PHOTO PROMPT © Marie Gail Stratford
He noticed the man randomly opening books and scribbling inside them.
He detached from his nook behind the cash register and made a beeline for the aged vandal. Well, as much of a beeline as one could make weaving in between book aisles. “Hey you! Stop that at once! Or… I’ll call the police!” Would the police actually come, he wondered.
The man flashed a mischievous smile and darted out of the store. Someone said, “Was that Ben Khalid, the famous author?” Plucking a book from the shelf, he opened it to reveal the unmistakable autograph of the eccentric author.
100 words
This is like a flash fiction version of a meme.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Write a story in 100 words or less, and click the frog to submit your flash fiction. Join our group of tea-drinking (coffee for me please) cat-loving group of writers!
Fatima Fakier 
Lovely! The same act can be either vandalism or enhancement, depending on who does it
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If it is the author himself, definitely a generous act! Although done in a dubious way.
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I’ve heard of some authors doing this. It’s a lovely idea 🙂
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I think so too. 🙂
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When I sign a book, I always tell the person who’s buying it that the book is free, the autograph costs $15 🙂
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Value in the entertainment – what if they ask you not to sign? Is the book still free?
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Nope, but the resale value of the unsigned copies is doubled. 🙂
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I can picture you doing this, Russell!
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Oh dear, I’m sure the shopkeeper is wishing he’d used a different approach now!
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Maybe he should have been rushing over to ask for an autograph on his own copy.
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Value in the entertainment – what if they ask you not to sign? Is the book still free?
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My comment above was for Russell.
You have raised an interesting point in your story about eccentricity. I know an author who would go into Waterstones, and move her books out on the shelves to make them more prominent.
Another young lady took her book to Waterstones and had her self photographed holding her book in the shop– then claimed her book was in all the good bookshops.
(the truth was customers could possible order the book, but it was not popular enough to be held in stock.)
Enjoyed your story.
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Thank you for your comment, James. Those other two authors you mentioned sound more egocentric than eccentric 😉 Do people really do that? I’m really glad you enjoyed this story too.
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I enjoyed the mischievous behavior of the author. Made me smile.
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If I can make you smile, all the better!
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he’s quite a character even if he’s signing his own book. 🙂
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He definitely is a peculiar fellow.
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Love it! Glad I wasn’t drinking anything when I was reading this.
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That’s the response I was hoping for! Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Dear Fatima,
Perhaps the author could’ve made himself known. I enjoyed the story in any event. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, he could have made himself known, though I think he prefers the mystery and mischief. Thank you, Rochelle!
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I’m imagining his little book-signing surgical strikes 🙂 The bookshop chap will have to identify the signed books now, so he can increase the price.
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The things authors will do!
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