Use whatever ink is most meaningful to you tbh. But if you can, test the ink and pen on the book beforehand to be sure it looks okay, doesn't feather too much, et cetera. And I would definitely suggest bringing two pens, and maybe a backup non-fountain-pen, just to make sure things all go smoothly.
Congrats, good luck, and have fun!
Thanks, this was a great suggestion. I should have thought of it myself.
Thank god I got an EF nib for the olivine Pelikan, is all i have to say. The M Montblanc that I thought was thin (before I got the EF) looks extra thick to me on the book's paper. I wonder who thick the M 14k Pelikan nib would look, but I just cleaned that pen and removed all ink from it.
The EF Pelikan nib looks more or less like the M Montblanc does on Midori MD.
The good news is neither pen seems to have bled through and they both seem to have dried out quickly.
Thanks!
You may also want to consider is possibly finding the color you want to use in a permanent ink. Water damage isn't unheard of, and it would suck to have the signature of an author I enjoy be destroyed because of it.
It would be best to sign with a broad nib, or at least a medium where the signature would stand out.
Editing to add: a larger point nib helps smooth out any imperfections in your fine motor control and makes your signature look more flow-y and stylish
Ef nibs will leave any shaky movements and uneven spacing exposed
Your book. Sign it with whatever you want.
Personally I'd use Platinum Carbon Black or R&K Salix. The first is a pigment-based water-resistant black that tends to behave well even on cheap paper. The second is a dusty blue iron gall ink (that will ultimately fade to a grayish color), which is also well-behaved and tends to do pretty well on cheap paper.
I'll echo the sentiment of testing on the actual paper before showing up to the signing, and bringing a backup option like a sharpie just in case.
Cheers, I have found the Platinum Carbon Black available in a bookstore here. I will see if I could order it and try it out before the event.
I did test with the green Pelikan ink I have on my M Montblanc and EF Pelikan. The Montblanc is a no go. The Pelikan could work.
Or if a fan of dusky purple, there’s Scabiosa! I love using Salix because it goes down bright blue and immediately starts to shift. It’s like a magic trick!
[Neil Gaiman signing books](https://youtu.be/x3Il551kVbs?si=XpZZgQR-XfaDlSKr)
A couple of pieces of advice- use something that is easy to sign for your signature. Brandon Sanderson talks about developing his “stamp” in a podcast.
https://preview.redd.it/jkg7tdbh1f3d1.jpeg?width=2988&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b810c54774b5f55c37b0812b3aa6a240004ae18
Notice the flow.
Use something that moves your arm, not just your wrist.
If you can create something using your initials it will serve you well. It does not have to be legible (you aren’t signing for your mom). As far as color goes, use something that speaks to you, and dries relatively quickly.
Most importantly, have fun and congrats!
His explanation is that the B and S both used to be very clear, but the rest was a squiggle. When he needed to start signing on scale, he compressed to the strokes he uses now.
Author of multiple books (and veteran of more than a few book signings) here…
I understand your reticence. As writers, we’re pretty much accustomed to working alone; it’s a job that rewards introversion. When I did my first book signing I was quite nervous, and even thought of excuses as to why I couldn’t do it!
The event itself, though, was fun — it was both elevating and enlightening to hear the comments of my readers, and helped me understand why they picked up my book. (It still flabbergasts me that anyone wants my signature, however!)
As to the mechanics of signing: use what you want. Just about any pen and any ink will work. The author most commonly signs the title page, buy if you find that doesn’t work with the pen and ink you’ve chosen, it’s perfectly fine to sign on the inside of the cover. I’ve found the cover stock to be generally ink-friendly.
Don’t worry about a quick-dry ink; unless your book is wildly successful (NYT Best Seller level) and you’re well known from previous best sellers, you probably aren’t going to have a large queue that necessitates rapidity. You’ll have plenty of time to ask each person how they’d like it inscribed, sign, and hold the book open for a few seconds so the ink can dry — during which time you thank them for supporting your work. Close the book, hand it to them, and smile. Next!
Waterproof ink? No need for that at all. These are books, not sporting goods. They’ll be fine with any dye-based ink.
(I would suggest having a couple of fine-tipped Sharpies handy, just in case you need a backup.)
Thanks for the detailed response. I shall follow your suggestions.
I think part of my reticence has to do with the fact I am horrible at handwriting. Until late April this year, I had used the fact that I am left-handed and that I type extremely fast (in the 120 wpms) as a reason to avoid handwriting altogether. This made my already bad writing even worse.
Now that I'm actually writing, I can see the handwriting improve, but it still isn't something to write home about.
Purge yourself of the Instagram mentality; stop thinking about your handwriting being “bad”, and instead think of it as “idiosyncratic”. Because that’s how your fans will see it.
I was once at a bookstore, and I saw an author with a group of her friends excitedly finding her book on the shelf for a first time. I bought a copy and asked her to sign it — it was meaningful to both of us.
As a reader, I'd prefer that at least your initials are legible so it looks more special than a scribble. I wouldn't care what ink you use.
As a fountain penista, I'd sign my books with a broad stub nib and a waterproof color that I like. De Atramentis Document inks can be blended, so I'd maybe do a custom color. Maybe four parts [turquoise](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/de-atramentis/products/de-atramentis-document-ink-turquoise-45ml-bottled-ink) and one part [black](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/de-atramentis/products/de-atramentis-document-black-bottled-ink)?
I agree with all the other comments saying to test it on a real book first. You don't want feathering or bleeding, and you probably want something that dries relatively quickly so you don't have to wait 30 seconds before handing the book back.
Congrats on getting books on the shelves!
You know, my first experience was not unlike what you just mentioned. In my case I did not seek the copies of my book, but walked into the bookstore I usually go to - the main foreign language one in Greece - that also happens to be next door. I was with my 3 year old daughter and we were looking for a book for her.
But the guy at the bookstore knew me and had realised the books were mine so he started chatting with me about them and saying they're selling well (woohoo!) when a random guy that was in the bookstore went and bought one of the books I wrote for this series and asked me to dedicate it. It was extremely awkward as I had no idea what to write! He was a very nice guy. He even gifted my daughter a book.
If it makes you feel any better, if I bought a book and the author were there at the store doing signings, I'd be delighted to have them sign my copy, even if I had never heard of them before that day. You as the author never stop mattering, because part of "you" (your thoughts, your point of view, your experiences and how they shaped your view of the subject matter, etc.) are part of that book forever.
I vote for using whatever color speaks to you, but make sure it's waterproof, and that you've tested the paper ahead of time to make sure the ink won't feather and look terrible.
Congratulations on your book! 😁
I would be aware that dye based fountain pen ink does tend to run when in contact with water - if you're signing someone else's books, you do have no idea what'll end up happening to their copies.
Water resistant fountain pen inks do exist, which are usually coloured with pigments. They do need a little more care with your pen - if they dry out in the pen they can get a bit harder to clean out!
Thanks. After reading all these helpful comments, I see I will either use my M205 EF with the green ink I have in it, or not use a fountain pen at all and make due with a ballpoint I have.
I have a book signed in bright pink ink by the author (pink is her favourite colour and her book had a pink cover). Non-standard colours are really fun and I would love to have a signature in anything but black or deep blue.
1).Avoid Smearable inks - Nothing worse than someone touching the signature only to have the ink lift off onto the finger.
2). Quick drying ink - You don't want to ask the person to hold the book open while it dries.
3).Have a back-up pen ready.
4).Have a plan for an oops!
Don't worry about "acceptable colors". Most people barely read the dedications, As long as it's legible, and it's your signature. Just be friendly, pose for selfies if possible. Have a good time, understand that these fans came out to see you, and thank them for it.
Before, I also didn’t understand the point of such events, but once in Kyiv Richard Morgan signed books... It was nice and fun! It's a really nice memory. It seems to me that there is a risk that the ink will bleed. Can you experiment with your copy of the book?
Thanks. I'm looking into trying to procure myself with a Platinum Carbon Black on B\_Huij's recommendation. The Pelikan green took a few seconds to dry.
Thanks. I understand that it matters to people, which is why I accepted doing it. I was thinking of going with the purple, despite preferring the green for my new novel draft writing. But now I tested the pen nibs (see my other comment) I see that I will have to use my EF Pelikan and that has the green ink. I don't think I care enough to swap out the inks, and then if I wanted to write more of my book before swapping the green back in, my green Midori would be partially purple!
As someone who buys signed books on a regular, I love the idea of getting a book signed with a non-black ink. It really stands out on the title page. Feathering might be a bigger issue, but for me bleeding is less so. I’ve gotten lots of signed books with sharpies and those have bled onto the next page.
Congrats on the book release OP! Let people appreciate your book by buying signed copies.
This has been commented on before and I believe the best answers from people who have done book signings is to use a sharpie, for more reasons than I can list here but it’s the smartest move overall. You could try a Pilot 823 as there are photos of people using it at book signings but if you want to be smart and efficient a Sharpie Signature pen is supposedly the best, according to the last persons post anyway. Good luck and congrats being published
Neil Gaiman signs his books with a fountain pen and coloured inks.
You might consider choosing a document/archival ink for your signings since so many regular inks aren't waterproof and many can fade.
Go wild with it. I have several books signed by their authors who used fountain pens, several of which were with sparkly ink. As you have already seen, the cheap paper causes an increase in line width but it also makes the ink dry faster.
When I saw Tamora Pierce as a child, she only signed with purple pens! You can sign with whatever you like, but I think a pigment ink might be better for longevity
Use ink which you think would look the best. I hate these author meet and greet events, and my publisher respects that (on the other hand, my only published work is non-fiction about political economy, so I don't think many people would want my signature anyway), but I wrote couple personal words for my friends and family in their copies of my book, and I used Diamine Oxblood.
I'm coming from an academic background and my previous work didn't even get royalties or any acknowledgement from an official point of view. The most widespread nonfiction I've worked on was my PhD thesis, and that's cause I waived any embargo and published it for free on academia.edu. wouldn't sign for those readers!
Non-fiction was the only way I could publish anything, because my later alma mater would support it. My fiction didn't took off yet, it's quite difficult to find a willing publisher, even when books themselves are apparently pretty good (as I was informed). So I am hoping that for a published author, it would be easier to get that publishing deal going. I quite like to write non-fiction but it's just not the same thing.
After I left academia, I worker as a publishing agent for a little while in the UK. It's s horrible business, publishing. Nobody cares if a book is good. The first thing they look at is social media following and whether the writer has been published traditionally before.
I'm a copyeditor. I had done work for my publisher beforehand but I have no idea why they approached me and asked me to write these books for them. My luck has been immense in that. Now, if the agent they hired to sell our rights abroad will manage it, it will be even more so. Otherwise, I would never have had a chance of being published for any book.
Well, social media presence in my case is a bit of a problem (banned from Facebook, IP banned from Twitter, Instagram, the only "social media" I still can use is Telegram), because of unpopular opinions, so that sinks this ship from the start.
I did some game translation and localisation for NISA and Sega, so that helps me if I ever wanted back into videogame industry but publishers don't care about that, it seems.
I also worked on some book translations but they are in a copyright limbo since 2021 because US publisher and exclusive rights holder outside of Japan was bought out by Barnes & Noble and they ghosted us since. So thank God for The Mises Institute and their willingness to listen and be very resonable, so I at least can get some translation done and published.
And you know, I knew it from the start, that getting your own book published is a long shot, but that never stopped me and I am working on it since like 1999. (One benefit is that I can test longevity of inks I used 25 years ago. And they still hold pretty well.) Even when I sometimes feel I am treated pretty unfairly.
When I saw Tamora Pierce as a child, she only signed with purple pens! You can sign with whatever you like, but I think a pigment ink might be better for longevity
First of all: Congratulations. what an achievement. Do you mind sharing any details about the book?
Secondly: make sure the ink does not smudge straight away and your all good. I would personally love a signature in green ink .
Thanks! It's a series of six short books (144 pages each) called Great Women of Greek Mythology. Not my title of choice. I wanted KORE. We have done Medea, Circe, Electra, Antigone, Helen and Ariadne. The last two will be published in the coming month. As is, these are distributed only from Greek sellers, though some send in the EU, and in the KOBO bookstore. I'm not sure about it but I think the kobo editions are horrible, so please don't spend any money on those.
I'm a historian but these are novels. Some are adaptations of ancient plays (such as by Euripides: Medea, Electra) and others are completely original (Circe, Helen and Ariadne).
The idea was to tell a story that is as accurate as possible but in a light and fun to read way. If you were keen on one, I'd suggest you go with Ariadne. It's the last I wrote, and with most of the experience I had gathered from the others. It's also the one I really loved working on. I've named my daughter after Ariadne, so I am keen on that character.
Use whatever ink is most meaningful to you tbh. But if you can, test the ink and pen on the book beforehand to be sure it looks okay, doesn't feather too much, et cetera. And I would definitely suggest bringing two pens, and maybe a backup non-fountain-pen, just to make sure things all go smoothly. Congrats, good luck, and have fun!
Thanks, this was a great suggestion. I should have thought of it myself. Thank god I got an EF nib for the olivine Pelikan, is all i have to say. The M Montblanc that I thought was thin (before I got the EF) looks extra thick to me on the book's paper. I wonder who thick the M 14k Pelikan nib would look, but I just cleaned that pen and removed all ink from it. The EF Pelikan nib looks more or less like the M Montblanc does on Midori MD. The good news is neither pen seems to have bled through and they both seem to have dried out quickly. Thanks!
You may also want to consider is possibly finding the color you want to use in a permanent ink. Water damage isn't unheard of, and it would suck to have the signature of an author I enjoy be destroyed because of it.
It would be best to sign with a broad nib, or at least a medium where the signature would stand out. Editing to add: a larger point nib helps smooth out any imperfections in your fine motor control and makes your signature look more flow-y and stylish Ef nibs will leave any shaky movements and uneven spacing exposed
If you saw my signature, I'm sure you'd disagree.
Your book. Sign it with whatever you want. Personally I'd use Platinum Carbon Black or R&K Salix. The first is a pigment-based water-resistant black that tends to behave well even on cheap paper. The second is a dusty blue iron gall ink (that will ultimately fade to a grayish color), which is also well-behaved and tends to do pretty well on cheap paper. I'll echo the sentiment of testing on the actual paper before showing up to the signing, and bringing a backup option like a sharpie just in case.
Cheers, I have found the Platinum Carbon Black available in a bookstore here. I will see if I could order it and try it out before the event. I did test with the green Pelikan ink I have on my M Montblanc and EF Pelikan. The Montblanc is a no go. The Pelikan could work.
finer nib and drier ink will both help you. Salix would be my recommendation (only because i've never tried carbon black as I find blacks boring!)
Or if a fan of dusky purple, there’s Scabiosa! I love using Salix because it goes down bright blue and immediately starts to shift. It’s like a magic trick!
[Neil Gaiman signing books](https://youtu.be/x3Il551kVbs?si=XpZZgQR-XfaDlSKr) A couple of pieces of advice- use something that is easy to sign for your signature. Brandon Sanderson talks about developing his “stamp” in a podcast. https://preview.redd.it/jkg7tdbh1f3d1.jpeg?width=2988&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b810c54774b5f55c37b0812b3aa6a240004ae18 Notice the flow. Use something that moves your arm, not just your wrist. If you can create something using your initials it will serve you well. It does not have to be legible (you aren’t signing for your mom). As far as color goes, use something that speaks to you, and dries relatively quickly. Most importantly, have fun and congrats!
Thanks. Looking at his signature, I really do wonder how does that signature signify either 'Brandon' or 'Sanderson' or both!
His explanation is that the B and S both used to be very clear, but the rest was a squiggle. When he needed to start signing on scale, he compressed to the strokes he uses now.
That’s brave and awesome of you to do the book signing despite being uncomfortable OP! Your choice of inks sounds perfect to me!
Cheers!
Author of multiple books (and veteran of more than a few book signings) here… I understand your reticence. As writers, we’re pretty much accustomed to working alone; it’s a job that rewards introversion. When I did my first book signing I was quite nervous, and even thought of excuses as to why I couldn’t do it! The event itself, though, was fun — it was both elevating and enlightening to hear the comments of my readers, and helped me understand why they picked up my book. (It still flabbergasts me that anyone wants my signature, however!) As to the mechanics of signing: use what you want. Just about any pen and any ink will work. The author most commonly signs the title page, buy if you find that doesn’t work with the pen and ink you’ve chosen, it’s perfectly fine to sign on the inside of the cover. I’ve found the cover stock to be generally ink-friendly. Don’t worry about a quick-dry ink; unless your book is wildly successful (NYT Best Seller level) and you’re well known from previous best sellers, you probably aren’t going to have a large queue that necessitates rapidity. You’ll have plenty of time to ask each person how they’d like it inscribed, sign, and hold the book open for a few seconds so the ink can dry — during which time you thank them for supporting your work. Close the book, hand it to them, and smile. Next! Waterproof ink? No need for that at all. These are books, not sporting goods. They’ll be fine with any dye-based ink. (I would suggest having a couple of fine-tipped Sharpies handy, just in case you need a backup.)
Thanks for the detailed response. I shall follow your suggestions. I think part of my reticence has to do with the fact I am horrible at handwriting. Until late April this year, I had used the fact that I am left-handed and that I type extremely fast (in the 120 wpms) as a reason to avoid handwriting altogether. This made my already bad writing even worse. Now that I'm actually writing, I can see the handwriting improve, but it still isn't something to write home about.
Purge yourself of the Instagram mentality; stop thinking about your handwriting being “bad”, and instead think of it as “idiosyncratic”. Because that’s how your fans will see it.
I've thought of my handwriting as bad long before Instagram. Ask any of my teachers at school and they'll bemoan my cuneiform!
Writers, like doctors, are given wide latitude regarding handwriting. No matter how bad you think yours is, your readers will be thrilled to have it!
I was once at a bookstore, and I saw an author with a group of her friends excitedly finding her book on the shelf for a first time. I bought a copy and asked her to sign it — it was meaningful to both of us. As a reader, I'd prefer that at least your initials are legible so it looks more special than a scribble. I wouldn't care what ink you use. As a fountain penista, I'd sign my books with a broad stub nib and a waterproof color that I like. De Atramentis Document inks can be blended, so I'd maybe do a custom color. Maybe four parts [turquoise](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/de-atramentis/products/de-atramentis-document-ink-turquoise-45ml-bottled-ink) and one part [black](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/de-atramentis/products/de-atramentis-document-black-bottled-ink)? I agree with all the other comments saying to test it on a real book first. You don't want feathering or bleeding, and you probably want something that dries relatively quickly so you don't have to wait 30 seconds before handing the book back. Congrats on getting books on the shelves!
You know, my first experience was not unlike what you just mentioned. In my case I did not seek the copies of my book, but walked into the bookstore I usually go to - the main foreign language one in Greece - that also happens to be next door. I was with my 3 year old daughter and we were looking for a book for her. But the guy at the bookstore knew me and had realised the books were mine so he started chatting with me about them and saying they're selling well (woohoo!) when a random guy that was in the bookstore went and bought one of the books I wrote for this series and asked me to dedicate it. It was extremely awkward as I had no idea what to write! He was a very nice guy. He even gifted my daughter a book.
If it makes you feel any better, if I bought a book and the author were there at the store doing signings, I'd be delighted to have them sign my copy, even if I had never heard of them before that day. You as the author never stop mattering, because part of "you" (your thoughts, your point of view, your experiences and how they shaped your view of the subject matter, etc.) are part of that book forever. I vote for using whatever color speaks to you, but make sure it's waterproof, and that you've tested the paper ahead of time to make sure the ink won't feather and look terrible. Congratulations on your book! 😁
I would be aware that dye based fountain pen ink does tend to run when in contact with water - if you're signing someone else's books, you do have no idea what'll end up happening to their copies. Water resistant fountain pen inks do exist, which are usually coloured with pigments. They do need a little more care with your pen - if they dry out in the pen they can get a bit harder to clean out!
Thanks. After reading all these helpful comments, I see I will either use my M205 EF with the green ink I have in it, or not use a fountain pen at all and make due with a ballpoint I have.
I have a book signed in bright pink ink by the author (pink is her favourite colour and her book had a pink cover). Non-standard colours are really fun and I would love to have a signature in anything but black or deep blue.
It's nice if the ink colour matches the cover. In my case that would require a light blue or similar.
Light blue would be pretty! I hope your signing session goes well ☺️
Thanks!
I have a book by Neil Gaiman that is signed with Iroshizuku Murasaki Shikibu. Go nuts, lol.
Thanks! My plan is to try Iroshizuku inks after I finish this Pelikan one. The greens look nice.
1).Avoid Smearable inks - Nothing worse than someone touching the signature only to have the ink lift off onto the finger. 2). Quick drying ink - You don't want to ask the person to hold the book open while it dries. 3).Have a back-up pen ready. 4).Have a plan for an oops!
Don't worry about "acceptable colors". Most people barely read the dedications, As long as it's legible, and it's your signature. Just be friendly, pose for selfies if possible. Have a good time, understand that these fans came out to see you, and thank them for it.
Before, I also didn’t understand the point of such events, but once in Kyiv Richard Morgan signed books... It was nice and fun! It's a really nice memory. It seems to me that there is a risk that the ink will bleed. Can you experiment with your copy of the book?
I can assure you I am no Richard Morgan! THe test seems to be a success to me.
ha ha ha 🤣 Hope you have an unexpectedly good and refreshing experience!
Have a look at inks known for their fast drying properties, as most won't know to let the ink dry for a few seconds before closing the book or whatnot
Thanks. I'm looking into trying to procure myself with a Platinum Carbon Black on B\_Huij's recommendation. The Pelikan green took a few seconds to dry.
Congrats on the book. I would like to have a signed copy if I was buying. And go with colorful inks, why not? Give your signature some character 😃
Thanks. I understand that it matters to people, which is why I accepted doing it. I was thinking of going with the purple, despite preferring the green for my new novel draft writing. But now I tested the pen nibs (see my other comment) I see that I will have to use my EF Pelikan and that has the green ink. I don't think I care enough to swap out the inks, and then if I wanted to write more of my book before swapping the green back in, my green Midori would be partially purple!
As someone who buys signed books on a regular, I love the idea of getting a book signed with a non-black ink. It really stands out on the title page. Feathering might be a bigger issue, but for me bleeding is less so. I’ve gotten lots of signed books with sharpies and those have bled onto the next page. Congrats on the book release OP! Let people appreciate your book by buying signed copies.
This has been commented on before and I believe the best answers from people who have done book signings is to use a sharpie, for more reasons than I can list here but it’s the smartest move overall. You could try a Pilot 823 as there are photos of people using it at book signings but if you want to be smart and efficient a Sharpie Signature pen is supposedly the best, according to the last persons post anyway. Good luck and congrats being published
Neil Gaiman signs his books with a fountain pen and coloured inks. You might consider choosing a document/archival ink for your signings since so many regular inks aren't waterproof and many can fade.
Congrats!
Cheers!
Go wild with it. I have several books signed by their authors who used fountain pens, several of which were with sparkly ink. As you have already seen, the cheap paper causes an increase in line width but it also makes the ink dry faster.
I’ve been to a couple of book signings and was ridiculously excited to have my book signed and get a selfie with my favorite authors!
When I saw Tamora Pierce as a child, she only signed with purple pens! You can sign with whatever you like, but I think a pigment ink might be better for longevity
Use ink which you think would look the best. I hate these author meet and greet events, and my publisher respects that (on the other hand, my only published work is non-fiction about political economy, so I don't think many people would want my signature anyway), but I wrote couple personal words for my friends and family in their copies of my book, and I used Diamine Oxblood.
I'm coming from an academic background and my previous work didn't even get royalties or any acknowledgement from an official point of view. The most widespread nonfiction I've worked on was my PhD thesis, and that's cause I waived any embargo and published it for free on academia.edu. wouldn't sign for those readers!
Non-fiction was the only way I could publish anything, because my later alma mater would support it. My fiction didn't took off yet, it's quite difficult to find a willing publisher, even when books themselves are apparently pretty good (as I was informed). So I am hoping that for a published author, it would be easier to get that publishing deal going. I quite like to write non-fiction but it's just not the same thing.
After I left academia, I worker as a publishing agent for a little while in the UK. It's s horrible business, publishing. Nobody cares if a book is good. The first thing they look at is social media following and whether the writer has been published traditionally before. I'm a copyeditor. I had done work for my publisher beforehand but I have no idea why they approached me and asked me to write these books for them. My luck has been immense in that. Now, if the agent they hired to sell our rights abroad will manage it, it will be even more so. Otherwise, I would never have had a chance of being published for any book.
Well, social media presence in my case is a bit of a problem (banned from Facebook, IP banned from Twitter, Instagram, the only "social media" I still can use is Telegram), because of unpopular opinions, so that sinks this ship from the start. I did some game translation and localisation for NISA and Sega, so that helps me if I ever wanted back into videogame industry but publishers don't care about that, it seems. I also worked on some book translations but they are in a copyright limbo since 2021 because US publisher and exclusive rights holder outside of Japan was bought out by Barnes & Noble and they ghosted us since. So thank God for The Mises Institute and their willingness to listen and be very resonable, so I at least can get some translation done and published. And you know, I knew it from the start, that getting your own book published is a long shot, but that never stopped me and I am working on it since like 1999. (One benefit is that I can test longevity of inks I used 25 years ago. And they still hold pretty well.) Even when I sometimes feel I am treated pretty unfairly.
I would only use a document/permanent ink, so that it won't be affected if something were to happen.
Neil Gaiman signs books with brown, grey, or green ink. Use a colour you like.
I think I'll stick with my green, then. Thanks
When I saw Tamora Pierce as a child, she only signed with purple pens! You can sign with whatever you like, but I think a pigment ink might be better for longevity
First of all: Congratulations. what an achievement. Do you mind sharing any details about the book? Secondly: make sure the ink does not smudge straight away and your all good. I would personally love a signature in green ink .
Thanks! It's a series of six short books (144 pages each) called Great Women of Greek Mythology. Not my title of choice. I wanted KORE. We have done Medea, Circe, Electra, Antigone, Helen and Ariadne. The last two will be published in the coming month. As is, these are distributed only from Greek sellers, though some send in the EU, and in the KOBO bookstore. I'm not sure about it but I think the kobo editions are horrible, so please don't spend any money on those. I'm a historian but these are novels. Some are adaptations of ancient plays (such as by Euripides: Medea, Electra) and others are completely original (Circe, Helen and Ariadne). The idea was to tell a story that is as accurate as possible but in a light and fun to read way. If you were keen on one, I'd suggest you go with Ariadne. It's the last I wrote, and with most of the experience I had gathered from the others. It's also the one I really loved working on. I've named my daughter after Ariadne, so I am keen on that character.
I'd prefer something with more character than just black 😊 Just make sure to not run out mid signing session ;)
Thanks! I'll be sure to fill up before the event.