Okay, I
put together a book signing with Patrick MacNee from the classic 1960's British camp-spy/adventure series “The Avengers” when his autobiography "Blind In One Ear" came out. I was working for Walden books in Pasadena, CA. I became the display king; had contacts at all the movie studio P.R. departments and could get just about anything from them for cross promotion of the paperback tie ins of their films.
put together a book signing with Patrick MacNee from the classic 1960's British camp-spy/adventure series “The Avengers” when his autobiography "Blind In One Ear" came out. I was working for Walden books in Pasadena, CA. I became the display king; had contacts at all the movie studio P.R. departments and could get just about anything from them for cross promotion of the paperback tie ins of their films.
Anyway, I track down MacNee's publicist and worked everything through them. I contacted the publisher and cut a deal so that we didn't get stuck with whatever we didn't sell; not even shipping charges; to returned the unsold merchandise.
I made posters from the publicist's press kit. Ordered "Avenger" videos from Ingram as well as the “Complete Avengers Book” and did all the displays myself (Of course). I invited a bunch of friends, too.
There was an office for these kinds of promotions back East at the home office and the numbskulls never returned my calls or they just weren't in. When I finally got a 
hold of them, they reamed me for doing this and that it had to go through their office, etc, etc. I told them I'd been trying to reach them for a month! I asked if they were going to take out an ad and they said they didn't take out ads for in store signings. What a bunch of morons! Turns out I had Roddy McDowell booked to come in for a signing of his 2nd book of celebrity portraits at $60 a pop the following week, but since the company wouldn't take out an ad they passed. I told his people I didn't blame them a bit!
hold of them, they reamed me for doing this and that it had to go through their office, etc, etc. I told them I'd been trying to reach them for a month! I asked if they were going to take out an ad and they said they didn't take out ads for in store signings. What a bunch of morons! Turns out I had Roddy McDowell booked to come in for a signing of his 2nd book of celebrity portraits at $60 a pop the following week, but since the company wouldn't take out an ad they passed. I told his people I didn't blame them a bit!
The day of the signing comes; a Saturday; and people were lining up even before the store opened! It was great. Then some of my friends arrived and then Patrick MacNee. I was surprised on how tall he was. And impressed in that he was very much "John Steed" in his persona. He was a complete gentleman to everyone, consenting to pose with me and my friends.
Extremely nice, polite. We took him to the food court for coffee and started asking him all kinds of things. I was bowled over when he referred to Diana
Rigg as "Di". I'd never heard that before. Then we chatted about John Colicos, the actor who played Baltar on "Battlestar Galactica" and friend of mine. I recall he thought John was either the greatest actor he had ever know or a complete madman. I think we settled on a compromise, that John was a little of both.
Rigg as "Di". I'd never heard that before. Then we chatted about John Colicos, the actor who played Baltar on "Battlestar Galactica" and friend of mine. I recall he thought John was either the greatest actor he had ever know or a complete madman. I think we settled on a compromise, that John was a little of both.
I had written a sci-fi fantasy script entitled "Quentin Rebel" and had Patrick in mind for a character and I think John had sent it to him. Patrick remembered the script and was surprised when he learned I had written it. He thought it was pretty good. Needless to say, he made my day!
We went back to the store and got the whole thing rolling and it was a huge success even without the help from the home office. It was the best non holiday Saturday sales the store had ever had.
At the end of the day, Patrick whips out his AMEX gold card and bought a stack of the Avengers book and several videos; telling me that there were unauthorized bootlegs and dropped about $500; even with the discount we gave him; then apologized what he felt was a small turn out. I assured him he had nothing to apologize about and sent him on his way.
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