Preparing For Authors Book Signings at the Texas Book FestivalAuthors book signings are a major reason why we go each year to the Texas Book Festival. Many famous book authors attend each year. There also have been many "political" authors in attendance. Bill Clinton was there in 2005 and Barack Obama in 2006. Jenna Bush and Kristin Gore were at the 2007 Book Festival. Kinky Friedman, candidate for governor of Texas, is there most years.
So each year before the Texas Book Festival we plan out what books we will bring or buy. Jim usually already has many books to be signed at any given Book Festival ... he has a very large collection. I selectively buy 3-5 or so books ... that I think an autograph will greatly increase the value of the book. Last August an author list was published on the Texas Book Festival site. I looked through the list ... went to Advanced Book Exchange (ABE.com) ... and started looking at books. I purchased several books for the authors book signings as noted below: Michael Connelly Michael Connelly is one of the top mystery writers. I have his third and fourth books. I would like to get his first book Black Echo but it is $350-400 and all copies are already signed. His second book Black Ice is much less expensive and there were a few not signed. I picked one up for about $65. Jim had two or three copies of Black Ice to get signed. I guess we were thinking alike. Jane Hamilton I didn't have any of Ms. Hamilton's books but knew she was a highly regarded writer. I was surprised to find an unsigned copy of her first book on ABE for about $75. The book, The Book of Ruth was published in 1988. Signed copies appeared to be selling for $150. Joe Lansdale I found a few copies of Mr. Lansdale's first full length book, The Magic Wagon. It was published in 1986. It is a small book that looks almost like a book club book but it's not .. it has the price on the dust jacket panel. This is a nice copy that should be worth about 50% more after signing. Sherman Alexie I also bought Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. He is a Native American. It's one of his early books and was inexpensive. His books seem undervalued ... particularly since he won a National Book Award in 2007 for his latest book for young adults. Jim bought the following books for authors book signings: Winkie by Clifford Chase The Next Time You Die - Harry Hunsicker's second book Crosshairs - Harry Hunsicker's third book The Christmas Pig by Kinky Friedman And Now You Go by Vida Vendela Misfortune by Wesley Stace - his first book 
The Rotunda in the Capitol Building.
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