Author Jacqueline Carey came to my home office yesterday to sign hundreds of copies of her new books, Naamah’s Kiss and Santa Olivia, to be sent to people all over the world.
It was the sixth or seventh time we’ve conducted an online signing together.
What is an online signing, you ask?
It’s simple. For the author it is like any number of drop-by bookstore signings they may do while on tour.
For fans, however, it is an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have.
I began The Signed Page almost ten years ago to bridge a gap that exists between the touring author and the fan who is unable to attend a bookstore event. In my youth I was that fan. I grew up near the base of Mt. St. Helens, far from any city an author might tour through and getting a signed book from a favorite writer was like pulling teeth. When I could get a signed copy it left my wallet coughing moths.
Once I moved to Seattle and was knee-deep in writers, I saw an opportunity for fans all over the world who had been like me. I devoted The Signed Page to bringing signed and personalized books to those fans who are unable to meet with their favorite touring writers. An author can only visit so many cities per book release, leaving many fans worldwide unable to attain a reasonably-priced signed or personalized copy of their favorite author’s new book for their collection.
I can’t count the thousands of books I have shipped all over the world—purchased at cover price.
And in the almost ten years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never really showed the steps I go through for the writers who sign books for their fans. So I photo documented the process with Jacqueline Carey and her newest books!
Packing 500+ lbs. of books up three flights of stairs is fun!
Continue on to see another 15 pictures with captions of the steps I go through getting signed books to those who love them!
Removing box from books, who hate being cooped up!
After my quality control elves do their job, the great dust jacket flapping begins! This makes it easier for the writer to turn quickly to the title page for signing. In the case of Naamah's Kiss, it was hundreds of book flappings.
Once the dust jacket flapping is completed, I then place post-it notes bearing the name of the fan if they desire their book personalized.
Can't forget the shipping information! If I did, I wouldn't know where to ship the signed book to!
I do those previous steps numerous times, each book given special care and attention to detail to prevent shipping errors later. Soon I have stacks of books ready to be signed!
Said stacks, filling up my floor neatly!
Growing!
Multiplying!
Finished and worn out! The books are awaiting their maker, Jacqueline Carey!
And here she is! Right on cue. It took about an hour and a half for Jacqueline to make her way through 325 books. Over the years we've developed a great system so it went fairly quickly.
Signing finished! The queen sits upon the throne she made!
Jacqueline's part is over in this story! The hard part begins for me. I separate out the domestic and international books. If multiple books are involved, I gather them together into groups. I ship everything 2-3 Day Priority Mail since, I believe, the shorter a signed book is out in the wild the less chance it has of being damaged enroute to its owner.
The great boxing has begun! I pack the books with at least an inch of peanuts around them. Out of the thousands I have shipped over the years I can count on one hand the amount of damaged books that have come to my attention.
And the boxed book pile grows and grows! These will eventually be slapped with a shipping label and carried down three flights of stairs to an awaiting USPS carrier who hauls them away by the dozens every day until all books are gone from me.
I won't post a picture of sweaty Shawn as he descends with numerous orders in hand to the postal carrier. Indeed, that would not be a pretty picture.
A huge thank you to Jacqueline Carey, who is always sweet and fun to have a long conversation with.
After she signed the books she then did a few drop-by signings at local bookstores before her event at the University Bookstore. A large crowd turned out for that event and all in all Jacqueline signed over 700 books yesterday!
I also videoed Jacqueline reading from the next book, Naamah's Curse, as well as answering questions from her fans! Stay tuned for that tasty nugget soon!
Off I go! Back to shipping out books!
I know it's a lot of work, but damn - this has to be one of the coolest jobs out there!
I love it, Kyle. I really do. I wouldn't keep doing it every year if I didn't. And the fans are so gracious and nice and I receive so many thank yous from people once they receive their signed books... it makes it worth it. I always tell those people to write the author, but I take a bit away from it as well. :)
Got some big names coming up later this year, so I'm excited about those! I mean, I get to talk to some of the best writers in the business about anything and everything. That's worth it all by itself.