I went to a lot of book signings the past week during the week of BEA. Fabulous authors came to NYC and I attended the book signings I was very interested in. As a result, I got tons of books signed. It was a very busy and tiring week, but worth it.
The thing is, when I ask the many authors to sign my books, I rarely ask them to personalize it for me, aka include my name. I got about 22 books signed and only got 7 of them personalized, one of them accidentally. (The author already wrote “For” before I could tell him/her that I just wanted the book to be signed. Oh well.) That means I only got about 31% of the signed books personalized.
I have this rule: Only books I really love and know that I will always want to have with me throughout my life will be personalized. All other signed books I have will just be signed. This doesn’t apply to signed books we get/win/steal from other people of course because you don’t meet the actual author face to face.
Having non-personalized signed books is better in my opinion. If you get tired of a book or want to give that signed book away to a friend that really wants it, you don’t have to worry about it having your name on it. Also, if you want to clean out your bookshelf, I doubt most people will take personalized signed books and the books would have to be (-sobs-) thrown out.
There is something that sucks about not getting your signed books personalized though. Usually, authors include a tagline when you asked them to personalize and sign their books. Most authors don’t include the tagline when you ask them to only sign their books though.
One signed book has a tagline, the other one doesn’t.
Does anybody else have this habit of hardly getting a book signed and personalized?
I have the same thoughts! I’ve only been to one signing, but while I was there I only got the books personalized that I knew I liked or would like – Prodigy by Marie Lu, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Like you, I don’t want to be stuck with a book that has my name on it. I didn’t get Madman’s Daughter personalized because I’m not sure I’ll like it (I usually hate historical) and I want to be able to give it away in that case. I accidentally got The Archived by Victoria Schwaab personalized…I was going to just get it signed because I hadn’t read it and wasn’t sure I’d like it. So there’s a lot of pressure to enjoy it, otherwise I’ll be stuck with a personalized book I don’t even like!
I cringe at the idea of having someone’s name on any book anyway. Because you never know who you might want to give it to!
Jessi @ Auntie Spinelli Reads recently posted…[PnRC] June is for Zombies: Link your reviews!
OMG, you got the chance to visit Megan Shepherd (author of The Madman’s Daughter)?! SO lucky!
Aww, I hate it when that happens! I get that authors make mistakes, they are human after all, but the pressure to like the book! -squirms-
I know! Maybe you can find someone else named Jessi in the book blogging community and gift it to them if you don’t like the book? ;D
Yeah, and someone else’s name in your book = awful.
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: Do You Always Get Your Signed Book Personalized?
Very interesting perspective Kelly, I have never thought of it like that. I have got one signed book and that by an author I love so I was honored to have it personalised, he even drew in a doodle!
But yes, what if you didn’t enjoy the book and/or wanted to give it away- it would be mighty awkward.
ManatheCat recently posted…Rediscovering South Asian Soaps
Aww, that sounds so sweet! <3
I'm always so awkward when I meet authors; I get all nervous and weird. :P
I mean, I'm standing in front of awesomeness after all!
And yeah, imagine giving your friend a book that was personalized for you. :l
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: Do You Always Get Your Signed Book Personalized?
If only I could get them signed! There are no events like that over here in my little far away country. But I love signed copies and I cherish the ones I’ve won (and some of them are personalized :D)
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 166. Nancy Holder – The rose bride.
-gasp-
Some people host giveaways for a signed personalized copy?! Whoa, I’ve never heard of that before!
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: Do You Always Get Your Signed Book Personalized?
Yes. They were hosting giveaways for the author. So the author sends the book in the end, with a personalized signature :D
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Fairytale News 12. Review Kobo Glo.
Ohhh. I should do that, except I’m pretty much afraid to talk to authors really. :P
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Wasteland – Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan
You could host a giveaway before an event you know you’re going to. Then you can pick up a signed personalized copy for the winner :)
Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews recently posted…Review: A Really Awesome Mess
I don’t have that many autographed books to begin with but the books that I do have personalized, I love. I actually got two of my autographed books from the bookstore where the author did a signing that I missed but I feel less close to it…
alicejane011 recently posted…Scribbling: Tropes
I love both my plain signed books and personalized signed books equally.
Okay, fine, maybe I like personalized signed books a little more because I get o see how the authors write my name. ;D
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: Do You Always Get Your Signed Book Personalized?
I got one of my books personalized (The Book of Luke by Jenny O’ Connell) and I hadn’t read it yet. Long story short, it ended up on my DNF pile. I felt sooo bad for not liking the book!! When I got Fall From Love by Heather London signed (not personalized) I ended up LOVING the book. Maybe I’m cursed to only like books that don’t have my name etched with sharpie in them. That would suck. Lol.
Jackie recently posted…Review: Deeper We Fall
OMG, you didn’t like The Book of Luke?! I wanted to read that!
And yeah, that situation definitely sucks, plus it’s so awkward.
And hey, at least Fall From Love is signed! That’s better than nothing! ;D
That curse will definitely suck. ):
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel Hawkins
I often get books signed for giveaways since I’m lucky enough to go to author events and want my readers to have a chance for signed books from authors they like too!
Anya recently posted…4 Stars: Mirage by Jenn Reese
I do that too! I also make my giveaways international because most authors don’t go visit people internationally. :l
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel Hawkins
I actually don’t have many signed books at this point (but I plan to get more soon!). The ones I have are personalized, but I’m glad you brought this up so that I can keep this in mind for future signings. I love your comment about finding someone else in the blogging community with your name and giving it to them! :-)
Hmmmm… that could be an interesting Rafflecopter giveaway. If your name is Kelly, earn 10 entries. ;-)
Nicole Hewitt recently posted…Review: Family Magic
I went to so many signings this month that I was wondering about this topic, especially when authors asked if you want their book personalized or not.
And I’ve already seen so many Kellys in the book blogging community. My name is so popular. :P
But LOL, love that idea!
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel Hawkins
Great topic! I actually end up getting most of my books personalized. This is partly because I only bother getting books signed if I really love them. But also partly because I feel like I will hurt their feeling if I *don’t* get them personalized. Like they’ll be thinking I didn’t like their book enough to keep it for myself and feel sad. I dunno. But I wish I had the courage to stop getting them personalized unless I really meant to keep them!
Kelley (Another Novel Read) recently posted…Book Bloggery Week-in-Review (12)
Yeah, I know what you mean! I asked to get an ARC signed, not personalized, and the author was like “oh, you going to sell it on ebay or something?” I wasn’t of course, but it was so embarrassing. I could tell that the author was hurt that I didn’t want it personalized. :l
And it’s awkward to just go, “just sign it,” when they ask you whether you want it personalized. There’s like no kind polite way to say it. ):
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Wasteland – Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan
I pretty much feel exactly the same way as you. Except I only got one book personalized at BEA and that was Crown of Midnight. I think there were a few others that I figured I’d keep but it’s not a big deal to me either way so I didn’t bother. As long as I have the book I am happy really :D
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
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Aww, I missed the first two days of BEA so I’m dying to read Crown of Midnight. It’s all I ever heard about.
I’m glad you don’t really care about auhors personalizing your books Nicole, I wish I was like that. I’m super picky about my books, if there is even a dent in a book, I won’t buy it. :P
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Wasteland – Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan
I’m the same as you– I only get books personalized if I KNOW I’m going to keep the book forever (or if I don’t tell the author in time). Makes it less stressful if/when I get rid of a book!
It IS a lot more fun to get things personalized, though. The authors tend to be friendlier when they’re signing your name, they do the tagline, etc. Oh well.
Anastasia @ Here There Be Books recently posted…Blogging Tip: You need a review policy, so make one already.
Great minds think alike! -high five-
Yeah, that’s what sucks about only getting the book signed. It’s like an awkward hi to the authors, then a quick bye without talking much about anything.
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: June 2013
ABSOLUTELY. I went through all of this at BEA this year, too. My rule’s the same as yours. If I’ve already read the book, heck yes, personalize that bad boy, because I already know I’ll love it and keep it. If it’s a finished copy that I haven’t read before, that’s iffier, though I loathe getting rid of signed copies, so personalizing it is probably safe. If it’s an ARC, please don’t personalize it, because I’ll read it once and then give it away so I have room for a finished copy. The only exception to the ARC rule is if it’s a book from an author that I love with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. For instance, my ARC of ROSE UNDER FIRE by Elizabeth Wein was personalized. I’ll still be buying a finished copy, without question, but I won’t ever get rid of my ARC.
Shelver506 @ Bookshelvers Anonymous recently posted…Shelver’s Shelves – A Tour
With ARCs, it’s a bit awkward to tell the author to just sign it and don’t personalize it. I’ve gotten looks and one even jokingly asked me, “You selling this on ebay?”
I was SO embarrassed because no, I’m not doing this to hurt their feelings. If I like the book enough, I’ll buy a finished copy and give my ARC away. Otherwise, if I didn’t really enjoy the book that much, I’ll still be giving my ARC away. But like you, if it’s an author that I love with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, I’ll be asking them to personalize it for me asap.
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