I imagine you’ve seen this, but in case you haven’t:
Twilight Zone “The Bard”
Season 4 Episode 18

“Julius Moomer, a talentless, but relentless, self-promoting hack who dreams of becoming a successful television writer, uses a book of magic to summon William Shakespeare to write dramatic teleplays that Moomer will pass off as his own. Shakespeare becomes irritated by Moomer’s lack of appreciation and is even more appalled when he discovers the changes wrought on his plays by cynical television executives.” — via IMDB

(The highlight of this one is actually not the Shakespeare parts but a young Burt Reynolds doing his very best Brando impression)

I just received a “signed bookplate” edition of a book from a musician who just released a memoir/autobiography/whatever. I thought having his signature even on a sticker in the book would be cool when I ordered it, but now that it’s sitting here in front of me, I feel kinda stupid. The guy didn’t even hold or come in contact with the book, he just mailed some signed stickers to the publisher. I knew this going in, but again, sounded cool at the time. I guess he held the sticker. Whoop de doo.

I realize this isn’t what your post above isn’t about really, but I found this page from searching “signed bookplates are bullshit” in my frustration (both at myself and at the concept). Anyway, for anyone reading, buyer beware, you might feel as dumb as I do if you order a “signed bookplate” instead of a “signed copy”!

PS — thank you for still having an actual site that you control yourself and is not just a substack or social media channel. The internet was so much more interesting when people had their own sites like this.