Long ago, back in August of 2007, I wrote a blog answering the question: “If I send you a copy of my book, will you sign it?”
When I wrote that, the book had only been published for a couple months. What’s more, when I wrote the blog, I expected the rules I laid down would discourage people from sending in their books. Specifically, I thought that requiring people to send me something cool would be a big deterrent, and the requests would slow to a tiny trickle.
I was wrong. Since then, hundreds of people have send in books for me to sign. And the cool things they’ve sent have been… well… really cool.
Someone send in a quarter with a bullet hole in it. A handmade Kvothe doll. Old coins. Keys. Jewelry. Magical charms. Grue protective gear. Brass gears, foreign delicacies, and strange gods….
I’ve been meaning to take pictures of some of these and post them up for a long time. Some of them I’ve wanted to post up for years. But with rare exception, I haven’t managed it. There’s only so many hours in the day….
The other thing I’ve meaning to do for over a year is update the post I wrote back in 2007. That, at least, I’ve finally done. Now it’s a little more streamlined, and I’ve included details about how people from other countries can play the game.
The question now is how long will I keep doing this?
The truth is, I don’t know. But the smart money says I might have to stop before book two comes out. If 1000 people mail me their copies of The Wise Man’s Fear, dealing with the packages it will bury me for a solid month. Plus the people at the post office will want to kill me. Plus, cool things aside, I’ll probably want to kill myself.
But for now, I’m still doing it. Here’s the updated blog for those of you who are interested.
Be happy everyone. Be good to each other.
pat
29 Comments
I just now realized I owe you something cool for signing books at the whole reading and signing deal.
Nah. The something cool is only for folks mailing in their books.
Damn, you are a gluten for punishment.
But good on you for keeping up the fan service! That shit can’t be easy to keep up on.
Heh.
-smiles- That signed ARC is probably the last book I would _ever_ part with. The fact that coco puffs and stumptown coffee were involved… I mean, c’mon; 100 years from now, it’s got antiques roadshow written all over it : )
I’m starting to think that you use to much time on that book of yours, when what you should do is consentrate all your efforts into your blog! My guess is that you have somewhere between 40 and 50 “future blogposts” or “blogpost part 2s” that is yet to be written thoug they have been announced! So stop wasting your time on conventions and stupid book-writing, and do what your fans expect by… ehhh… writing… blogs?
:p
International shipping is really expensive. Not your fault Pat, but still, 30$ sting.
I guess I’ll wait for your all around, over, across, from left to right, and back again trip to Germany and attend a reading/signing near me. I do have some fancy ideas of what to send as “cool thing”, might be I will just send those and pass the signing return thing.
Nice flow chart by the way (in the signing blog post).
cheers
Armin
Can you digitally sign, using PKI, my Kindle copy?
:-P
Hopefully this won’t get lost but have you thought about bookplates? A lot of authors I’ve seen do this, they get someone to design a custom bookplate for them, print them off and sign them instead. Readers send a SASE and instead of mass packaging you get slim envelopes. You could even do the signing part in advance and just customize as needed, if needed. I don’t know if it will save a lot of time for you, but hopefully any time saved would be a help.
love
‘Nise
You mentioned international overseas shipping. What about Canada? How much will that cost?
Thanks
Luckily, I was able to meet you and get my book signed at one of your readings/signings/Q+A’s, so I’m covered. It might have been the best moment ever. Possibly.
No, I’m pretty sure it was.
I agree. There is nothing better than meeting The Pat in person and having your copy signed.
Please excuse me while I relive the precious memory.
Hex
I’m glad I got my book sent to you when I did. For Wise Man I’ll have to hunt you down in person, but since I live in the Midwest, I’m sure I’ll get my chance.
Or I’ll just stalk you through Stevens Point… either way. :|
Hopefully a signing in person won’t be the only way possible for The Wise Man’s Fear to be autographed. Of course, in person is much better, but still, the feasibility is disheartening.
I feel like I should get you something cool for being awesome. I got you something when you signed my book years ago, but since then you’ve steadily increased the awesome levels in my life through the blog and through the interactions we’ve had.
So I owe you. I’m going to have to think about this.
Appropriate remark with acceptable excitement levels.
Admonishment of p&h.
Consideration of gifts.
Witty remark.
Concurring statement.
Clever riff on original wit.
Hopeful but doomed attempt to continue joke.
I’m actually quite surprised that you remember the Grue Protection Kit. That was sent quite a long time ago and it makes me happy that you remember it :) I was fun to put together, and totally worth it!
Hmmm. I presume it’s a no-no, but what’s your policy on sending in, say, two or three books (to be made out to different people)? It would, naturally, be accompanied by a ritual sacrifice an order of magnitude larger and more impressive per book sent, but…
I guess that the only way to get a signed-book-as-surprise-gift would be to forfeit a chance to have and to hold one of my own. Ah well, such is life.
Thanks for flagging this up! That blog post was a while before my time following here, so it’s nice to know these things! I may well be sending you a package soon… (of one book + tithe, unless, doubtful as it is, confirmation otherwise is given)
That’s fine. Just send seven bucks for postage and packaging for each book.
You guys are so lucky to have a signed book! im dying to read the book in english instead of spanish
Hey, Pat, I have a new question! I just got my copy of The Princess and Mr Whiffle.. Do the same rules apply? I’d love to have you sign this! Also, I’m fiercely protective of my Naked Man 1st/1st copy of NOTW so I don’t know that I could ship it out without a squadron of armed guards.
Obviously, the Princess is a bit more capable of caring for herself.
Okay, now am I not only in search of a good question to ask the next time you do that dealie with the question, but I need to be on the search for a cool item in case I ever find myself mailing you a book to sign.
What a fun idea! I’m from the Netherlands and although I keep hoping, I guess my chances are really slim to meet you in person. So I do wan to sent my book with something cool to get it signed. I’m missing some crucial information though, your accountnumber! If I wanna transfer money or make out a cheque I need : Account Number and Fedwire (FW) or Routing number / ABA. Am I missing something or could you write me the needed information?
And are you oke with me making an order to transfer the money to your bank directly instead of writing you a cheque you need to go deposit yourself again?
Greetings
Hello, Pat! I’ve just got a question, and if anyone else can answer this, then please do! Do you know if they’re selling The Name of the Wind here in the Philippines? I’ve gone to all the bookstores within my area, and I still haven’t found a copy. I’ve heard a lot of good things about both you and the book from a friend of mine (same friend referred me to your blog, by the way), and behind this somewhat polite comment is a desperate teenage girl in want of a really good book.
Yo, Pat. Any chance you’ll be visiting L.A. during the next book tour? I don’t make it to Wisconsin much (read: never) and the only thing I can think to send you is something my wife describes as “creepy.” Even the woman who gave it to me said, “I just can’t have it looking at me anymore.” Still, I think you’re one of the few people who would probably appreciate it. No, it’s not alive nor ever has been. As far as I know. Thanks!
Okay, if you send it to him and he posts what it is, I’ll send you a picture of my signed book(s). ;)
I would be hesitant to eat anything that a random fan mailed me.