I'm currently in hiding from Scott......
Signed books and how you got them!
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I'm currently in hiding from Scott......
My first signed books were from my first time attending a reading and signing event for Bag of Bones. There was a rule sheet about only Bag of Bones being signed, only 2 copies maximum, must be personalized, etc. I put my name on the post-it for one book (of course!) and wondered what to do about the 2nd one. I finally thought of a name that worked for me, and waited my turn.
The first book was my name, and I mumbled something like "Thanks for all your great work" or something like that while Steve was signing it. When he was handed the 2nd book, Steve burst out laughing said "Good one!" and then signed it. I had used Richard Bachman as the name for the 2nd copy, so Steve signed it that way, but added "You're dead!" to the inscription.
That was the first of many book signings and appearances, and even a fundraiser that I attended, so I have over a dozen in-person, or event distributed signed books. Yes, I'm very lucky to be Boston area based!
The first book was my name, and I mumbled something like "Thanks for all your great work" or something like that while Steve was signing it. When he was handed the 2nd book, Steve burst out laughing said "Good one!" and then signed it. I had used Richard Bachman as the name for the 2nd copy, so Steve signed it that way, but added "You're dead!" to the inscription.
That was the first of many book signings and appearances, and even a fundraiser that I attended, so I have over a dozen in-person, or event distributed signed books. Yes, I'm very lucky to be Boston area based!
I have a signed copy from the 11/22/63 event back in November of 2011 in Dallas, TX. Got to meet Mr. King and got a signed copy of his book. That book holds a very special place in my mind and heart and resides in my safe. Some people say you should never meet your idol. Anyone who said that has not had the pleasure and honor of meeting Mr. King. For someone who has had such a prolific career in writing, film, audiobooks and other media, he's someone who I could every much imagine talking to at a little league baseball game, or a neighbor across a fence. I think he impressed everyone in the room by just how nice of a person he is. In the reception room where everyone gathered to meet him, there was no fanfare, no announcement, nothing at all. I was talking to a couple of other guests, looked over to my right, about 20 feet away there was a tall, lanky guy grabbing a bottle of water. Didn't think much about it till he turned around, and just started talking to the nearest person. "HOW YA DOIN'?'" spoken in a Maine accent that was all to familiar from listening to so many audiobooks narrated by the man. It took a few seconds for the other two guests and I to realize that Mr. King has just strolled in, grabbed a bottle of water and no one had really even noticed. Everyone was still broken up into small groups, talking, waiting for him to make his entrance, and he'd snuck in right under everyone's noses...lol
Sometimes, I like to get that book out from its hallowed place inside my gun closet. I have it in a fireproof safe, inside a very nice slipcase that someone here on the SKMB was nice enough to point me toward a few years ago. I like to open up the book to the signed page and stare at Mr. King's signature. It takes me back to being ten years old in 1982 and opening up to the first page of "Cujo", my first Stephen King book. It's the first time I ever read a novel cover to cover without stopping. About eight frantic hours later, I came back to myself, and the world just didn't look the same anymore. I remember thinking "What just happened?" "Did I fall thru some kind of portal?" I was ten, things like that still seemed plausible after all. Mr. King presented a different kind of novel to a kid who already realized life didn't always have a silver lining. It was good to know there was an author out there who understood that the good guys didn't always win, that there were sometimes monsters under the bed, and that the experience of a good book is second to none. Mr. King's signed book is one of my most prized possessions and it hold memories of one of the best evenings of my life. Getting to meet Mr. King, hearing him speak, getting a signed copy of his book, made for a near perfect night and the signed book always takes me back to that special day.
Sometimes, I like to get that book out from its hallowed place inside my gun closet. I have it in a fireproof safe, inside a very nice slipcase that someone here on the SKMB was nice enough to point me toward a few years ago. I like to open up the book to the signed page and stare at Mr. King's signature. It takes me back to being ten years old in 1982 and opening up to the first page of "Cujo", my first Stephen King book. It's the first time I ever read a novel cover to cover without stopping. About eight frantic hours later, I came back to myself, and the world just didn't look the same anymore. I remember thinking "What just happened?" "Did I fall thru some kind of portal?" I was ten, things like that still seemed plausible after all. Mr. King presented a different kind of novel to a kid who already realized life didn't always have a silver lining. It was good to know there was an author out there who understood that the good guys didn't always win, that there were sometimes monsters under the bed, and that the experience of a good book is second to none. Mr. King's signed book is one of my most prized possessions and it hold memories of one of the best evenings of my life. Getting to meet Mr. King, hearing him speak, getting a signed copy of his book, made for a near perfect night and the signed book always takes me back to that special day.
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That impresses me still how you read through Cujo in one sitting at such a young age. And, yes, I agree it can be dicey meeting one's idols. Cool story about how King made his entrance.
I was always in the library when it was open, which was only a couple of days a week since it was such a small town. I was just walking along the fiction aisle and noticed Cujo. Never had really heard much about Stephen King up until that point. After I read Cujo, I got caught up in a hurry...lol
My first signed books were from my first time attending a reading and signing event for Bag of Bones. There was a rule sheet about only Bag of Bones being signed, only 2 copies maximum, must be personalized, etc. I put my name on the post-it for one book (of course!) and wondered what to do about the 2nd one. I finally thought of a name that worked for me, and waited my turn.
The first book was my name, and I mumbled something like "Thanks for all your great work" or something like that while Steve was signing it. When he was handed the 2nd book, Steve burst out laughing said "Good one!" and then signed it. I had used Richard Bachman as the name for the 2nd copy, so Steve signed it that way, but added "You're dead!" to the inscription.
That was the first of many book signings and appearances, and even a fundraiser that I attended, so I have over a dozen in-person, or event distributed signed books. Yes, I'm very lucky to be Boston area based!
This is a great story, good idea! I'm sure he enjoys when someone changes it up a little.
Looking at your story and others if I really want to meet him I'll have to keep an eye out for the next event and just fly from Ireland.
This is brilliant, just strolling round the room like he's with old friends.
I'll stop the jealousy from bubbling up. I felt very similar when I read my first few King books, you've described it exactly!
The fundraiser I attended was hosted by author John Irving, and featured Steve as a guest speaker. There were tickets to the speaking event, to a cocktail hour prior to the event, and to have dinner with Steve at John Irving's house! The dinner was sold out (and $$$) but I got tickets to the cocktail hour. Even though the notice said it was a meet and great and no books would be signed, or photos allowed, I pulled my Gunslinger (2nd print) out to bring "just in case". Sometime during the long drive from Boston to Manchester Vermont, I realized that I forgot to bring the book!
Oh well, Steve wasn't going to be signing anyway! But I did bring a small camera (pre-digital days!)
There were about 70-80 people in the small school library for the cocktail hour, most holding onto their own "just-in-case" books when Steve came into the room with John and his wife, and some school officials. People noticed right away and a crowd formed around Steve. Guess what? He happily signed anything and everything people had in their hands, books, cocktail napkins, etc. and he also posed for pictures!
I waited for a bit for the crowd to die down then met Steve, got my event ticket signed, and had a SKEMER friend take a few quick pictures of me with Steve. A new friend had some baseball memorabilia to get signed, including a goofy over-sized inflatable baseball. He gave that to me to get signed as he didn't want to appear greedy with too much stuff. When I went back to Steve holding that 8-inch baseball, he exclaimed "You've got balls!" and let out a hearty laugh, and signed it.
One last thing. When entering the school hall for the main event, I noticed a small line of people in the back of the room and piles of various hardcovers, trade editions, and paperbacks. I joined the line to see what was there, and quickly found out that Steve had signed every single book that was being sold, and they were all being sold at 10% off retail price!
I picked up 5-6 books as I passed by the piles, and just-missed the last copy of Song of Susannah. I was hoping and praying that I had enough left on my credit card to cover the cost (those were lean days for me) but it went through and I ended up with a book box full of signed books! During his talk, Steve read to us from a new book he was finishing up, called Lisey's Story. That King appearance turned out to be a great adventure!The fundraiser I attended was hosted by author John Irving, and featured Steve as a guest speaker. There were tickets to the speaking event, to a cocktail hour prior to the event, and to have dinner with Steve at John Irving's house! The dinner was sold out (and $$$) but I got tickets to the cocktail hour. Even though the notice said it was a meet and great and no books would be signed, or photos allowed, I pulled my Gunslinger (2nd print) out to bring "just in case". Sometime during the long drive from Boston to Manchester Vermont, I realized that I forgot to bring the book!
Oh well, Steve wasn't going to be signing anyway! But I did bring a small camera (pre-digital days!)
There were about 70-80 people in the small school library for the cocktail hour, most holding onto their own "just-in-case" books when Steve came into the room with John and his wife, and some school officials. People noticed right away and a crowd formed around Steve. Guess what? He happily signed anything and everything people had in their hands, books, cocktail napkins, etc. and he also posed for pictures!
I waited for a bit for the crowd to die down then met Steve, got my event ticket signed, and had a SKEMER friend take a few quick pictures of me with Steve. A new friend had some baseball memorabilia to get signed, including a goofy over-sized inflatable baseball. He gave that to me to get signed as he didn't want to appear greedy with too much stuff. When I went back to Steve holding that 8-inch baseball, he exclaimed "You've got balls!" and let out a hearty laugh, and signed it.
One last thing. When entering the school hall for the main event, I noticed a small line of people in the back of the room and piles of various hardcovers, trade editions, and paperbacks. I joined the line to see what was there, and quickly found out that Steve had signed every single book that was being sold, and they were all being sold at 10% off retail price!
He really does seem like a down to earth guy for how much of an icon he is. The meet and greet event in Dallas was only supposed to last something like an hour, but Mr. King stayed quite a bit longer to make sure everyone got a picture. I had a really hard time coming up with something to say to him. He shook my hand, put an arm around my shoulders and one of the other guests I was chatting with took a couple of pics for me with my camera. You gotta like it when your favorite author of all time shows up to an event wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots and looks about as ordinary as anyone in the room. He really put everyone at ease and everyone has a great time.
...yeah, you got that summed up beautifully...not bad fer a lunkhead.....
Have you shared that photo on the board?
...don't think he has, probably in the same envelope that he keeps his dwarf porn stash in....
The fundraiser I attended was hosted by author John Irving, and featured Steve as a guest speaker. There were tickets to the speaking event, to a cocktail hour prior to the event, and to have dinner with Steve at John Irving's house![/QUOTE]
That's wild.
