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.
