School Visits
Book Signings
It seems that the excitement of an author visit lives on when students have a chance to buy copies of a visiting author's books. I've always enjoyed having the opportunity to chat with students as I'm signing their books, but years of typing and signing have taken their toll on my hands. I can no longer sign book after book without shooting pains going from my thumb up my arm, so that sort of signing isn't an option.
There are others, however!
Some school send me boxes of books to sign a couple weeks before my visit so I sign them a few at a time. The books are organized by class and each has a post-it note with the first name of the student on it. When I'm finished personalizing and signing, I send the books back, and they are distributed on the day of the visit.
Another option is signature stamps. I have my signature on rubber stamps in three different colors, and also a few with art and a signature by Jim for the books we've done together. At some schools, kids write their own names in their books, then pick out which stamp they'd like me to use. That way, we still have some personal interaction.
Books and reading are what matter most, of course, and I'll do what I can to make book signing a positive experience for the kids at your school.
