Dickworld
I'm going to get REAL on y'all now, and flip this QoTW. Flip it. For REAL.

Terry Pratchett was rude to me! Book signing in Waterstone's in Mighty Mighty Stockport, some 8-9 years ago. Getting Fifth Elephant and Carpe Jugulum signed.

I eventually get to the man himself, only an hour or so waiting involved. "What's your name then lad?" asked the bearded one, so I tells him. He signs the books, I say "Cheers Terry, keep up the good work!" and offer my hand in a respectful yet masculine manner for hearty hand shake, slap on the back and a "See yer later, the Beartown is on me!"

He looks at my hand like I had just finished fisting his daughters arse with it, looks at me like I'd just finished fisting his daughters arse and snaps "NO! I need all my strength to keep signing books!" Rude little cunt, I may have opined as much to his face, I can't recall… probably not but in my head I did.

I wouldn't have minded, but I saw him on that documentary on the BBC recently and he was shaking everyone's hand and posing for pictures. Pratchett, you are mean man. But I still loves yer books!
(The Boy Monders I have ginger bits in my beard., Thu 8 Oct 2009, 15:11, 12 replies)

He probably doesn't remember.

(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Thu 8 Oct 2009, 15:14, closed)

I think I was probably there that day!
I was supposed to get to interview him afterwards too but his PA lied about the time and then made out we'd missed him when we came back after the signing.

Edit: Also, the guy has always had a reputation for being very, very shy/not coping very well with the public, don't be too hard on him 'ey?
( Jessie © needs pirate name suggestions, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 15:15, closed)

PTerry and his public.
In that case then, why does he do book signings? It's not like doing book signings is an "old tradition, or something"...
(caescarna Hell's Roomba, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 15:17, closed)

Because...
Booksigning is usually part of a publishing deal!
(TheProfessor For all your redbearded intellectual needs, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 19:38, closed)

Signings are part of the job
It is, sorta. Yer Pratchetts, yer Gaimans, they hold that book signing for frickin' hours is a necessary part of interacting with yer audience, the people who pay you to do this job.
(Divaesque, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 21:11, closed)

Ah
Well that explains why he seemed a bit standoffish when I got mine signed some years back.
(TheProfessor For all your redbearded intellectual needs, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 19:37, closed)

If it's any consolation
I annoyed him at a signing. I took 11 books to be signed... (only 1 was mine, the other 10 were from the SciFiSoc members who couldn't attend). He gave me a rather "you have got to be kidding" look.
Still signed them though.
Met Douglas Adams too. He was cool. Said he didn't read Pratchett, said he once picked up a Discworld book, read the blurb and thought "I won't like this".
( Tribs 🦇 ↓ dn ʎɐʍ sᴉɥʇ ↓🦇, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 15:20, closed)

He was very kind to my brother (and me)
He turned up at my brothers school to do a book signing (which is amazing on it's own as I thought no one at the school could read) and signed for an hour straight. However he had to go to the next school after an hour.

As he hadn't signed everything he took the remainder home, with address, then signed them at home and posted them all back.

So not only have my copies of the Colour of Magic and the Light Fantastic been signed, they were signed at his house.

That's going the extra mile that is.
(Wooden meal is. Or is he?, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 17:08, closed)

He signed my Night Watch, he did.
"Dear Alex.

You had to have been here.

Terry Pratchett."

He was quite nice at the table. Ever a gentleman.
(Scritty Bakerman., Thu 8 Oct 2009, 21:18, closed)

Stop it
You're making me feel bad with your nice TP stories. I'm the victim here!
(The Boy Monders I have ginger bits in my beard., Fri 9 Oct 2009, 9:54, closed)

Good Omens
I got my copy of Good Omens signed by Pratchett and Gaiman. Terry always puts "Burn this book!" near the top, Neil puts "Apply holy match here" near the bottom.
(Divaesque, Fri 9 Oct 2009, 21:12, closed)

Terry P
I've never met the man, but I've got a load of signed books because my father would be lovely and take books to Pratchett signings for my brother and I.

Now, my brother has a very unusual and distinctive name. Very. So, when Pratchett said to my father "who shall I sign this to?", and my father replied "to XXXXXX", Pratchett said "XXXXXX? That's an unusual name!". My father collected the books, and thought nothing of it.

Until later that year, Hogfather came out. The name of one of the main characters? XXXXXX. Woo.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 15 Oct 2009, 13:22, closed)