Merch Alert - Giveaways!
Lots of authors these days sell merch. (That’s what the kids call it; everyone’s too busy to say full words, apparently). It’s something I’m looking into and at the same time recoiling from because it just indicates how wacky and weird publishing has gotten since I started. (Like – someone offered to be on my “street team,” and I have no idea what that means.)
But I’m not going to start shaking my cane at everything, and I do have a deep desire to, you know, actually sell books and maintain a writing career and if that means I have to offer merch, I’ll consider it.
And to tell the truth merch is fun! (Even though if you say the word “merch” too many times it starts to sound weird.) Especially when you’ve written a fun quote in your new book that just begs to be emblazoned upon a sweatshirt.
In The Windsor Affair (available for preorder now and out on June 2), Queen Mary offers many wonderful side observations about the protagonists Wallis Simpson and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. In one passage she describes Elizabeth a bit disparagingly, observing that “She reads too many novels and eats too many chocolates.”
When I was going through the copyedits of the novel, this phrase tickled me. (Yes, sometimes I crack myself up with my own writing.) Because this phrase could definitely describe me and, I suspect, many women I know.
So – voila! Merch!
Merch I’m giving away to nine lucky readers, along with a signed hardcover of The Windsor Affair.
How do I enter to win this fabulous sweatshirt, you might ask?
Well I’ll tell you! It’s easy. First, you have to be a resident of the US. (Sorry, for shipping purposes!) Second, if you subscribe to this newsletter you’re already entered! But if you want to have another chance to win you can restack this particular post (not others, this one) on Substack. And/or you can simply comment on this post on Substack (not via email; it has to be on the Substack site) recommending the last good book you read. (Because I think we’re all always looking for good books!)
To recap: Everyone who’s 18 or older and a resident of the US gets one entry. But you can enter up to two more times (for a maximum of three entries) by doing one or both of the above, restacking or commenting. If you’re not a subscriber (although I encourage you to become one!) you can also have one entry by emailing me at hello@melaniebenjamin.com
Got it? If you’ve subscribed or emailed by May 30th you’re entered automatically, and we will draw nine random names on June 1st and then notify the winners. We’ll then put in the orders for the sweatshirts (gotta have the right sizes!), and prizes will be mailed when the order is fulfilled. They are custom sweatshirts, of course!
Now, will these sweatshirts eventually be available for purchase? In other words, will Melanie Benjamin suddenly have merch?
That remains to be seen. So good luck to everyone; legal contest fine print in the first comment below.
(And of course I’m ordering one for myself because I wrote the darn thing, after all.)
Melanie
And I'll recommend a book by a friend of mine, out today - The Original by Priya Parmar, a novel about Katharine Hepburn. I can't wait to dig in!
OFFICIAL RULES
Melanie Benjamin’s “Windsor Affair” Limited Edition Sweatshirt & Signed Book Giveaway
NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR CONTRIBUTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Sponsor
This sweepstakes is sponsored by Melanie Benjamin LLC (“Sponsor”), [Sponsor mailing address].
2. Eligibility
Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees of the Sponsor and their immediate family members are not eligible. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
3. Entry Period
The sweepstakes begins upon publication of these Official Rules on April 27, 2026 and ends on May 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (“Entry Period”). Entries received before publication or after the Entry Period will not be eligible.
4. How to Enter
There are three ways to earn entries. All entries must be received during the Entry Period to be eligible.
Automatic Entry (1 entry):
Individuals who are subscribed to Melanie Benjamin: The Reluctant Extrovert on Substack as of May 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time will automatically receive one (1) entry.
Bonus Entry — Restack (1 entry):
Restacking the giveaway announcement post on Substack Notes during the Entry Period earns one (1) additional entry. Restack activity is tracked by Substack and verified through the platform’s records. Restacks of other posts during the Entry Period do not count toward this giveaway.
Bonus Entry — Comment (1 entry):
Commenting on the giveaway announcement post with a book recommendation and a brief explanation of why you recommend it earns one (1) additional entry. Comments that are spam, automated, duplicative, or unrelated to the prompt may be disqualified.
Free Alternate Method of Entry (AMOE):
To enter without subscribing, restacking, or commenting, send an email to hello@melaniebenjamin.com with the subject line “Windsor Affair Sweepstakes Entry” and your full name and mailing address in the body of the email. Limit one (1) AMOE entry per person. AMOE entries must be received by 11:59 PM Central Time on May 30, 2026.
Entries generated by script, macro, or automated means are void.
Entry Limit: Maximum of three (3) total entries per person across all methods.
5. Prizes
Nine (9) winners will each receive:
∙ One (1) limited-edition “Windsor Affair” sweatshirt, Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $60
∙ One (1) signed hardcover copy of The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin, ARV: $30
ARV per prize: $90. Total ARV of all prizes: $810.
Sweatshirt size will be specified by each winner upon claim. No substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent permitted, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prizes are non-transferable. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if any prize becomes unavailable.
6. Winner Selection and Notification
Nine (9) winners will be selected in a random drawing conducted via random number generator on June 1, 2026 from all eligible entries received during the Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.
Winners will be notified by email at the address associated with their Substack subscription (or, for AMOE entrants, the email address from which their entry was sent) on or about June 2, 2026. Winners must respond within five (5) days of notification with a valid US shipping address and sweatshirt size to claim their prize. If a winner does not respond within five (5) days, declines the prize, or provides an invalid shipping address, an alternate winner will be selected from the remaining eligible entries.
7. Prize Fulfillment
Prizes will be shipped to the winner’s verified US shipping address within thirty (30) days of confirmation. Sponsor is not responsible for prizes lost, damaged, or delayed in shipping. Allow up to six (6) weeks for delivery.
8. Taxes
Winners are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with prize acceptance. Because individual prize value is below $600, no IRS Form 1099 is required.
9. General Conditions
By entering, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the sweepstakes if fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the sweepstakes. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or undeliverable entries.
10. Publicity
Except where prohibited by law, by accepting a prize, the winner consents to the use of their first name, last initial, and likeness by Sponsor for promotional purposes in any media without further compensation.
11. Privacy
Information collected from entrants will be used by Sponsor solely for the administration of this sweepstakes and in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy practices and Substack’s platform policies. Substack subscribers’ email addresses are governed by Substack’s privacy policy. AMOE entrants will not be added to the Substack subscriber list unless they affirmatively subscribe.
12. Limitation of Liability
By entering, participants release Sponsor, Substack, and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising from participation in this sweepstakes or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.
13. Platform Disclaimer
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Substack, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform.
14. Winner List
For a list of winners, email hello@melaniebenjamin.com with the subject line “Windsor Affair Sweepstakes Winner List” by July 1, 2026.
15. Governing Law
This sweepstakes is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflicts of law principles.