A Quandary

[kaasirpent]

"In a Pickle" © 2008 by Mike Bitzenhofer

These days, e-book sales are burgeoning. They’re not up to the level of traditional books, yet (according to what source you listen to, that is). Kindles, nooks (oh, that lowercase ‘n’ really gets to me . . . ), iPads, and other electronic readers are becoming more and more prevalent.

I’ve now read a total of two books on my Kindle app for my Android phone. I’m in the middle of a third, and I have a number of others queued up. I have the Kindle app on my (work) Windows XP machine, my Windows 7 machine, and my MacBook Pro. And I’m definitely seeing the advantages to having the books electronically. I can read them literally anywhere I am, at any time, without having to tote around a huge backpack or satchel, and without having to have a bright light.

But there’s one major question that this trend brings up: when I see my favorite authors at conventions, what do I give them to sign?

It’s not an issue for me, yet, because I still buy five or six dead-tree books for every one e-book, but at some point, the convenience is going to win out over the “nostalgia,” for want of a better word. The tactile feel of the paper, the smell of the ink and paper, the weight of the book, the sound of pages turning . . . It’s a multisensory experience that just isn’t the same when the book is just electrons. And yet, if the book is good enough, the medium just isn’t as important. I’d read Jim Butcher’s books shaved into the backs of baboons. Granted, it might be a little difficult to mark my place, but . . .

So, have authors found a solution to this, yet? Or do we just need to start carrying around a deck of index cards at conventions and book signings?

Originally published at WriteWright. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[cfred.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that authors above a certain stature have glossy photos that their minions will gladly sell to fans before the authors sign them…

[territan.livejournal.com]

You're not the first person to wonder about the transition from DTE to electronic books, but as far as I know you may be the first that has had the particular issue of autographs.

You need some sort of gewgaw, easily produced, easily signed, and uniquely associated with your book, that you can hand out on those occasions when you'd be signing books but there are no books available to sign.

Index cards lack the magic I think you want to capture there.

I can't help but wonder if custom bookmarks featuring cover art from the book and a generous space on the back for your signature and a brief message would be awesome, horribly ironic, or both.

[feuervogel]

The autograph-collection book is coming back into style. A prepared e-reader owner would bring it along.

Though it's possible to sign an ebook, I'm told.

[fauxklore]

I'm thinking of those autograph books we used to have back in junior high. But the idea of bookmarks sounds wonderful.

[friend-soscho.livejournal.com]

One of my girlfriends actually got her favorite writer to autograph her kindle.

I might have opted for the kindle cover if it was me.

[craftsman.livejournal.com]

Once again, NASCAR leads the way. :)

Drivers have "Hero cards" for fans to sign with a picture on the front and bio/stats on the back for when the fan does not have a purchased article such as a shirt, hat ,or die-cast model to sign. These are typically provided by the team owner. For authors, the publisher would replace the owner. For authors, the card would have the latest book cover on the front and an author picture, dust jacket blurb, and short bio on the back.

Feel free to forward this idea to someone who might actually make it happen.