Harper Collins did a bit of a preview show in Toronto today. I was not as impressed with theirs as I was with Random House. They brought authors in, but just to speak at a podium and leave. Not sign books or talk with any of us. We did get some signed books but by people who weren't even there. The book of a fixit type guy, Mike Holmes, wasn't even available. Coming out November 24th I think. I'm guessing the schedules just didn't line up. Why drag us, and him, out if the book's not even there? Just to talk about it? I'd be more inclined to promote the book if I had a copy that I got when meeting the author and he signed it. Overall the show was well produced and they were generous regardless of having authors attend that weren't there to sign books.
I won a door prize, not the best one which was a video iPod but a Special Edition DVD set of the Fellowship of the Rings. The one with the statues included. At the end of the preview we were given gift bags and encouraged to take two. Or even three. I grabbed three and ended up with a fourth after a co-worker found she ended up with three identical gift bags. The books I got today:
The Turning, Tim Winton. Signed hardcover.
Airborn, Kenneth Oppel. Two copies. Although he was there and spoke to us they are not signed.
Charlotte's Web, E.B. White. Four trade paperbacks.
Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser. Two copies but I gave one to a co-worker that wants to read the book but didn't have one in their gift bag.
Marley and Me*, John Grogan. Four copies of a new hardcover gift edition. I've wanted to read this for a while but I know it will make me very very sad. A few of these will be gifts to dog lovers I know.
The Discomfort Zone, Jonathan Franzen. Two hardcovers both signed even though he was not there.
The End, Lemony Snicket. Hardcover. One day I planned on maybe reading these books. Now I have the thirteenth.
Fragile Things, Neil Gaiman. Hardcover.
What Came Before He Shot Her, Elizabeth George. Hardcover.
Freakonomics, Steven B. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. Hardcover.