What if you sent your first editions to a famous author to get signed, and this author didn’t send them back? The author instantly agreed to sign them, and my friend had a nice chat with the author leading up to an agreement to sign the books.

This Big Time Author has had two of their novels made into movies, one of the adaptations was very well received, and stars an A-list actor who is currently enjoying great praise. This activist/actor is known for being down to earth, and very cool. I like his work, but didn’t care for his TV work, years ago.

I know people are busy. I also know that people don’t always do what they said they will.

When Big Time Author made a promise to sign a collector’s first editions, all of the author’s work, and then did not respond to letters, emails, Facebook messages, regarding this matter and then never sent the books back, I have to wonder: Why did you promise to do this?

The books were sent over two years ago, and a check for return postage included (My friend never checked if it was cashed, but he did get a proof of receipt on the package he sent to Big Time Author, and this author signed for the box of first editions).

Finally my friend sent a letter, written in red pen (very dramatic, even by my standards), telling Big Time Author to donate the books, or throw them away, as he no longer wanted them back, and got no response from Big Time Author.

My friend was very disappointed, as this author’s work was central to his collection of contemporary living American writers. Now his personal belongings are gone, stolen, whatever you want to call it. My friend had sent the books without the dust jackets, and has since thrown the jackets away, cutting the ties to this issue completely.

There are only two people who matter in this world, I mean the book world. Writers and Readers. Stealing from one, never helps the other, especially when the reader in question has a friend at this blog.