Ruby Finley Holiday Sale, Signed Books, and a Reading | Late November 2022 Tea Time With Tempest

November 20, 2022 By: TempestNewsletter Posts

Welcome to the second Tea Time of the month, featuring news about holiday sales, signed books, and my first in-person appearance! But first….

Where to find me off Twitter

You probably know that Twitter is a weird death spiral which probably won’t result in it going away completely anytime soon, yet will still mess with a bunch of people’s online lives. If you want to be sure you can find me online outside of my blog, here’s where I’m currently active:

Mastodon: Wandering Shop is my home server. You can follow me no matter what server you’re on.

Instagram: I was silent on here for a while, then discovered that the experience is much better via a browser, so I’m back to engaging for now.

Facebook: I only interact through my Group there. Joining it is the same as following me in terms of your experience.

TikTok: I haven’t been on here in months. Not sure if I’ll get back to it. Just in case.

Meet Me @ Powell’s!

When: November 28 @ 7PM
Where: 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR

Very excited to announce my first official author event. A signing plus a conversation with my friend and fellow kidlit author Tina Connolly followed by some Q&A.

Get A Signed Copy

If you’d like a copy of Ruby Finley signed by yours truly, check out this list of bookstores I’ve visited recently. Powell’s is also offering to ship you signed copies if you order ahead of my event on the 28th.

Winter Holiday Sale Activate

You know there’s merch available for those of you who love Ruby Finley or know someone who does, right? Even better, said merch is on sale for 15% off until December 20. This includes everything on the Redbubble shop from backpacks to shirts to journals.

If you’re a book giver, all of the published books in my online store, Tempestuous Books, are available for 20% off with code holiday2022

And if you want a personalized autograph from me for your or someone else’s copy of the book, you can now order a custom bookplate.

All the details are on the holiday sale page.

Enough About Me

I’m ready to hear from you 🤗 Just one note: this is a community space. Please keep in mind that this is my space, so please act the way you would if you were in my actual parlor having actual tea with me 😍

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Come Meet Me at Powell’s Books on November 28!

November 20, 2022 By: TempestEvents

Having my first official author event for Ruby Finley at Powell’s Books in Cedar Hills Crossing. Very exciting! I’ll do a very short reading, then have a talk with my friend and fellow kidlit author Tina Connolly followed by some Q&A, then a signing.

Powell’s will ship you a signed book from the event if you can’t come. It won’t be personalized, though.

Bring your kids! I’ll have some exclusive Ruby merch for them.

When: November 28 @ 7PM
Where: 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR

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Where to find signed Ruby Finley copies

November 19, 2022 By: TempestNovel

For the past few weeks I’ve been turning up to bookstores that have copies of Ruby Finley vs the Interstellar Invasion to sign them! I also very much enjoyed meeting the booksellers along the way. Below is a list of stores where I’ve signed stock. Most only had one or two copies at the time, so they may be gone. Perhaps you’ll get lucky!

A Children’s Place Bookstore – Portland, OR
Elliott Bay Book Company – Seattle, WA
University Bookstore – Seattle, WA
Third Place Books (Ravenna & Lake Forest Park Locations) – Seattle, WA
Joseph-Beth Booksellers – Cincinnati, OH

If you happen to drop by to get a signed copy, make sure you tell them you came specifically for that! It helps when they know.

Not in any of these cities? Never fear, you can still get my book online or from your local indie bookstore. Click here to find it in your area.

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Holiday Sale 2022

November 19, 2022 By: TempestNews

It’s getting toward the end of the year and that means it’s time for sales because capitalism! While I would not blame you for not wanting to participate in said capitalism, if you are going to buy gifts for yourself or your loved ones, let me help ease the burden on your wallet.

Starting today through December 20 all items in Ruby’s Merch Shop and in my online bookstore, Tempestuous Books, are on sale. Plus, I am offering up a limited number of signed, personalized, custom Ruby Finley bookplates.

15%+ Off Ruby Merch

I lowered all the prices in my Redbubble shop by 15%. Plus, Redbubble is offering 25% off everything if you buy today. If there are any more sales later or any coupons you find, they’ll apply on top of my discount. No matter what, you can get all the t-shirts, backpacks, journals, notebooks, and stickers for less until December 20.

20% Off Tempestuous Books

I added almost all of the books I’ve written, contributed to, or appeared in to my online bookstore. Most are only available in print, some in eBook. All of them are available for 20% off with coupon: holiday2022 – good until December 20.

30% Off @ Libro.fm

This is ongoing but I figured I’d mention it again! Use code TEMPEST to get 30% off the audiobook on Libro. You should check out Libro in any case because they’re so much better than Audible ;) This code is good until December 31.

Ruby Finley Bookplates

I designed a Ruby-themed bookplate for sending to folks who can’t get their books autographed in person. If you’d like to get one for your own copy or to put in a book for someone else for the holidays, you can order them through my Gumroad store. They cost $2.50 (this includes shipping). I’ll sign each and personalize it with up to three names.

Only 50 available!

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ORIGINality Podcast Episode 38: It’s Been a Long Process

November 10, 2022March 7, 2023 By: TempestMulti-Media

In this episode, I share my experience writing and publishing a middle-grade book, from the first picture game to finding an agent to books hitting the bookstore shelves. It was, indeed, a long process.

»»» Click here to listen to episode 38 «««

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Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion has launched into the skies | November 2022 Tea Time With Tempest

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 By: TempestTea Time With Tempest

Ruby is out in the world!

It’s been a tad over a month since Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion launched itself into the hands of readers. I’ve been so humbled by the great response! Many people have shared pictures of their kids reading it and the reactions have all been great. I even got an Amazon review from a 9 year old who said “…this book is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever read.” THAT is the greatest compliment an author can get!

Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered or bought it in the last month or who will buy it as soon as the budget allows. And huge, huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed it on bookstore sites and Goodreads and StoryGraph so far. Y’all are so great.

Due to a snafu, I haven’t had a “launch” event yet, but will later this month. It should happen on November 28th at Powell’s Books in Cedar Hills. I’ll send all the details as soon as that’s settled. Should be a fun time!

If you haven’t bought your copy yet…

My Ruby Finley landing page has links to all the places you can get the book, including my bookstore Tempestuous Books. And if you do happen to buy it from there and enter the Promo/Discount Code TEMPEST (case sensitive), you can get 10% off until the end of the year. The Libro.fm audiobook promo code also still words: TEMPEST to get 30% off.

If you’re a physical book store person, I have been signing stock! I signed some books at the Rookwood location of Joseph-Beth in Cincinnati and 57th Street Books in Chicago a couple weeks back, and I’m going to sign stock at a few bookstores in Portland and Seattle ovr the next week and a half. I’ll update you on locations once I’m done!

Help me keep up the momentum?

The rush of a book launch eventually tapers off, eventually. I’m going to keep promoting the book as much as I can in many different ways. If you’d like to help the book get in front of every person who would love it, here are some easy ways:

Check to see if the library systems near you have the book yet. If they don’t, request they get it! Libraries do listen to requests from the community.
Share posts about the book on social media. Here’s a tweet, a Facebook status, and an Instagram post you can share.
If you know a school librarian or a teacher, let them know about the book and see if they’ll get it for their lass or school.
Keep reviewing! You can review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s website, Books a Million, Kobo, Google Play, Goodreads, and Storygraph. You can cross-post reviews if you like. Reviews definitely help with discovery.
Personal recommendations to friends and family are, of course, always awesome.

GeekGirlCon

If you’ll be at GGC this weekend, please come to my panel! I’ll be on “Our Favorite Female Sleuths” Saturday at 1PM along with Sarah Gulde, Seanan McGuire, and Crystal Frasier. here’s the description:

From Jessica Fletcher to Phryne Fisher, let’s talk about the female sleuths we love! What did the writers get right, what did they get wrong, and why do we love these inquisitive characters so much?

I’m always down to talk Murder, She Wrote and will also mention the ways it inspired aspects of Ruby Finley. Hope to see you there!

I don’t have an official signing, but if you come to the panel and bring the book I’ll find a spot in a public area to sign it.

Coming Soon

As we get into the holiday season I’ll be setting up some sales in the merch shop, I’ll be offering some new swag, and there will be Ruby bookplates on offer. Everything will be in the newsletters.