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...Gallagher Girls 5 will be called OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME. Look for it in stores March 13, 2012. ...Ally answers questions (like will there be a GG5, a movie, etc.) in the FAQ section. ...If you want to be notified via text message about events in your area, just text ALLYCARTER to 69302. TagsRecent PostsCategoriesMonthly archive
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Ally's Diary
The Dos and Don'ts of book signingsHappy Wednesday, everybody! I hope you're having a good one. With my big signing in Dallas this Saturday (May 22nd, 2:00, Barnes & Noble Southlake) and the Only the Good Spy Young tour coming up (details to be announced), I think this might be a good time to revisit the subject of author signings and some helpful hints to make sure you have the best time possible. All authors and stores are different, of course, but here are some Dos and Don'ts that I think might be helpful.
DO visit the store's website to read their rules and guidelines for events. Some stores may allow you to bring your books from home to have autographed; some may not. Some stores may require you to purchase at least one book at the store; some may not. Some might require an advance ticket; some may not. You won't know until you check, so I always recommend checking. DON'T assume that the guidelines a store used for one event will be the same guidelines for another. (For example, the Southlake store probably had to do things a little differently for the 1,200 people who came out to see Rick Riordan last week then they'll have to do for the significantly smaller crowd that will be on hand to see me.) DO doublecheck the time and location for the event beforehand because some signings may be sponsored by a store but held at an off-site location (like a school, church, or community building) because of crowd size. DON'T expect to just walk in and walk out in a few minutes. Sure, this is probably not a problem for 90% of authors and events, but sometimes signings last much longer. Most of the frustrations that stores and publishers hear from parents is that they didn't expect to have to wait in a line. If you're going to an event that's supposed to be huge, it's best to be prepared for this possibility. (If I had to give an average, I'd say that my signings are usually about two hours long including the Q&A session at the beginning and the signing line. It, of course, varies a lot event to event and author to author.) DO plan on purchasing something at the store hosting the event if you can. Sure, some stores may allow you to bring in books you bought elsewhere, but if you can afford it, it's generally very nice to support the store that's bringing the author in--that way they will hopefully bring in more authors! DON'T worry about what to wear, how you'll look, whether you'll fit in, etc. You are going to a book signing! WIth other people who like the same books that you like! In other words, you are going to be with people with whom you already have something huge in common. Sure, many of you will go to different schools, live in different parts of town, etc, but you all like reading and have at least one favorite author in common and if you ask me that's the start of a fabulous friendship right there! DO make it an event if you can! The people who seem to have the most fun at signings are the ones who come with a group of friends, go out to a special dinner or ice cream with their mom or dad before or after--do something to really make it a fun night or afternoon out. Sometimes groups will dress up like Gallagher Girls or all wear sunglasses like Kat on the cover of Heist. It doesn't make any difference to me, of course, but I like to see people having fun. Author events are just that--events. They can be a really special day with friends or family. It's not about the autograph, in other words. It's about the experience. Do something to make your experience special. DON'T forget your camera. I, personally, have no problem taking pictures with readers. Of course, this is another one where different events might have different rules, but at the very least you'll probably want to snap off a few pictures while you're standing in line or listening to your favorite author talk. DO teach someone else to use your camera. While most authors don't mind posing for pictures if the line (and time) allows, everything really does move more quickly whenever everyone is ready, the camera (or cell phone) is out and charged, and all everyone has to do is smile and click. DON'T be afraid of authors. We really are nice. Well, most of us are nice. (Many of us are concerned about Jen Barnes and the large amounts of evil that could be hiding in her hair. Seriously. She has a lot of hair.) DO try to go to as many events as you can--especially if you want to be a writer. It's imporatant to hear writers talk, absorb what you can about this business, and most of all, realize that writers are just people with jobs. That's it. I'm just a person. This is just a job. DON'T assume that your favorite writer will be coming back through. Tours are incredibly expensive and pretty rare, so if you get the chance to meet your favorite author--take it. Also, these are probably not the times to be picky and say that an author should come to this store and not that store because you don't want to drive across town. Remember that most authors are coming across the country--meeting them on the other side of town might be the only chance you'll ever get. DO call the store if you can't make it and see if you can pre-order an autographed copy of the book. Most stores (especially independent bookstores) will have a stack of "pre-orders" set aside for us to sign before we leave. These are almost always people who couldn't make it to the event because of conflicts or simply because they live too far away. In these instances, the store will take your name and credit card number and the author will sign a book just for you and you can pick it up/have it delivered later.
And that's it--my list of Dos and Don'ts for Author Events. The key to take away is that every single event will be different. You can never say how many people will be there, how long it will last, or anything like that. You can, however, visit the host store's website, review the rules and guidelines, and come prepared to have a blast. Hope to see you all this weekend in Dallas or in LA, Orlando, or at one of the upcoming tour stops for Only The Good Spy Young--as soon as I have details about those I will post them ASAP. Take care! Ally
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Mini excerpt PLEASE!!!!!
Ih, I hope you come to Florida on your next tour! Preferrably somewhere around Tampa!
Thats sooooooooo helpful! seriously ive been dying to go to one of your signings! that'll be good to know if i eventually get to go to one
OMG! i am so excited for only the good spy young! Love the widget! I think that the person that betrays Cammie Is Zach. I hate to say that because Zach is awsome. Hey Ally I am a ice skater so i think it would be cool if you had the covops class do a assingment on the ice.
I wish you cold come to Cleveland Tennessee. There are alot of book lovers here! Especially your books, everyone gets them because they ere in a scholastic magazine. Although, I had mine WAY before Scholastic got them. I can't wait till OGSY!!! 40 days!
Very helpful, thank you! I'll definitly be in Southlake on Saturday.
Hey Ally,
I was surfing the web and found this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_france_museum_theft
I'm currently reading HEIST SOCIETY and right at the part of the heist. Thought this was really ironic/cool/a bummer.
-jackie
Zach better not be the one who betraysCammie, and anyway, I dont think he is.I think its one of the teachers, or maby Aunt Abby, but somehow I doubt that.But I cant wait for the book, and thaks for the advice, it'll be really helpfull if I ever get to go to one of your sighnings.(Which I REALLY want to do by the way)
Hey, I know this is kind of off topic, but when I saw this the first thing that I thought of was Heist Society. It is this recent art theif that reminded me alot of the one in Heist Society. Check it out: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_france_museum_theft
of course iwill be too ally! texsas book festival i just happened to be visiting my family then and was soooooo happy that was when u were there and now u r coming to MY town so i dont have to "happen to be visiting" my family!!!!!!
luv ya!
and of course your books...
~caroline!!!,
I want to go so bad to the signings for several authors but usaully the signings are big cities. Anyway I've done some of the don'ts like, forgetting my camara and be soooooooo shy when I saw one of my fav authors. I just froze and I'm a very bubbly person, but after seeing her and she was signing my book i was frozen. Even after she said she like my dress i muttered thank you and was quiet the rest of the time. But on the common interst with other readers who were there is actrully true because thats how I met my best friend. We saw each other at school but never talked to each other and after that book signing we started talking to each other and now were best friends. thanks for the advice and I hope I'll be able to see you at one of your signings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
luvs,
Abby
There is an author fair in my city this weekend & i was soo sad when i found out u werent gnna be there :( I relllyy can not wait until GG4!!!!!!!!!! My writing teacher is an author 2 i lerned alot bout book signingz to! =) But i agree w/ annonamus about it being one of her teachers or abby... and maybe well find something out about her dad!!! AHHHHH CANT WAIT!
Cannot wait for tomorrow!! :D Have a good weekend everyone
Hey everyone come check out this awesome site it is called
ggforever.weebly.com
OMG!!! I TOTALLY wish I could have gone to the book signing!!! I could have asked you if the maybe unfinishable quiz is or isn't unfinishable!!! For the Only the Good Spy Young tour, you should stop in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada!!! I don't necissarily live there, but it is the closest place to where I do live that would be able to have a book signing!!! PLEASE let me know if it can!!! Loooove Kailey!!! PS I hope it can!!!
When will you come to Canada?! If you do come to Regina,Sask!
But the tips were really helpful cuz if you were to come! Anyway try to come to Canada!!!!! I would die If you did! Luv ya -Megan-
Come to China!!!
Ohmygoodness, Ally!
I've been missing all these posts since I never knew they were even up!
I guess when I saw the countdown widget every time I came on here, I never knew there were posts UNDER it. I'm so stupid!
Love, Hannah
Thanks, Ally!
This was extremely helpful and I'll definitely refer back to this for my next author signing! I only wish that I could meet you--that'd be awesome!
Love, Hannah
ZOMG, you should come to somewhere near Eugene, OR. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!! I can honestly say that I do not believe Zach will betray Cammie, it would be too predictable!!? I think Bex will... I know she's absolutely amazing!!! But we don't EXACTLY know the full story behind her, what if her parents being at MI6 is just a hoax!? Also, Bex inviting Cammie to stay Winter break is kind of suspicious if you ask me, but I'm probably wrong.
LOVE YA, Aura!!!
Wow, Ally you are such an amazing writer. I just finished GG4 read it in about 4hrs tops. I wont give away ANYTHING :P but it was soooo good, it beat every expectation i had and kept me on edge the whole time. The way you write just draws the reader in so much you couldnt imagaine. The charaters and everything becomes so real! I must say though the twists in this book, all of them, were great :D Thanks so much for the best 4hrs of my month :)
Love, A.
Ally, I love your books and am so very obsessed with them. But I live in Kansas City, and St. Louis is just too far away... I'm terribly sad that I can't see you, but, oh, well. Hopefully you'll come a little closer next time (please). Also, I know that book 4 just came out, but... WHEN'S THE NEXT ONE COMING?! I can't wait!
Ally, your books are amazing! I hope to see more of the soon. I just can't get enough of them!
I wish you would come to texas for your tour!!!!
And I live really close to southlake I wish I would have known sooner but it's okay maybe youu will come back or at least i hope so!!
Ally Carter,
I am so very excited about your 4th Gallager Book. I was wondering if during a signing you can bring all your books and have the author sign the whole series. Also I was wondering if you could maybe come to South Carolina some time. Somewhere around Columbia or off of Broad River road. There is a Books a million and a Barnes and Nobles there. I am a very big fan of the Gallager Girl series and can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy of the fourth book. I am very hopeful that you see this post and maybe consider coming to South Carolina. I hope I can make it to one of your book signings so that I can meet you and not only be able to read the Gallager Books over and over but read signed copies!
Your Fan,
Brittany Foster
Come to Piqua, Ohio. Please! I love your books!!!!!
Can't wait until GG#5! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Ally, I love your books soooooooo much and so do a bunch of my friends. We would LOVE to meet you. So, please come to Atlanta, GA on your tour. That would be AMAZING. My friends and I love all your books and hope to see you! Thanks sooooooo much.
Bella
OMG!!!! I love only the good spy young! I was born to play Cammie, and if there is ever a movie, i am sooooo auditioning!!!! I LOVE your books! Yes actual lovage!!!!!!!!! Lol!!!!!!!
Hi Ally! I absolutely love your books! At first I just picked it up off the shelf of the store and bought it. when I got home I started reading and by time I was done with the first page, I was hooked! I am the type of person who doesn't really get into books, so I tried not to get so attached to it, but there was no was out! Haha! I was embarrassed to answer my friends when they asked me what I did the previous night because the answer was: "I stayed up until 1:00A.M. finishing the book! I have never loved a book more than I love the Galagher Girl Series! Within about one week (no lie) I was done with all of the books. And when I read the back to see what the next one was called, and didn't see one, I was devistated! Thats when I went on your website and saw that it wasn't coming out until this time next year! Well at least now I have closure haha!
If there is a way of righting back PLEASE do :).
~Andrea
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