OK … I confess … I’m a Book Addict. And I don’t plan on entering a 12-Step program to stop my beloved addiction and pleasure. The countless hours of pleasure that they have given me since I was a little kid can never be tallied. The goosing to my imagination gives me a Happy Dance. The creation of the AuthorU.org community with members all over the world is a wonder. And the reality that working with authors on creating their books plus publishing my own is what I do for a living … jeeze … don’t wake me. I love what I do!
Of many of my favorite things, books top the list. If you are stymied of what to give to a favorite aunt, a good friend, something that says, “I’m thinking of you … and put some thought into it.” It there is one item where there is “something for everyone one”—it’s a book.
The same book isn’t for everyone … but there is a book that is. In October and November, AuthorU hosted two events that displayed over 60 individual books. There was a book that would have filled the stockings of Charlie, Sarah, Sam, Martha, Brenda, Pat, Steve, John, Shelley and little Julie. Not the same book … but a book that a giver thought would be perfect for each person on his or her list.
Sometimes, I find a book that I know is “perfect” for several of my girlfriends—I buy 10 of them … knowing that it’s what I bring when Holiday hellos and drop-ins are the norm. When my book Snappy, Sassy, Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers was
first published, my writer friends got it—just wrapped with a ribbon. One time I bought 20 copies of a cookbook that I attended the author’s signing—all my couple foodie friends that we gather quarterly and cook with got it with a note—“At our next gathering that John and I host, each of you are to select a recipe and that will be part of our menu” … and what a delicious and salivating array it became.
If that doesn’t start you off with a few ideas, here’s a few more as to why BOOKS as gifts—and not necessarily yours—should be at the top of your list.
- Wrapping is the best—just get a sheer ribbon that picks up the color of the Holiday, your personal favorite or one within the book. Rarely an odd size, they fit easily into a bag if that’s your choice and for shipping, a piece of cake.
- Books don’t break the bank account—prices can range from a few dollars and up. Last summer, a friend’s housing development had a community garage sale. One home had boxes of books going from ten cents to a dollar—books that looked like they hadn’t been opened. Being the book addict that I am, I dove in and for $10, came away with over 20 books that went into my “gift closet”—three wonderful baskets were created for birthday giving for the fall with a variety of books in each: two for kids in the family and one for a friend in a nursing home.
Watching my 9 year-old grandson literally lay out on the floor the series of Harry Potters I found at the sale, touching each cover as he drooled over them, made this Gramma’s heart glow. How cool is that?
- Any age or person will do—from the wee ones to the seniors, there’s a book for any age, male or female.
- Books are available from countless sources and easy to get—the grocery story; big boxes (Yes, the new homeowner’s perfect gift may just be at Home Depot); online; gift shops and of course, book stores (one of my all-time favorite places to just hang out during the Holidays).
- Books delivered via a gift card—always loved in my household; whether for an online store or brick and mortar … it’s an afternoon delight!
- Shipping a book is a piece of cake—if you are ahead of the crowd, media mail works and you can save money; the priority envelop at the USPS takes most books easily.
- Books give and give—who hasn’t recirculated something that they loved with a friend or family member? And when a book has “finished” its time in your home, donate to a group that can start the re-circulation.
- Books love to travel—whether print, audio or “e”, they are the best of travel companions. If you aren’t sure of which version, the gift card comes into play—if you know what book you want to give—print the cover, include with the gift card and encourage them to select the version desired.
- Books are the ideal way to escape—whether a tall adventure, a biography to the past, a laugh until the reader is almost incontinent, books deliver a new world … “a time out and away.”
- Books keep the brain cells happy—yep, no matter what, they are educational and that is good for the cognitive juices.
- Remind all your Fans and Friends—meaning sending them a personal email if you have their emails; post it on your Facebook pages NOW—your books are ideal for not only the Holidays … but for host and hostess gifts; for birthdays and special days … and of course, you would be delighted to personalize them for each! Here’s to you, authors are my heroes!
Not matter what, everyone you know is interested in something … even the “someone” that when you ask, “What would you like?” and responds, “I don’t know,” can be taken care of. There’s always a book for something, as weird as that something might be. Yes indeed, books are indeed the morning, afternoon and evening delight. How incredibly cool is that?
Looking for the Perfect Gift?
Consider Buying Books by AuthorU.org Members
Holiday Book Sale
Need a great gift for mom, dad, daughter, son, husband, wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, step-mom, boyfriend, girlfriend, child, grandparent, friend, best friend, best friend’s spouse, mentor, colleague, boss, employee, neighbor, pastor, school teacher, housesitter, acquaintance or angel?
These books are multi-award winning, entertaining, heart-warming, inspiring, educational, harrowing, sweet, sad, life-affirming, sassy, delicious, instructional, engaging, insightful, beautiful and written and published by AuthorU.org members—all were recently featured at the Denver Merchandise Mart.
Look for any of these titles on Amazon, the Author’s Websites, BN.com, or ask for them at your local bookstore.
Shout out about your support on social media #AuthorU and we’ll like and share!
Children’s and YA Books
Anne Arndt– Fluff The Dream Owl
Jerry Altman – Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose
Jo Kairys – I Want Cake!
Judy Kundert – Samantha and the Legend Whispering Trees, 10 Tips to Get Kids Out Doors and Love Nature
Julie Griffin – Cristina Grandina, Bella the Baker Street Baker, Jack and the Bean Chair
Charles Fischer – Beyond Infinity
Inspiration and Spirituality
Anne Randolph – Stories Gathered at the Kitchen Table
Carol Denker – Autumn Romance
Cheryl Bills – Split
Disa Van Orman – My Loved One Shines On
Dennis-Anita Lunt – Sacred Mountain 2016 Calendar
Frederick Coffey – Growing Spiritually With God
John Maling – Have You Ever Held A Mountain?
Julie Griffin – Ever Descending Circles
Kathleen Flanagan – Awakening Spirit – The Call
Linda Frothingham – Simply Inspired and Simply Inspired Journal
Philippa Burgess – Inspiration and Ideals: Thoughts for Every day
Susan Troccolo – The Beet Goes On
Fiction (also see Women’s)
Charles Clark – The Bootlegger ’40 Ford
Courtney Miller – The First Raver Mocker, The Raven Mockers Legacy
Merrie Wycoff – Shadow of the Sun, Sterling the Shadow of Dark
Nick Taylor (Fantasy) – Legon Awakening, Pactum
Publishing
Judith Briles – Author YOU, Snappy Sassy Salty, Crowdfunding Guide for Authors & Writers
Cookbooks
Gabby Miller – Gabby Gourmet Restaurant Guide 2016
John Czingula – For the Love of Paprika
Kristin Conaris – Cake Decorating with Chocolate Molding
Non-Fiction
Alice Borodkin (Memoir) – Caught Between the Bettys
Andrew Plank (Astronomy) – What’s Hot on the Moon Tonight? & Field Map Of the Moon
Bobbi Boldon (Humor) – Princess Golf
Connie Shoemaker (Memoir) – The Good Daughter: Secrets, Life Stories and Healings.
Jane Withers (Memoir) – Hub Cap Annie
Nick Zelinger – (Anthology) Another Nightmare Gig from Hell
Pat Morgan – The Concrete Killing Fields
Steve Snyder (WWII Military Bio) – Shot Down!
Suzanne Blankenship (Eldercare)– How to Take Care of Old People Without Losing Your Marbles
Ward Lucas – Neighbors at War, Get This Mother Published
Self Help
Joan McWilliams – Parenting Plans for Families After Divorce, The PeaceFinder
Judith Briles – The Confidence Factor
Lynn McLeod – From Simms to Zanzibar
McDowell Graham – I’ve Been Here Before, But This Time I Know The Way Out
Laurie Weiss – Stop These Common Beliefs from Poisoning Your Marriage, The Secrets of Happy Relationships
Women
A.J. White – The Bloomers & The Bloomers Guidebook
Mara Purl (Fiction) – Where the Heart Lives, & What the Heart Knows
Tammy Grace (Fiction) –A Promise of Home, Finding Home, Home Blooms, & Killer Music
Rhondda Hartman (Health) – Natural Childbirth Exercises
Laurie Weiss (Relationships) – 99 Things Women Wish they Knew Before They Said “I Do.”
Business and Careers
Doug Krug – The Missing Piece in Leadership
Gene Morton – Leaders First
Judith Briles – Money Smarts
Kim Curtis – Money Secrets
Nancy Sullivan – TransitionPoints
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen.
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