Bookbinders are turning fanfiction into hardcover masterpieces

Fanfiction lives and thrives online. But that doesn’t mean fan-written works don’t deserve to see the light of day as physical books. Now, thanks to the dedicated work of bookbinders, fanfiction volumes are given stunning, handcrafted editions that breathe new life into fanworks.

Amanda Johnston runs Red Panda Bindery, a series of TikTok and Instagram accounts where she documents the process of turning fanfiction into physical books. The accounts show off her beautiful creations, but also serve as a resource for others who want to learn more about bookbinding. While her books tend to stand out with embellishments such as embossed gold titles with custom designs and hand-painted edges, the content itself comes across as relaxed. She makes these books in the comfort of her own home and puts them between cans of chicken soup.

“There are special tools you can buy, but when I started I used stuff from the dollar store and stuff I already had lying around. I used snack boxes instead of pretty bookshelves and I made book linen from old sheets. I used a thumbtack instead of an awl. It’s a very accessible hobby,” Johnston said via email.

The methods of binding a book vary, but Johnston uses a bradel binding with square back. Generally, she starts by formatting and printing fanfiction, which she then folds into autographs, the term for the stacked and folded paper that gathers in the spine of the book. From there she sews the pages together and glues them into a block of text. She then glues the text block to a handmade sleeve for the cover. Johnston said it usually takes her a week to complete a book.

Of all these steps, Johnston said she enjoys designing the covers the most. Each has a unique design. One she made from the Harry Potter fanfic Insulation features a silver embossed frame and custom design incorporating the title of the fic, all wrapped in a black cover. The bottom corner has a delicate evergreen forest design.

Johnston always asks an author for permission before making a hard copy of his story; sometimes she herself binds a book for the author. So far, she has generally made fics based on Harry Potter, but she also enjoys fanfictions featuring the worlds of Hannibal, Buffy the vampire killer, and the Court of Thorns and Roses series. She generally creates the books for her own enjoyment, but also to keep physical copies of her favorite books.

“I have seen several fanfictions I liked removed from websites by the author for various reasons. Physical copies are reassuring. Fanfiction is still a legal gray area and I fear that one day the archives containing my favorite fanfiction will cease to exist,” she said.

Overall, Johnston has said that the bookbinding community, more generally, is a warm community.

“This is one of the most welcoming communities I’ve ever had the privilege of being a part of! If you’re interested in learning how to bind fanfiction, don’t be afraid to find directories on social media and get in touch!”