2015 Signing Info

[Brooke]

Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign? If not, what would they be signing, exactly? What's the difference between an in-booth signing and a regular autograph session? Do the authors have ARCs at their tables or do I pick those up from publishers? I'd really appreciate some advice! Thanks :)

[Laura]

Liza, have you (or someone from SHP) contacted Beth Oliveras at BEA about being left off the list? She will be able to get it listed - here's her email if you need it:

betholiveras@yahoo.com

[Jenni]

Brooke wrote: "Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign? If not, what would they be signing, exactly? What's the ..."
Once you've been the first day, you'll get the swing of it. But it is hard to understand with the differences.

There are basically 4 types of autograph signings. They can be split in two ways. 1. Autograph area table signings, and in-booth signings.

For Autograph Area (here on out called AA) there are two types.
a) Ticketed and b) "Not ticketed."

AA is a designated place on the conference center, where every half hour authors are changing. Some stay for an hour, others only half an hour. You go, stand in line, they give you an arc at the table and the author signs it.

You can line up for any of these, as long as they are not a "Pre-Ticketed Author". Some of these will hand out a ticket once you are in line, so they know if they have enough books to hand out. That is not the same thing as a pre-ticket author.

For popular authors, they will give out only a select number of tickets at the beginning of the day. (I believe 7am) And when they are gone, they are gone. To get in these author's line, you must show the line attendant your ticket. If you don't have a ticket, you don't get to join the line.

(Please note, sometimes not every ticket =/= a book. Sometimes there are shortages. Sometimes a ticketed author will have extras, it all depends.)

Then, for In-Booth signings, you basically have the same thing, but at the publisher's booth on the exhibit floor.

Some will be a free-for-all. Join the line, get handed a book in line, get the book signed when you're up. Others will hand out tickets while the line is forming. Even if you don't get a ticket, you can still try the end of the line, and be lucky. It all depends.

Some will have tickets at the very first thing of the day, and you have to go to the booth when the exhibit floors open and get a ticket.

Really, if it's your first time, don't worry. You're going to get books. It's not possible to get everything and know about everything. It has a learning curve!

[Liza]

Laura wrote: "Liza, have you (or someone from SHP) contacted Beth Oliveras at BEA about being left off the list? She will be able to get it listed - here's her email if you need it:

betholiveras@yahoo.com"

Thanks so much for that. I will pass on this information to Spencer Hill! XX

[Brooke]

Jenni wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign? If not, what would they be signing, exact..."

Thank you so, so much for this great info!! You really cleared things up for me. I appreciate it. One last question: Can you take a picture with an author during a signing or do they want to get you in/out as quickly as possible??

Thanks again!!

[Laura]

Brooke wrote: "Jenni wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign? If not, what would they be ..."

It really depends on the author signing. With the exception of the celebrity authors/big names, most will allow a quick photo as long as you aren't holding up the line. Usually for the big names, they'll tell you up front if you can take photos at all (with or without you in the picture.)

[Take Me Away To A Great Read]

Liza wrote: "Laura wrote: "Liza, have you (or someone from SHP) contacted Beth Oliveras at BEA about being left off the list? She will be able to get it listed - here's her email if you need it:

betholiveras@..."

I retweeted Spencer Hills post about the in-booth signings, including yours.

[Laura]

It;s my first time to BEA and I was wondering about the signing vs galley drops. Do most signing authors have additional books for galley drops or is the only way to get a copy to get it signed? I'm more interested in the books then getting them signed in most cases.

[Lexie]

Hey Laura - most books are only for the signings. Some pubs will have the leftover copies (if there are any) at the booth afterwards and some will have galley drops, but by in large there isn't a whole lot of crossover.

[Laura]

Thanks, Lexi that will really help me with my planning.

[Beth]

I'm not sure if this is where I post this but can someone tell me the best way to collect all of the books. Is it better to do the direct shipping or suitcase? And what is the direct shipping price? I can't find it anywhere!

[Lexie]

Hey Beth -- can you be a bit more specific? For shipping do you mean from Javits? I haven't done it in a long time (normally I go to the post office on 31st since it's cheaper) but the one year I did I sent like 30 lbs home for $84 total (post office we send like 75 lbs for about $55 or so) Many of us will only carry the books we desperately don't want to lose in our suitcases as it gets heavy quick and going by public transport with heavy luggage can be cumbersome or costly.

[Ashley]

Beth wrote: "I'm not sure if this is where I post this but can someone tell me the best way to collect all of the books. Is it better to do the direct shipping or suitcase? And what is the direct shipping price..."

I personally suggest bringing an extra suitcase. Every year I read TONS of horror stories about shipping. Boxes arrive damaged, never arrive at all, arrive with missing books, arrive 2 months late, etc.

Every year I bring two suitcases - one with clothes and one empty one. I pack all my books up in the second suitcase when I go home and check it on the plane. Then my books arrive home when I do, and in my experience airlines are much more reliable than the post office (at least big airlines are, I fly British Airways).

[Elizabeth "Liza"]

Jessica wrote: "I am super excited for the Leigh Bardugo and Susan Dennard signings. Does anyone know how early you should arrive for the signing, for previous years?"

It depends... If you want a book from a popular author/group signing you might have to be there up to an hour before.

[Jenni]

I actually really want to meet Ellen Hopkins. <3

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews]

Does anyone know if Linwood Barclay will be signing or if the publisher will have his new book, Broken Promise, for a galley drop?

THANKS.

[Jessica]

The Disney-Hyperion schedule is up! http://books.disney.com/bea2015/

[Krystal]

I'm going to both BEA and BookCon, so if the answers to my questions vary, please let me know!

If an author is promoting a book that's part of a series (say Book 3), are they usually willing to sign prior books if you bring them?

Also, do we think Maas will be willing to sign TOG books even though she's promoting ACOTAR? I'm DYING to get TOG signed! I saw mention of her doing 2 signings, but have only seen one posted, at BookCon. Where/when is the other signing?!

[Brooke]

Laura wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Jenni wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign? If not, what..."

Thanks so much Laura!!

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews]

Brooke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Jenni wrote: "Brooke wrote: "Could someone explain how signings work?? This is my first time at BEA and I feel so unprepared!! Do I bring books to have the authors sign..."

No...they have the books there.

[Laura]

Krystal wrote: "I'm going to both BEA and BookCon, so if the answers to my questions vary, please let me know!

If an author is promoting a book that's part of a series (say Book 3), are they usually willing to si..."

I can't speak for BookCon, but at BEA, people don't usually bring in books to have the author sign. If you just had one, they might allow it, but I doubt they'd sign a stack of books because of the long lines and time constraints.

Usually, at paid book signings, authors are more flexible, so that might be the case with BookCon?

[Melissa]

Krystal wrote: "I'm going to both BEA and BookCon, so if the answers to my questions vary, please let me know!

If an author is promoting a book that's part of a series (say Book 3), are they usually willing to si..."

Ones a poster signing. Both on Sunday. Also check those listings because sometimes they will tell you if there is a restriction. I can't remember if she had one. I feel like she did.

[Melissa]

Krystal wrote: "I'm going to both BEA and BookCon, so if the answers to my questions vary, please let me know!

If an author is promoting a book that's part of a series (say Book 3), are they usually willing to si..."

Yeah it says one book per fan. http://bcon15.mapyourshow.com/6_0/ses...

http://bcon15.mapyourshow.com/6_0/ses...

[Justine]

This is going to be my first year at BEA! I was wondering how early you would recommend showing up for a signing?

[Krista]

Justine wrote: "This is going to be my first year at BEA! I was wondering how early you would recommend showing up for a signing?"

It depends on the author and the book. If it's a very popular author and book, I'd recommend showing up 45 minutes to an hour before the signing time to get in line.

[Shannon]

How fast do the lines usually move once the signings start? If I am in line for a non-ticket in booth signing that starts at 12, and have a ticket for a ticketed signing at 12:30, would that just be a devil's errand?

[Jen]

It depends. I have had hours where I hit four signings in an hour and then I have had hours where I got NOTHING in that hour. It depends on the line and the popularity of the author, on how early you line up and how far away the signings are from one another. It's a gamble, but that's what makes it fun! Make friends with the people around you and be willing to hold a place or two for the karma of someone holding your place when the time comes. No matter how hard one tries, it is impossible to get everything, even with a ticket. I've missed a few ticketed authors myself in the past from misjudging a line or two. Triage. Definitely prioritize and understand that getting everything can't always happen. Though to be more specific, if you are waiting early in the noon line and are one of the first ones in it and then rush to the ticketed 12:30 signing, you'll most likely be fine. I hope this helped. Good luck and enjoy!

[Shannon]

Thanks, Jen. :) My signing schedule is color-codes by priority, but it looks like there will be a few close calls.

[Laura]

Shannon wrote: "How fast do the lines usually move once the signings start? If I am in line for a non-ticket in booth signing that starts at 12, and have a ticket for a ticketed signing at 12:30, would that just b..."

Exactly what Jen said. I'd add that even if you think you missed something, it is worth it to check - sometimes even ticketed authors or ones with people lined up hours before have no lines by the end of the time slot and they'll let you walk right up to get the book. The publishers do not want to have to lug leftover books back out!