Civil War Swag

Authors often try to find unique swag items that relate to our books. I sometimes give away Asian-themed items to promote The Samurai’s Garden or quilted items to plug the two books in The Stitching Post series. Last month Mysti Parker released her Civil War historical A Time for Everything and I offered to help supply some of the gifts for her release party.

In Mysti’s book, the heroine has a cameo locket she got from her husband, who was killed in the war. The locket hangs on a piece of lavender ribbon around her neck. It plays an important part in the story, and Mysti thought it would be nice to have a replica to give away. I have LOTS of ribbon, so I told her I’d look for some inexpensive cameo pendants. I found some online, but she’d have to buy several to get a decent price. Fortunately, my local grocery/department store had several packs of these vintage-looking buttons in their craft department, and included in the package were two cameos! I brought them home and had the necklaces made in no time.

I also thought it would be cute to make some drawstring purses with lace on them, reminiscent of the little purses women carried back then. I happened to find a bag of silky fabric remnants from my daughter’s wedding eight years ago. I added some lace and ribbon and put together a red one and a yellow one in time for her release party. Mysti liked them so well she asked for eight more! If I have time I might make several in off-white to celebrate the re-release of The Partridge and the Peartree, my regency Christmas novella!

You can find A Time for Everything at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and other ebook outlets.