Book signing tour in America

Literary luminaries are yours for the meeting
-------------------------------------------------------
By Chris McNamara Special to the Chicago Tribune
October 2, 2008

This one wasn't as bad as the book-signing back in 1980, where actor Tim Reid—at the height of his Venus Flytrap fame—was promoting his book of poetry "As I Feel It." With his 12-year-old daughter at his side he waited—and waited—for fans. One showed up.

Reid had to convince his girl that he was, indeed, a big star. At his mid-August book-signing at the State Street Borders, Reid didn't have that problem. In fact, more fans wanted copies of "Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White" than the store had in stock.

So what does this tell us as we enter the book-tour season, the season in which authors crisscross the nation hyping books they hope will top the best-seller lists during the holidays?

It tells us that author appearances vary as widely as the authors themselves. "You can never underestimate word-of-mouth advertising," explained Reid, when asked why he'd embarked on a nationwide book-signing tour for "Tim & Tom."

Adds co-author and native son Tom Dreesen (on his first-ever book tour): "Reading changed my life, and I never thought I'd be signing my own book. I wrote truthfully here, so this is like I'm signing my soul, signing my guts."

Author Neil Gaiman isn't quite as dramatic as Dreesen, but he does relish the chance to connect with fans, citing that writing is a lonely profession and the feedback is welcome. And he's blunt about other motivation.

"You do a book tour to make sure your book is right up there on the best-seller list," he says. And if that means icing your hand after Hancocking 3,000 times in a single day—as was common on Gaiman's last tour—so be it.

Glencoe's Doug Scherer scans listings online for upcoming book-signings. When somebody catches his eye, as did Reid and Dreesen, he's there. "It's not as much about the autograph as it is the face-to-face time," says the 42-year-old while in line at Borders. "Even if it's just shaking their hands."

Waiting behind Scherer was Marlyn Love, who has more of a connection to the authors. Some 40 years ago, when the two comedians performed at the Chicago Playboy Club, Love was a waitress—a Playboy Bunny.

She was at the signing to reconnect with the guys. Should book signing attendees expect a personal encounter with authors? That depends. The amount of time given to each fan varies depending on crowd size, schedule, even the mood of the author.

"There's no way to know how long the line is going to be," says Borders manager Thomas Ecks, who suggests calling on the day of the event. "Nor is there any way to know how long a celebrity will spend with each fan."

At a recent signing in Evanston, author David Sedaris spent a few minutes with each attendee. He was there for 12 hours, according to Ecks. Cookbook author Rachael Ray, for whom Borders has had to shut down the escalator to accommodate the snaking line, is quick.

"She signs and scoots," says the manager. "You should expect to just get a signature, say 'hi' or exchange a few words," explains Quimby's
Bookstore owner Eric Kirsammer. "There are usually a lot of people so if you're expecting to get to know [an author] it's not going to happen."

Kirsammer does have suggestions for making the most of the experience. He advises fans to migrate toward the back of the line rather than the front, as the last attendees are more likely to get the author's undivided attention.

He suggests calling his store during the signing to get a line update .Kirsammer has also noticed that authors at his bookstore have enjoyed signing alternative items.

"A lot of people bring in those rat-prevention signs," he chuckles. (Note: Many authors will sign only their books, purchased at the signing.)

"Don't be afraid to get involved and ask questions," advises author Reid. "We're glad to know that people are reading the book."

So is Gaiman, but those massive crowds at past book-signings have prompted him to test a new format on his current book tour, one in which presigned copies of "The Graveyard Book" are for sale at theaters in which he reads a chapter and answers questions from fans.

"I think they'll have a better time this way," he surmises, "rather than standing in a line that slowly snakes around a bookshop."