I came across today’s rather strange photo and thought it a good metaphor for the weird things that can and have happened at an author’s book-signing.
Over the years, I’ve either stood in line, organized, facilitated, or observed hundreds of author book-signings. Everything from popular celebrities to a local self-published author trying to make a mark.
Every once in a while, some fun things that have happened:
- Author was asked to sign a teenager’s model airplane … on the wing.
- Fan showed off a tattoo on their leg … of the author’s book-cover design.
- I stood in line for over two hours (in 1987) to have Edith Schaeffer sign her new book The Art of Life. I always wanted to meet her. It took two hours to get to the front of the line because Edith drew a full-page piece of art inside each book and talked with each person for at least five minutes. Suffice it to say, that was highly unusual!
- I watched a fan hand an author their Kindle and ask them to sign the back of the device.
- Author, sitting behind a table full of books, being asked, “Do you work here?” (or me being asked, sotto voce, “Are you the author’s handler?”).
- I was assigned to help the bestselling author Barbara Johnson with her book-signing at a major convention. When she and I got to the booth, I noticed the line of her fans went around the corner of the exhibit hall. She said, “Let’s go look and see how many are waiting.” We turned the corner, and the line extended the length of the building. At least 250 people. She gasped, turned to me, and said, “Let’s get busy.” She must have signed at least 300 books in that one hour.
I want to hear your stories. Without embarrassing anyone, tell us about your most unusual experience at a book-signing. It can be either as a fan standing in line, an author receiving an odd request, or an organizer.
