12 Days of Christmas
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| Photo by Jason M |
But, hubby won't let it go so I had to think about what I might want to find under the tree (besides world peace wrapped with a bright red bow on the top). But since it is way more fun for me to give than to receive, I turned the whole thing around and ended up coming up with 12 wonderful gifts for all of you to give to the readers in your lives.
Here's how the gift exchange will work. Each day, I'll post a new gift item, complete with web links and pictures and my patented brand of humor. All I ask in return, is that for each of my "gifts" you receive, you pass along my blog to someone you think might enjoy it and ask them to follow me on Google or through an RSS feed or however they'll best remember to keep coming to visit me.
I'd love to see my readership grow. That'd be a nice holiday gift (that is if you don't think you can get the whole world peace thing by the 25th).
With no further ado (I've never said that before. Did I say it right? It's rather silly sounding, isn't it?) . . .
Day 1
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| Photo by Zach Taylor |
(Better known as the Partridge in a Pear Tree, but I did you even better and got you a whole covey of partridges. Aren't they adorable!)
This one should be a no brainer. If you have an avid reader on your gift list this season, you need to buy them something to read.
The problem can be figuring out what they might like to read. The best way to do this is to go to your local independent bookshop and ask the bookseller there.
The booksellers at indie bookstores make it their business to know what people are reading - and their recommendations are likely to go deeper than the bestseller list. They generally make good recommendations based on books' merits and not their popularity. Also, if they don't have it in stock, indie's are very good about ordering what you need.
If you live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, you must go to Quail Ridge Books and Music. Those men and women know books. Visit the website and sign up for e-newsletters for adults, children's literature and musical interests, and you'll never wonder what to buy as each of their newsletters feature regular reading suggestions.
If for some god-awful reason you live in a town without an indie bookstore, I suggest you:
1) Move.
2) Check out this new Recomm-engine at She Writes. Just post who you are shopping for and a little about his/her interests and you'll receive suggestions from other avid readers and writers. While you're there, spread the holiday cheer by helping a few people with your own suggestions too (your heart will grow three sizes, guaranteed!).
3) Once you know what you want to buy, visit Better World Books, an online bookseller. At Better World Books, your purchases help worldwide literacy programs and keep gently used books out of the landfills. I've used them many times and have always been extremely happy with their service.
If you're favorite reader uses an e-reader - you're on your own. Not that I have anything against these devices, but I'm of the mind that a gift should consist of more than binary code transmitted through some new-fangled voodoo. There doesn't seem to be anything merry about that.
But, if you must, there is a link on Quail Ridge Books's website about their partnership with Google ebooks. So, again - the indie saves the day!
To keep reading the 12 Days of Christmas use these links.
Day 2 — Two Turtle Doves in the Bag
Day 3 — Ooh La La Hens
Day 4 — Do Birds Get Cold Feet?
Day 5 — Finally, Jewelry
Day 6 — Geese Are Scary
Day 7 — Serene Memories of Books Past
Day 8 — Do Cows Make Wine?
Day 9 — Let the Words Dance across the Pages
Day 10 — Gifts from Scratch
Day 11 — Pipe Dreams and Deadlines
Day 12 — Drumroll Please…
Great idea!
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