I Hate Signing, I Love Having Signed

By Ellen Meister

Every copy has been signed by the author

That paraphrase of Dorothy Parker's famous quote, "I hate writing, I love having written," seems particularly appropriate for this blog post.

FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER came out in hardcover in February, and when my publisher told me it would come out in paperback in early December, I asked if there was any way I could sign each copy of the first printing. I insisted that the logistics wouldn't be a problem. They could simply send me cartons of unbound pages, which I would sign and send back to them to be bound into the finished book.

To be honest, the idea wasn't original. I got it from author John Green, via my daughter, who went apoplectic when she found out he was signing the entire first printing of the exquisite, brave, heartbreaking THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. 

 So, my publisher agreed, and a few weeks later the cartons started showing up at my door, and each one contained thousands and thousands of blank pages. Can you say writer's cramp?

But it's okay, because I'm all done, and the feeling is starting to return to my fingertips.

If you haven't yet read FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER, I hope you're eager to see what all the fuss is about. This book was a true labor of love—almost a lifetime in the making—and I'm excited to share it with you. I also hope you'll want to own an autographed copy. You can get one at almost any bookstore. You can also order it online. As long as you buy it in paperback, you're guaranteed to receive a signed book. 

Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Books-A-Million • IndieBound • Walmart

For my writer friends and friends of writers, I leave you with this quote ...
“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”  — Dorothy Parker

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Praise for Farewell, Dorothy Parker ...

  "Meister skillfully translates the rapier-like wit of the Algonquin Round Table to modern-day New York ... [with] pathos, nuanced characters, plenty of rapid-fire one-liners, and a heart-rending denouement."  
—Publishers Weekly

"Hooray for Ellen Meister! In a miracle of fine writing with Farewell, Dorothy Parker, a novel of infinite charm, she has brought the inimitable, witty and acerbic Dorothy Parker back to gin swilling life." 
 —BookTrib 
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Ellen Meister is the author of four novels and teaches creative writing at Hofstra University Continuing Education. She is also the administrator of a popular Dorothy Parker page on Facebook. For more information visit ellenmeister.com.