85 I'm going to one of Anne Rice's book signings and I'm kind of nervous. What can I expect? (Anne Rice)
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This article is from the Anne Rice FAQ, by Laura Troise talset@eskimo.com with numerous contributions by others.
85 I'm going to one of Anne Rice's book signings and I'm kind of nervous. What can I expect? (Anne Rice)
Book signings vary a little from bookstore to bookstore, but
in general, they follow a pattern.
Definately arrive early and go with a friend. You're either
going to be given a number and asked to come back at a
specific time or you will be told to wait directly on line.
Either way a wait is involved (which is why you should bring
a friend to talk to and help pass the time). The wait will be
about the same if you arrive early and wait for it to start or
arrive late and just wait to see Anne, but if you get there
early Anne won't be as tired as she would be after 3 hours
of signing books and she'll be more likely to spend a bit
of time talking with you.
Policies about whether or not you have to buy the book at
the store or if you can just bring any book vary from
bookstore to bookstore so call ahead and ask. Policies
also vary as to how many books you can get signed. One thing
that does *not* vary is that you will be told that Anne
will only sign hardcovers so bring at least one of those.
Take heart, though, if you want something signed in addition
to a hardcover. There *is* a chance for you. I'll get to it
in a bit.
While on line someone (usually someone who works at the
place holding the booksigning) will come around with slips
of paper for you to write down your name. In general, the
rule is that Anne will only personalize a hardcover version
of her latest book (the one she's doing the tour for) and
"personalize" means that she'll write your name (ex.
"For Laura, Anne Rice") *not* any phrase you give her
(ex. "For my light and inspiration, I couldn't have written
any of this if it wasn't for you my darling, dearest fan.
Anne Rice.") The person who gives you the paper is also the
first one who will tell you that anything other than a
hardcover won't be signed. They won't (to my knowledge)
kick you out if you don't have a hardcover, but they have
been known to put pressure on people.
When you get up to the front of the line, someone will take
the book(s) from you and either give the book to someone
else or open the book themselves and place the slip of paper
so that Anne can see what you wanted her to write. I have
*no* idea why you can't give the book right to Anne or why
they occasionally have two people doing this job. It just
*is*. At any rate, this person/two people will be the ones
who weed you out if you don't have a hardcover. They simply
just won't take anything else.
Then the happy moment comes: Anne!
Contrary to what anyone may have told you, Anne is a *very*
*extremely* nice person and she loves talking with her fans.
While she's signing your book, you can ask her or tell her
anything you want. This is the perfect time to ask her about
something you didn't understand in a book or to tell her
how much you love her work or to tell her about a band you
think she should listen to or whatever your heart desires.
This is also the time to - and this is where you can take heart -
ask Anne to sign something other than what the store and
the people working the signing told you Anne would never touch/
do in a million years. If you ask nicely Anne will do anything
from personalize an old hardcover to sign your stomach (This is
true! Someone actually asked her to sign their stomach and
she did it! Don't believe me? Just ask her!)
Once Anne is done signing your book(s) and talking with you,
she hands your books to someone else (again, I've *no* idea
why she can't hand it to you directly) who gives the book
to you. Some places will also allow photography at this point
so it doesn't hurt to take along a camera so you can have a
picture of yourself and Anne.
And that's it. All that's left is to tell all your friends
and get ready for the next signing.
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