my blog just because I’m their neighbor. (Hell, I’m happily surprised anyone beyond my mother, father, and brother reads this.)

The author’s table was just 15 feet inside the front door, and there were a few shoppers walking around him — the store was busy for 1:00 in the afternoon on Thursday. While I was in the store, I did notice that at least two people talked with him. One apparently knew him personally. But otherwise he just sat in his chair smiling at people as they walked in the door.

If I ever publish a book, please, God, don’t let me get hooked into doing any book signings. If my work gets amazingly popular, and people would actually line up to see me and have me sign books, it might be fun. But as an unknown author, sitting in a small-to-medium-size town book store would just be a bit sad.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com