Marketing Your Books With Bookplates
by Rita Gerlach

Years ago in my parents’ house, we pulled out a box of old books from under the dusty stairwell in the basement. Those books had been there as long as I can remember. The box seemed as old as the books, all yellowed and stiff with age. Within it were old hardbacks, bound in beautiful covers that had been handed down from my grandfather. One book in particular caught my eye, and my father gave it to me. I think I would have taken it anyway and saved it from going to the Goodwill store.

Battle for The Union was published in 1892. It now sits in my bookcase, bound in a leather cover of jewel-cut colorful designs. I placed a bookplate inside, signed it, dated it, and added it had been my grandfather’s book. Another book my dad gave me was Kidnapped. The book is so old there is no copyright date and the paper looks hand cut, for the edges are rough and uneven. The printing gives away its age. It looks strange to me, blurred a little in places, and on some pages not very straight.

Many of the books had bookplates in inside. Bookplates were once very popular. Not anymore, so it seems according to the bookstores. I am leading up to a marking tip with this. So, bear with me.

I went on my search for bookplates beginning at the most logical of all places BOOKSTORES. Do you know, I could not find a single box of bookplates in any bookstore in town? It is true. I was in Borders and asked the clerk behind the counter if they had any.

“Bookplates?” she said, her _expression askew.

“Yes, you know, bookplates.” I made a little gesture with my hand outlining a square.

“What are those?”

I couldn’t believe my ears that someone working in a bookstore did not know what a bookplate was. Her reaction made me feel old at that point. I am not really old, but I felt ‘out of touch’ with the current generation. Was the generation raised with bookplates past it? And how sad that the current generation does not know what a bookplate is.

I went on to tell the clerk, “Bookplates are square stickers that you place inside a book that usually say this book belongs to or from the library of. You sign your name on it and date it.”

Again, she gave me a quizzical smile and cocked her head to one side. “No, we don’t have anything like that.”

I thanked her, feeling quizzical myself, and paid for the book I needed.

So, what is an author to do with bookplates and how do you find these illusive little stickers?

1. Down below you will find some links for bookplates you can purchase online. I have looked at these sites and determined their product looks very good. You can also make your own bookplates by using Avery 3383 Sticker project paper. You get fifteen sticker sheets. Look at the sample bookplates on the sites I listed, then create your own.

I especially like the old fashioned black and white images for bookplates. So, I searched online for some free clip art and made my bookplates with those. Just find the clip art that fits your personality and the genre of your book.

2. Have something on your website about giving readers a free bookplate with your signature on it. Some readers might have bought your book in a bookstore and would love to have your signature to place inside the cover. I noticed several authors offer bookplates on their websites to fans.

3. Say you have a book signing and run out of books. Offer readers an order form, bookmarker, and a signed bookplate.

4. Take them along with you to book fairs and signings, conventions and workshops.

http://www.bookplateink.com/
Better prices, 50 for $45 on up. Self-adhesive backs.

http://www.bookplates.com/
250 for $90

Copyright 2004 Rita Gerlach. All Rights Reserved.

Rita Gerlach is the author of the five-star novel, The Rebel’s Pledge. She has just released two new historical novels, Thorns In Eden and its sequel The Everlasting Mountains. The books are receiving rave reviews, and been compared to Gone With the Wind. Her books are in a series titled The Patriot Series, novels of raw courage and idea love. She is the editor of Stepping Stones, a monthly newsletter for authors, and has had articles published about writing and marketing. Rita currently is hard at work on a fourth novel that takes place in post-Revolutionary War Maryland and England. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons.  Agents, publishers, writers, and fans, can reach Rita via email at: rpkg@erols.com 
Rita’s websites: http://users.starpower.net/rpkg/index.htm
http://gerlach.ineedabook.net/