feedThe Margaret Atwood Unotchit FAQ
A word from Margaret Atwood on not signing books (er, or, not signing books in person, but using the unotchit signamabob):
Will this mean that you never tour again? Stuff and nonsense! Look overhead, and you will see either a flock of geese or half the best-selling novelists of the Western world in full plumage and full flight. And so it will continue to be, as long as there's a thrill in it for the authors and some cash in it for the publishers, and as long as both can still walk or hobble. But where do these authors go? Usually, to the biggest cities, and to festivals. And which authors go there? The best known, and those who are being specially launched. What of the others? The other authors. The other places. They don't get much of a look-in. Why shouldn't it be possible to send authors to places they'd never be sent physically -- because of the expense -- and for readers in those places (cities, towns, countries, high schools, colleges, book groups) to be able to talk with authors, and to have books signed by them?"More here: The Globe and Mail: A letter from Margaret Atwood and here: unotchit.com. PS: I don't speak blackberry, so "unotchit" is meaningless to me. Also, if publishers can't spare the expense to send an author to a city to sign their book, I seriously doubt that there is going to be much interest in seeing them live via ISP. I still think Ms. Atwood is missing the point, but I'll let you be the judge for now.
