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Today I'll be talking about my favorite signed books. I'll be honest, I don't have that many! I have been pretty lucky over the course of my life to meet a lot of celebrities, but I'm sorely lacking in authors I've met! I went through my book shelves to see to stir my memory to find any signed books, and I found too, and you know what? Neither person lists author as their profession!
I met the first person at a talk/book signing at American University in Washington, DC. He is known firstly as a chef, secondly as a television presenter, and lastly as an author of non-fiction, and a few fiction books as well. Any guesses?
Moving on to my next signed book.
I met this second person at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square in New York City. He is the lead singer for one of the most influential rock bands that came out of the UK in the 2000's. His pre-fame credentials include a fair amount of time spent in the kitchen, so he was asked to pen a column in a UK paper chronicling his food adventures while on tour.
Any guesses?
It's Alex Kapranos, lead singer of Franz Ferdinand. I actually have two signed copies of this book. I'd found a copy in a London bookshop where he'd done a signing, so I have the English copy signed (which is hardback and far nicer) and the American copy signed to me personally.
Have you been to an author signing? Who did you meet?
I'm pretty new to attending book signings. I did meet Sara Zarr (twice!) a couple of weeks ago and got a book signed by her. Then she was gracious enough to let me interview her on my blog! I've heard other authors speak (Shannon Hale, A.E. Cannon, Chris Crowe, Brandon Sanderson) but somehow I missed getting books signed. Now I know better! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's impressive! Make sure to take a book with you next time you hear an author speak! :D
ReplyDeleteI've gone to many book signings over the years. Most recently I saw Jean Kwok (Girl in Translation). She was great - read three passages from her book, spoke at length about her life and getting her book published, and then signed copies of her book.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Alex Kapranos wrote a book! How fun that you met him!
ReplyDelete@ Emily, it's a collection of his columns for the paper with a bunch of lovely little illustrations. It's one of the cutest books I own. :)
ReplyDeleteSweet signatures! Thank you for posting photos.
ReplyDeleteMy wife is so jealous of that first signature. I already know it. :)
ReplyDelete@ Melina: no problem!
ReplyDelete@unfinished person: I was surprised how few people stayed for the signing. The room he spoke in held about 2,000 people, I think? Only about two hundred stayed for the signing! Thanks for the tweet, btw!
Wow, you got an autographed book from Tony Bourdain! I think that's the first I've seen a cover signed instead of inside the book.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten a few books signed in the past, and blogged today about one encounter (with Melba Patillo Beals).
@ Valerie: that is the inside of the book. That particular book is mostly photos documenting the adventures he's had on No Reservations.
ReplyDeleteI love meeting authors and have met quite of few, though these past few years have been a bit of dry spell thanks to where I used to live. I'm hoping to be attending more events now that I'm in a more happening place! I get so excited by author events!! :)
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