Monday, June 18, 2012

I HAZ BOOKMARKS!

Well, almost. They should be delivered today, and I'm so excited!

As a reader, I've always thought it was totally cool when I got a special bookmark to go along with a book. (Yeah, I'm a total book nerd. I'm sure most of you can identify.)

Confession: Way back before I had an agent (or even a finished book to pitch to an agent), I would hold the bookmarks of the authors I met at signings and dream of having my own someday. Bookmark, I mean. (Oh, all right. I dreamed of having a signing, too. Dreams are free--why limit yourself?)

And now, thanks to the help of a wonderfully talented graphic designer--Jeff Fielder--I do.

When I decided it was time to go ahead and have the bookmarks for In a Fix made, I was at a loss as to how to go about it, so I did what I usually do in such cases. I went to Twitter and said, "HELP!"

Once again, Twitter came through. Jeff''s name was bounced back at me by my friendly tweeps, and attached to it were glowing recommendations. I checked out his website (jallenfielder.com), decided I liked what I saw there, and contacted him.

He has been a dream to work with--a total professional. I sent him images of my book cover and told him what the book was about, and he took it from there. Though he said he'd be happy to revise, I loved what he came up with on the first try.

Here's the front:




And here's the back:


Cool, huh? And he didn't even cost me an arm and a leg! Being a writer himself, I suspect he understands that the vast majority of us don't have unlimited promotional budgets.

Jeff provides print-ready files for his clients. I sent the files to gotprint.com, which I'd heard from several sources provided a high quality product for a reasonable price.

I can't wait to slip one between the pages of an ARC of In a Fix!

If you'd like one, and don't want to wait for the (admittedly slim) possibility that I'll be signing books at a bookstore near you, just pop me an email at linda(dot)grimes(at)gmail(dot)com. I would be happy (okay, thrilled!) to pop one in the mail for you.* I'll even sign it if you like. :)

 Oh, yeah. The question for today: What's the weirdest thing you've ever used as a bookmark?

(Me? I'm fond of old grocery lists, bookstore receipts, and appointment reminder cards from the dentist's office. But only when I don't have a REALLY COOL bookmark that matches the book I'm reading.)


*Until they run out, of course. It would be tough to do after that.

19 comments:

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Oooh! Very pretty!

My publisher produced some stunning bookmarks for my first book and shipped me a generous amount to give away. But I know that's not typical, and I won't count on it for my second book (which is coming out via a different publisher).

So thanks for the links! I may be checking them out in a couple months.

The Reading Frenzy said...

Great book mark from one book geek to another :)
deb

Delia said...

Ooooooh! Pretty bookmarks! Love them. :)

Carol Kilgore said...

I have been known to use a speeding ticket as a bookmark. It wasn't nearly as cool as yours. Your bookmark, I mean. I'm sure you never received a speeding ticket. Just sayin' :)

Teri Anne Stanley said...

Awesome!
awesome,awesome,awesome. Sorry, I'm on a limited vocabulary budget today.

Tracy Jo said...

I love it!!! That is seriously so awesome. Congrats on dreams coming true. I use receipts and lists all the time too. I will be emailing you.
:-)

Patsy said...

That is indeed a very cool bookmark!

Diane Henders said...

Nice! And thanks for the link to Gotprint.

I've used toilet paper for a bookmark on occasion, but it seems disrespectful somehow...

J. Allen Fielder said...

Linda, thank you very much for this. It has made my day. You are correct: Being that I'm a writer (he says), I understand that promotional budgets are typically pretty thin, especially for first-timers.

I hope you enjoy your bookmarks, and thanks so much for the plug.

Trisha Leigh said...

Those are sweet!!! Can't wait to read the book, obviously.

I use anything within reach for a bookmark. Often that means bobby pins.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

How very cool! Yes I certainly do want one of your bookmarks! I'll treasure it because you're an awesome blogging buddy. And I can't wait to read your book either. Will be happy to review an ARC or whatever you need to help promote!

Al said...

definitely cool!

Sandy said...

Ooo, congratulations on getting such pretty bookmarks! :D

I tend to use index cards or ribbons to mark my spot when I can't find a bookmark. I used to put pencils in between the pages but I stopped doing that once I left a pencil in one book and kept it there for a while..the pencil left this annoying space between the pages that I still haven't managed to flatten.

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

Sometimes if I'm putting my book down for a sec I'll use the handle on my glasses. Never works though. I don't know why I keep trying.
Cool bookmark.

Michele Shaw said...

Stunning bookmarks! Just yesterday I used my iPhone as a bookmark! Ha!

Mary said...

Ooh, those sher are purrty! I do love a good bookmark. I think the weirdest thing I've ever used is a hairband that was just lying around. The book didn't close nicely but I didn't lose my spot!

Kimberly Sabatini said...

I'm so glad Jay worked out for you!!! Love the bookmarks!!!! Send me a couple and I'll give them to my local libraries and bookstores!!!! :o) One for me too!!!

LD Masterson said...

Beautiful!

In lieu of a beautiful bookmark, I'll use whatever's handy. So I'm obsessive about shaking out all library books before I return them. Some things I just don't want the next reader to find.

Maery Rose said...

Very cool! Now besides dreaming of a published book I am dreaming of a matching bookmark!