Susan Hill is a hell of an author (<em>The Woman in Black</em> et al), but also a hell of a tweeter (@<a href="http://twitter.com/susanhillwriter">susanhillwriter</a>) and blogger too. Readers out there who wonder why authors are sometimes not necessarily in the best of moods at public events should read her insight <a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/susanhill/6363748/not-signing.thtml" target="_blank">into a possible cause at the Spectator here</a>. I'm so glad Susan turned round and said no to people trying to make money out of her, and add nothing to the event concerned.

The sale of used books is something authors have to accept. We always have though these days, through Amazon and eBay and the very aggressive tactics of Oxfam, it seems an industry in itself, one based upon the fact that these sales return not a penny to the authors whose names are on the books being sold or their publishers.

<!--more-->But if you are in this rather grubby practice do at least try to give something back to the people who are making it possible, by going to the event itself and -- who knows? -- buying a book now and again. It's only polite.

My two worst episodes in this field have been in America, at Bouchercon and Book Expo. At the first I had a paperback proof in the goodie bag and the longest signing line I've ever seen. Two days later scores of them were on eBay at inflated prices as 'signed special editions'. So many I suspect the value was somewhat reduced.

Book Expo is quite extraordinary. As far as I could work out it hands out tickets to people who can then queue up and get brand new hardbacks and have them signed by authors all for free. You sit there signing away until the stock runs out. And it doesn't really matter who you are for the most part. The punters are principally there for free books they can then sell on for a fat profit.

Why does the US book industry do this? I have no idea though some US writer friends of mine now insist on personalising all copies at such events which makes their sale more awkward. By the way the anxious plea 'Don't put my name on it!' does shout 'eBay' very loudly.

Anyway -- congratulations to Susan Hill for having the guts to stand up and do the right thing. Authors are used to the idea that people like to make money out of us -- and recognise they've a right to do so. But we all have limits. Signing second hand books for resale is like writing a cheque for a stranger. Not much fun. And public book events do need to be fun for all concerned, especially authors who are frequently doing them for no good reason and precious little reward.