When will I get my book holster?

I am a writer and a crafter, not a big ecommerce corporation. Everything I do is customized and made-to-order, and it takes me half a day to create a single book holster. In other words, art takes time.

I approach orders on a first-come, first-serve basis. But I stagger inventory in such a way that I can guarantee to make your book holster within a month of your order date. In other words: From your date of purchase, I’ll have it in the mail within a month. (From there, shipping times will depend on your location.)

Is it possible you’ll get it sooner? Absolutely! But at the most, plan on a month for production. Then shipping.

What about my other products? When will I get those?

If you purchased other items—like a signed book (thank you!) or a custom sticker—with your book holster, they will arrive together at the same time.

If you ordered a signed book and/or sticker without a book holster, you can expect those sooner! I’ll put it in the mail within a few weeks of your order. (From there, shipping times will depend on your location.)

Do you offer returns or exchanges?

Because everything is customized, and given the size of my shop, all sales are final. Thanks for understanding.

Tell me about your pricing.

In addition to hand-selecting high-quality materials, I also:

• Hand-cut

• Hand-carve

• Hand-sew

• Hand-paint

A single book holster takes me roughly 5 hours to create. Every step is handmade.

In contrast, a single book takes me 2-7 years to write and costs about $20 at the bookstore. And I don’t see a cent of those royalties until I earn out my advance.

If you love books as much as I do, I’m so grateful for the support you show writers. These book holsters help supplement my writing career. Despite being a traditionally published author, the average salary of a writer in the U.S. in 2024 is 28,500 per year.

Here is a quote I love:

When buying from an artist/maker, you’re buying more than just an object/painting; you are buying hundreds of hours of failures and experimentation. You are buying days, weeks & months of pure joy. You aren’t just buying a thing, you’re buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a moment of someone’s life. Most importantly, you’re buying the artist more time to do something they are passionate about.

Can these book holsters fit any size of book?

The belt is adjustable to accommodate big or wide books too! This video shows you how much flexibility my book holsters have.

You are out of the color I want. Any advice?

I’ll share inventory updates in my newsletter. Sign up if you want to get updates on new stock and future colors.

Because leather is so unique and limited, no book holster is ever the same as any other. Even within the same piece of leather! Sometimes my book holster will vary slightly in color and style to reflect that.

In other words, each piece is truly one-of-a-kind.

Alas, the ephemeral. But I am sure to make all kinds of fun, new book holsters that might catch your eye.

Tell me more about your writing.

Thanks for caring! I write memoir and historical fiction that feature unconventional journeys. Right now, I’m in a pirate era with books featuring real-life pirates like Samuel Bellamy, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read.

I love excavating real people from the sands of time and tropes. You can learn about me and my books, If the Tide Turns and East Winds, at rachelrueckert.com. My third book, The Determined, comes out in April 2025 with Kensington Books.

I’m also nerding out over books, writing, pirate facts, cosplay, and more on Instagram and Tiktok.

Do you offer alternatives to leather?

I’m learning as I go. I’ll continue to update my newsletter with the latest updates and inventory.

I want to buy a book holster, but I want the person to customize it themselves. Do you have gift cards?

I sure do! Check them out here.

Still have a question?

You can contact me at bookholsterATgmailDOTcom