Lansdale - Seattle!

[RonClinton]

Poster looks great.

I always forget to ask about those...thought I'd learned my lesson with the two Joe Hill signing posters I missed out on, but apparently not. Glad this one went to good, appreciative home. It's great art, too...that silhouette of the two figures and the pickup truck and the immense sky really capture the mood of the series.

[mhatchett]

Excellent!

[TacomaDiver]

Must've been behind, as I'm afraid I didn't even notice anyone w/ a poster...guess that's the kind of tunnel focus I had in getting things signed and getting out and home to bed.

Congrats on the poster...I have a few things like that in my office, and they're awfully cool to have.

Yeah, I think you were right behind me.

Few pictures that I took from the signing, plus the one of my giant Rusty Puppy poster:

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Lansdale reading from his newest book. My GF commented that her mind runs like Hap's narration does.

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Me and the man himself.

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Giant Rusty Puppy poster (my Lansdale shelves are actually behind.)

[RonClinton]

I was the guy that got the signed Rusty Puppy poster. So either right in front of you or right behind you. I also won a DVD.

Must've been behind, as I'm afraid I didn't even notice anyone w/ a poster...guess that's the kind of tunnel focus I had in getting things signed and getting out and home to bed.

Congrats on the poster...I have a few things like that in my office, and they're awfully cool to have.

[TacomaDiver]

I was the guy that got the signed Rusty Puppy poster. So either right in front of you or right behind you. I also won a DVD.

The headache doesn't sound fun - sorry to hear that. I know I've been places when I'd rather be at home in the dark.

[RonClinton]

The crowd was a lot smaller than I would have expected though. Guess it shows me that not everyone enjoys the same things that I do (even if I assume they do.)

Yeah, I don't know what to ascribe that low turnout to...traffic, weather, midweek event, etc....I sure would have that thought that there'd be more folks there, and I was stunned and disappointed to see how few made it out. I've been to previous Lansdale signings in our area (three, in fact, though it's been a while), and all were far better attended. Add that to that that I have to assume he's become more popular over time, especially given the popularity of Hap and Leonard on TV and print and whatnot, and it makes the low turnout a real puzzle. Was nice to see, though, that he was able to shrug that off and still create a fun atmosphere.

Wish I knew Ron was there - I would have at least introduced myself. Next time.

Just as well...that headadche had me in a sour mood, and I'd've hate to come off like an antisocial a-hole. I don't get headaches like that often at all, but when I do, it's hard to find the joy. Too bad, too, as I had looked forward to this for months, and had lots of questions for Joe (and he was certainly hungry for them from the quiet audience), but couldn't muster up the wherewithall, other than the usual "What are you next books?" I was the guy in the black wool jacket and the blue bag o' books.

[TacomaDiver]

I thought the event at Seattle Mystery was from 12-1 ... I would have messed that up.

Traffic was definitely a "challenge" last night. My GF told me on the drive there "let's not ever live here, ok?)

This was my first time seeing Lansdale so I was pretty excited. Loved his answers to questions and how engaged with the audience he was. The crowd was a lot smaller than I would have expected though. Guess it shows me that not everyone enjoys the same things that I do (even if I assume they do.)

I brought ten books to be signed - I tried not to overdue it. Love how he signed my Mark Stone paperbacks as Jack Buchanan.

Plus I won a copy of Hap and Leonard on the DVD - excited to finally see this since I didn't have cable TV when it aired (now I just don't have the Sundance channel.) (Of course it just hit Netflix.)

Wish I knew Ron was there - I would have at least introduced myself. Next time.

[Theli]

Too bad things did not go exactly as planned, but at least it turned out okay in the end.

[RonClinton]

Today did not at all go to plan, but at least it ended well.

I braved the dowtown Seattle traffic and went down to Seattle Mystery Bookshop to attend his 2pm - 3pm afternoon stop there. Arrived finally at 2:20, only to be told that the session was from 1pm to 2pm. How I got my times wrong I've no idea, but what a waste of time and patience that was. I'd blame Joe's Facebook tour site, but since I was the only one there at the wrong time I don't think that blame game's going to fly.

So I again braved traffic -- this time rush-hour -- and a deluge of rain to attend his evening session at Third Place Books, only to arrive with a blistering headache that kind of tempered my enthusiasm for the event. The signing was really poorly attended, which with my headsplitting mood also served to just make for a generally lackluster night. There were six men/fans (including me), two wives, and a gaggle of young high school girls that were appararently on an extra-credit assignment for their English class. TDiver, were you there? It occurred to me that I never asked what you look like in our previous comments r.e. The event. But Joe was great, though, especially given the six-fan turnout that he had to be disappointed about...he was his usual engaging and entertaining ownself. I got a batch of books signed, including his newest one, and so, really, I can't complain.

Oh wait, I just did...

But all in all, any day you meet Joe Lansdale is a good day indeed. I'm pleased to say this was my fourth time, and I hope it won't be the last.

[Dan Hocker]

I can't really speak to what Ron said, but I can say in general the idea of "lost sales" is a total fallacy. The same thing goes for things like pirated music and what not. Just because someone downloaded it doesn't mean that they would have ever purchased it in the first place. It also often means that they will sometimes go back and buy the thing later. It happens a lot with music and movies. Especially with movies in the small period of time when a movie isn't in the theaters anymore, but the DVD / Blu-Ray haven't come out yet.

[TacomaDiver]

I never heard a reason for not signing ARCs but what Ron says is pretty much what I thought the reason was. For every non-ARC in the wild, the author was probably paid.

Kind of reminds me of a few years ago, some musician was upset that they weren't receiving royalties from used music sales and tried to fight with someone over it.

Regardless, I'm excited to tonight and managed to only bring ten books with me to get signed.

[Theli]

He and his close author buddy, Andrew Vachss, both decline to sign ARCs as they believe -- understandably, I suppose -- that ARCs are intended for reviews, not resale and collecting, and see them as potential losses in sales and those in the hands of collectors and not reviewers are potential reviews lost. Seems to me that they protesteth too much and are making a mountain out of a molehill issue, but <shrug>. Ask me how I know: Vachss was an a-hole to me at a signing many years ago when I brought an ARC of VEIL'S VISIT with me...his behavior ended up working out for the best, though, as I never spent another cent on his (progressively weak) work.

Huh, interesting anecdote. I'm sure we've all had bad experiences at signings (mine was with comic legend Neal Adams).

[RonClinton]

That's damn cool of him! I wonder why he won't sign ARCs though.

He and his close author buddy, Andrew Vachss, both decline to sign ARCs as they believe -- understandably, I suppose -- that ARCs are intended for reviews, not resale and collecting, and see them as potential losses in sales and those in the hands of collectors and not reviewers are potential reviews lost. Seems to me that they protesteth too much and are making a mountain out of a molehill issue, but <shrug>. Ask me how I know: Vachss was an a-hole to me at a signing many years ago when I brought an ARC of VEIL'S VISIT with me...his behavior ended up working out for the best, though, as I never spent another cent on his (progressively weak) work.

[Theli]

So Joe told me on Twitter he'll sign whatever I bring, with the exception of ARCs (and as long as the store is okay with it.) And I just called the store to find out if they'll impose any limits and they told me nope, just whatever the author feels good about.

Now I need to figure out what to bring . . .

Luckily about half of my collection is signed - out of 91 Lansdale books in my collection, only 39 are unsigned.

That's damn cool of him! I wonder why he won't sign ARCs though.

[Martin]

Had to drive to Chehalis and back today. Did not feel like going out to Beaverton after that so no Lansdale for me. Have fun.