Gift Guide: Five Lover Mother Other Gifts!

I'm a little nervous announcing this, which is strange and a little annoying as the big announcement (and work!) of publishing my new book Lover Mother Other has now been done.

But I decided to do something a little different with this book launch and that is to create Lover Mother Other merchandise to accompany the book.

Announcing Lover Mother Other Merchandise!

After receiving lots of feedback from people saying how much they loved the name of the book, and after falling in love with the cover art myself, I wanted to create some products to really celebrate the book, and also the identities of Lover, Mother, and Other that are all so central to the poetry collection.

In short, I created these products for myself (and some of my friends!) but it will be such a special thing to see others enjoying them too!

Using the same cover art as the book, created by Nina Hüpen-Bestendonk, this small selection of Lover Mother Other merchandise are designed to connect all you lovers, mothers and others with the book and with these identities that I want you to celebrate!

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to order any of these items for delivery before Christmas 2020 I STRONGLY recommend ordering before Friday 4th December 2020.

The Lover Mother Other collection includes:

Mugs - Available in Fuchsia Pink with Yellow Text (Like the Book Cover)

As a Brit and tea-addict who also likes to dabble in coffee-based drinks, I have to confess I have VERY limited time for small cups or mugs, so when I looked into making a Lover Mother Other mug, it had to be BIG. Big enough for my (three) morning cup(s) of tea. Big enough for a latte macchiato that will keep me awake until the kids' bedtime. Big enough for all the hot drinks I try to drink solo but end up sharing with my two-year-old and I still am able to have enough (true story!).

I'm happy to say that this mug is definitely big enough for all these purposes and it is also dishwasher and microwave-friendly which was also necessary!

They are shipped from USA or Europe in mug-safe packaging and should arrive safely within 1-2 weeks.

UNISEX Short Sleeve T-Shirts - Available in Black & White, with Pink Text, AND Long-Sleeve T-Shirts - Available in Black & White, with Pink Text.

Designed for a unisex slim fit, these long- or short-sleeved tees that are comfortable and flattering, and best of all, wash really well.

I wear mine with jeans most of the time - or as pyjamas! - but I would also say it's smart enough to wear with a skirt or smarter pair of trousers should you be feeling brave enough to walk outside your house.

Scooped Neck Sweatshirts - Available in Baby Blue & Navy Blue, Both with Pink Text

Designed for comfortable fit on the female body, and available in sizes S - 2XL, these scooped neck slouchy sweatshirts are for lounging around, running around, or just being you.

I am still waiting on mine to come in the post but once it's here I will update you on whether it's super comfortable or really flipping super comfortable!

Eco-conscious Cotton Tote Bags - Available in Cream with Pink Text OR Yellow Text

For carrying books, shopping and other life essentials, these cotton tote bags are bigger than your typical tote bag and sustainably produced too!

I've been using mine to take all your book orders to the post office and this makes me very happy indeed! One tip I would give you is to wash the bag before you use it to have it more ready for outdoor use.

Limited Edition LOVER MOTHER OTHER PRINTS (Signed or Unsigned - A5 size - 148 x 210mm)

Printed on high quality card in the same colours as the book, you can put it in a frame, pin it to your noticeboard or use it as a postcard to write a message to someone you love.

PLEASE NOTE! These are very limited edition as I only have a certain number printed and I'm really not sure I will get anymore printed once they are all gone.

About Lover Mother Other Merchandise

A few things I want to say about the merchandise available to buy:

  • All the clothing, bags and mugs are being printed and shipped by an external party. Wherever possible I have tried to use eco-friendly and sustainable materials.
  • Aside from the prints, all the products are made to order, so there is no waste from manufacturing too much product that can't be sold.
  • Many of the products can be manufactured and shipped from USA and from Europe so this will hopefully make it easier and quicker for orders to be fulfilled in these regions.
  • I have tested all the products and while some shipping costs and long shipping times were a little frustrating, I am REALLY happy with the quality of the products. If you have any other feedback on any of this, let me know!
  • The Limited Edition Prints were designed by me and Nina, and are being printed by Moo.com. I will be sending these to you directly from Amsterdam, so if you want to also buy one of my books or some WriteNOW Cards, you can do all of this via my online shop.
  • Customs/import duties and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer. I am really sorry but I cannot cover these costs that you may incur upon receipt of the products.
  • All of the products are designed and made to last. If they don't - please do let me know!
  • If you have any other ideas of products you would like to see with the Lover Mother Other design on them, let me know!

And of course, you can also get the book itself!

This would make a lovely gift to a womxn in your life, especially one who loves poetry, is planning on becoming a mother one day (or already is), and/or is someone who is interested in the ways womxn are held to certain standards, and how we can challenge and smash these into beautiful little pieces. Or yes, you could just get it for yourself because you do truly deserve it!

Lover Mother Other is available as an ebook or signed paperback here, or you can find it on Amazon here.

Thank you all so much for your kind words about both the book and the title - I really do hope you'll love the merch too!

Why Lover Mother Other Merchandise for this Book?

There are a few reasons I wanted to create Lover Mother Other bags, mugs, T-shirts, sweatshirts and prints.

Firstly, I wanted to really do something a bit different when launching and marketing this book. I have seen people launch businesses and have accompanying merchandise to both brand but also build a community around their business, and I just thought, why not for a book too? I have had this idea in my head for a while but it never really felt right to create merchandise around any of my other books.

Secondly, when people started telling me how they liked the name a lot, I realised that this book could possibly be different. While my fiction is specifically about certain people and certain events, this book of poetry is more about certain themes, issues and specifically, identities.

Thirdly, many people who I suspect will never read the book themselves, have still acknowledged that the name was good and that they'd maybe like to have a T-shirt or mug with the name on it. So I also have to be honest and say I saw a business opportunity in spending a bit of time designing and using a made-to-order provider to create these products.

Where Can You Buy Lover Mother Other T-Shirts, Bags, Mugs & More?

Again, here are the links you need to buy all these goodies here in this shop - including the mugs, tees (long & short-sleeved), bags and sweatshirts.

For the books and the prints, you can buy them here! (Ebooks, paperbacks, and A5-sized prints).

Thank you so much for your support of Lover Mother Other!

Frances M. Thompson

Londoner turned wanderer, Frankie is an author, freelance writer and blogger. Currently based in Amsterdam, Frankie was nomadic for two years before starting a family with her Australian partner. Frankie is the author of three short story collections, and is a freelance writer for travel and creative brands. In 2017, she launched WriteNOW Cards, affirmation cards for writers that help build a productive and positive writing practice. When not writing contemporary fiction, Frankie shops for vintage clothes, dances to 70s disco music and chases her two young sons around Amsterdam.
Find Frankie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.

Posts you may also like:
On Writing: My Writing & Publishing Plans for 2023On Writing: My Writing & Publishing Plans for 2023The Moon Also Rises: Read a Free ExtractThe Moon Also Rises: Read a Free ExtractThe Weaker Sex: Read the PrologueThe Weaker Sex: Read the PrologueAll About My Next Book: Five SunsetsAll About My Next Book: Five SunsetsThe Weaker Sex: Author's NoteThe Weaker Sex: Author's Note