Catherine Stine's IDEA CITY

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Thrilling Holiday Gifts for your Author Friends



The holidays are fast approaching and you need to find those perfect gifts, including ones for your writer friends! Susan Kaye Quinn’s fun post on her Ink Spells blog about holiday presents for writers got me inspired to research and think up more great gifts.

You could buy your special author friend a party dress made entirely out of paper—specifically, out of phone books, designed by the awesome Jolis Paon. What a cool way to recycle! How about a gift certificate to a day spa for a massage, focusing on your writer buddy’s troubled neck. Or what about a tropical cruise? Neal Schusterman, the YA thriller author swears by cruises, and says that’s where he writes his best novels! Does your friend like jewelry? What about custom jewelry for writers? Tickets to hear your friend’s favorite author speak will, no doubt, be appreciated. A chocolate keyboard? Or simply some random keys? If your beta reader has a philanthropic streak, you could donate money to his or her favorite scholarship fund. Pen.org, for instance, funds Freedom to Write and prison writing programs. Or you could donate to an SCBWI.org scholarship fund, such as the work in progress grant for a needy author. A gift certificate to your friend’s fave indie bookstore is always a sure bet. Does your friend like to entertain as well as write? Then how about a great authors coaster set? Cups that say “Be careful or you'll end up in my novel” are always conversations starters. Finally, for the fanciful cook or writer of historical fiction, you could always gift a digital Medieval cookbook, with recipes from 1390, some from Richard II’s own kitchen!

What is your dream present? Any other great ideas to add to the list? Feel free to list as many as you want! And don’t get too distracted by putting up the tree and making sprinkle cookies to keep on writing!

16 comments:

  1. Okay, here's a half-joking answer. How about buying their books in bulk? Boosting a writer's sales is always a nice present!

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  2. Ha! I like Kelly's answer! Actually I really like the random keys in chocolate! "I'll take an "O", Alex." And I like the idea of donating to your favorite writer's scholarship fund (or supporting your local library! Buy them a Friend of the Library membership!).

    Such fun... :)

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  3. Kelly, great idea, and then you could use your friend's books as blog giveaways or gifts. Susan, supporting your local library is important, especially in these times.

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  4. How about the gift of time? To work on that extra chapter or short story. I'll volunteer to do an extra load of laundry, cook dinner extra times, or run an errand for you.

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  5. Good one, and that doesn't cost any $$. Create a fun coupon book.

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  6. I want the gift of time (thanks for that idea, Norris,) Then I want that dress. If I had both, I could write AND party!

    Another idea for a perfect gift would be a personal assistant. Yum. Yes, give me one of those.

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  7. Being able to rescue another dog or cat from our local shelter.

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  8. Okay Legacy here jumping in.If I were to think of my dream present I guess it would be for my book to be published, but I'm too far away from submitting so let's think of another.

    Oh, here's one to meet a guy like one of the characters I've read from some of my books. Guys in novels are almost perfect. They don't belch, let wind, and thier just everything a girl could want and more usually. Those smoldering brown eyes and toned tan physics. They also arn't afraid to persist in getting a gilrs heart. Okay nough said.
    Nice blog Catherine

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  9. I just want someone to take over the grocery shopping and laundry and meal prep for two weeks. Or two days, even.

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  10. Heck yah! Make that a personal shopper, an intern, and a babysitter.

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  11. Awesome gift ideas--Catherine.
    Lee--gift of time would be great.
    Legacy--Perfect guys don't exist but you can get a good one. (But you must be persistant b/c it's like trying to find Atlantice)!

    beth-project52.blogspot.com

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  12. I LOVE the dress but the chocolate keyboard is to DIE for!

    This year, after looking through more fuzzy pictures, I really want a nice new digital camera.

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  13. A chocolate keyboard! Sign me up! LOL!

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  14. Oh hey, I just noticed you live in upstate NY--me too!!!

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  15. I live in NYC and upstate! Best 'o' both worlds. Love the snow up there. Especially with a roaring fire going. Thanks for following, Laura, and I'll be checking in to see what's doing on your blog.

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