Stephen King Revival NYC Tour Stop recap!

[MattManochio]

Hi all,
I started a thread a few weeks back asking who was going to the Stephen King book signing in NYC. I attended and just blogged about it (with photos) and wanted to share it with you all.

In short, it was a great experience, and I'm glad to have made some new friends on line. I hope this passes Message Board muster. If it doesn't, and is considered self-promotion, let me know and I'll repost to the appropriate section. Thanks!

 

[FlakeNoir]

Hi all,
I started a thread a few weeks back asking who was going to the Stephen King book signing in NYC. I attended and just blogged about it (with photos) and wanted to share it with you all.

In short, it was a great experience, and I'm glad to have made some new friends on line. I hope this passes Message Board muster. If it doesn't, and is considered self-promotion, let me know and I'll repost to the appropriate section. Thanks!

No need Matt, I'll just move it there for you now. (Great photos)

 

[MattManochio]

Thanks so much!

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[Spideyman]

Thank you for posting about your experience during the event. Many who can not attend live through the recaps.

 

[redman]

Great write up

 

[Moderator]

Hi all,
I started a thread a few weeks back asking who was going to the Stephen King book signing in NYC. I attended and just blogged about it (with photos) and wanted to share it with you all.

In short, it was a great experience, and I'm glad to have made some new friends on line. I hope this passes Message Board muster. If it doesn't, and is considered self-promotion, let me know and I'll repost to the appropriate section. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Matt. Would you mind adding some of your photos to our Gallery XIX area so that more people can get to see those? Here's the link for submission just in case.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Thanks for posting!
I really don't understand the concept behind his (or other authors) not even including someone's name with the autograph.

 

[Bev Vincent]

Thanks for posting!
I really don't understand the concept behind his (or other authors) not even including someone's name with the autograph.

It slows the process down considerably -- the author needs to ask the name and the spelling. It can easily double the length of time it takes, which halves the number of people who get books signed.

 

[Moderator]

It slows the process down considerably -- the author needs to ask the name and the spelling. It can easily double the length of time it takes, which halves the number of people who get books signed.

Just to rule out the possible suggestion, even if it was written out on a piece of paper before they got to him it would still slow things down too much, but you're absolutely correct that that is the reason why it's flat-sign only.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

It slows the process down considerably -- the author needs to ask the name and the spelling. It can easily double the length of time it takes, which halves the number of people who get books signed.

I've been to signings where the publicist walked down the line and asked people their names, wrote it on a post-it nopte and stuck it to the front of the book.
No matter the reason, I still think it is unfortunate. I worked in publishing for a number of years and I know authors/publishers work like this, but with only 350 people or so in line (who I would assume are pretty big fans), the least SK could have done is write their name down as well. JMHO.

 

[Spideyman]

I've been to signings where the publicist walked down the line and asked people their names, wrote it on a post-it nopte and stuck it to the front of the book.
No matter the reason, I still think it is unfortunate. I worked in publishing for a number of years and I know authors/publishers work like this, but with only 350 people or so in line (who I would assume are pretty big fans), the least SK could have done is write their name down as well. JMHO.

Everyone is entitle to their opinion and I respect that. I also respect the fact that Stephen King does not need to these book tours/ signings. He is giving up his private time and family time to do them. It has already been stated he is coming down with a cold. It is a privilege to attend these events. It is a privilege to receive a signed each book. "only 350". My wrist would ache for a week. In my opinion, he's done more than "the least"-- he's given part of himself to each of those 350. Just my thoughts on the subject.

 

[Moderator]

I've been to signings where the publicist walked down the line and asked people their names, wrote it on a post-it nopte and stuck it to the front of the book.
No matter the reason, I still think it is unfortunate. I worked in publishing for a number of years and I know authors/publishers work like this, but with only 350 people or so in line (who I would assume are pretty big fans), the least SK could have done is write their name down as well. JMHO.

From what his publicist at Scribner told me, he signed about 500 books that day so 100 more than were guaranteed to get a book signed. I don't know about you, but if I was that last person in line I'd be pretty happy that he didn't take the extra time to write personalizations.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Everyone is entitle to their opinion and I respect that. I also respect the fact that Stephen King does not need to these book tours/ signings. He is giving up his private time and family time to do them. It has already been stated he is coming down with a cold. It is a privilege to attend these events. It is a privilege to receive a signed each book. "only 350". My wrist would ache for a week. In my opinion, he's done more than "the least"-- he's given part of himself to each of those 350. Just my thoughts on the subject.

I respectfully disagree. SK is just a human being; to stand in line all night and then get 30 seconds with him just to get his autograph and a quick "hello" is not a "privilege" as you state. No, SK may not need these signings, but his publishing company sure does! These signings generate $$$ for the publishing company so they can pay the multitude of people involved in getting the book to print.

That said, if all the people who lined up to see him are happy, then who am I to disagree? I chose not to go and that is my decision. It's all good.

 

[Charms7]

I was talking the other day with my good friend, Steve, who is the author of many wonderful books but has absolutely no idea how to please his fans. I tell him, I say, "Hey, Steve, you know what would make your fans love you even more and cause them to believe you are one down to earth kind of guy? All you need to do, minimum, is spend 10 minutes with each fan who attends one of your book signings. With a mere 500 people who want you to sign their book, that would mean all you'd need to do is spend a little over two working weeks with the group! Is that really too much to ask?" His reply, "Well, that does seem a little excessive. I do have other obligations, you know. Screenplays to write, actors, directors, producers to meet and decide how the next production needs to go." I tells him, "Ah c'mon Steve! I have it on good advice from someone who was once in publishing game that you're simply not doing enough! Okay, can't you at least chat with them 5 minutes? That's only a week, 40 hours, worth of effort." Steve replies, "Gee, I don't know. Tabby wants me home for supper at least once or twice this week..." My final argument was, "These people have waited in line for you and everything."

I meant no offense or disrespect to anyone out there in the listening/viewing audience.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

I was talking the other day with my good friend, Steve, who is the author of many wonderful books but has absolutely no idea how to please his fans. I tell him, I say, "Hey, Steve, you know what would make your fans love you even more and cause them to believe you are one down to earth kind of guy? All you need to do, minimum, is spend 10 minutes with each fan who attends one of your book signings. With a mere 500 people who want you to sign their book, that would mean all you'd need to do is spend a little over two working weeks with the group! Is that really too much to ask?" His reply, "Well, that does seem a little excessive. I do have other obligations, you know. Screenplays to write, actors, directors, producers to meet and decide how the next production needs to go." I tells him, "Ah c'mon Steve! I have it on good advice from someone who was once in publishing game that you're simply not doing enough! Okay, can't you at least chat with them 5 minutes? That's only a week, 40 hours, worth of effort." Steve replies, "Gee, I don't know. Tabby wants me home for supper at least once or twice this week..." My final argument was, "These people have waited in line for you and everything."

I meant no offense or disrespect to anyone out there in the listening/viewing audience.

I never once said SK needed to spend 5 minutes with each person. My argument is for writing a person's name with his autograph. Your post is offensive in its sarcasm.

 

[RichardX]

As someone who has gone through this drill a few times, I see it as King's book, King's rules on the signing. It's clear up front that he doesn't personalize and with the lines stretching around the block you can understand that and why he can't have a discussion with every person in line. That doesn't mean that these events couldn't be improved. For example, I saw people in wheelchairs sitting in the cold for hours who probably didn't get tickets. The book store folks should cut the line off when they know the number of people in line exceeds that of the tickets available or at least give them a heads up that it's unlikely they will get a ticket. My pet peeve though is limiting the signing to the new book. King doesn't care what book he is signing. The store shouldn't care which one book you get signed if you buy one from them. They make you show the receipt or ticket. It doesn't take any longer to sign an old book than a new one. That is simply a silly rule. Many people will get the new book signed. Some others may want an older book though. I know Ms. Mod has said that's the way the book store people have indicated they want to do it, but I'm sure if King told them that was silly they would accommodate him. In fact, if he told them to carry each patron through the signing line on their backs they would probably do that to get him in their store.