Towers of Midnight Release Events
This is going to be a long post, so I'm separating it out on its own page. If you want to know how to get numbered copies of the book, scroll down.
Last year's four-week tour really wiped me out, so this year I limited myself to two smaller tours—first for THE WAY OF KINGS release and later for the TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT release. All my signings are listed on my events page, so check out that page to see if I'm signing near you. I asked Tor to send me to different cities on each tour. So if I went close to where you live on the KINGS tour, I probably am not getting very close to you on the TOWERS tour. There will be a much larger tour when A MEMORY OF LIGHT comes out, so you may have an even better chance then.
All of those events are US-only. The simple reason for that is that Tor is sending me on this tour, and Tor distributes books only in the US. (Even Canadian distribution is handled by a different company, though you get the Tor edition.) But I don't want my international fans to miss out on getting a signed book from me—for that, please scroll down to the section on Sam Weller's by mail. I am also going to be a guest at a convention somewhere in Canada early next year—yes, I know Canada Is Really Big, but I'll have to get back to you on what city that's in. And I've accepted an invitation to the Utopiales convention in Nantes, France right after the tour, so you may get a chance to see me in Europe as well. I may also be going back to Europe sometime in May, but those plans are still very fuzzy.
The focus on my tour stops will be on getting everyone's books signed. Last year I said that large crowds might keep there from being time for a reading or a Q&A, but this was almost never the case (even though the crowds were indeed quite large). So I'll probably read and answer questions at every stop, but I will also try to pre-sign some stock so if you just want a signed book and don't want to stand in line for me to personalize it for you, you can just grab the book and go.
Harriet will be joining me on the tour starting in Sacramento, and the rest of Team Jordan (Maria and Alan) will be at the New York signing. Dragonmount is also recruiting five to seven Tower Guards for each city, who get to meet for a while with me (and Harriet, except in Provo) before the signing, in exchange for fulfilling various duties at the signing itself. For more details on the program and how to apply, please see Dragonmount's announcement.
Some of the events might be ticketed, which means that the bookstore requires you to buy the book FROM THEM in order to get it signed. I've asked for this to happen at as few booksellers as possible, but each store has the final call. Why would they do this? Well, a lot of stores have to bring in extra staff (or even rent extra space) in order to handle an enormous event like this. In the past, they've spent this money and then had everyone bring in books they bought from Amazon to get signed. It makes them very bitter, as they lose money after all the work they put into holding an event. (In one famous case I heard of, a small bookstore held a signing where they spent hundreds on staff, promotion, and cookies, only to have over a hundred people, out of the hundred and twenty who came, bring in books they bought from Amazon.)
As I said, I've requested that the signings all be open to anyone. However, I can see the bookstores' point. Please be respectful and realize one of the reasons that places like Amazon can give you the books so cheaply is that they don't have to maintain or pay rent on expensive storefronts in retail areas. Support your local booksellers; it's because of them that we can have signing events. If possible, I'd ask that you go and buy the book from the store where you're planning to see me. You can buy it early and keep the receipt. If you bring the receipt with you to the signing, that's as good as buying the book at the signing. Generally, at ticketed events, as long as you buy any hardcover book, they will let you get your other books signed. So, for instance, you could buy TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT and then get both it and THE GATHERING STORM or THE WAY OF KINGS signed. And even if you don't buy your copy of TOWERS at the signing, it's nice to support the store hosting me by buying at least one book (by any author) while you're there.
I don't know which events will be ticketed—or even if any will. I'm slowly gathering information on this. There probably won't be many that are, but I wanted to lay the groundwork just in case. I'll add more information to the events page as it trickles in.
Finally, there may be a cap on the number of books I will personalize for you at a time. I'll sign all your books, but personalizations can take a while, so if there's a large crowd, to keep the line moving I may only personalize three books at a time. However, it's just fine if you want to go to the end of the line again and wait to get three more books personalized. I WILL sign paperbacks. I WILL NOT sign books I did not write—e.g. the Wheel of Time books before THE GATHERING STORM. Yes, people have asked; often about one per signing. However, as Harriet will be at each signing on this U.S. tour except for the midnight release, she will be happy to sign them.
I will be doing three special signings in conjunction with the book's release on November 2nd. Like with my previous books, I will be numbering copies in conjunction with these release events. The three events are: the BYU Bookstore midnight release, the Sacramento Barnes & Noble signing, and the Sam Weller's mail order event. (Details below.)
What does it mean to get a numbered copy? Well, just what it sounds like. If you get a book from one of the three release events, I'll number your copy. I intend to give out as many numbers as there are people who participate in those events (unless we run out of books). In a way, these numbers are less about being limited editions and more about getting a special add-on, an indication that you made it to one of the initial events. This is something I started doing for fun with my first book, and I had originally intended to limit the numbers to the first fifty people who got to me. However, I found that I felt bad stopping numbering if someone went to all the trouble to come to the release party, so I shifted to doing it this way.
I generally stagger my numbering so that lower numbers can be picked up from each signing. Each number is unique. I will rotate by 100s. (So, 1–100 are at BYU, 101–200 are at Sam Weller's, 201–300 are at Barnes & Noble, and then 301–400 are at BYU, etc.)
Each event will have its own rules regarding how you get your number and which number you get. Read on for info.
At 12:00 a.m. on November 2nd, I will be doing the world's first signing for TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT. (Harriet will not join the tour until the Sacramento stop.) Numbers 1–100 will be given out at this signing. (Though everyone who comes will get a numbered copy unless they run out of books.) Number eleven will be reserved for Dan Wells because of a funky thing he and I do. (He has number one of my first book, number two of my second, and so forth. I have number one of his first book and so forth.) The bookstore MAY have something special planned for book number twelve. And people in the Tower Guard program MAY get reserved numbers in the high 90s. (I haven't decided this for sure and will update the post here when I do.) Other than that, all numbers will be given out in the ORDER YOU ARRIVE TO WAIT IN LINE IN. Let me make this clear. It doesn't matter how early you preorder. Numbers will be given out based on line order. Details follow.
The line will start forming at the northwest entrance here:
In past years, people have started lining up even a few days ahead of time, so the BYU Bookstore is going to be handing out numbers to people in line to take some of the pressure off you. They will start doing this MONDAY MORNING at 8:00 a.m. Book #1 will go to the first person in this line at eight. #2 to the second. And so forth. (With the exceptions listed above.) You can only buy ONE copy of the book in the low numbers per person waiting. (In other words, if you are there in line, you can't buy #1–10 by yourself. You have to have ten people if you want to do that.) If you need multiple copies but don't have multiple people, that's fine—we'll give you #1 and then some higher numbers. This restriction goes for anyone in the first hundred spots.
Here are some more details from the bookstore:
- Numbered tickets will be given out on Monday, November 1st, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
- Numbered tickets will be given out in the ORDER YOU ARRIVE TO WAIT IN LINE.
- You may hold a place in line for NO MORE THAN ONE PERSON for NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR.
- Each person in line will only receive ONE ticket for ONE numbered book. ONE numbered book per ONE numbered ticket per person.
- The number on your ticket will be written on the back of your hand with a permanent marker.
- You will be asked to prepay for your book to receive a numbered ticket. If you have already prepaid, bring your receipt or confirmation number to claim your number, but that doesn't affect which number you receive. Please check in at the guest table to make sure your paperwork is in order for the book distribution.
- Once you have paid for your book and received your numbered ticket, you are free to leave until right before 11:30 p.m., BUT:
- The northwest entrance of the BYU Bookstore will be opened at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. (exact time is yet to be determined) when the Towers of Midnight Release Party will begin.
- There will be games, a drawing for prizes, and treats!
- Beginning at 11:30 p.m., fans will be asked to line up, in order, according the numbered ticket that they received.
- If you are not in your numbered location by 11:45 p.m. you will be asked to get in the back of the line. You will still need to present the numbered ticket to get the correct numbered book.
- Once you have received your numbered book you are free to get into a separate line to have it personalized by Brandon.
- Brandon will personalize up to three books per trip through the line. If you would like to have him personalize more than three, you are free to get back in line.
The bookstore has asked me to get there a bit early so I can be finished signing and numbering all the books by 9:00 or so. Once I am done, they will let everyone in and we'll have a meet & greet where you can talk to me, ask me your burning questions, take pictures, etc. (The idea is that this will help the personalization line move more quickly after midnight.) There will also be things like trivia contests going on during this time.
Around 10:30 I will do a reading and/or a general Q&A, and at around 11:15 there will be a prize drawing. Then at 11:30 they want everyone to line up again in preparation for midnight, as explained above.
I will personalize as long as I can, but I expect the crowd will be a bit larger than it was for THE GATHERING STORM, and that event finished up by 3:00 a.m. Since all of the books will be pre-signed and numbered, everyone will get a numbered edition if they come. However, since I'm local, you can always just come, pick up a book, and leave—then get it personalized at some other signing when things aren't so crazy. This will probably be a busy event, but—like the THE GATHERING STORM signing—it should be very easy to just come, get a pre-signed/numbered book, then buy it and take off without waiting in line after midnight.
Now, here's the important part. It's hard for stores to judge how many copies to order for this sort of event, and I'm worried that BYU might not order enough. THEY MIGHT RUN OUT. Therefore, they are letting you preorder to be assured you get a book. If you preorder, you get $7.49 off the cover price and you are guaranteed a book. If you don't preorder, it's first come first served. If a lot of people preorder, they will get in more books to make sure everyone who ordered early is covered.
So, for this event, I strongly encourage you to call and buy your book ahead of time. It will save you money and will make things easier for us. Let me say one more time, however, that you do not get your number based on when you preorder. You get it based on when you arrive in line, starting at 8:00 a.m. Preordering just guarantees that you get a copy, not that you get a low number. Still—please, please preorder soon so they can be sure to have enough books for the event.
Details:
BYU Bookstore, Provo, UT
12:00 a.m. November 2nd (Monday night/Tuesday morning) (book released)
~9:00 p.m. November 1st (doors open)
8:00 a.m. November 1st (numbers distributed)
Preorder by calling (800) 253-2578 or going to the BYU Bookstore website. You'll need to bring your receipt or confirmation number to the midnight release and stand in line with everyone else.
[UPDATE October 19th: Sam Weller's is now SOLD OUT. All of the books they ordered have already been reserved by readers. Please support your local bookseller.] I realize that not everyone can make it to one of these events. It's unfair if you live in Germany but want a numbered copy. Therefore, I've started doing virtual booksignings with Sam Weller's—a wonderful independent bookseller in Salt Lake City that has been a supporter of my books since I was a nobody—alongside the standard signings I do there.
I will be going in Sam Weller's early in the day on October 25th to sign, number, and personalize 600 copies. Sam Weller's will then ship them out; they will try to time the shipping so the book arrives at your door on the 2nd. However, they're not allowed to deliver before that date, so they can't cut things too close and some books may arrive after the 2nd. If that's the case, though, they'll try to keep the delay as short as possible. International orders will be shipped first, since those have the longest transit time. Last year the post office started rejecting the books because of their packaging, and TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT is an even larger book than THE GATHERING STORM, so to keep that from happening Sam Weller's will be shipping each book in a Priority Mail medium-sized box, which unfortunately drives the price up. But the book itself has a discount to $23.99 for preorders, which helps offset that. Shipping will be $12.00 in-country, $28 to Mexico and Canada, and $45 to other international destinations. If your order is shipped inside Utah, there will also be sales tax. (Note that Sam Weller's cannot track packages internationally. They've tried.) I'm really very sorry that the shipping cost has gone up so much this year, but books this big just won't fit into the cheaper flat-rate envelopes Sam Weller's successfully used for WARBREAKER. And we Wheel of Time fans like them big.
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT MULTIPLE BOOKS: The medium-sized flat-rate box Sam Weller's is using is actually big enough to fit TWO books. What this means is that if you order two copies instead of one, going to the same address, the shipping cost is exactly the same. (You only pay more for the price of the other book itself.) Three copies will NOT fit in that box, though. If you only want one copy but still want to fill that free space in the box, you could substitute THE GATHERING STORM or THE WAY OF KINGS instead, if you don't already have a signed copy of those. I can sign and personalize either of them, but only copies of TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT will receive numbers at this event. (Sam Weller's sold out of their numbered copies of TGS and TWoK long ago.) Also, any non-TOWERS book will go at cover price.
I am also going to be signing at Sam Weller's again sometime after the tour is over, so if you want a signed book and can't make it to any of the other signings, that may be a good option for you. Any copies I sign for Sam Weller's after the 25th won't be numbered, however. When you call Sam Weller's, please be certain to tell them (even if they don't ask) specifically how you want the book personalized. If you don't tell them specifically, they will have it signed but not personalized. Simply telling them your name is not enough. You have to tell them "I want it personalized to John" (for example). If you don't want it personalized, tell them "Signature Only" just in case.
Unfortunately, since I'm signing all these books a week before the tour starts, Harriet will not be there to sign them as well.
Details:
Sam Weller's Bookstore
Order by phone or by email: [SOLD OUT. No more orders are possible. Sorry!]
Phone: (801) 328-2586 or (800) 333-7269
Email: books@samwellers.com
Note: You may pay by credit card or PayPal only.
Once I finish the BYU signing, I will go straight to bed and crash for a few hours before catching a plane to Sacramento for the signing in the evening. This one will work just like a regular signing, except for the fact that I will be numbering the copies. I'm still getting details from B&N on how they'll be running this signing, so when I've heard more I'll be updating this post. For now, if you want to preorder, just call them and ask. They're accustomed to doing this kind of thing, I suspect, and can hold a copy for you.
I will number books in line order again—wherever you are in line, that is the number you'll get. We'll start with #201. In order to make up for you getting higher numbers, I might also bring along some special giveaway items. We'll see what I can pull off. Also, Harriet will be joining me at this stop and each one thereafter.
Details:
Barnes & Noble — Arden Faire
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 2nd
1725 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 565-0644
I will number and sign at this event until we run out of books. I don't know how many copies they will have. Should be fun times, though!
NOTE: Some people have asked why there isn't a Charleston stop on this part of the tour. We decided to hold off on a trip to Charleston until the TarValon.net tenth anniversary celebration that will be held there at the beginning of March. This will be a several-day event, and I'll be sure to have a bookstore signing sometime during that weekend. Details will be posted on my events page as the date draws nearer.
Thank you all for reading, and I hope to sign a book for you at one of the tour events. Let me apologize in advance for how sloppy my signature is, though.
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