A bookmark is a thin marking tool, commonly made of card, leather, or fabric, used to keep track of a reader’s progress in a book and allow the reader to easily return to where the previous reading session ended. Alternate materials for bookmarks are paper, metals like silver and brass, silk, wood, cord (sewing), and plastic. Some books may have one or more bookmarks made of woven ribbon sewn into the binding. (Wikipedia)
Do you like bookmarks? I do. As you can see, I have a variety and trust me, it wasn’t easy to get them spread out to show them without dropping them all. These are just some of the ones my publishers have made for me to let readers know about my books. Generally the bookmarks have a picture of the cover with one or two sentences to try to entice a reader to want to find out more about the story. It also generally has an endorsement like the book mark for Angel Sister that I was blessed to have Lauraine Snelling call a “jewel of a story.”
The Refuge, my most recent Shaker book, has the cover pictured and this line to try to pull readers into the story. “An emotional exploration of the power of love and the bond of family” I like the line on the bookmark for my Hidden Springs mysteries. “Cozy up to Hidden Springs where things are sweet, sentimental–and a little sinister.” The Gifted bookmark features a close-up of my blonde Jessamine and this snippet. “Jessamine Brady loves her Shaker sisters and brothers, but can’t stop imagining life and love in the outside world.” The bookmark for my recent release features the beautiful cover along with a couple of endorsements from writers Suzanne Woods Fisher and Susie Finkbeiner.
I love how eye-catching these bookmarks are, and while most any scrap of paper can serve the purpose of marking one’s place in a book, readers do enjoy having something attractive to stick in their books. And that’s been true forever since bookmarks have been around since the first books was published. The earliest known existing bookmark, found among the ruins of a monastery in Egypt, is said to be from the 6th century AD.
Bookmarks make an appearance in my book about the packhorse libraries, Along a Storied Trail. The librarians worked hard to keep the books they carried out to readers in good shape. So they didn’t want readers to dogear the pages to mark their place. To try to keep that from happening, the book women made bookmarks out of old greeting cards to give out to their readers. I show my fictional book women making some of those bookmarks on one of their weekly work days at their library location.
In the newsletter I sent out recently, I offered to send bookmarks out to whoever requested them. The requests came pouring in from readers all over the country. Some just wanted a few for themselves. Others wanted to share with friends. Still others were part of book clubs or Bible study groups and wanted to pass some bookmarks out to the other members. Then, some offered to take some bookmarks to their libraries for other readers to use to mark their places in whatever books they might be reading. A couple of people had those cute little libraries, the boxes you sometimes see along a street with books for the taking and they were going to stick some of my bookmarks in with the books. Love that.
So far I’ve sent out, or will send out, bookmarks to twenty-three different states and to Canada. Pennsylvania and New York tied with the most readers asking for bookmarks, but I enjoyed hearing from many states from California to Florida to Wisconsin to Oregon and on and on. I felt something like a kid in a car playing that game to see if I could see a license plate from every state. But one thing was the same. They were all readers who love books.
I packaged up around half the requests and headed toward the post office. The clerk looked a little panicked when I placed all the envelopes on her counter. I’ve about got the rest of the requests packed up to go off tomorrow. The clerk from yesterday may go in the back room and hide if she sees me coming. I did give her a bookmark when she was obviously curious about what I was mailing. She didn’t ask, but when I told her I was sending out bookmarks because I was a writer, she said she’d never met an author before. I feel as though maybe she had, but just didn’t know it. We don’t wear name tags around town. Just at book events.
That reminds me. I’m getting to go to a book event Saturday at the Fleming County Library in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. We’ll be masked up but it will be fun to talk books.
And I’ll have my books there along with some of those free for the taking bookmarks. A fellow writer once told me I was a champion at giving away bookmarks, but not such a hot salesperson when it came to selling books. Oh well, I do have all these beautiful bookmarks to share.
Do you have a favorite bookmark you use when you’re reading or do you just grab whatever is handy?
Comments 20
Hello Ann,
Am I too late to get in on the bookmarks? I would be grateful for a few, if you have any left.
Thank you for these. How are these sent? Do you need an address?
Mary Clare
Author
I’d be glad to send you some bookmarks. I’ll personal message you, Mary Clare, for details, so check your e-mails.
I like to use a bookmark by the author that wrote the book that I’m reading if I’m lucky enough to get one. If I don’t have one by that author I will use other bookmarks that are handy.
Author
It is fun to use a like bookmark while you’re reading. I hope you’ve been able to do that with some of my books, Connie. I hope to be at a book fair tomorrow where I can match up some bookmarks with books that readers might buy. Or if they just want a bookmark, I’ll be glad for them to take one of those away with them too. The best part is getting to talk to readers, even if we have to wear masks.
Love your bookmarks. I would love one for Along a Storied Trail.
Author
Thanks for responding so quickly to my e-mail. I’ll get a few bookmarks in the mail to you right away.
I love bookmarks and have quite a collection. I had to box some up and take duplicates to the library. I like to have matching bookmarks for my books. I get them from my favorite authors like YOU!
If I don’t have one to match my book, I have a couple that are harder plastic but shimmer. They have a butterfly and a geometric pattern on them and a ruler on the back.
Author
The shimmering bookmarks sound pretty, Paula. It’s neat that you can often match the bookmark to the book you’re reading. I generally have matching bookmarks when I’m at a book fair or when I send out a book to someone. But I’ve run out of bookmarks that match some of my older books. Those generally get the newest books bookmark although I have the most of my book Words Spoken True since I did a special publicity thing with that book and got a double amount of bookmarks.
And you made me smile when you called me one of your favorite authors. I so appreciate that.
I use book marks from you or pick up a bookmark at the library.I am glad to get new ones as my bookmarks are getting a little dog-eared themselves.
My husband on the other hand uses envelopes, receipts, anything he finds handy.
Author
Maybe I should send your husband some bookmarks, Lisa. 🙂 But I can’t talk about him. I’ve been known to do the same. Not often receipts, but envelopes are a favorite and me with hundreds of bookmarks right at hand. Sigh. I hope you have gotten your new bookmarks now and will enjoy them.
In addition to treasuring bookmarks from authors of books I read, I also buy bookmarks in the bookstores at cathedrals and museums I visit. So, as an inexpensive souvenir, I buy a bookmark of a famous place like the Eiffel Tower or Sacre Coeur Cathedral or of a famous painting or sculpture or scene from a city I’ve visited. If I buy multiples of these bookmarks, I can give a little souvenir of my trip to a friend or relative. Bookmarks are light weight and fit nicely in a suitcase. Sharing bookmarks of books I’ve enjoyed encourages others to read those books too.
Author
Love how you buy or pick up bookmarks to help you remember a time or place, Suzanne. A lovely idea and an easy to carry home souvenir for sure. That’s always a great way to recommend a book to a fellow reader because sometimes, at least for me, if I don’t write down the title or even better have a bookmark, I can’t always remember what the book was when I start looking for it to read.
I have stacks of bookmarks. I pick them up every chance I get in bookstores and libraries. Making bookmarks is a great craft with the kids too, where they can use their imagination. And I love collecting bookmarks from authors at the KY Book Fair every year. It’s a great way to keep track of books I want to read. But my favorite one is a gift I received a few years ago….it’s purple leather (my favorite color) and has the scripture from Jeremiah 29:11 stamped into it. I usually have more than one book in progress at any given time, so my 2nd book has a River to Redemption bookmark in it. And my Bibles have an assortment of other bookmarks or ribbons to mark favorite places.
I’ve never given much thought to the history of bookmarks….just one of those little things I take for granted. Thanks for sharing. And I hope to see you at the Book fair this year!
Author
How neat that you use one of my bookmarks for one of the books you have underway. I have books marked with various and sundry things all over the place. You’d think I’d keep a stack of bookmarks available. But I bookmarks things I might share on Facebook, jokes or Shaker info. I’m always marking something or other when I’m doing research. Then there are the books I’m reading for fun. I tend to pick up bookmarks at book fairs about books I’m interested in too. I’m hoping to get to do that at the Book Fair this year.
I have bookmarks in every room just in case I need one to mark my place. I buy them, pick them up in libraries, bookstores and receive them from family and friends. I love to buy them and place in birthday cards, Easter cards and etc. Especially to avid readers I send bookmarks. All grandchildren receive books with bookmarks to teach them not to turn down page corners in their books.
Yah! another bookmark lover.
Ruby
Author
Love a grandmama who gives her grandchildren books. Ruby. I’ve been giving mine a book every year for Christmas since they were born. I’m sure I’ve wasted some money on those who aren’t crazy about reading, but a grandmother can hope. 🙂 And I’ve helped out some authors by buying a few books. So neat that you put bookmarks in the cards you send out. My card envelopes are never long enough to send them without bending them, but I have done that too. Sounds as though you know how to keep a bookmark handy.
I have a bunch. Special ones from my daughter, that loves and collects them. Some from the library and some from authors. And yes, at times just whatever scrap paper I have handy 😁
Author
You sound like me, Lisa. I have oodles of bookmarks, both those of my own books and others I’ve picked up along the way, and sometimes I grab whatever envelope or scrap of paper is handy.
One of my favorite bookmarks shows a sloth reclining on a branch saying “I like to party…..and by ‘party’ I mean take naps and read” – if that doesn’t sum up my feeling, I don’t know what does! Another favorite says “I have a sleep disorder. It’s called reading in bed.” Do you get the impression that I either read too much, or sleep too much? Could be!
Author
Those sound very cute, Patricia. I’m not sure how much you’re sleeping though if you’re reading in bed. You might keep turning pages all night long.