The Way of Kings Release Events
This is going to be a long post, so I'm separating it out on its own page. If you want to know how to get numbered copies of the book, scroll down.
Last year's four-week tour really wiped me out, so this year I'm doing two smaller tours—first for THE WAY OF KINGS release and later for the TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT release. All my signings will be listed on my events page, so check out that page to see if I'm signing near you. I've asked Tor to send me to different cities on each tour. A rule of thumb you can follow is that if a stop on the KINGS tour is within three hours of where you live, I most likely won't sign any closer to you on the TOWERS tour. But if I'm signing nowhere close to you on the KINGS tour, I might be signing closer to you on the TOWERS tour. And there will be a much larger tour when A MEMORY OF LIGHT comes out, so you may have an even better chance then.
All of those events are US-only. The simple reason for that is that Tor is sending me on this tour, and Tor distributes books only in the US. (Even Canadian distribution is handled by a different company, though you get the Tor edition.) But I don't want my international fans to miss out on getting a signed book from me—for that, please scroll down to the section on Sam Weller's by mail. I am also going to be a guest at a convention somewhere in Canada early next year—yes, I know Canada Is Really Big, but I'll have to get back to you on what city that's in. And I'm considering accepting an invitation to a convention in Paris this fall (whether I do will depend on several factors), so you may get a chance to see me in Europe as well.
The focus on my tour stops will be on getting everyone's books signed. Last year I said that large crowds might keep there from being time for a reading or a Q&A, but this was almost never the case (even though the crowds were indeed quite large). So I'll probably read and answer questions at every stop, but I will also try to pre-sign some stock so if you just want a signed book and don't want to stand in line for me to personalize it for you, you can just grab the book and go.
Some of the events might be ticketed, which means that the bookstore requires you to buy the book FROM THEM in order to get it signed. I've asked for this to happen at as few booksellers as possible, but each store has the final call. Why would they do this? Well, a lot of stores have to bring in extra staff (or even rent extra space) in order to handle an enormous event like this. In the past, they've spent this money and then had everyone bring in books they bought from Amazon to get signed. It makes them very bitter, as they lose money after all the work they put into holding an event. (In one famous case I heard of, a small bookstore held a signing where they spent hundreds on staff, promotion, and cookies, only to have over a hundred people, out of the hundred and twenty who came, bring in books they bought from Amazon.)
As I said, I've requested that the signings all be open to anyone. However, I can see the bookstores' point. Please be respectful and realize one of the reasons that places like Amazon can give you the books so cheaply is that they don't have to maintain or pay rent on expensive storefronts in retail areas. Support your local booksellers; it's because of them that we can have signing events. If possible, I'd ask that you go and buy the book from the store where you're planning to see me. You can buy it early and keep the receipt. If you bring the receipt with you to the signing, that's as good as buying the book at the signing. Generally, at ticketed events, as long as you buy any hardcover book, they will let you get your other books signed. So, for instance, you could buy THE WAY OF KINGS and then get both it and THE GATHERING STORM signed. And even if you don't buy your copy of KINGS at the signing, it's nice to support the store hosting me by buying at least one book (by any author) while you're there.
I don't know which events will be ticketed—or even if any will. I'm slowly gathering information on this. There probably won't be many that are, but I wanted to lay the groundwork just in case. I'll add more information to this page as it trickles in, and to the events page if possible.
Finally, there may be a cap on the number of books I will personalize for you at a time. I'll sign all your books, but personalizations can take a while, so if there's a large crowd, to keep the line moving I may only personalize three books at a time. However, it's just fine if you want to go to the end of the line again and wait to get three more books personalized. I WILL sign paperbacks. I WILL NOT sign books I did not write—e.g. the Wheel of Time books before THE GATHERING STORM. Yes, people have asked; often about one per signing.
I will be doing three special signings in conjunction with the book's release on August 31st. Like with my previous books, I will be numbering copies in conjunction with these release events. The three events are: the BYU Bookstore midnight release, the Jordan Landing Barnes & Noble signing, and the Sam Weller's mail order event. (Details below.)
What does it mean to get a numbered copy? Well, just what it sounds like. If you get a book from one of the three release events, I'll number your copy. I intend to give out as many numbers as there are people who participate in those events (unless we run out of books). In a way, these numbers are less about being limited editions and more about getting a special add-on, an indication that you made it to one of the initial events. This is something I started doing for fun with my first book, and I had originally intended to limit the numbers to the first fifty people who got to me. However, I found that I felt bad stopping numbering if someone went to all the trouble to come to the release party, so I shifted to doing it this way.
I generally stagger my numbering so that lower numbers can be picked up from each signing. Each number is unique. I will rotate by 100s. (So, 1–100 are at BYU, 101–200 are at Sam Weller's, 201–300 are at Barnes & Noble, and then 301–400 are at BYU, etc.)
Each event will have its own rules regarding how you get your number and which number you get. Read on for info.
At 12:00 a.m. on August 31st, I will be doing the world's first signing for THE WAY OF KINGS. Numbers 1–100 will be given out at this signing. (Though everyone who comes will get a numbered copy unless they run out of books.) Number ten will be reserved for Dan Wells because of a funky thing he and I do. (He has number one of my first book, number two of my second, and so forth. I have number one of his first book and so forth.) Other than that, all numbers will be given out in the ORDER YOU ARRIVE TO WAIT IN LINE IN. Let me make this clear. It doesn't matter if the bookstore says something different (though hopefully they know to say this same thing). It doesn't matter how early you preorder. Numbers will be given out based on line order.
The line begins at the doors closest to the science fiction and fantasy section of the bookstore. This means the ones in the northwest corner. (The ones where, if you walk through, there's a cash register in front of you and the SF&F section is to your left.) Book #1 will go to the first person in this line. #2 to the second. And so forth. You can only buy ONE copy of the book in the low numbers per person waiting. (In other words, if you are there in line, you can't buy #1–10 by yourself. You have to have ten people if you want to do that.) If you need multiple copies but don't have multiple people, that's fine—we'll give you #1 and then some higher numbers. This restriction goes for anyone in the first hundred spots.
[EDIT: New info from the BYU Bookstore follows:
- We will give out numbers at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 30st.
- Numbered tickets will be given out in the ORDER YOU ARRIVE TO WAIT IN LINE.
- You may hold a place in line for NO MORE THAN ONE PERSON for NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR.
- Each person in line will only receive ONE ticket for ONE numbered book.
- You will be asked to pre-pay for your book before you receive your numbered ticket. [Peter interjects: If you have already prepaid, bring your receipt or confirmation number to claim your number, but that doesn't affect which number you receive.]
- Individuals receiving a numbered ticket MUST BE BACK IN LINE, in their numbered location, BY NO LATER THAN 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 30, 2010 or they FORFEIT their number and numbers will be reassigned.
- You may not pick up a numbered book for someone else. ONE numbered book per ONE numbered ticket per person. Books will be distributed at 12:00 a.m. on August 31, 2010.
- Once you have received your numbered book you are free to get into a separate line to have it personalized by Brandon.
- Brandon will personalize up to 3 books per trip through the line. If you would like to have him personalize more than 3, you are free to get back in line.
The BYU Bookstore will continue to give out numbers through the rest of the day (August 30, 2010), through the General Book Office, on a first come, first serve basis. Again, fans will only be allow ONE ticket per person for ONE numbered book and they will be advised that they will FORFEIT their number and will be asked to get in the back of the line if they are not in their numbered location in the line by 9:00 p.m. on Monday, August 30, 2010.
END NEW INFO]
I will personalize as long as I can, but I expect the crowd will be a bit smaller than it was for THE GATHERING STORM, and that event finished up by 3:00 a.m. Since all of the books will be pre-signed and numbered, everyone will get a numbered edition if they come. However, since I'm local, you can always just come, pick up a book, and leave—then get it personalized at some other signing when things aren't so crazy. This will probably be a busy event, but—like the THE GATHERING STORM signing—it should be very easy to just come, get a pre-signed/numbered book, then buy it and take off without waiting in line after midnight.
Now, here's the important part. It's hard for stores to judge how many copies to order for this sort of event, and I'm worried that BYU might not order enough. WE MIGHT RUN OUT. Therefore, we are letting you preorder to be assured you get a book. If you preorder, you get $7 off the cover price and you are guaranteed a book. If you don't preorder, it's first come first served. If a lot of people preorder, they will get in more books to make sure everyone who ordered early is covered.
So, for this event, I strongly encourage you to call and buy your book ahead of time. It will save you money and will make things easier for us. Let me say one more time, however, that you do not get your number based on when you preorder. You get it based on when you arrive in line. Preordering just guarantees that you get a copy, not that you get a low number. Still—please, please preorder soon so we can be sure to have enough books for the event.
There WILL be some other fun things at this signing, like trivia contests, giveaway prizes, and maybe entertainment.
Details:
BYU Bookstore, Provo, UT
12:00 a.m. August 31st (Monday night/Tuesday morning)
Preorder by calling (800) 253-2578 or going to the BYU Bookstore website. You'll need to bring your receipt or confirmation number to the midnight release and stand in line with everyone else.
Doors may open at 10:00 p.m., but the line starts whenever people get there. Please wait outside the doors indicated above until 10:00 p.m. or whenever bookstore employees let you in. (Note that for previous release events, I've had people wait in line over 24 hours to get the lowest numbers. So you might want to come early if getting a low number matters to you.)
[EDIT: Sam Weller's is now sold out. Sorry!]I realize that not everyone can make it to one of these events. It's unfair if you live in Germany but want a numbered copy. Therefore, I've started doing virtual booksignings with Sam Weller's—a wonderful independent bookseller in Salt Lake City that has been a supporter of my books since I was a nobody—alongside the standard signings I do there.
I will be going in Sam Weller's on August 21st to sign, number, and personalize 300 copies. Sam Weller's will then ship them out; they will try to time the shipping so the book arrives at your door on the 31st. However, they're not allowed to deliver before that date, so they can't cut things too close and some books may arrive after the 31st. If that's the case, though, they'll try to keep the delay as short as possible. International orders will be shipped first, since those have the longest transit time. Last year the post office started rejecting the books because of their packaging, and THE WAY OF KINGS is an even larger book than THE GATHERING STORM, so to keep that from happening Sam Weller's will be shipping each book in a Priority Mail box, which unfortunately drives the price up. But the book itself has a discount of 20% for preorders, which helps offset that. Shipping will be $12.00 in-country, $28 to Mexico and Canada, and $45 to other international. If your order is shipped inside Utah, there will also be sales tax. (Note that Sam Weller's cannot track packages internationally. They've tried.) I'm really very sorry that the shipping cost has gone up so much this year, but books this big just won't fit into the cheaper flat-rate envelopes Sam Weller's successfully used for WARBREAKER. This is another reason for me to consider writing a shorter book next time. Hmm . . .
I am also going to be signing at Sam Weller's again sometime after the tour is over, so if you want a signed book and can't make it to any of the other signings, that may be a good option for you. Any copies I sign for Sam Weller's after the 21st won't be numbered, however. When you call Sam Weller's, please be certain to tell them (even if they don't ask) specifically how you want the book personalized. If you don't tell them specifically, they will have it signed but not personalized. Simply telling them your name is not enough. You have to tell them "I want it personalized to John" (for example). If you don't want it personalized, tell them "Signature Only" just in case.
Details:
Sam Weller's Bookstore
Order by phone or by email:
Phone: (801) 328-2586 or (800) 333-7269
Email: books@samwellers.com
Note: You may pay by credit card or PayPal only.
SAM WELLER'S IS NOW SOLD OUT.
Once I finish the BYU signing, I will go straight to bed and crash for a few hours before the West Jordan signing in the evening. This one will work just like a regular signing, except for the fact that I will be numbering the copies. I'm still getting details from B&N on how they'll be running this signing, so when I've heard more I'll be updating this post. For now, if you want to preorder, just call them and ask. They're accustomed to doing this kind of thing, I suspect, and can hold a copy for you.
I will number books in line order again—wherever you are in line, that is the number you'll get. We'll start with #201. In order to make up for you getting higher numbers, I might also bring along some special giveaway items. We'll see what I can pull off.
Details:
Barnes & Noble – Jordan Landing
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 31st
7157 Plaza Center Drive
West Jordan, UT 84084
(801) 282-1324
I will number and sign at this event until we run out of books. I don't know how many copies they will have. Should be fun times, though!
Thank you all for reading, and I hope to sign a book for you at one of the tour events. Let me apologize in advance for how sloppy my signature is, though.
ShareThis