Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for October 01, 2023

When will you be in Brooklyn?

Speaking to a roomful of people: “Hi. I’ve been paid already, so please leave after I sign your books.”

Unsloved mystery? Aren’t all mysteries unsolved…

I’ve never understood the cachet of having a book signed by the author. What’s the supposed benefit or allure? Now, if I could get one of them to sign a check …..

A romance cover model and a lug nut influencer also sign books. Both bring huge crowds.

Anybody else start to count how many cities he hid in the second panel?

Next question: Why is he zigzagging across the country?

When are you coming to Canada?

I went to a book signing once. It was that cook that I don’t think was ever sober. Anyhoo at the signing one dude wanted to chat with him like forever. I finally put the book down and walked out!

Stephen lives here in Santa Rosa. A couple of years ago he was hosting an event at Snoopy’s museum. One had to call to get on the reservation list. When I called I was told that all the reservations for seats were gone, but I could take my chances on getting in for the standing-room-only area. When I got there and saw the huge line I figured I would never get in and left. The moral of the story is that if you are going to go to one of his events, get there early.

Pig, if you go with him, you will be asked for many autographs!

That seems more like a comment Rat would make. I guess it hurts more coming from Pig.

Planning to go to the Atlanta signing.

I went to talk to an author Thursday, and got a book signed by him, probably a virtual unknown but it was nice to chat with him and his daughter!

I’d go to watch him sing a book.

I’ve been everywhere, man…

When will you be in Phoenix?

Stay safe in some of the cities

I’m going to that book signing.

Sooo, call me when you get to Denver, K? Thanks!

I would like to meet you so I could personally tell you to bring back the @#*%&$! Crocs.

I suppose if he comes to Fort Kent, Maine I would go and see him. With the potato harvest almost over and Winter just around the corner we are truly desperate for entertainment.

Because he’s funny?

When is he going to get to Niagara Falls? And can he turn slowly?

Looking forward to seeing Stephan in “Washington, DC” later this month. Although we will actually be in Takoma Park, MD. But that’s close enough for government work.

Pastis is speaking at an elementary school in Denver? Don’t they know what bad puns can do to impressionable young minds?

I was expecting a pun…

Lets hope the book isn’t about climate control with all those air travel miles. (unless it is with Bill Gates then I’m suppose to think it is okay)

Rat is selling autographed copies on line only he’s having someone else sign them. BTW The Count would go one but none that close to the chateau :(

“Signed by the author, I see” … “Yes, we couldn’t stop him. If you can find an unsigned copy. It’s worth an absolute fortune.”

Well, if you think we Floridians are driving all the way up to Atlanta…………

What about the Twin Cities?

That is one heck of an itinerary, Mr. Pastis! I hope you are comfortable sleeping in so many different beds night after night.

Stephan advertising his book tour in a not-so-subtle way.

The syndication is hoping Pastis luggage arrives, and the airline lose Pastis.

Awwwww! Pig is a real porker this time!

I enjoyed meeting you when you came to Iraq on the “Comics on Tour” trip. I still have my Signed Larry that you did for me hanging in my office.

Akron? if you were coming to Buffalo…

I’D go to Brooklyn to meet you Stephan!

boston not good enough for ya?

Danville? What’s in Danville? My best buddy is from Walnut Creek. Now he lives in Santa Rosa. What’s that got to do with anything?

No Canadian stops?

I busted out laughing at the next-to-last panel.

I’m looking forward to seeing Mr. Pastis in Brooklyn on 10/11/23!

I see Pig is playing the role of Mr. Pastis’ intrusive thoughts today.

When are you in San Diego?

I expect Rat to say that to Pastis, but Pig? Rat really is a bad influence on him.

I MISSED HIM last year when he was in a shop like, 15 minutes away!!! I even pulled some cash out to buy anything he was selling! D’8 (Come back to Tonawanda, New York, dear Mr. Pastis!!! I love my stuffed animals of Piggy, Zeba, Goat, Larry and Rat! I just had to gently remove their santa hats.)

I would love to personally thank Stephan for sharing his delightful comic strip with us.

My schedule puts me in Denver on October 12th and Chicago on October 24th. Really got lucky on this one.

Well, I want to meet him.

Danville, “Sacratomato”??? Don’t bother—a waste of time.

I suppose people just don’t have enough disappointment in their lives. Got love self depreciating humor.

I’ve read that Bill Watterson would sometimes sign copies of Calvin and Hobbes books and leave them on the shelf in bookstores.

I can’t be the only one thinking that big list of cities was another setup for a stupid pun. How unexpected!

Danville … I have family there (uncle ended up in CA after WWII, and now is 103). Long way from my state and place of his birth WI, but we had some great visits, including a Gilroy Garlic Festival bike ride. He was upper brass at Standard Oil of California and pals with Saudi Arabia potentates. A true Badger.

Danville California? Interesting place to start! Small town but very affluent. I wonder if he will hold his signing at “Pete’s Brass Rail”? Over 100 Beers on tap but no “Brass Rail”! Also, I thought Stephan lived in Santa Rosa? Why wouldn’t he end his tour in Sac? You’re wasting jet fuel and destroying the planet with that itinerary Pastis! Get with the program!

So any chance of Honolulu? You might like it…..

Family’s different…strangers will be willing to meet you for a few seconds and get on with their life!

Have lunch at the Sideboard or Revel in Danville.

Pig is quite the ingrate!! Without Pastis, he’d be nowhere, and plenty hungry!!

What the heck? Going to Akron and not Columbus??

And have some fun along the way Stephan.

Just read in the local paper that Stephen has a new book for kids aged 8-12 called “Looking Up”. There’s a launch of the book with a book signing on Oct. 4th in Petaluma at Copperfields, an independent bookstore.

Portland is mentioned in the strip but not shown on the World Tour list. Having enjoyed Pearls for decades and lived in Santa Rosa for years but now am in the Northwest, I’d be delighted to attend a Portland visit!

Around 15 years or so ago one of the few mom & pop book stores in the area (not a Barnes & Boarders) hosted a Pastis book signing. I decided to go to the venue 2 or 3 hours early right after work and try to grab a bite to eat nearby. The only thing open was a “healthy grocery store” and ate something healthy that churned my stomach. Afterwards, while standing in line at the bookstore to use the only toilet in a store that was starting to fill up for the signing, someone with a 6 pack of local micro-brews opened the “Staff Only” door near the bathroom and I saw Pastis inside.

I did what unfortunately needed to be done, several dozens of minutes later he talked to the crowd before the signing, and after standing in line for an hour got my book signed.

I don’t think he’s ever come back to that store for a signing.

when and where in Sacratomato?

When will you be in D.C. or Richmond?

Mr. Pastis mentions in today’s strip he is going to visit Portland, OR toward the end of his tour. However, when I click “Book Tour” at the top of the page and look at the itinerary, Portland is not mentioned. What gives?

Sadly, our first dog died when I was at one of Stephan’s book tour stops.

Portland and Seattle? If you were supposed to be at the Target stores to do the signings, you’re out of luck.

I got to meet Stephan a few years ago in San Jose and bought a book which he autographed. He is very nice!

I was visiting my son one year in Portland and Mr. Pastis just happened to be there for a book signing. I can’t remember why I had my Pearl’s calendar with me, but I took the bus downtown and had him sign it; it was my first time at such an event. Now I live here and look forward to him visiting our town again.

C’mon, Stephan, we like you. Right now, we really like you!

Nobody respects an author in his own circle of friends, family and creations.

Now, that’s what you call “self-deprecating humor”! Also, it breaks the fabled Fourth Wall. Well done, Cartoon-Boy; don’t let Pig rain on your Parade of Signing Sites!

I spent an embarrassing amount of time on panel two trying to guess what the pun\punchline at the ends was going to be.

I see. Starting the big-city tour with Danville.

Whenever I see a strip begin with a series of seemingly random references, I try to guess what absurd pun he’s setting up for the last panel.

Does Pig’s question in panel 5 sound, to anybody else, more like something Rat would say instead?

Seattle, when and where?

Never mind, I’m signed up!

i have the first treasury(sgt piggys lonely hearts club comic) im getting that signed

See you in New Orleans, Pastis.

Washington (Takoma Park) is close to me . Might be worth having lunch in Silver Spring, then taking the bus to the show.