Thank you for this! It’s also helpful to see how you sign. I’m only just starting, with one book that I sell in person (I sell mostly my art). I’m also writing middle grade and have been experimenting with doodles and what to say. It’s nice to see what others are doing. A post about the pre-order goodies you have done would be interesting :)
Congratulations on your book and on making stuff in general! And good idea on the pre-order goodies... here's a post about swag, but I'll think about a pre-order post specifically! https://kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/book-swag
Totally agree about Sharpies being either too thick or too thin. I like the Pentel Sign Pen. I started using it because I realized that the Sharpie was bleeding through the pages of some of my books that are printed on non-glossy paper. The Pentel doesn't bleed through at all, and is the perfect line weight. It doesn't do so well on glossy paper though (takes more time to dry), so now I have to have 2 pens. :-( Also the tip of the Pentel can get frayed pretty easily so it doesn't last all that long. But give it a try and see what you think!
That's the pen I use. I think I saw it on Austin Kleon's substack. But yeah it takes too long to dry on glossy picture book paper so I have to use a sharpie on those.
Oh, thank you! That was the part of the pre-launch campaign for the series, so I don't have them any more. But I usually do fun pre-order goodies, especially for the launch of a new series!
Oh I think I wrote about this in a post somewhere... I make swag because it makes me happy! A book launch is a sort of weirdly quiet actually, so it's nice to celebrate it. I don't know that I necessarily "make the money back" from swag but it's general celebratory vibes, for me included!
Thank you for this! It’s also helpful to see how you sign. I’m only just starting, with one book that I sell in person (I sell mostly my art). I’m also writing middle grade and have been experimenting with doodles and what to say. It’s nice to see what others are doing. A post about the pre-order goodies you have done would be interesting :)
Congratulations on your book and on making stuff in general! And good idea on the pre-order goodies... here's a post about swag, but I'll think about a pre-order post specifically! https://kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/book-swag
Perfect. Thank you!
Totally agree about Sharpies being either too thick or too thin. I like the Pentel Sign Pen. I started using it because I realized that the Sharpie was bleeding through the pages of some of my books that are printed on non-glossy paper. The Pentel doesn't bleed through at all, and is the perfect line weight. It doesn't do so well on glossy paper though (takes more time to dry), so now I have to have 2 pens. :-( Also the tip of the Pentel can get frayed pretty easily so it doesn't last all that long. But give it a try and see what you think!
That's the pen I use. I think I saw it on Austin Kleon's substack. But yeah it takes too long to dry on glossy picture book paper so I have to use a sharpie on those.
Ooh, thanks for the tip! Maybe there's a business here making the perfect, long-lasting pen for authors... probably a store in Japan would have it.
That little "Ava-signed" insert with the sticker and jewel is adorable! Did you eventually discontinue that and the bookmarks?
Oh, thank you! That was the part of the pre-launch campaign for the series, so I don't have them any more. But I usually do fun pre-order goodies, especially for the launch of a new series!
(In fact, if you order today or tomorrow from Linden Tree Books, there will be a pre-order goody with Ava Lin Book 3!)
Ah! I wondered if it got to be too much. We all love that cute swag, but it must be hard to tell if any of it's worth it from a marketing perspective.
Oh I think I wrote about this in a post somewhere... I make swag because it makes me happy! A book launch is a sort of weirdly quiet actually, so it's nice to celebrate it. I don't know that I necessarily "make the money back" from swag but it's general celebratory vibes, for me included!
I love that.
Here's a post about making swag: https://kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/book-swag
And here's a post about celebrating your launch: https://kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/celebrating-your-book