Totally out of the blue, but I have two questions about author promotional items.
1. What's the best promotional item you ever received from an author? (My most used favorites are a cat food can cover I got from Linda Lael Miller and a jar opener from Geri Krotow. My other favorites include a shot glass from Jacquelyn Frank.)
2. Do you enjoy the smaller items like bookmarks and pens? As in, do you use them or toss them?
Thanks, everyone! Hope you're having a nice weekend!!!!
Most used is a screen cleaning cloth from Jackie Kessler. Post-It notes get used, too.
Pens. Well, I’m very particular about pens, so unless it’s a medium point black gel pen, it’s not going to get used.
Bookmarks. Most of the promo ones are so long they stick out of mass market pbs, making them irresistible for my cats to pull out and thus defeating the purpose of a bookmark. I mostly use the bookmarks that Uncle Hugo’s gives out – they’re 1.5″ wide and 5.5″ long. Perfect. But… since I read so few physical books these days (mostly ebooks), bookmarks are less and less useful.
For larger promo items, I think usb drives would be cool.
I’ve only ever had bookmarks and I love them. A usb drive sounds good.
I don’t use the bookmarks, since I do the majority of my reading on my kindle. I do use pens and post its. Agreed about the usb drives, those would def get used …
Post it notes, pens, those are good. I like the idea of the shot glass! I admit, I don’t always enjoy bookmarks. i live in a small space, and I just don’t space for non-useable items!
My favorite promotional item was a jar opener from Pat White, for a contemporary romance called “Got a Hold on You.” How clever was that??
I used to love bookmarks, back when I read paper books. Now I use my Kindle, so the best fate for a bookmark is to be propped up on my desk for me to admire. It has to be a really nice bookmark for me to do that, though.
Bookmarks are pens are always great because I use those both daily. I’ve never seen a shotglass before, that would be awesome to get. Bags are also great and I got post its from Alexis Morgan which I thought was cool.
I hardly ever toss anything I get from an author. If anything I pass it on to someone I know will use it for sure. A Kindle skin would be cool since e-readers are so popular.
I got a really cool mouse pad from Cassandra Curtis (Shifting Tides series) and as for bookmarkers – I love them.
Markers other than the traditional paper ones are great!! I won a beautiful one with an inspirational message on it from Lynn Viehl (Darkyn & StarDoc series) and it’s my favorite book marker of all time!
Bookmarks and pens are my favorites Larissa and yes I use them all the time. In fact, I have this thing about matching bookmarks to the book I’m reading.
Hope your weekend is good.
My favorite is a black tee shirt I got from Angie Fox with “Kiss My Asphalt” on the front. Love it! I use fabric book covers with attached bookmarks, so I just keep the paper bookmarks from authors in a collection. :-)
the best was a keyring pen from ann aguirre. i kept it on my keys until it ran out of ink :D (and a certain demon ducky is actually on the shelf above this laptop guarding me two other duckies :) )
and i actually collect the bookmarks and pens – i’m weird like that. my mum and i myust have 200 different authors bookmarks between us. i LOVE em. and postcards because i collect them too.
You know how I feel about widgets, so I won’t rant on your blog about them. :) I do think if you’re going to invest in widgets, try to get something that is useful for the reader. I still have some pens around from the old RWA conferences I used to attend and I still use those. The cats finally broke the really cool glass bud vase one author gave out (it was etched lightly with her promo stuff) but that was the only other thing I used.
The #1 most effective form of promo I’ve ever received from any author has been a free story or novel posted online as an e-book. If I really like what I read for free, I’ll go buy whatever they have in print. If I don’t care for it, I don’t feel any animosity toward them because I didn’t waste any money on a book I then have to toss in the library donation box.
Ooh, agreed on the free stories! It’s a nice treat for established readers too.
Caveat: I love swag of all kinds, but not because I use it as much as because I love *having* it (read: hoard it)
Second caveat: office supplies of all kinds have a special place in my heart.
Therefore… pens and little notebooks (particularly post-it pads), as well as calendars, are winners with me (I still have a 2009 magnetic calendar from author Sandra Schwab stuck to my desktop)
Bookmarks tend to go in my collection–and those actually signed are treasured.
Whimsical promo items–such as the lovely demon duckie on my shelf
:grin: –are always appreciated.
As for bigger items, I love t-shirts, most especially those for series and/or authors rather than individual titles. Tote bags get a LOT of use, from grocery shopping to knitting projects, etc.
I hadn’t thought of USB drives, but I think those would be great too–particularly if they came with a couple of free short stories (but since those are more expensive, perhaps a number of authors could combine resources and stories?)
I’m a pen and post-it note junkie! So those are my favorites. But I also like the unique….the shot glass you mentioned has me totally jealous. I recently got a votive holder from an author where all four sides have the covers from his books (which have a lot of beautiful scenery) so that when the candle is lit it shines through illuminating the scenery. It’s very cool and I certainly remember the author vividly. I personally don’t like bookmarks unless they’re unique with beading or crystals or something along those lines.
Bookmarks, definitely! I collect them, so I love to get them! And I bet your little demon duckies make good promotional items!
I don’t use bookmarks. Ever. I’m a spine-breaker. It makes my friends cry.
I have used every promo pack of post-its I’ve gotten though. At one point, the entire bottom of my iMac was covered in SBTB post its. And then Jackie Kessler had some really cute ones that stood out.
And I’m a sucker for pins, too. I don’t wear them on my clothes, but I stick them in my wire mesh desk organizer.
I love to get bookmarks – I collect them & I like to have a different bookmark for each book. Pens & post its are always good too. I also love signed book plates that I can stick in my books.
I’ve not had anything more unusual than that but I love the sound of the demon duckies! Kim Harrison had a giveaway for tomato seeds for her Hollows series which I thought was great but as I’m in the UK I can find it hard to even get bookmarks from some authors.
Trying to work out how to send pre-paid envelopes internationally is a nightmare! I think it would be fab if more authors offered international readers the option of sending the postage / packaging costs through paypal (or similar). I’m happy to pay but it would make it a lot less complicated.
Honestly, I don’t collect anything. Bookmarks are nice, though I don’t actually use them. I do think, however, that anything particular to the author’s work would be cool. Like, in Anastasia, the music box and the necklace as a key. My dad bought the exact thing in real life for Christmas when I was little. I know that it’s a movie but my point is it’s memorable. Same with Demonica. Anything with the Demonica caduceus would be cool. I do think, as mentioned above, a flash drive would be terrific.
XOXO, M
By the way, evil duckie is cute.*ducks*
I always need bookmarks, so I use those. I do like the shorter bookmarks, just because they don’t hang out of the books. I also use the pens that I’ve been sent.
Pens, notepads, post-its, refrigerator magnets(I really, really love those!!) USB drives would be cool, I think. Totebags, and t-shirts, also. (Love those!)
I’ve only ever received one promotional item from an author ever…magnets with her book covers on them. I like them, and they look okay on my fridge, but, not something I go “Woohoo!” over.
I like the shot glass idea, and book marks are always awesome (I read A LOT and go through them quickly).
Though I do like book marks I like getting non-traditional stuff too! I love totes, toys, keychains, fake tattoos, wax fangs… it’s fun getting stuff like that..:D
Post its and pens ~~ I love them both, and use the hell out of both when I get them!! LOL, the guys at work love to read my pens to see what SEX author I’m promoting w/ my pens!
I used the book marks, and really like to look at them, and yeah, like my shot glass and OH, the EC playing cards? Yeah, those rock, but get the most use out of the pens and post its!!
I think that you can never have enought bookmarks !! but my fav. is keychains. and I love the idea of a shot glass !!
I have been fortunate enough to win a few autographed ARCs. I adore them and keep them in a place of honor. Some people think the stickers that are autographed by an author to put inside their books are a cheat, but I think it is very thoughtful. The only actual promotional stuff I have received are bookmarks, which I don’t use, but keep just because they’re from a fave author and they took the time to send them to me. Would definitely love one of your rubber duckies *g*
Late to the party – must be the time difference of living where I do!
O.K – I love bookmarks . . can never have too many. Signed – even better.
Love pens too – you could have those ones that have the floating bit in the top half – a floating duckie or a demon or a cauceus . . cool!
Fridge magnets – a cauceus one or a demon duckie. Love fridge magnets.
Of course one of my bestest gifts is my Demon Duckie who sits by the computatator! Squeeee!
Keychains would be good. Hey, just about anything. I’m not proud!
I have a TON of bookmarks from authors. I enjoy matching them up to their respective authors books but not doesn’t happen too often.
I love tote bags but those can get kinda pricey as they are not a small item.
I was a huge fan of the nail polish that Bree Despain did for her debut novel The Dark Divine. I’ve used it a few times. :)
I’m a fan of the fake tattoos but they are too temporary! :(
Shot glasses or coffee mugs would be cool.
Thanks, everyone!!! I’m always really fascinated by what readers think of promo items, and I’m surprised at the number of you who like the bookmarks! I get a lot of requests from booksellers for them, so I have been up in the air about continuing to get them…might do one for each series or something.
I’ve only ever gotten bookmarks and can take them or leave them. Totebags would be great, and now I’m curious about the demon ducks lol. I wouldn’t mind a bookmark with one of the Seminus demons on it though
Oh – free reads are awesome too!!
Like my daughter Ayla says – we collect the bookmarks we win and I give her the postcards to add to her collection. Pens get used, unless they are really nice, then I tend to put them aside and only use them on special letters.
My most used items are the two tote bags I won, one each from Kate Walker and Diana Love Snell. My absolute favourite though has to be a red heart trinket box I won from Jasmine Aherne.
I do use the pens… but, my most used promo item this eyeglass (well, that’s what I use it for, anyway) cloth cleaner from Brenda Joyce, promoting Dark Lover. I also use my different tote bags.
I love pens, paper/note pads. I’ve never received stuff like the devil ducks/shot glasses or things like that but they sound cool.
Well I just received my tote, bookmarks and pens today and I totally think they are the cat’s meow!! I am ok with anything that has the author’s book info or the newest promo on it, key chains are always a good item as well!
That is neat about the USB driver and shot glasses. Never seen or heard of it being offered as a prize.
T-shirts are awesome. I have three (and one is by Angie Fox. Two others from ebook authors). I’ve won a mug by Bonnie Leigh Rose which my sons’ broke and the hubs was like “Well it was up with the other cups” which made me cry only because it was from an author and they used it without remorse. I’ve also won christmas ornaments from authors (ebook authors). I’ve also gotten sticky notes (which I used to scrible down notes). I won a homemade bracelet from another author which is hanging up close to my computer (says Diva)
One of these days I’d like to win a tote, that would be awesome to carry around.
Bookmarkers get shoved into a plastic drawer, so whenever I need a bookmarker, and can’t find the one I used or something happens to it, I just grab a new one (or the hubs or the boys need one).
Pens my luck with them when I try to use them the ink is not very good. Pins, I keep together and want to make something to put my pins and buttons on.
I like bookmarks and magnets and those sticky things I can put in my book that have autographs.
The coolest promo item I ever received was a deck of cards from a publisher. Each card showed one of their book covers. Haven’t seen it since the day it came home though as my daughter asked to look at it.
From authors, I’ve received bookmarks(sometimes signed), pens, keychains, note pads, cover flats(signed) and post cards. I love the cover flats and will eventually get a large frame and make a collage once I get enough of them. My daughter usually ‘acquires’ the pens and notepads. The keychains, eh, the dreaded words “it’s here, somewhere” applies here. The bookmarks, if they aren’t signed, get used for their intended purpose. Signed ones join the flats in the file for the future collage. If I ever got any magnets they would immediately go on the fridge, where we never seem to have enough for all the stuff we like to keep there.
The absolute best thing I ever got was actually a prize in a contest. A 2GB flash drive already loaded with two different reader software programs and one of the authors books. She had bought a bunch of them in bulk just to offer as prizes.
Larissa i have to say i love book thongs i have a few and i use religiously as well as book marks i likethe longer ones for tradepaperback books
signed book marks books ,cover flats postit notes tote bags
i sooo want one ofthose duckies i even looked to go and buy one lol ia lways see the out of stock icon w hen i look shot glasses would be awesome so would the luminary i read one person mentioned
a flash drive would deff be a huge perk honestly
the more creative it is the more itreasure it
and im atotal pen and pin junky i use every pen i get and put my pins all on a bag eventually i want to put them on a sheet or somethinga nd hang on the wall
Best promo items:
1. vampire rubber duckie because me and my kids collect them
2. 2 miniature cauldrons with spells, book thong and 2 herbal sachets (handmade)
3. books, especially signed books
*things that somehow relate to the book are the most fun
Other items:
I love office stuff and magnets rock! I use the pens and pencils all the time and my daughter uses any G rated items that I get, like rulers/bookmarks/erasers/paper etc. Candles and coffee cups would be good swag items too!
I don’t have a great deal of experience with author swag and what I do have comes from contests. I never enter a contest unless I really want/will use the items offered up- just doesn’t seem right to win something only to toss it.
Coolest prom item I ever got was a mouse pad with a drawing of the main character from the author’s latest series on it. It’s starting to get faded cause I use it every day.
You know I have never gotten anything from any author. No I would never throw away anything I’m kinda a pack rat like that but its all good. I Also love pen’s and book marks, I often read multiple books at a time so the more bookmarks I have the better it is.
I’ve also never gotten anything from any of the authors I read. But I have to say that bookmarks are my favorite…I also read alot and an constantly using mine. Pens and post-its and shot glasses and keychains all sound awesome too. Really anything that is a gift is always appreciated. It’s a sweet gesture for the reader.
I have never received any promo items from any author. I do love the bookmarks, pens or post-its. Key chains are cool too! I would just love for someone to ask me about my Demonica key chain (hehehe)! Thanks Larissa!
PENs
,post it notes, tshirt , totebags, condoms in match books,
little candle and match in baggies
Well I did get a pot holder from Sherilyn Kenyon from the Simi really cool since she gives them out to only her family at Christmas. Your symbol is WAAAAYYY cool since I am a EMT-IV regular ones are you know boring but useful so a little pin or something like that. Just a thought.