Let’s face it, nothing about this year has been normal, so why should picking out a gift for that special book lover in your life be any different? With stores constantly closing, reopening, and changing their hours to keep up with the fluctuating health guidelines, shopping in person might seem less than appealing. But shopping online might not be much better if you don’t plan ahead and order early. News stations are reporting that mail carriers are warning customers to expect shipping delays and understand that there are no guarantees any packages will arrive on time. so my first tip is this:
Shop remote and shop early!
This doesn’t mean abandoning your local mom and pop stores. It means looking at their websites or making phone calls to check on inventory and hours before heading out. Better yet, if you can place your order from home and schedule a pick up time, you’ve taken much of the guess work out of the process and probably saved yourself some time. But don’t wait another week or more to get your shopping done even if you’re planning to shop local. Some stores are already experiencing delays in receiving products for their shelves. Make sure you get your gifts now to avoid disappointment later.
Think inside the box!
A lot of people are spending more time at home these days, so signing your loved up for a subscription box that delivers entertainment to their doorstep makes more sense than ever. Here are a few I’ve been considering (click the photos for more info):
Stay organized!
Keep a list of everyone you plan to send a gift to and check it twice. Then take a look at your shelving options. If you happen to live with your special book lover or know that they’re running out of space and you have a good idea of their home decor style, a bookshelf is a practical item that could relieve some of the stress this year has piled on all of us. Here are some options:
Get creative!
This year has been tough on a lot of people’s pocketbooks. The task of gifting all your normal folks may seem impossible, but I’m here to tell you it’s not. There are many gifts you can make for your book lover at little or no cost (depending on what crafting supplies you already have on hand). Here are a few of my favorite diy gift ideas for people who love books:
Keep it simple!
Sometimes the worst thing you can do is overthink a gift. Maybe you still have a few dollars in your account, but not enough to get something fancy and a DIY project is more than you can face right now. Not to worry. Book lovers are generally simple creatures. Buy us a book and we’ll love you for life. (Just make sure we haven’t read it yet or provide a gift receipt.) Bonus if you can snag a signed copy. Below are some of the books I’ve gifted before and some I’m planning to gift this year. For the sake of space, I only shared one book from any particular series although usually the entire series is great. Click on any cover for more information.
If you’re loved one might enjoy a signed copy of my debut novel, Waltz in the Wilderness, please be sure to contact me! And of course, don’t forget that Sing in the Sunlight is currently on preorder and releases in March. Preorder a copy today and you can promise your loved one they’ll receive my preorder bonuses! (You know I couldn’t share a post like this without at least mentioning my upcoming release, right?)
Thank you so much for such wonderful tips. I am struggling to get into shopping or buying this year. I still have gifts from last year that did not get delivered. I am not sure how to deliver gifts this year. I am hindered by being handicapped. I hope you have a marvelous Thanksgiving and a blessed Christmas.
I’m so sorry you’re having trouble figuring things out. If it makes you feel any better, I still have the gift I meant to send my best friend last year. We had a good laugh over it a few days ago because she still has mine as well. We’ve decided to just mail them as if they were this year’s gifts. 🙂 The thing about gifts is they are wonderful to receive any time of year and most people aren’t particularly upset if a gift arrives late. If you need physical help or technological help, is there someone you can reach out to? We’ve all got to work together to make the best of the situation this year. I pray you find your solutions and, most importantly, your peace during this holiday season.