Off The Wall: Signing 12,000 The Way I Heard It Books

Did I just hear you say you’re signing 12,000 copies of your new book? If so, I want one. If not, I want one anyway. Incidentally, how does one go about the process of signing 12,000 books? And where can I get mine? Deb Donaldson

Hi Deb.

Yesterday, I signed 3,000 “bookplates.” I accomplished this with the help of some old music and some even older bourbon. Today, I’m signing 3,000 more, with similar assistance. I have no idea when I’ll finish the rest, but I’m told it has to happen soon. So…yeah. My week has become a rich, full pageant.

Bookplates, as you probably know, are the new and improved way of autographing books. Rather than asking hundreds of people to stand in line for hours on end after an event, waiting for a grumpy author to scratch his or her name into the front of the book you just bought, “bookplates” allow an autographed photo to be affixed to the inside of the book well in advance of the event. These particular bookplates feature a picture of me, sitting on a mountain in Australia with a beer in my hand. (I have no recollection of the photo being taken, but it must have happened because, well, there I am.)

Thanks to bookplates, everyone who comes to an appearance is guaranteed to get an autographed edition. All I have to do is sign my name until the carpel tunnel sets in, send the bookplates back to the publisher, and get on with my life as best I can. I’ve attached some video that demonstrates the process, which I think you’ll find riveting. In the meantime, if you want an autographed copy, but don’t want to come to an event, you can reserve one on line. They’re $30 and supplies are limited. So, first come first served, at Mikerowe.com/book. Make sure you click on the link for “autographed copy.”

Better yet, if you’re in Baltimore, there’s a moderated Q&A/Photo Op on Saturday, 10/19, sponsored by The Ivy Bookshop. The event is at the Church of the Redeemer. There will be no sermon, and I doubt anyone will be saved. Tickets are $30, and include an autographed book. (In other words, the Q&A is free, but the ticket is $30, and the signed book is included.) Tickets here. https://bit.ly/2knlURZ

Or, if you’re in Chicago on 10/21, Anderson’s Bookshop is doing something similar, at Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College. Event starts at 7pm. Tickets for this event are $32 and include an autographed book, (which means I’ll need to be $2 more entertaining than I am in Baltimore.) Tickets here. https://bit.ly/2lTamX7

Or, if you don’t care about my signature at all, and would simply like to read The Way I Heard It for the lowest price possible, shop around at Mikerowe.com/book. Prices change periodically, for reasons I can’t understand or explain.

I’d love to chat more, but I have to ice my wrist.
Mike

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