I ended up giving away both my copies of Revival --- one to the family of 4 and another to a couple I met at the Joe Hill event. They both offered $$, but that would of cheapened my experience.
That was the best thing I've read all day. Bless you!
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I ended up giving away both my copies of Revival --- one to the family of 4 and another to a couple I met at the Joe Hill event. They both offered $$, but that would of cheapened my experience.
As I said, I'm not against those that try to make a buck these days...I just hope they realize how lame it is. I stand by my criticism even if it's to a small percentage. And if you want to drop $500 bucks on an autograph to complete your collection the more power to you. I just hope Stephen knows most of us are there because we love his work and respect his time and space. That's all.
Roseannebarr, wow! When I read what you wrote it made me feel blessed that there are people in the world like you. I wasn't able to see Mr King on his Revival tour. I saw him for the first time Saturday night and it's hard to put into words what I felt. Thank you for being so kind and generous.
Well something seems to irk Stephen about the hunters and it would piss me off too. Fame is great until it's not. Again, 1st world problem - but it keeps coming up in his discussions and interviews. I stand by my opinion of the "<1%". And yes you are right - 99% of the fans are amazing and respectful.I think that presents a false distinction between being a true fan who enjoys King's books and selling a signed copy obtained at an event. Plenty of people are both King fans and book collectors who buy and sell books. King himself sells his books for profit (quite a bit over the years). His net worth is something like $400 million. Some of the recent limited signed books he has authorized sell for well over $3,000 from the publisher. He has earned every penny of his money. I don't see any reason to single out a few instances (less than one percent on the current tour) and without even knowing who or why these individuals decide to sell their books on ebay suggest they are lame or scummy for doing so. Maybe they need the money to pay for the trip to the event.
I was happy to get a signed copy, but I just want to read the book My daughter about had a heart attack when she saw me open mine and sit down to read--yanked it out of my hand, handed me her unsigned copy, and scolded me Apparently reading a signed book is not a done thing? Who knew?
I prefer hardbacks, so mine get read The only SK PB I own (aside from the first 4 DT TPBs) is a copy of The Stand with the original cover; I keep it as a fond memory of the 5 copies I owned that fell apart from reading before I finally got a HB copy--lol. I'm not an abusive book owner, but HBs are sturdier, particularly modern ones. New PBs fall apart much more easily than old ones. I just, for the first time, had to tape the cover on my nearly 30 year old copy of The Drawing of the Three (it's 30 next year), yet new books my kids buy start falling apart within weeks.Heh. I understand her point of view, although I can't get to that point. I read my signed books, but I allow it only once in a great while and do it gingerly. For the most part, paperbacks are for reading, while hardbacks are for reading on special occasions. That means I own battered paperback copies of almost every book in my collection.
Oh no, don't feel bad about yelping at all! I loved hearing people get so excited about seeing sai King's signature. There was a lady standing next to me and when she opened her book and saw his signature, she cried. She let me touch it. HA HA. It made the night more magical to hear the joy and love.
Yes! After I started collecting old hard covers I realized that I wanted the old paperbacks (and new ones) to read on the subway or airplane....just kinda throw em in my bag and not worry about the condition. It's not that I want to ever sell my hardbacks...and I guess its a bit nerdy but I'd like to look at my library someday when I'm old and pass it down to a youngster that would appreciate it.Heh. I understand her point of view, although I can't get to that point. I read my signed books, but I allow it only once in a great while and do it gingerly. For the most part, paperbacks are for reading, while hardbacks are for reading on special occasions. That means I own battered paperback copies of almost every book in my collection.
....I have an autograph from the man, I wouldn't part with for love or money....that type of activity just illustrates the crass underbelly of certain "humans"......
...I don't wish to be rude buddy, but I prefer to keep the source of my autograph personal....GNT, out of curiosity, where did you get this autograph? At an event?
As for selling autographs, the weird thing is, for someone like King, since I am an admirer of his work, I wouldn't want to buy one. I don't mind capitalism, certainly, but I just don't see why someone would want to buy one since getting it is the fun part...it is to memorialize a rare meeting with someone whose product you like. It's an odd marketplace, in that there should be hardly a market for celebrity autographs.
I am lucky in that I was able to get an autograph through the mail; these were the early days when King could still do that. I received an autograph on a 3 x 5 card, and I even have a signed letter addressed to me denying my request for an interview for a fanzine a friend and I put out. I also was able to get a book signed through the mail (The Tommyknockers).
...I don't wish to be rude buddy, but I prefer to keep the source of my autograph personal....
There have been occasions where I will bring my entire collection of an author's books to get signed. I will wait in line to get the title signed that they are there promoting, have a few kind words with them and ask them if they would mind signing the rest of my (their) books if I step back to the end of the line and wait till everyone else has had the chance to meet them and get an autograph. All of them have been very gracious about this. Dan Simmons and I have a tradition- if I can make it to one of his signings in Seattle, I bring along my Dark Harvest edition of Carrion Comfort for him to sign/date. So far he has signed it six times! The last time we met he jokingly said 'When I become a famous author and die, this is going to be worth a h*ll of a lot of money!'I have no problem with someone getting a book autographed. But it's the ones that bring a bunch of books. Same thing with athletes. In spring training baseball the players are very accessible and go out of their way to sign baseballs. It's a spring training tradition and the players know it. It's the guy with a fishnet full of baseball's trying to get 100 balls signed. Everyone knows it's just for profit. Some players are catching on and will sign 1 maybe two. But some do sign a lot. The poor kids are 5 deep hoping to get one ball signed and to meet their hero, then the guy leaves just when the kid gets close bc the player signed ten balls to one guy. Now their coming 3 or 4 strong trying to get 4 or 5 each so not so obvious. Just crazy.
That is the way to do it. To ask, then to get them all signed at the end. Very different than holding up the line getting all signed at once. Plus when ur at a signing with a line and have to pay for an auto is a different animal than say the spring training atmosphere, where it's just positioning and every man for themselvesThere have been occasions where I will bring my entire collection of an author's books to get signed. I will wait in line to get the title signed that they are there promoting, have a few kind words with them and ask them if they would mind signing the rest of my (their) books if I step back to the end of the line and wait till everyone else has had the chance to meet them and get an autograph. All of them have been very gracious about this. Dan Simmons and I have a tradition- if I can make it to one of his signings in Seattle, I bring along my Dark Harvest edition of Carrion Comfort for him to sign/date. So far he has signed it six times! The last time we met he jokingly said 'When I become a famous author and die, this is going to be worth a h*ll of a lot of money!'