Raising a reader
Starting less than a year ago, my daughter discovered her ability to devour books and her interest in authors. She visits websites (all age-appropriate) of the authors of her favorite books and sits in front of the TV when they are interviewed with only slightly less enthusiasm than when she watches the Jonas brothers. She covets the book store gift cards she got for Hanukkah. She wanted to replace her worn-out, ripped pages copy of Twilight with a new hard cover copy. She giggled when I handed her High School Bites because I said I knew the author. So before I gave her a copy of Parties and Potions after we returned home from our week away (without any drama or delays, thank you very much to the gods of travelling) as a belated Hanukkah gift, I placed the author-signed bookplate inside the front cover. I’d caringly sent a SASE months ago to request it, and have been saving it in a place I would not forget about, until the book was released on Christmas day. She loved getting the book — and when I told her to open it her expression was equal to that as when she untied her bag to reveal a new iPod Nano a week earlier. Her smile was as wide as when she saw the Cookin’ Mama Ninentendo game she asked for and she laughed and hugged it like when she opened her Joe Jonas pillow.
She’s 13. That’s big.
I once gave a friend a cookbook signed by the author. I have a signed bookplate for a friend’s debut novel. It does make the book extra special. It makes it more ours than most books, even if we pulled it off the shelf that way or waited in line to have 20 seconds with the writer.
Not every writer will be a rock star author in the conventional sense. But every writer is a rock star to someone. Maybe a 13-year-old girl — maybe her mom.
If you are a published author and you have gotten writer’s cramp signing books not knowing if anyone will appreciate it, or if you’ve signed one or 100 or 1000 books with people waiting – please know that it really mattered to someone, even if you didn’t see it matter.
Do you have a personal rock star author or a special book that is signed?
I tell my 5YO that once you can read you can know anything there is to know. I tell him that reading is the funnest thing you will ever learn to do. It’s true.
This is true about every writer is a rock star to at least one reader. And that’s pretty cool.
That’s so great that she is so excited for books! I’ve loved books my whole life but I never received a signed copy. Too cool!
My aunt Karen signed a copy of her ARC that she sent to me, but that’s the only autographed thing I own.
I don’t have that many signed ones . . . but I have books that I just treasure. My best friend got me an anniversary hardcover edition of The Little Prince for Christmas. It was my best present!
I’ve got a book signed by The Donald!
No signed special book, but special books in a few old illustrated novels. The illustrations give them a certain flashy style, kind of like the rock concerts of old!
You really are a wonderful mom! (Yes, I know you hate exclamation marks, but it’s needed here.)
Love love love signed books or with bookplates. My all time favorite is a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird I sent to Ms. Lee for a signature two years ago via her Monroeville post office.
I hope to have a signed copy of Amy Sue Nathan’s debut novel soon too.
We had a signing for our inspirational book and sold 70 at our local B&N (the biggest signing ever, so said the manager). We took the time to write personal notes to each person inside the cover. Having a signing that lasts more than an hour helps keep lines down.
We happen to have a signed copy of TS Eliot’s poetry. The poet was a friend of the family yonks back. You’d be surprised at how people’s jaws hit the flaw when they notice that! It’s just on the shelf, with the rest of books in the house.
Unfortunately, the 15 yr old in the house isn’t impressed. But hopefully he will one day.
No books signed by authors here although I have met a few. You’re a wonderful mum, Amy.
I don’t have many signed ones. (Not really true, I had a ton from RWA, but I had to give a lot away, no more room!) I do have two signed by Mark, one by Erica, and two by friends from RWA. Those I treasure, because they’re friends.
If I got one signed by John Irving, I’d be thrilled! I’d sit it beside me every day as I wrote!