Have Swag, Will Travel: What to Bring to a Book Sales Event

Dear Readers, I have a practical, info-packed Have Swag Will Travel guest post for you today. 

Author Tracy. C. Gold's next book, CALL YOUR FATHER (illustrated by Vivian Mineker, Familius, 2026), comes out this spring. It's a companion to her gorgeous earlier title, CALL YOUR MOTHER. Tracy has visited the blog a few times before, and each post has been fantastic!

As the author of multiple books, Tracy has participated in several unique book events. Today she shares her experience and tips for planning and obtaining the various supplies that are helpful for these events. 

by Tracy C. Gold and Vivian Mineker

Take it away, Tracy! 

Have Swag Will Travel: What to Bring to a Book Sales Event

by Tracy C. Gold

I am ramping up an exciting spring full of book events because I have a new book coming out this spring, yay! Book events mean SWAG! Swag for the kids, and swag to keep you organized and sane.  

"Call Your Father,"  illustrated by Vivian Mineker and published by Familius, is my fifth published picture book. So this is not my first, second, or third rodeo. Of course, I bring different stuff depending on the type of event. Below, I’ve attempted to break down my packing list by event type. 

 Every author has a slightly different approach. This is what has worked for me so far. I am always looking to learn, so please weigh in on the comments if you have additional suggestions on what to bring. 

Note: I bought a lot of my stuff a long time ago, so buy links are not necessarily helpful. I do, however, have a post on my own website with links for buying some of this stuff. Check it out here!

Second note: As an author-only, my profits on each picture book sale are pretty low. That means it’s very easy to spend more on swag than I make at an event. This is not an industry for the weak of heart or wallet. So I have a few rules for myself: 

·      Only do book events that make me happy

·      Only get swag that makes me happy

·      Never spend money on book marketing that I need to put food on my table 

I do believe that going to book events does benefit your career beyond the money you make on book sales that day. All of these efforts help build real relationships with readers, booksellers, and educators. I have booked school visits because of connections I’ve made doing book events, or in one case, just from being listed on an event’s website. You can also take pictures and videos for your social media. Just go into buying book swag with a realistic view of whether you’ll ever earn that money back.

What I Bring to Most Book Events 

A folding wagon or rolling bag—Buy one of these and thank me later—that is, if you are driving to a book event. If you are flying or using public transportation, you’ll have to minimize this list. Getting stuff in and out of a bookstore or event venue can be a slog. Sometimes you can park very close and sometimes you have to hike. Evaluate the containers you keep your stuff in (I use Container Store bins and a variety of bags) and see if you can fit them in a wagon (I have two) or rolling bag (I have one from Hulken) so you don’t have to make a gazillion trips. Your wagon needs to fold so you can stash it somewhere out of the way. The good news is that these wagons can be a business expense, but they come in handy way beyond book events. I use mine all the time for groceries, sports equipment, Christmas gift schlepping, and cleaning out my endlessly messy car. That said, I currently have three different rolling thingamajigs and I’m not 100% happy with any of them, so if you have *the most amazing* wagon, please let me know. My dream wagon would be light, folding, large enough to carry 2+ Container Store bins, and have a brake. I have not found this dream wagon yet, but a heavy wagon is better than no wagon. 

Clear bins: I like Container Store brand clear bins because they fit into my Ikea Kallax shelving at home, but it is great to have small, stackable bins to hold all this stuff. Now, this can get onerous and you may be able to get away with bags if you’re just going to a bookstore, but if you are hauling copies of your books around, you may need more. I would go with clear so it’s easier to see what’s in there. 

Copies of my own books—I can’t tell you how many times bookstores have run out of copies of my books at an event. This is a lovely problem to have. If you bring a few copies of each of your own books, you can normally sell them to the bookstore at a wholesale discount, normally somewhere between 40 and 60%. Know what you paid for your own books, including shipping, so you are at least not selling them at a loss. Sometimes bookstores will ask to order new stock and swap copies out instead of paying you. That is normal but can be logistically complicated if you don’t live near the store. More on what to bring when you’re selling your own books in the next section. 

Don’t forget to bring out-of-season books! My Halloween book, "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” sometimes outsells my Mother’s Day book, "Call Your Mother,” at spring events. What can I say, kids like cute bats. 

A fun craft—Nothing brings kids to an author’s table like a fun craft! At festivals I have crafts sitting out at all times. At more structured events, I end a story time with a craft session. For "Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat" and "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” Sourcebooks made an adorable activity kit with coloring pages and a word search. My go-to craft from the kit involves kids coloring in a squirrel or bat, cutting it out, taping a string to it, and tying it around their wrist so they can run amuck with their little animal companion. 

Bat Craft

This means I am bringing printouts from the kit, kid-friendly scissors, crayons, tape, and string. Sometimes bookstores provide these materials—it’s worth checking! You can find cheap multi-packs of scissors and crayons online. I often go with Oriental Trading (yes, it’s still called that) for these supplies. If you don’t have an activity kit, you might also be able to find craft kits that are relevant to your book on Oriental Trading or a similar site. The costs of these kits can add up quickly, though. 

This picture is from a literacy event with Park Books 

Craft set-up for literacy event with Parks Books 

When you’re working with a book store, they often have supplies which can lower the burden on you. They had this adorable setup and printouts from my Sourcebooks activity kits. This was destroyed as soon as actual children got their hands on it, which is a good sign that everyone had fun. 

This is a picture of the “decorate a star” craft I do for "Call Your Mother" because there’s a star motif in the book. Kids can give their gem stars to Mom as a Mother’s Day gift! Yes, I did buy the gems for this one. 

Bookmarks or some other sort of handout to serve as a business card—Kids don’t really use bookmarks for picture books, but I’ve found it handy to have some sort of business card. Sadly, business cards and bookmarks can, again, cost more than what you earn on a sale. However, the people I give these out to tend not to be kids/families. They are booksellers or educators who are interested in future collaborations. This is one reason why you can’t judge the value of events solely on book sales: events can be a great way to get educators interested in school visits! Though it is up to luck whether educators happen to show up to an event or not, I do find they tend to come by festivals where there are a lot of authors in one place. I need to do a bookmark refresh, but in the past I’ve even made them myself using card stock and scissors. 

Mesh/clear bags to keep everything organized: I buy cheap laundry delicates bags in a variety of sizes to keep all of my supplies organized. Otherwise, my bigger bins and bags become a jungle of broken crayons and tangled strings. 

Sharpies for signing books: I’ve gone down quite a rabbit hole of figuring out what pens are best for signing books. While Sharpies are not archival quality, they are simply the best for not smudging. For my board books, I have found that only metallic Sharpies work. Don’t ask me why. I can thank The Ivy Bookshop for helping me figure this out. I can vouch for both gold and silver Sharpies. Make sure that whatever color Sharpie you buy shows up on the title page where you’re signing. 

Post-it notes: When I sign books, I always like to practice writing names before signing them in the books. I use post-its to do this. Sometimes when there is a long line, booksellers will get names written on post-its for me to make things move more quickly. You know, I do know how to spell Michael and Elizabeth under normal circumstances, but book events can be extremely overstimulating and overwhelming in a way that makes me question whether the letter M is really supposed to look like that after all. And you never know when it will be spelled Mykel or Elisabeth. Now, I’m a pro at drawing a heart doodle over mistakes, but it’s always best to test names out. 

Little white board: A little white board and dry erase marker is so handy. This is an instant sign that you can change so that it says whatever you want! I do use this more for book festivals than book store events, but it’s great to have in the kit. 


Book stands: Using the vertical space of your display is so important, particularly when you have multiple books. Really, I’d like to have an even better system for vertical display, but right now, I have book stands. These can also be used to prop up your white board if it doesn’t come with a stand! 

Tape: Even if you don’t have a craft involving tape, just bring tape. Sometimes you need to tape paper somewhere and sometimes you need to tape a tablecloth down. I don’t really know why I end up using tape so much, but just throw a roll of Scotch tape in your stuff. 

“Learn More” sign: I always bring a sign in a little acrylic stand with a link to my website. For book festivals, I bring more signs (more on that later), but it’s nice to have something to show that people (especially educators!) can learn more about you and your books. 

Personal amplifier: At any book event where I am reading, I bring an inexpensive personal amplifier. Now, I’ll be honest. I always bring this but I have yet to actually use it. I have an inflated sense of confidence in my own skills of projection. I always regret not using my personal amplifier after the event when my throat is sore and my voice is croaky. My goal for the spring is to use my personal amplifier at events. Now, this is not so important in a tiny space. But if you are outdoors or speaking to a large number of children, this is key. Plus, as my friend Kathy MacMillan points out, sometimes people have struggles hearing, and a personal amplifier can be helpful for them even if you do project well. 

Charging cords for all my devices: This is more important for events where I’m sitting all day, but I always make sure I have a charging cord for my phone and whatever payment device I am bringing (if I’m bringing one). Nothing drains batteries faster than a book event. Don’t ask me why! This is just a fact. 

Tiny things to give away: Ok, this goes back to my “just for fun” category, because especially when you’re only earning royalties and not selling books wholesale, it is hard to find a giveaway that’s cheaper than your royalties. In the past, I have done sticker sheets. They are SO CUTE and so fun—but cost about 50 cents each, if I’m remembering correctly. I got a few hundred for each book and gave them away as preorder bonuses and at events, but I’m not ordering more due to the cost. 

For my book "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” I’ve also done tiny plastic bugs, which are pretty cheap. I also give those away as “non-food options” at my house for Halloween, so they’re multipurpose.

Mask: I typically have a mask in my bookstore stuff. My first books came out during the pandemic, so I got in the habit. Now, data on whether masks work is iffy, but you know what they do work on? My mental health. The truth about doing events with small children is that they will absolutely get in your face and sneeze in your eyeballs. However, it’s really tough to engage when half your face is covered. I do like to have a mask though in case I’m feeling sick, to protect others, and in cases where I really don’t want to get sick (like if I’m traveling). 

Hand sanitizer: If you don’t have this on you normally, bring it to book events. See: young children are snotty. 

What I Bring When I Am Selling My Own Books

More copies of my own books: At festivals or events where you’re responsible for selling your own books, figuring out how many books to bring can be hard. If you can, I’d ask the organizer or other authors who have been there before what to expect. I’d also recommend bringing more than you think you need. It’s sad when you are sitting there all day and could have made more sales if you only had more inventory! Generally, I bring 5-10 copies per book, but I do have 4 books, so if you only have one or two, I’d bring 30-40 total. And let’s be real, I do normally leave some extra in my car just in case. 

Ways to take payment: I use PayPal’s credit card system because I already have a PayPal account. Make sure you have whatever device you need well ahead of time because you need to get it shipped and make sure it works. And, of course, bring a phone! I have found that I am swiping credit cards much less these days because of the growing prevalence of Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle. I’d love for credit card swiping to go away. I have had so many issues with connectivity. That said, if the wi-fi or data connection is bad, sometimes Venmo/Paypal/Zelle doesn’t work great either. 

Basic change: People do still pay in cash! I try to have some ones and fives. I also will fudge the pricing a bit if someone doesn’t have exact change. I don’t mess around with coins. I just figure out the sales tax on my end later. Cash means I’ve saved money on credit card processing fees anyway. But Venmo is the best because it doesn’t have fees! 

Sign with your payment info: Have a sign with a QR code for your various payment methods and your user name. QR codes don’t always work, particularly if the lighting is bad. Having a sign will save you so much time of having to spell out your user name. 

Sign with your prices: You should have a sign with your prices—or multiple signs—depending on how you are set up. Clarify whether or not you’re including sales tax. Of course, if people have to ask you how much things cost, that can increase interaction. But I think people like to be able to look and know. 

Plastic sign holders: I bring cheap acrylic sign holders and just print my signs as needed to swap them out. The sign holders help me use my vertical space. There is normally not enough room to have signs horizontal on the table, and they’re harder for people to see this way as well. 

Toys that match your books: Ok, plenty of people go wild making custom stuffed animals for their books. Unless your books are mega-popular, it’s going to be really hard to make money on these. They’ll cost you a lot of time and money to make, and people don’t really want a stuffed animal to match a character they don’t know yet. Personally, I look for stuffed animals that already exist on the market. Squirrels and bats are pretty easy. I don’t have a way to get them wholesale at the moment—and I’m not sure if wholesale makes sense at the low volume I do. I do think that having something else besides books to sell can help increase your profits if you’re sitting somewhere for a whole day. I also like to have toys on hand as I frequently donate my books to silent auctions, and being able to add a couple stuffed animals makes a basket look much cuter.

I will say that I once had toys out at the Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival and had to put them away. Multiple children asked their parents for a toy…multiple parents said no, we’re here for books. I watched some families avoid my table even though their kids were trying to pull them back to me for toys. So I put the basket away to lower the drama for everyone. In my experience, toys do better at events that are not purely focused on books. Now, if you can MAKE toys to go with your books, that could be an easier sell. I would not count on toys making you a lot of profit, so I go back to my rule: only get toys for your books if it’s fun! 

The above photo is from the Chesapeake Children’s Book Fest. Often, you have to cram your stuff into half a table! Of course I was happy to share with author Terry Catasus Jennings. I love that in this pic, you can see the cool dolls Terry has to match her characters—and big banners from Timothy Young (left) and Kathy MacMillan (right). My very fancy tablecloth here is literally a beach towel. You don’t always have to buy something new.

Baskets and bowls: What you need here depends on what you bring. I have baskets and/or bowls which I fill with toys. I sometimes also use a small cup to hold scissors and crayons. I don’t tend to need this when a bookstore is providing supplies, and I don’t bring toys to sell at bookstore events, since they typically have their own tchotchkes on offer. 

Tablecloth: You can see in my pictures that I have used a variety of items as tablecloths, including a beach towel and an old scrap of fabric. Tablecloths look nice, but more importantly, they cover up the underside of your table. That’s where you’ll need to cover your backstock of books and important things like your purse! It’s nice to have it hidden. I’ve upped my tablecloth game recently thanks to the cornucopia of tablecloths that can be found cheaply at Good Will. You can get cheap plastic tablecloths new, too, but it’s more fun to thrift! 

You can see a lot of my set up in the above picture! I have a whiteboard, basket of crayons, pages printed out from my activity kits, a sign about all my books, a basket of toys, a sign about my website, and a sign with my Venmo and Paypal info. Whew! I think the venue provided the tablecloth.  

Woohoo, I got a full table! The above picture is from the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland. In my experience it is rare to get this much space but you can see my full spread here. This was before "Call Your Mother" came out. I have a print-outs from my activity kits, crayons, scissors, yarn to tie a string to cut-out bats and squirrels, a white board, and baskets of toys. In the back you can see my “learn more” placard with my website. On the right you can see my pricing sheet for my books.

Here we have zoomed in a bit! You can see my very fancy tablecloth is just a random piece of fabric from some costume or other that has been roughly cut. On the left you can see that I’ve taped an example hanging bat so that kids can see the craft. Crafts bring kids to you! You can also see that I have a few little plastic bugs scattered on the table. I give these away for free if I can buy them cheap enough! You will also see my mask. 

This is author Rachel Kolar with her book “Mother Ghost” at an event at Park Books. You can see her cool skeleton props and fun witch hat! On the table in the forefront is a craft provided by Park Books—color your own spooky tote bags! I teamed up with Rachel and another local author, Rebecca Evans. It looks empty, but that’s because it’s a huge space and I was avoiding kid’s faces in this picture for privacy reasons. 

Things I Have Thought About Bringing but Don’t 

Email sign up list: So, I actually did this in the past, but very few people signed up, and it took up precious space. And then I’d actually have to send out an email newsletter to make it worthwhile. However, I probably should bring this as I do occasionally send emails. They tend to be focused more on writers than readers. Psst, you can sign up to receive content like this blog post here: https://tracycgold.com/newsletter/.

Banner or custom tablecloth: I’ve looked into getting a custom banner or tablecloth to bring more attention to my table. They are just so expensive. I’m lucky enough to have books coming out scheduled into the future, and I just couldn’t see myself paying for a new banner every time I had a new book come out. Now that I am five books in, however, I might do something with just a few of my books. Probably not, though, unless I can find a really good sale. 

Hoo boy! I think that’s it! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and resources with us, Tracy! What a FANTASTIC prep-kit list for book events! I consider myself a book-event pro, but you've included some things on your list that weren't yet on mine. Thanks!  

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Tracy's books, including her latest, CALL YOUR FATHER, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore, and through Bookshop. *Disclosure: As an affiliate of Bookshop.org I may earn a small commission from books purchased through links on this post. 

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Photo Credit: Shore Love Photography

Tracy C. Gold writes books that inspire kids to connect with nature and their families. She also works as a freelance editor, helping writers develop novels, memoirs, and children’s literature. Her published and forthcoming picture books include “Call Your Father,” “Call Your Mother,” “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby,” “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and “Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat.” She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her kid or hanging out with horses and dogs. You can find out more about Tracy at tracycgold.com, by following her on Threads and Instagram at @tracycgold, or by liking her Facebook page. 

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Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series, and the forthcoming title, Mama's Home (and Baby Too!). Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. Subscribe to Dawn's newsletter and never miss an update.

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency, by Tracy C. Gold

Dear Readers, I have a very special Have Swag Will Travel guest post for you today. 

Author, Tracy. C. Gold, just launched a beautiful, new picture book into the world: CALL YOUR MOTHER (Familius, 2024). As the author of multiple books, Tracy has participated in several unique book events. Today she shares her experience and tips for planning a yearlong author residency.  

by Tracy C. Gold and Vivian Mineker

Take it away, Tracy!

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency

by Tracy C. Gold 

I have done quite a few events now that I’m on my fourth picture book, but since I debuted during the pandemic, school visits have been slow. So I was absolutely thrilled when school librarian Alicia Danyali reached out in summer 2023 about setting up an author residency for the next school year. 

She works at Krieger Schechter Day School which is local to me (so—have swag, will travel ten minutes down the road, in this case). She wanted to revive an author residency program the school had before Covid, the Silverman-Brown Residency. We had the opportunity to work together to shape a post-Covid version.

I jumped at the chance and had a really fun idea, if we could make it work. Ever since my book "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat" came out in 2021, I’ve been looking for a school that would install a bat box to go along with a school visit. Hint: do NOT write emails with the subject line “A bat in your ear,” even if you know the recipient well, as this does not go over well with those with a phobia of bats. Oops!

KSDS is a certified Maryland Green School, with a gorgeous community garden and a commitment to serving the environment, so they were up for the bat box! After trading lots of emails, talking on the phone, and meeting at the school’s beautiful campus, Alicia and I made a plan. 

We would do three visits, and on the last, the school would install bat boxes. Alicia involved the Art and Woodshop teacher Gigi Smith, who helped the fifth graders make bat boxes themselves. So cool! 

Here’s a quick recap of each visit, and then some tips for pulling something like this off: 

Visit One: October 2023

I met with first grade and kindergarten all together, with lots of help from teachers. I did a quick presentation about how I get my ideas, read "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and then set the kids loose to color and cut out their own bats from an activity kit Sourcebooks made for the book. 

Then I met with second and third grade. I did the same talk about how to get my ideas, but with these more advanced learners, we embarked upon a yearlong project: making their own books about wildlife (well, this ended up being a book about anything they wanted, but a lot were about wildlife). For their activity, they looked through library books and made lists or mind maps full of ideas.  

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Mind Map

Then, teachers collected their brainstorming documents so we could save them for my next visit, which would focus on drafting. (Kudos to Alicia’s organizational scheme that kept track of all of these over the course of the year!)

Visit Two: January 2024          

We crammed a lot more into this visit! I met with fourth graders and talked with them about the drafting process and structure in picture books. Then I read "Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat,” and asked them to identify which structures I had used. We ended with a freewriting exercise.

I did a similar presentation for second and third grade, but instead of freewriting, we pulled out their ideas for books, and they started drafting a book. I pushed them to add some structure—maybe a plot with a beginning, middle, and end, or for a non-fiction book, perhaps they could chronicle a year in the life of an animal. 

I also did an interview with the school podcast, and talked a little bit about the ecology of bats with the fifth graders who were making the bat boxes. Whew! 

Visit Three: April 2024

The final visit! I had been in touch with Alicia throughout the year, and she confirmed that the bat boxes were well on their way. 

She also sent me a few pieces of student writing to review ahead of time before meeting with a few students in pairs or individually. This was so fun! KSDS has some wonderful budding authors and it was great to hear their excitement. One of them even gave me a book that she had written and self published with her grandfather. Then, I had a quick meetup with some fifth graders. I talked about how I get ideas and shared my newest book, "Call Your Mother.” 

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Meeting with Students

After that, I got to see the second and third graders for the third time! They were familiar faces by now, though I admit I didn’t remember names as much as I had hoped to. We talked about revision, and I shared some of the revisions I had done on "Call Your Mother.” Then, it was time for them to revise their wildlife books and start transferring them to cardstock to be stapled into actual books. As we expected, we didn’t have enough time for all of the students to finish. Alicia will be helping students finish during their time in the library.

Last, it was time to install the bat boxes! Facility and maintenance employee Ray helped hang them alongside the community garden. We celebrated the installation with the fifth graders who built the bat box. A photographer from a local paper even came! (To be determined if the photo will run in the news, but thanks to my publicist at Sourcebooks for reaching out to local media!)

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Student with Bat Box

Of course, expect the unexpected with school visits—a parent expressed concern that children might end up accidentally handling bats in that spot, so the bat boxes will be moved to a more remote location soon. I’ll keep this in mind for future schools interested in a bat box.

By the end of the residency, I had gotten to know students and staff and felt like part of the KSDS community. I would love to do a yearlong residency with other schools! This was a really special experience. 

If you’re thinking about doing this with a school, here are some tips and lessons learned:

· Alicia Danyali, the school librarian, put in a ton of work to make this happen and to arrange the schedule so that students from as many grades as possible could participate. (Without making my head explode.) She came up with a plan, involved several stakeholders within the school, and did a huge amount of work wrangling schedules. I don’t think this residency would have been possible without Alicia’s hard work. 

· I would probably only try this if you have more than one book published. I’m not sure three visits would have made sense with only one book. It was great to have a different book to share for each visit. 

· Don’t try to cram too much into a day. I was grateful that along the way Alicia sent me a proposed schedule. As excited as I was to meet all the students…I did have to push back and say “let’s spend more time on fewer things,” which, in hindsight was a good call. We ended up fitting most of the schedule into the mornings, because that worked best with everything else going on at the school. I honestly don’t know how teachers manage their fully scheduled days. Sure, it’s partly that I’m meeting all new people in an all new place and trying to bring my max energy, but whew! Respect to teachers! 

· Expect the unexpected. We had a few hiccups along the way but were always able to make the best of them. On my end, whenever I plan a school visit, I block out the whole day on my husband’s schedule so that he knows he’s on the hook for watching our daughter if she can’t go to school. Good thing I did that—for my April visit, my kid’s school was closed due to a water main break. That was a fun email to get in the morning. Because my husband knew I would be unavailable that day, he could take off work without major issues. Funny enough, in the past I’ve also had to reschedule a school visit due to a water main break on their end! What is with these pipes?

I think that’s it! I am happy to answer questions in the comments about the visit and share any advice! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insights with us, Tracy! This sounds like such an excellent series of visits for all involved. And yes, props to the school librarian who was with you in this all the way! (And to ALL of the educators who give so much of themselves to young learners each and every day.)

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Tracy's books, including her latest, CALL YOUR MOTHER, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore. 

Photo Credit: Ruut DeMeo

Tracy C. Gold loves writing about families and nature. She is an author, freelance editor, and mom living in Baltimore, Maryland. Her published and forthcoming picture books include “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby,” “Call Your Mother,” “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and “Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat.” She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her kid or hanging out with horses and dogs. You can find out more about Tracy at tracycgold.com, by following her on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram at @tracycgold, or by liking her Facebook page. 

Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Birth Stories for Books: The Joy of Imperfect Love, by Carla Marie Manly, PHD

One of the big bonuses of being a children's book author is getting to know other members of the book-writing community and their books. As a result of my affiliation with Familius, the publisher of my next scheduled book, I've learned about THE JOY OF IMPERFECT LOVE: The Art of Creating Healthy, Securely Attached Relationships, by Carla Marie Manly, PHD (Familius, March 2024).

by Carla Marie Manly, PHD

I recently received an advanced reader copy of this book, and although I haven't finished reading it yet, I didn't want to wait any longer to share it with you. It's the kind of the book that's packed to the brim with valuable information that's meant to be read and re-read, contemplated and considered, pondered and practiced. 

A few days ago I was chatting with a different author friend of mine about some of the less pleasant aspects of the publishing industry, including some past experiences and interactions that have been hurtful and damaging to my tender heart. Dr. Manly's book, although more specifically directed at helping readers develop healthier loving relationships, is rooted in the importance of loving one's imperfect self. It's a perfect book to read and consider for those of us navigating the book-publishing world, and the imperfect path to publication. 

And with that, I will turn it over to Dr. Carla Marie Manly, for a different sort of Birth Stories for Books guest post. Instead of sharing with us how this particular book (Dr. Manly's fourth) came to be, Dr. Manly shares with us some of the key concepts in her book, helping each of us journey forward in love, as we bring our imperfect selves to the page day after day after day, in search of our own Birth Stories for Books. 

6 GEMS OF IMPERFECT LOVE

by Carla Marie Manly, PhD

Love—and life—are messy! In a world that focuses on perfection, the concept of imperfect love is the antidote our souls need.  Imperfect love allows us to grow and shift for the better by releasing unconscious programming from the past. As we become more self-aware, we can consciously release negative habits and embrace those that bring joy and lasting love. Unlike the myth of perfect, fairytale love, genuine love doesn’t “just happen”; it takes ongoing effort.  When we put our energy into loving well (if imperfectly), we foster the emotional connection we crave. 

As a clinical psychologist, I’ve found that our overall well-being is deeply affected by the love we experience.  If you are feeling stuck, I invite you to embrace a few of the core concepts of imperfect love to begin your journey into self-discovery, connection, and genuinely loving relationships. 

#1—LOVE IS LEARNED: If you didn’t experience unconditional—albeit imperfect—love as a child, healthy love may not be natural for you. We experience love through the love that was modeled for us. We first come to know love by being loved, then by learning to love in return. For better or worse, we are—unless we create a shift—the products of our formative love experiences.  If you find yourself getting stuck in blame or shame, use your energy to create positive change. 

#2—THE IMPERFECT SELF: Knowing and loving yourself from the inside is the key to imperfect love. Self-awareness fosters self-love; as you appreciate who you are as an individual, the pressure to conform evaporates. By embracing your individuality, your self-esteem blossoms. From this centered place of empowered self-awareness, your imperfect self feels seen and accepted. Allow yourself to practice honoring—rather than rejecting—your imperfections. 

#3—SELF-LOVE: Self-love isn’t a given; it is grown on a strong foundation of compassion and self-esteem. Self-love is an equalizer and is available to anyone who fosters positive acceptance and change. Your self-love will grow as you work to hone your strengths and shore up—and accept--your imperfections. Strive to spend a bit of time every day nonjudgmentally noticing thoughts that hold you back from loving yourself well. 

#4—LOVE EVOLVES:  As you embrace your imperfect self, you’ll discover that imperfect love is not a goal but an evolutionary journey that involves five gifts—your feelings, thoughts, mindsets, energy, and actions. As you intentionally use the imperfect interplay of these five gifts, you will feel more secure, aware, and empowered in all of your relationships.  Gently practice noticing and honoring your various emotions as they arise; give them space to be present without judgment. 

#5—FRIENDSHIP: Healthy relationships are built on the seven pillars of true friendship—investment, respect, honesty, kindness, compassion, wise acceptance, and shared vulnerabilities. When mutually fostered, these pillars create profound trust and safety. Healthy relationships don’t expect perfection; they ask for conscientious, devoted efforts that create imperfect, authentic love.  Pause to notice the people in your life who consistently offer the seven pillars of true friendship.  

#6—COMMUNICATION: We experience the bonding power of listening and being heard when we dismantle our defenses and dive into heartfelt, connective communication. And by using the art of healthy conflict, we experience bonding growth. We become more attuned to ourselves and others as we strengthen our communication and conflict resolution skills. In this intentional space, fear recedes as joyful, imperfect love expands.  Allow yourself to notice your helpful and unhelpful communication patterns with various people; embrace the patterns that feel connective to you.

As we discover and embrace the secrets to healthy love for ourselves and others, our lives begin to change.  The journey of imperfect love allows you to find—and embrace—the healthy love you crave and deserve.  There is no better time than now to bring healthy, genuine love into your world. 

The concepts in this article are based on Dr. Carla Marie Manly’s fourth book, The Joy of Imperfect Love. 

Dr. Carla Marie Manly—clinical psychologist, Imperfect Love podcaster, and author—is based in Sonoma County, California. In addition to her clinical practice focusing on relationships and personal transformation, Dr. Manly is deeply invested in her roles as a consultant and speaker. With a refreshingly direct and honest approach—plus a dose of humor—Dr. Manly enjoys supporting others in the ever-evolving journey of life.  Her novel self-development paradigm builds resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem. Highlighting the importance of loving connection, her work also focuses on helping others create deeply connected and satisfying intimate relationships. Working from a transformative model that honors the body-mind-spirit connection, Dr. Manly offers holistic relationship and wellness seminars around the world.  Her four captivating books, The Joy of Imperfect Love, Date Smart, Joy from Fear, and Aging Joyfully highlight Dr. Manly’s empowering approach and profound expertise.  Dr. Manly’s expertise is also regularly cited in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Forbes, Oprah, Newsweek, NBC, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, Psychology Today, Parade, GQ, Women’s Health, Architectural Digest, Men’s Health, and more.  

Thanks so much for sharing THE JOY OF IMPERFECT LOVE with us, Dr. Manly! 

Readers, the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Dr. Carla Marie Manly's books, such as THE JOY OF IMPERFECT LOVE, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including bookshop, your own local, indie bookstore, and directly from Familius. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is an award-winning author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Have Swag Will Travel: COW SAYS MEOW and other titles by Kirsti Call

Hi friends. Today, I'm pleased to share an interview with author Kirsti Call, whose darling book, Cow Says Meow, (illustrated by Brandon James Scott, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) launches into the world on March 16, 2021. 

Kirsti was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her book event plans and experiences.  This is Kirsti's second book launch during the pandemic, and third launch overall, so she has lots of experiences to share with us. 

Let's get to it!

Dawn Prochovnic: Thank you for stopping by the blog to share some of your event-related experiences and ideas, Kirsti. 

If I understand correctly, your first book, The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall, (illustrated by Lisa M. Griffin, Mazo Publishers) came out prior to the pandemic and your second book, Mootilda’s Bad Mood, (co-authored with Corey Rosen Schwartz, illustrated by Claudia Ranucci (Little Bee) launched during the pandemic. 

This year you’ll be launching two new books: Cow Says Meow (illustrated by Brandon James Scott, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and Cold Turkey (Little Brown). Reflecting on the book events you have facilitated in the past and have planned for the future, both traditional, and remote, are there any elements/activities that stand out that the kids (and/or their teachers/ parents/caregivers) have enjoyed the most? 

Kirsti Call: My in person book launch for The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall was incredibly fun.  We sang songs, read the book, ate cake and I signed books! 

The kids loved the interactive STORY IN A BOX activity. 

But for Mootilda’s Bad Mood, we had a virtual book launch where we sang songs, read the book, and offered signed books with stickers! 

My 10 year old son played the part of Mootilda the puppet--and the puppet was a big hit. 

DP: That sounds like a marvelous time. I especially love the bookplates and stickers! 

KC: I’ve got more tricks up my sleeve for my Cow Says Meow book launch where illustrator, Brandon James Scott, is joining me, on Tuesday March 16, at 7pm EST at Unlikely Story. 

The wonderful  thing about virtual book launches is my ability to have the illustrator with me, although he lives in Canada.  It also broadens my audience. Instead of people who live in my area coming to the launch, a virtual book launch includes my family from across the country, and people from all over the world. 

DP: Yay for silver linings! 

Are there any resources you relied upon to plan your event(s) that might help others plan their own book launch events, particularly during these unique times? 

KC: COVID not only opens up who can attend a book event, but also who hosts them. You can host a virtual event from anywhere.  I’ve taken several classes from The Writing Barn, so my MOOTILDA book launch was hosted by them in Texas as I participated from my home in the Boston area. The possibilities for book events are endless! 

DP: Nice job thinking outside of the box (ahem, barn), and what a great photo. I love how you went all in on the cow theme! You've given me some great ideas for my own remote launch in April. 

Shifting gears a bit, you co-host a picture-book related podcast along with Kim Chaffee. What do you currently enjoy most about it? 

KC: We interview authors and illustrators and their editors. We sometimes have the privilege of talking to the book designer or art director also. Sometimes our zoom interview is the first time the author and illustrator has ever seen each other. Bringing the creative team together is a privilege--and I adore talking about how each book comes to life!

DP: That sounds as if it's as much fun to create and participate in as it is to listen to! 

In addition to your podcast, you are involved in MANY kidlit-related “extras,” including co-coordinating ReFoReMo, participating as a "12x12 elf," blogging for Writer’s Rumpus, and judging for the CYBILS award. How do you balance your time between your own creative work and these extra endeavors? 

KC: I’ve always loved being super involved and I truly believe I learned to juggle it all because I have five children. When I have an open 10 minutes here or there, I take advantage of it!  I’ve become super efficient with the time I do have to devote to writing and volunteer activities within the kidlit community.  And I always schedule time for writing, family,  and self care. Sticking to my schedule helps me balance my life in a way that works well for me.  

DP: What a beautiful family! (And folks, let Kirsti be an inspiration to us all as we balance our creative work alongside the other roles and responsibilities in our lives.)

I’ve noticed we share an interest in incorporating songs and music into our book-related activities. I’d love to hear more about how the song for Mootilda came to be, and if there are any songs in the works for Cow Says Meow and/or Cold Turkey? 

KC: My 15 year old daughter, Sydney, writes incredible music. I asked her to write me a song for MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD and I loved it so much we’re doing a song for each of my books. The song for COW SAYS MEOW will debut at our book launch.  

DP: I look forward to it! 

Do you have any new projects coming up that you’d like to put on the radar? and/or is there something you wished I would have asked you that you haven’t had the opportunity to share? 

KC: My first board book is coming out in the summer of 2022!  And I just transitioned from being a marriage and family therapist, to coaching creatives!  I’m super excited about my GET YOURSELF UNSTUCK program! 

DP: That sounds like an exciting new venture, Kirsti. I wish you continued success. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with us. 

Friends, the best way to express your thanks to Kirsti is to add one or more of her books to your collection. They are available everywhere books are sold, but you know I'm partial to indies. 

And, if you'd like to win a copy of COW SAYS MEOW, follow both Dawn and Kirsti on Twitter (@DawnProchovnic and @KirstiCall) and reply to one of our tweets with the blog post, tagging a friend before 11:59 ET on March 22, 2021 (US Addresses only.)

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Kirsti Call co-hosts the PICTURE BOOK LOOK podcast and co-runs ReFoReMo. She's a critique ninja and elf for 12x12, a blogger for Writers' Rumpus, and a Rate Your Story judge. She's judged the CYBILS award for fiction picture books since 2015. Kirsti is a therapist trained life coach for creatives. Her picture book, MOOTILDA'S BAD MOOD (Little Bee) released last fall. COW SAYS MEOW (HMH) and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) release in 2021. Kirsti is represented by Emma Sector at Prospect Agency. 

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Have Swag, Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms (Spring '21), Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. 

Have Swag Will Travel: CHICKEN BREAK! A Counting Book, by Cate Berry

I'm so EGGcited about today's guest post with Cate Berry, author of two hilarious picture books. Today we'll focus on Cate's latest release CHICKEN BREAK! A Counting Book (illustrated by Charlotte Alder, Feiwel & Friends/MacMillan, 2019). Cate's post will crack you up AND bring you a dozen or so unique promotional ideas.

Take it away, Cate:

Have Swag, Will Travel
by Cate Berry

Bawk Squawk!

Thanks so much for having me, Dawn, on your fab kidlit blog! I launched my debut picture book last year, Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime! [Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins] illustrated by Charles Santoso. It was a wild and crazy and packed year. I learned so much which is why I wanted to chat today about some grassroots marketing ideas I took out for a spin with my second book, Chicken Break! A Counting Book [Feiwel & Friends/MacMillan] which just released October 29, 2019.

But first! People always ask me about how I get my ideas. And Chicken Break had an especially fun backstory.

I usually make up absurd, imaginary stories but this little nugget was ripped from the headlines of my real life!

Our family ordered baby chicks from mypetchicken.com and they provided gleeful entertainment for many months— until they grew up. Our chickens wanted to live inside the house with us! They would line up and watch TV through the window on our back door! This really made me fall in love with chickens and their hilarious personalities.

Our neighbor had politely asked us not to let the chickens near her beautiful yard until one day, they escaped. I drove up and they had de-headed her freshly planted begonias and dug a three-foot hole in her mulch. Needless-to-say it looked like a Chicken Spa Day. That night a rerun of Ocean’s 11 was showing and—voila!—the whole things blended into a picture book.

Now that you know how this whole book was hatched, let’s talk about marketing. Or in my case, how to not think about marketing but rather, have fun…

I decided this time around I wanted to celebrate my book release in connection as much as possible. I spend a lot of time alone, writing. When I launched this book, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to build community, and yes, have fun!

My publisher was wonderful with getting me into events and conferences. But I don’t think that’s enough these days. I didn’t have any illusions that I, personally, could move the needle very far regarding sales, but I could widen my audience and develop deeper relationships with book sellers, schools and libraries. That’s what matters to me the most anyway: connection (See above! It’s my theme!).

So I invited several writer friends over, that lived near me, for wine and cheese. And Team Bock Bock was born. We had a lot of fun brainstorming outside-the-box, grassroots marketing ideas. For example, we came up with the idea of #CoopTroop, where I asked other authors with chicken-related books to band together and bond with our books. Another great idea that surfaced was making a Chicken Carpool Karaoke video. We had lots of ideas, some I’ll be rolling out over the next few months. Team Bock Bock was also particularly helpful in narrowing down my focus. You can’t do everything. And friends help other friends prioritize.

Now about that video…

I’m a huge James Corden fan. When we thought of Chicken Carpool Karaoke, I really worked hard to make that a reality. I hired Diem Korsgaard to film and edit the video. She mounted several cameras to our windshield for close up action shots. A Team Bock Bock member had a friend who volunteered her chickens. As the filming day approached, I’ll admit I was nervous. The reality of all that chicken poop in my van, the thought of them going crazy inside the vehicle while I was driving, the sheer mayhem of it all, had everyone on edge. I know my husband, who played ukulele in the video, was sweating it. But amazingly, they were very chill! And there was hardly any poop.

I will say, we had some hilarious out takes getting the chickens out of the car. Perhaps I’ll post those one day.

They really wanted to break out for a spin!

Another thing I did this time around was to host a Pub Day Party.

I invited friends and family over for an open house on the actual publication date, Oct. 29, 2019. It was an all-day affair from 8 AM until 6 PM. I wanted a slow steady stream of guests, so I’d have time to sit down and really talk with people. And thank them for all their support.

Sometimes your release date can come and go and it feels a little anti-climactic. But this was very special, having people drop by all day long and celebrate in a very real way.

I also set up a Review Table. Friends and family could log onto Amazon, Goodreads, Indiebound and other retailers offering customer reviews, and leave a quick review for the book, right there! As we all know, reviews are so important for a book, especially during the first week of sales. It was a fun way to connect with folks, especially those who wanted to buy but couldn’t make the official launch at Book People.

Oh! And my kids took initiative and wrote several “ready-made” reviews which we cut up and put in a jar in case anyone got stuck composing a review on the spot. Most of them were silly but it added to the fun.

Some sites did block a few reviews (they are very particular about who they verify!) but that didn’t matter. The spirit of the idea made the day a success.

And then came… #CoopTroop.

I reached out to several women authors (I love funny female authors!) who released chicken books this year (2019). Everyone was game to join forces, boost our books and shake a tail feather on social media.

#CoopTroup consists of Tammi Sauer (Tammi Bawk Bawk), Martha Brockenbrough (Party Fowl) and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (Her Egg-cellency) and myself (Hen Solo).

Watch for giveaways, chicken boost and general fowl play on social media. I’m hoping we’re all at a conference soon so the whole coop can peck and play together—in costume!

So how has all this been received?

So far, so good! I’m getting quite a few requests for school visits already, as well as speaking engagements, and I’m on several panels at Texas Library Association conference in March. I also just found out that Chicken Break is listed on the NBC (Today Show) Today.com Holiday Gift Guide website!

I guess this second book really did feel different release than my debut book, Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime! that pubbed in 2018.

Debut years are crazy. I’ve yet to meet anyone who thinks otherwise. You don’t know anything, you’re worried, you’re excited, you’re a mess.

I made a point to do as much as I could to promote my debut. I didn’t want to feel any regrets the following year. I can honestly say I’m very proud of my accomplishments. I did in-store signings locally, statewide and in bigger cities out of state. I rocked a lot of school visits. I made a promo video with Harper Collins. I presented at the Texas Book Festival and other conferences. I was on faculty for the Austin SCBWI annual conference.

I also think I ran the risk of burnout and overspending (I confess to both of these). I think the thing I’d love to share with other debuts is that mistakes are unavoidable. How can you know what you don’t know? Don’t try and be perfect, try and connect.

Books come and go but the people you meet: booksellers, authors, librarians, teachers are a delight. Don’t forget to enjoy your book with others. Let others help and thank them for their support.

Also keep an open mind. I never dreamed I’d find a deep love for teaching, both online and privately. My book gave me this opportunity, along with finishing my MFA in Children’s Writing, and I’m forever grateful for this unexpected love affair with my students and their work.

Writing, marketing, teaching and promoting is challenging. But the small moments, especially sharing your book with kids, is worth everything.

Just keep going.

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There are so many EGGcellent ideas in this post, Cate (and I can't believe how scrumptious those launch coop-cakes look!) Congratulations on your latest book, and thank you for sharing your "bag of chicks" with us! I especially love the idea of hosting an all-day open house on Pub Day, including a Review Table. I will definitely incorporate something similar for my next launch, which is about 18 months out. I also agree that the best part of this business is the people you meet along the way. I'm so grateful we've had the opportunity to connect through our mutual affection for humorous kids books. Thanks again for stopping by!

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Cate Berry is the author of Penguin and Tiny Shrimp Don't Do Bedtime! (Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins) illustrated by Charles Santoso. It was pinned a Junior Library Guild selection and Publisher’s Weekly called it, "A buoyantly subversive anti-bedtime book.” Her second book, Chicken Break! A Counting Book (Feiwel & Friends/MacMillan) illustrated by Charlotte Adler was praised by School Library Journal as, “Full of wordplay and an extra dose of cuteness, this is a definite first purchase for all children’s collections.” Cate holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She teaches private students as well as classes at the Writing Barn in Austin, Texas. She was a featured author at the Texas Book Festival, West Texas Book Fest, Austin SCBWI Conference (faculty) and the Literacy Library Round-up (Victoria). She speaks at schools, libraries, book stores and conferences year-round. Visit her at www.cateberry.com to learn more.

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Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to Oregon Reads Aloud and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.