Given that we've been talking about the big-footed one for the past week, I thought this was an appropriate cartoon for this post.
An undisclosed publishing company has invented a new term, “ghost signing.” They are paying 14 part-time workers $25 an hour to sign around 45,000 books for two days. Yes, they are paying people to sign books for two unnamed co-authors. Here is a portion of the ad they placed on Craig’s List:
Requirements: You must be able to demonstrate your ability to precisely copy the authors’ signatures. You will have to come to our signing location in West LA to show us your ability, and will be hired on the spot if you perform well.
Are you kidding me? Unless the book was co-authored by two people without arms, this is beyond shady. I feel dirty for just knowing this ad exists. Here’s a thought. Use the real authors and sign fewer books. A signed book is in essence a “limited edition.” It has special meaning and worth because it was signed by the author(s). You might as well hire actors to play these authors at various events so they can make appearances in Toronto, Munich, and LA simultaneously.
I’ve probably signed 500 – 600 books myself and to be perfectly clear, they were all books I’ve written. I signed about 150 in one sitting. Never once did it occur to me to have someone else sign the book. I was making an unspoken promise to the people receiving the book that they were getting something very few other readers were getting, a signed copy. Now, I doubt one of my books with my signature will garner much interest outside some really diehard fans (and I love every one of you… no, not in that way… you know what I mean.), but still I feel an obligation to everyone who requests a signed book that they receive an authentic signature.
Obviously the publishing company involved feels that it’s wrong, too because they aren’t disclosing their name or the authors’ names.
Shameful! Just shameful! (I’m wagging my finger in case you’re curious. That’s right! I’m old school condemnation!)
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