Friday, July 18, 2008

Doing Homework

Well - it's not long now - less than two weeks before I leave on a jet plane. The list of authors at the literacy singing has been posted now and I have a bit of a dilema *g*. I looked through it - a number of times - and I already own the back list of all the authors I most want to meet! Linnea Sinclair - own all her books. Susan Grant - yep - I have every single one of her books too. I've read and loved both of Joanna Bourne's books. Same thing with Elizabeth Hoyt's books too! Gena Showalter - have all hers! I've been buying Toni Blakes books and have most of them. I just hope they have the one or two I don' t have there.

So, it's a bit of a dilema - do I got up to them anyway and say I'm not going to buy your books because I already have them?

I was blog hopping this morning and stopped at Book Binge. They have a review of Master of Surrender and it sounds very intriguing. I love a good Medieval. I immediately checked out Chapters and they have copies available so I thought I'd stop on the way home. But then I thought - 'wait a minute! Your pledge (which you already broke) - so I checked and Karin Tabke will be there. So there's one book I can get - YES!
When I looked at the list there were a lot of authors I hadn't heard of. So in order to get 'organized' and do homework, I'm going to go down the list of authors who will be there and check out their books before hand to see if they appeal to me.

So question - if you are an author, would it bother you if someone didn't buy your books but stopped by anyway?
And is anyone else going to check things out before hand?

14 comments:

Portia Da Costa said...

No problemo! Please say hello as you pass by, whether you're interested in my books or not.

As a conference first timer and a Brit abroad to boot, I'll be happy to see you! :)

Shannon said...

If you own all of their books, you have already supported them. I don't know if this is a big no-no, but maybe you could bring a copy of their book with you. Not everyone. That might get heavy. Perhaps just the ones you absolutely are dying to get signed. As I said, it might be a big no-no. I have not attended RWA (or any signing) before.

Carolyn Crane said...

Oh, you are so conscientious! What fun to meet all these authors.

Look, it's Portia Da Costa. Have you read her books? I read a short by her and was blown away--I'm definitely going for more as soon as TBR gets down, and Tumperkin loves her. (I think it was Tumperkin). So if she's not one of the ones you have lots of . . . but you probably do.

Wendy said...

FYI - this year bringing books from home to get signed is a no-no.

Kristie, I stop by and just say "Hi" to authors all the time without buying a book. In the past, if it's one of my absolute favorite authors, I might buy another copy of the book I already own just to have the autograph. But it truly depends. Seriously, stop by and say "Hi." No author is going to turn you away...especially after you tell them you've already bought their book!

I have to do some networking this year for work (::shudder::) - plus I'm going to pick up some books for friends. After that, I'll do some browsing - see who's signing what. I've got no clear plan of attack this year - other than trying to hit Nora's line before it gets too huge, and stopping by to see Portia ;-)

meljean brook said...

Wouldn't bother me a bit. :-) At other signings, I've had people come up who'd bought them before and/or just wanted to talk, and that was just as fun.

So I wouldn't worry about it -- if you see someone you want to meet, definitely go for it.

Lori said...

I'm in the midst of doing my homework... I've got my Amazon wishlist printed out in excel, and have put the author list from the signing into excel as well. Run a formula to get the crossover, and voila. Needless to say, not only am I an IT geek (I admit it - but I lurrrve me some Excel), I'm going to be spending a freakin' fortune.

And it is a drag that they won't allow us to bring in our 5 books this year, so even those authors you love and own all their books, you just have to make like a squeeing fangirl and say hi. Maybe let them know you already own it all and were planning to bring your vintage copy of xxx to be signed, but couldn't.

KT Grant said...

Can you imagine taking home over 450 books? Hmmm... I am so very tempted *G*

Ann Aguirre said...

Please say hello! Otherwise I'll be sitting there trying to look busy for two hours.

Jill James said...

Authors love to talk to their fans, and if you already own all their books you are a big fan. If they have a long line don't overstay your welcome, but you would be surprised at the authors with no one at their table who would love a friendly hello.

Please get Master of Surrender!! It is soooo good.

KT Grant said...

So, if I stop by everyone's table, no one will try and run and hide? :P

JenB said...

If I were an author, I think I'd be flattered that a reader owned my entire backlist and enjoyed my work so much that she just wanted to say hi. After all, the money you *already* spent on their books is part of what helped those authors get where they are today.

"I heart you so much that I already own everything you ever wrote" is a major compliment!

Linnea Sinclair said...

Yes, yes! Dear God, please stop by my two inches of table and say hello. Take a promno postcard. If you don't I have to schlep the ton of them back to Florida and thst will cost me another $25 in baggage fees. And HEY! My HUSBAND may even be there. You've not met HIM. Few have. MEET LINNEA'S HUZ! I can't promise he'll be there the whole book fair but if not, I'll direct you to where he is at the hotel bar. ;-) ~Linnea

Rosie said...

Kristie, I've been wondering this same stuff too. I pretty much buy right away all my favorite authors as well. I plan on following you everywhere because Wendy tells me, "Everybody loves Kristie!"

I haven't done my homework yet. I feel like a kid in a candy store and don't know what to chose first or what I want most.

Wendy said...

It's true! Everybody does love Kristie! Although I have no doubt you'll do just fine on your own Rosie ;-)