Open Books Store

I collect a lot of autographs from authors of books I enjoy. It’s always nice knowing that they’ve had actual contact with the book you’re reading. The reason why I say this is because it feels like you’re holding a little piece of history for something you’re truly passionate about right in the palm of your hands, which is nothing short of amazing when you’re an enthusiast like me.

I guess much of this stems from when my dad used to take me to get baseball cards signed when I was a little girl. I used to flip out like a crazy monkey every time he had brought home a fresh pack of cards and told me that some of the players were coming to town for a signing. Though, oddly enough, it was more his thing than mine at the time.

But now I’ve transferred that crazy monkey girl enthusiasm over to something that is my thing - BOOKS! And I’ve decided to share my three favorite autographs with you because two of them came from the Decatur Book Festival this past weekend, which is something I’m planning on posting about in detail on my blog in the next day or two. 

Autograph #1 comes from my favorite fantasy writer, the amazing lyrically mystical author of the Kingkiller Chronicles, Patrick Rothfuss. I traveled a total of 18 hours for this autograph. He misspelled my name, even though it was written out on a post-it note right in front of him - I don’t begrudge him this at all because he was exhausted and his autograph line was only halfway through - and then he ingeniously covered it up with his number one piece of writing advice to me because I had told him that I admired his work and that I wanted to be a writer too, which was “REVISE! REVISE! REVISE!” He taught me that it’s okay to write slow and revise your work as many times as you need to. He said that the publishing world is a rough and competitive place, that you have to really keep honing your craft if you want to break into it, and if it that takes you time, then it’s completely okay. He even was cool enough to give my friend who was kind of being discouraging about my writing pace an earful, which meant so much to me. I had really needed to hear his wisdom at that time. Since some of my writing peers were turning the words per day count into a contest, one I clearly couldn’t win. So I think with all that being said, this is my favorite autograph, and I think the man has definitely earned the right to spell my name Pemny instead of Penny if he darn well wants.

Autograph #2 comes from the charismatic and thought provoking writer, David Levithan. He’s published some great, fun stories - Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, 10 Things I Hate About You, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares - while he’s also published some other very powerful works like the Lover’s Dictionary, the Realm of Possibility, Boy Meets boy, and now one of my new personal favorites, Every Day. The idea of defining a person by their soul, and nothing more, really hit home for me. I love that A is a soul in its purest form. Growing up biracial, and having people constantly define me by the way I look on the outside because of it was tough. So I really like how he’s created this masterpiece that makes people think and see beyond conventions like race, gender, sexuality, and etc. His reading of Every Day before the signing was down right amazing. It kind of even gave me chills. Not to mention I was so nervous when I met him that I couldn’t say a single word to him at all. This autograph is one of my favorites because seeing him speak was such a treat, and then he topped it off with this creatively beautiful message when he signed my book. It really makes me want to live every day in wonder. 

Autograph #3 comes from the funny and surprisingly very nice author of False Memory, Dan Krokos. I’m on Twitter a lot, following my favorite YA authors, and over a year ago, I see some of them retweeting stuff from this guy named Dan Krokos, who was saying some pretty crazy and amusing things. I think one of the first tweets I actually saw from him had something to do with if Neil Gaiman can write about a woman’s vagina, than he can write about anything he wants too. My memory is pretty fuzzy on that, so please don’t quote me. Though, I do know that what he had tweeted was shocking enough at the time to make me want to click on his Twitter profile, which in turn led me to discover he had won agent Janet Reid’s Query Shark contest and had a book called False Memory in the works. And after I had read its synopsis, I knew his book was something that I had to keep my eye out for and read in the future. I spent a year of laughing at his funny, but kind of mean sounding, genuine tweets. It was refreshing to see an author speak his mind on Twitter and in interviews without the fear of not selling a book. I also spent that year randomly heckling him on Twitter a lot because his responses were entertaining. I’m now glad to say, that it was a very good thing to have stumbled upon his Twitter account because False Memory has been one of my favorite reads this year. It’s a great book that’s just pure kick-ass fun. I felt like I was watching a good action movie with interesting sci-fi elements as I was reading it, which totally spoke to my inner geek. Not to mention Dan is so nice in person that he’ll sign your book with mean things if you ask him to. So  I can proudly that I’ve had an author tell me I’m a terrible person! SCORE! I think Dan Krokos is going to do big things in the YA world soon, so I’m glad I got to meet him at the start. 

So with all this being said, if you are a book lover, and if your favorite authors come to a location anywhere near you, I cannot encourage you enough to go see them! Grab yourself a piece of history, make great memories, and learn more about the people who’ve given you insight, wonder, and adventure through their precious words. It’ll definitely enhance your reading experience for the better, and leave you with some unexpected lessons.

Also, I’d love to hear about your encounters with your favorite authors and their signings. So please share!

I was lucky enough to meet and have a book signed by Pat Rothfuss just last Thursday! He was in town for WorldCon, and was one of the few authors to do a signing outside of the convention for fans who couldn’t go. He was a true gentleman— I’m extremely awkward around people I admire, and babbled something about Kvothe when I got to the front of the line, but he was very kind about it. 

I also have a few books signed by Neil Gaiman! I second the advice to go to an author signing whenever possible… even though I am extremely awkward, no author has ever made me feel anything less than lovely. :) -Lizzy

(via newleafliterary)