Alku Chronicle - December 2024
I truly can’t believe it’s nearly 2025. Where did 2024 go?
Well, this November was rough in my house. Hubs broke a foot, we had a bomb cyclone in Washington state, we lost power for a week, and many, many other not-so-good situations arose, but December will be better!
First up, we’ll cover the remaining events in December that Alku is participating in. Then, I want to highlight a few sales, authors, and books that Alku’s readers/residents may be interested in. Lastly, I want to talk about some of the new items in the Alku gift shop.
December is for small businesses and giving!
There are quite a few events, giveaways, and sales that I’m participating in this season, and while I had plans for a different marketing strategy, November destroyed those plans. So, instead, I ask for your grace in my haphazard marketing strategy and silly reels.
Site-wide sale:
Nov 22nd - Dec 13th everything in my shop will be discounted somehow with no codes needed. Visit the shop before the deals are gone!December Dash:
Dec 2nd - 7th, the incredible folks at StuffwithFantasy.com are hosting a virtual shopping experiment with over 75 different authors selling books, bundles, and special editions.Christmas Giveaway 2024:
One of the loveliest readers on Instagram is hosting a giveaway this season. The giveaway ends on December 10th at 12pm CST. I am providing a signed copy of Keeper’s Reign and some extra goodies to the winner.One winner will receive a MEGA prize of:
14 paperbacks (13 of them are signed).
7 authors are also sending swag (book goodies such as stickers and bookmarks)
2 new audiobooks narrated by Lisa Lynn
☆All books are no-spice☆
r/fantasy Mary Cariola Center Charity Sale:
Dec 26th - 27th, the yearly event hosted by r/Fantasy will be happening again. Keeper’s Reign will be .99$ for the full 48 hours, along with many, many others. For each book sold, I will donate $10 + $0.02 per book. I don’t have a link to provide yet, but I’ll provide folks with one as soon as I do.
A note about shipping:
As always, shipping is complicated, so please don’t stress if you see a higher cost. You’re welcome to email me or private message me on social media if you’re concerned, but when each sale goes through, I evaluate what “estimate” was made for your order. There’s a large possibility I will refund at least a few dollars of the charge. In very rare cases (once), I have not refunded because the estimate was actually too low, but I will never ask you to pay more. Consider that a small gift from me and an apology for my silly system.
For those outside the US, I am happy to ship to you, but my shop’s shipping is not set up for each individual country. Send me a message about what you're interested in via my contact form, and I’ll calculate an estimate custom for you. As I sell more in other countries, I’ll add those countries’ shipping estimates into my system to make it easier for you.
Uplifting Others - Author Spotlights!
There are TONS of amazing and supportive authors out there, and below are a few I’ve found that I think folks will enjoy. Make sure to follow the links and check their individual magic out!
The Bakery on the Cove by Eliza Ester
Can two wounded souls find love on the gorgeous shores of Maine?
With a heartwarming story and a small town setting on the beautiful beaches and hills of Maine, The Bakery on the Cove is a feel-good read that’s perfect for fans of later in life love and sweet contemporary romance.
Winter Celebrations Fantasy Promo
Check out this list of winter and/or holiday-themed books, all priced at $2.99 or below until January 9th, 2025.
A sampling of titles in the promo include Fae of the Hazel Woods by Layla K Wood, Mists in Time by Elizabeth Klein, Broken Angel by Alex Apostol, Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski, and Ashes: An Epic Sword & Sorcery Novel by Paul J Bennett.
Epic Sci-Fi & Fantasy Promotion
If you’re looking for a new book this season, visit this promotion page to browse over 50 books. Promo runs through January 15, 2024.
A sampling of titles in the promo include One King, One Rule by Jay A Toney, Resthaven by Colin Darney, Fragments by J. A. Webb, Ariel's Tear (Tales of Rehavan, Book 1) by Justin Rose, and The Ascent by A.G.ZoderoT.
New Merch ALERT!
There’s NEW stuff in the shop this month, and I am SO PROUD about what we’ve added.
Firstly, we have SPRAYED EDGES! You heard me right, there are three versions: solid, stenciled, and hand-painted. They are all made-to-order currently, but I will try to make a set of each in the future to have one hand. Until then, please be aware that there is a shipping lag to account for the artwork needing to be completed.
I’ve also added two new bookish designs, though not Alku-specific. I have a few more planned, so watch for those.
Lastly, let’s talk bookish boxes, bundles, and mystery pulls. I’ve created a few “date with a book” sets, some with my books and some without them, which just have the extra goodies. There are also new mystery listings that are a random chance for a range of items, including deluxe pulls that are of higher value and even more amazing.
As always, I want to thank all of you for your support and kindness this holiday season. 2024 has been a crazy ride for me, but this journey is only beginning. There’s quite a bit more to come, and I can’t wait to share what’s next for those in and out of Alku in the coming year.
Happy holidays and happy reading!
E
