Welcome to today’s issue of Musings! It’s been a hectic few weeks so I appreciate your patience in awaiting this latest letter. Here’s what has been happening lately:
The Bookish Historian’s new branding!
Merch and goodies, did you say?
The future of MBH
Current reads
So, let’s get to it!
Wait, You’ve Got New Branding?
Yes, indeed! If you haven’t noticed, this Substack has some new branding. In a whirlwind of both money well-spent and money not-so-well-spent, I hired a couple of freelancers to do some updated branding for me. I hired one lady to do a new logo and a branding kit, and oy vey (as Midwesterners are fond of exhaling), it was a waste. Delayed timelines and no explanation for them really dampened my enthusiasm for her work. It’s…fine, but not worth the money I spent. That being said, hopefully I will repurpose some of her branding to suit my new logo. Which leads me to this:
Given my frustration, I decided to hire someone else to design a couple of elements for me. I then planned to update my logo myself in Canva. So what happened instead?
Not only did she hand-draw the requested elements, she explained her design process AND put together the new logo for me. Amy (as she is so coincidentally named!) went above and beyond and comes highly recommended. You can find her at Velvet Crab Visuals and on Upwork.
The Merch-ant of Pennsylvania
(Please don’t unsubscribe due to my terrible puns!)
To coincide with The Bookish Historian’s new branding, I’m also in the process of setting up a shop where you will be able to purchase TBH merch and reading accessories (and more!). The hard part has been sourcing high-quality and unique products that I feel good about selling. But thus far, I’ve succeeded!
And, to that end, here’s my official announcement:
When sourcing products, I’ve tried to purchase from stores that are any of the following:
Locally-owned
Minority-owned, women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, etc.
Small/independent shop
Gives back
I’m not saying I will get it right 100% of the time, but I want to support my fellow business owners as much as possible through sites like Etsy and Faire.
Additionally, I plan to donate a portion of proceeds each month to organizations dedicated to literacy, history/culture, arts, mental health, the environment, and others for the betterment of our planet and humanity. Giving back is important to me, and I want The Bookish Historian to reflect that.
In terms of products themselves, here’s a sampling of what I’m planning to add in the coming days:
Like candles? These incredible lemon verbena-scented candles come from Cork & Candles located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, right in my neck of the woods. Kenny and his team offer courses on creating custom candles, different events, and gatherings for friends and families of all ages!
Another product I’m excited to see are some beer can glasses from the Susquehanna Glass Company (another locally-owned company near me). These will feature the TBH logo etched right into the glass. I should have these in the next couple of weeks!
Other products I’m currently sampling are:
Bookmarks and stickers from NTSD Gaming and Bookish Goods, a women-owned and Latino-owned company
Stickers from BootsTees, a woman-owned art and design company based out of Williamsport, PA
As you can see, I’ve got all sorts of wheels in motion. I hope you’ll stick along for the ride!
Wait, No More Musings?! Not Quite!
One thing I enjoy about Substack is that it allows writers complete freedom in doing what they do. They offer new and exciting things such as Notes and Chat to keep readers and subscribers engaged. And that’s why I have no plans to stop!
I will, however, most likely adjust the cadence of posts as well as the content. I still plan to include history factoids, bookish things, and more. But the format might change slightly to keep things focused and consistent. I appreciate your patience as I work on improving the reader experience! :)
Current Reads & Book Reviews
Here’s what I am currently reading/reviewing:
Not Pink by Margaret Kasimatis | Independently published | 2018 | 252 pages | physical review copy | synopsis: Mary Therese Panos, or “Mae” as she’s known, lives a troubled existence. As a young child, her uncle ships her off to boarding school at St. Mary’s. With no savior in sight, despite her desperate wishes, Mae turns to drugs and a stone-skinned demeanor to cope. Her daughter Kristy shines as the only light in her life. As she spirals, Mae must confront her demons to overcome her past and break the cycle of destructive coping mechanisms to be a better mother for Kristy.
Pericles & Aspasia by Yvonne Korshak | Caryatid Imprint | 2023 | 557 pages | physical review copy | review on Goodreads - full review coming | An absolute wonder of a book. Pericles and Aspasia" offers readers a chance to delve into Greek history during the so-called "Golden Age of Athens". Breathtaking in execution, exquisite in detail, realistic in interpretation, Pericles and Aspasia tells the story of the statesman and general Pericles and his lover Aspasia, a hetaira and the daughter of an intellectual.
I’ve more coming shortly, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts!
Again, thank you for reading this issue today, and I’m excited to share more happenings and thoughts soon! Look especially for a couple of reviews I’ve shared on Instagram but not anywhere else (because time management is rough!).
In the meantime, have a great week, and please know I appreciate your support!
Cheers,
-Amy