Sparks volume 1 release recap

Sorry for how quiet I’ve been this past month! Honestly I had to do so much social media promo for the volume 1 release that I kind of burned out on being online lmao… I’ve still been working, I’m just making the bonus content for the back of volume 2 (due Friday) and then I’ll be thumbing more Sparks pages and getting to work on them :) I’ll share a little bit of the bonus content once it’s done, but like last time I’ll save most of it to be a surprise when the book comes out!

I thought it could be fun to do a little recap post of the volume 1 release in the meantime.

So it released in bookstores on the 16th July, and in comic shops on the 17th (my birthday! Complete coincidence lol). On the 17th I went to a local comic book shop (Cape & Cowl) to sign copies! The store is owned/run by a trans man (Jay) and puts on loads of events for queer youth in the area so I’m a big fan and really wanted them to be the store I signed at. This wasn’t like a promoted signing event or anything, I just stopped by to sign all the copies in stock and drop off some Philo stickers as freebies for customers.  

If I’d known I was going to have my photo taken I would’ve dressed up better LOL. I like to keep my face pretty anonymous/off the internet but this went up on Cape & Cowl’s instagram so ok… rare Revel face reveal.. I’m glad it’s a mask on store hahaha.

I came up with my signature that morning and practiced it like a million times lol… I really like it!! Jay ordered in about 8 copies I think? I know at least one has sold but I’m so stressed out wondering if the rest are sitting on his shelves… I’ll feel so guilty if no one is buying them… releasing a book is STRESSFUL!!

That weekend I drove down to Lunenburg (small seaside town) to visit another bookstore, Blockshop Books, and sign their copies! I’d stopped in before to buy a present and worked up the nerve to ask if they’d order Sparks in when it released, and the owner, Jo, was super nice and supportive and asked me to come sign the copies once it was out.

That was really cool, they had less copies (3 or 4 I think?) but I signed them and they went up on the shelf with this cute note :) I forgot to drop off free stickers though argh… they also have a door to the staff room that’s been signed by every author that’s ever come by and I got to add my signature!

Other than that, I’ve seen a few photos on social media that people took of Sparks in bookstores elsewhere that have been really cool to see… my book is really out there in the wild…!! I also got a really sweet review on Instagram, and one of my friends who got a copy told me she reviewed it on Goodreads which made me remember that’s a THING. So of course I went and read the reviews LOL which are mostly really nice so far :’)

Which reminds me if you have a copy it would be great if you left a review!! On Goodreads or wherever else people review books… I have no idea… 5 stars on Amazon or whatever??

If Dark Horse have sales numbers they haven’t shared them with me, and I’m nervous to know in case they’re really low LOL. Everyone has told me comics don’t usually earn out (sell enough copies that you ‘earn’ your advance back and start being paid royalties) so I’m keeping my expectations low- it’s nice that the book deal was for the first 3 books so no matter what at least volumes 2 & 3 will be published. But I really hope they sell enough that DH will publish the whole series!! 🤞🤞🤞

I just finished what would be book 4 and we’ve entered into book 5 now. If all goes well there’ll be a Sparks volume releasing every year until it’s done! :)

Anyway, there’s my little recap. If you do spot Sparks in stores I’d love it if you snapped a pic to show me…!