Thursday, May 10, 2007
Question
Just back from a reading by Kate Northrop and Jane Hilberry at Poor Richard's bookshop, which was a lovely time (with a fun afterward, as you may be able to tell from the timestamp on this post).
Anyway, I have a question: where does the convention come from for a writer to cross out their name on the title page when they sign a book for you? I've seen tons of writers do it, and I have no idea what it means. If I ever publish a book, I'll want to know why I should or shouldn't do that.
Anyway, I have a question: where does the convention come from for a writer to cross out their name on the title page when they sign a book for you? I've seen tons of writers do it, and I have no idea what it means. If I ever publish a book, I'll want to know why I should or shouldn't do that.
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It really is, as far as I can tell, just one of those things. I think it goes to the idea that the poet is making some sort of a declaration to you and the world that the 'poetry experience' is now personal between the two of you.
I have done it with my last two chapbooks simply because that is what I saw with those I asked to sign book I had purchased.
I have done it with my last two chapbooks simply because that is what I saw with those I asked to sign book I had purchased.
No one has ever done that to any of my books. However, some have written some very "interesting" things that I don't quite understand.
OK. I know this one. What the hell did my old mentor say when he did it to the book of his I was buying? Um. Let's see ... something about a superstition about having your name appearing twice being dangerous?
A bit of googling got this: "Ferris shared a bit of superstition: if you don’t cross out your printed name when you sign, your second book isn’t going to sell."
I'm sure one could find out more if one delved.
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A bit of googling got this: "Ferris shared a bit of superstition: if you don’t cross out your printed name when you sign, your second book isn’t going to sell."
I'm sure one could find out more if one delved.
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