Every few days, I get a query about how to get a signed book. So I'm doing this blog about it, with links. The information is also in other places on the website, but it's good to put it plainly.
The first piece of information: I can't send you a signed book. I'm the writer, but I'm not a book store. I don't stock books, I have no way to accept payment and I don't want to spend time addressing and shipping books. I'd rather be writing.
The second piece of information: There are two great ways to get a signed book. Best of all, we are not talking about only Robin Hobb books. Both sites have lots of books autographed by lots of different writers. Click around and see!
University Book Store in Seattle.
Every few months, I make the long drive up to University Book Store in Seattle. There, I sign any orders that have come in, including special orders with dedications and store stock. Here is a link to their Robin Hobb Page that shows all the Hobb books they have available. Note that this is the best place to go if you want an older book.
Choose the book you want and click SHIP. (Yes, they can ship internationally, but the postage can be painful. I wish I could change that.)
Follow the directions. Create an account, etc. You will find a box labeled 'comments' or 'special directions'. In that box, type that you'd like the book to be signed. If you want it personalized, be very specific as to what you want. "To Clara" or "just sign and date, please."
I will follow those directions.
Or if you want a signed book with no special dedication, just enter that it's to be an autographed book. That will likely be the fastest way to get a book. I sign a lot of store stock for them. They might be able to ship it out just a few hours later.
So that is one way to get a signed book.
The Signed Page
My friend Shawn Speakman runs this site. As you might guess, he asks writers to sign their new hardbacks or special editions, and then he ships them out, carefully packaged, to collectors and bibiliophiles. If you are a collector, this is the site for you, and not just for Hobb books. Here is the link to Many Autographed Books. Django Wexler, Terry Brooks, Kevin Hearne and me. And many more. Click and buy.
This is the site to go to for a newly released book that is signed by the author. Sometimes there will be older books still in stock, but don't rely on it. Get them while you can!
If you order (or pre-order) it's possible to have a special dedication in the book. Sometimes. Not always.
Please Note: For Robin Hobb books, Get your orders for University Book Store sent in BEFORE December 6 if you want to receive the book before Christmas.
So there you go. Two great sources for books autographed by me, or by other Pacific Northwest authors.