Five Amazing Gift Ideas for Writers | Book Blogger Guest Post (+ Giveaway)

Posted December 14, 2016 by Jana in Bookish Finds, Giveaway, Guest Post / 14 Comments

I am beyond excited to have Bonnie from A Backwards Story on the blog today to present her ideas for writer gifts. It’s easy to buy bookworms presents: Barnes & Noble or Amazon gift cards, pretty copies of books they love, accessories with books on them, items with book/reading quotes on them… etc. But what do you get a writer? Enter Bonnie! She has some wonderful ideas for you, and I’m so excited to share them with you.

Gift Ideas for Writers
By Bonnie at A Backwards Story

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a writer in your life?

As a fellow writer, I know we aren’t an easy bunch to shop for! We ask for strange things like our favorite brand of pen or correction pencil (or for us old-fashioned hand-writers in the bunch, even fun journals/notebooks!), and our friends and family stare at us like we’re crazy because, really, who wants pencils for Christmas?

THIS GIRL, for one!

But there are a lot of other cool gift ideas that are fun, affordable, and surprising!

Here are five gift ideas for writers–and as an extra special bonus, there’s a discount code for one of the gifts from Storiarts AND a chance to win another gift from Evie Seo!

Keep reading to hear more!!!

 

1. Idea Books

I found the two of these last year and thought they were the coolest, especially the BRIGHT IDEAS one because it’s COLOR CODED. Think of it like an already-prepped Bullet Journal, but easier to get to if you don’t color in tabs for yourself because you can just flip to the color for the the section you want. There are sections for hot ideas, wisps of dreamy memories, and more!

And the other one is just fun because, really, ideas can be evil, too. I mean, some authors ENJOY killing their darlings, right!? Well, okay, and it just helps you organize your ideas that you jot down on the train as you commute to work. Was it a good idea? A bad one? Not sure yet? There’s a spot to comment at the bottom!!)

(BRIGHT IDEAS: ISBN 978-1-4521-3914-2)
(EVIL SCHEMES: ISBN 8-25703-12160-5)

 

2. Writing Gloves

I don’t know about anyone else, but my hands get COLD when I’m writing in the winter. And cramp up. Since I write by hand, that’s not good at all! Thankfully, if I’m on my computer, I get a little bit of computer heat if I’m plugged in. But what about when I’m not?

I’m obsessed with these gloves by Storiarts and really want to pick up a pair for myself. (I’m torn between the Alice in Wonderland pair and the Peter Pan pair and just can’t make up my mind! I meant to ask for them for Christmas this year, but forgot…oops!!)

I have a lot of fingerless gloves, but the knit ones so easily found at stores can be scratchy, and they usually don’t have the thumb cut out.

What attracts me to the Storiarts Gloves is the way they’re more cottonish and will feel like a regular article of clothing. PLUS the thumbs are cut out. AND they have bookish references! #winwin

Ready to see these gloves in action?

From text to cool designs such as white rabbits and pixies, there’s always something to stare at while you’re wearing these gloves!

The gloves retail at $26, BUT Storiarts is so fantastic, that they’re giving out a special discount for our readers!!!

If you want these gloves–for yourself or a friend–
add discount code

ThatArtsyReaderGirl

(it’s not case sensitive!) to get 10% off your purchase!

This code is valid once per customer through the month of December!

If you order by December 19th, you’re guaranteed to have US Delivery in time for Christmas/Chanukah!

 

3. Story Cubes

Turn writing into a game! Especially when Writer’s Block is running rampant.

I saw Rory’s Story Cubes at the store recently, and thought they were adorable! Not to mention fun. And there are different packs, so whether you’re writing a novel about traveling to a foreign country or having a daring adventure, there’s something for every writer.

The pair I own, however, is wooden, and just has an old-fashioned, quaint, whimsical feel that I love as a fantasy writer, the Magic and Fairy-Tale Dice. You can special order it locally from stores such as Barnes and Noble, or buy it online from places such as Amazon (Though if you can support a local business and keep them around, that’s always personally my first go-to! The ISBN is 978-1856699198). My copy came from a Japanese bookstore in New York City called Kinokuniya.

What’s cool about this game is the fact that it’s not JUST a game. It can also be used as a tool for writers. Having writer’s block or looking for a cool element to include in the WIP you’re outlining? Throw some dice, invent a few words, and see where you wind up!

Additionally, this is a fun game to play with your friends, or even with kids, and it will never be the same story twice.

The game’s tagline is:

Revive the art of storytelling using these nine beautifully illustrated wooden dice to create the most imaginative, funny, and bizarre stories. This is the perfect family game that will stimulate the imaginations of children and adults alike. Ideal for playing by a log fire.

Here’s an old video review I did featuring the Magic and Fairy-Tale Dice:

These dice double as a game that can be played with friends and family members. Plus, they’re small and portable, and great to bring along on long car rides!

 

4. Writers actually DO like pens and notebooks!
There is no such thing as “too many!”

I’ve always LOVED getting notebooks and pens as gifts. I often see Kooky pens at A.C. Moore’s and Hallmark, and sometimes buy them even now. Pens with cute designs or pencils with interesting erasers are unique and fun, too. I always save the most interesting writing instruments for special occasions. When I was younger, I collected sets of Lisa Frank pens and wrote with them most frequently. (Does Lisa Frank even still exist? IDK!)

Fun notebooks with cute designs are inspirational, too. I’d rather pick up something with a design over a plain cover notebook any day, especially if it’s reminiscent of the project I’m working on.

Now, I know a lot of writers type and don’t write by hand, but it doesn’t mean they don’t still need to jot down ideas from time to time! Especially small, compact notebooks that fit into a purse. Or what if they’re at work and don’t want to whip out their computer at lunch? My one co-worker (Who just won NaNoWriMo 2016!!!) writes in her notebook every day at lunch. To her, every free minute is a writing minute!

 

5. Pen and Pencil Holders

Where are you going to put all those cute, fancy pens? Whether you’re a writer or a student, you’re going to want a cute case, right?

Until recently, I had no clue of where to go to find a cute case. I always looked during Back to School, but everything was plain or too kiddie.

Luckily, I was gifted a pouch by a publisher, and another by my awesome #OTSPSecretSister:

(I have no clue where my Sister got that case, but see all those zippers? It has THREE compartments to hold stuff. It’s amazing and my favorite thing ever!!!)

But not every writer can have a great pouch just fall into their laps.

That’s where great online shops such as Etsy and RedBubble come into play! My favorite shop belongs to Evie Seo, whose mugs, tote bags, and other book-themed offerings have made social media waves. If you’ve ever been to a big bookish event such as YALL or BookCon, you’ve probably seen at least one person sporting Evie’s designs!

Evie’s Studio Pouches make the PERFECT writing utensil bags for writers! (They also make great cosmetic bags!)

They come in Medium and Large sizes. The medium is a perfectly sized pencil pouch, while the larger one can also be a book sleeve in addition to all the utensils it can fit inside!

Here are some great examples of these stylish bags at work:

Can you see why Evie’s designs are my favorites!?

I love that she can be very fairy tale-ish and full of whimsy, or super bookish with quotes from favorite novels! There’s definitely something for everyone in her shop!

How about a GIVEAWAY!?

To make this holiday season even better for the writer in your life (or yourself, if you’re a writer!!), Evie Seo has graciously offered up a Studio Pouch with a design of choice to one lucky writer!!!!

Happy Holidays, Bookworms!

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Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis | Book Review

Posted December 13, 2016 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis | Book ReviewUnder the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor #6.5
Published by Forever Yours on December 4, 2012
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 80
Format: eARC
Source: Purchased
Add to Goodreads
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JUST ONE MORE KISS

There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts-and asking for forgiveness.

Nick grew up without a family of his own so he's overwhelmed by the love that Mia receives from all her relatives, gathered together to celebrate the season. Under their watchful eyes, Nick finds earning back her trust the hardest thing he's ever had to do. If he succeeds, he will receive the greatest gift of all, Mia's love for a lifetime.

Can you believe this is my first Jill Shalvis book? I own SO many of her titles, but this is the first one I’ve read and I really loved it! It’s short and romantic… just what I need during this time of year when I want quick doses of Christmas cheer.

While this book can stand on its own, it takes place after the 6th book in the Lucky Harbor series. As much as I enjoyed it I’m pretty sure I would have loved it even more if I had read the first 6 books in the series already. I wasn’t confused or anything, and everything made sense… but it’s kind of like coming in to the school year mid-way through after all the friendships and routines have been set. I felt like I should have known these people better. The good thing, though, is that I love Lucky Harbor and I’m even more eager to begin the series! This was a great way for me to see if I like Jill’s writing, characters, setting, and swoons… and I do!

I really liked Mia and Nick together… even though I didn’t like Nick in the beginning. When he turns up in Lucky Harbor to win her back, though, I couldn’t help but smile and watch him try. There were some funny moments, deep moments, and downright romantic moments all wrapped up with a festive bow on top. I won’t say anything more because this book is a tiny little thing and I don’t want to ruin it. If you’re looking for a sweet christmas story, a continuance of the Lucky Harbor series, or even an easy book to commit to in order to decide if Jill Shalvis is an author for you (like I did), this is a really great book to pick up! And even though it’s a really short story, it felt complete and fully developed to me. A very enjoyable read!

Christmas In What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae | Bonus Scene (+ Giveaway)

Posted December 12, 2016 by Jana in Giveaway, Guest Post / 2 Comments

I am SOOOO excited to have Kristin Rae here on the blog today! Guys, I love Kristin. Her debut, Wish You Were Italian, is one of my favorite books ever and her sophomore novel, What You Always Wanted is super adorable too!

Today Kristin is presenting this exclusive Christmas bonus scene of What You Always Wanted, and it’s pretty perfect. It’s pretty much as perfect as the Wish You Were Italian bonus scene she wrote for my blog last year. Can you tell I can’t get enough of her novels? I always want more! Thank you so much, Kristin, for writing this sweet scene for my blog!

 

What You Always Wanted Christmas Bonus Scene by Kristin Rae


“So … what first?” I ask, sinking into the couch with my legs folded under me.
After closing the last blackout curtain so there’s no glare on the screen from the setting sun, Jesse plops down next to me and takes my hand in his. “How about this?”

I rub the soft, squishy skin between his thumb and pointer finger, leaning toward him until our shoulders touch but stopping short of resting my head against him. Yeah, I know we danced most of the day at the playhouse—by “dancing,” I mean “kissing”—but being able to snuggle against him on a couch in the dark when I was only dreaming about the possibility twenty-four hours ago … it’s not totally computing.

“This is nice,” I say, and he makes a noise of agreement as he settles deeper into the back cushion. “But I guess I mostly meant which movie do you want to watch?” With one hand, I pull my bag from the floor and dump the movie selection across our laps.

“It’s a Wonderful Life? The Bishop’s Wife? Are these Christmas movies?” he asks with an implied groan, which I ignore.

“Yes! Just a few of my favorites.” I let go of his hand and sort the DVDs. “I was thinking we could start with White Christmas because there’s dancing, and one of the characters does this crazy thing where she taps her toe at light speed, and I want you to show me if that’s even physically possible, then we could balance out the dancing after that with The Shop Around the Corner—”

“Hold on.” He stops me with a finger to my lips, and a little chill travels down to my toes. “Why did you ask what I wanted to watch if you had everything planned out through—” He counts the movies. “—tomorrow morning?”

I laugh, tugging a throw blanket over my legs to warm my nerves. “Well, I wasn’t expecting to watch all of them in one go.”

“Maddie. Christmas is over. It’s New Year’s Day. Radio stations have stopped playing holiday music. We’ve all moved on.” He looks me in the eye with a straight face. “You can too.”

My mouth drops open in exaggerated surprise, but it turns into a smile when he laughs. “The season needs to last loooongerrrr,” I say. “It has the best movies, the best music, best weather. And besides, we didn’t really get to experience it, like … I mean …”

“Like boyfriend and girlfriend, you mean?” He’s not laughing anymore, but a corner of his mouth stays up in a sly-looking half-smile.

I mirror him. “Maybe.”

“Best weather?” he asks, like he just registered everything else I said. “How ya figure?”

“Cold, sometimes rainy or windy, chance of snow. It just feels … Christmassy, you know?”

“If by chance of snow, you mean point zero zero zero zero two percent chance, then I totally know what you’re talking about.” He pulls the blanket so it covers his legs too and acts like he’s nestling against me for warmth. “So Christmassy.”

I go ahead and lean my head on his as we continue to hold hands under the blanket. Because I can. I smile to myself and listen to us breathe, memorize the feel of his hand in mine.

“All I’m asking is for one more day, Jesse,” I plead as playfully as possible so it doesn’t sound like begging. “One day with you where it still feels like there’s some Christmas magic leftover.”

“Okay. As your boyfriend, I will do this for you. The holiday season has been extended one more day.”

I sit up to study his face. He just called himself my boyfriend. And it didn’t freak him out. And it didn’t freak me out.

“You sure? Because as your girlfriend, I don’t want you to be completely miserable with the first movie we watch together as an official couple.”

“I can’t promise I won’t fall asleep at some point, but I can promise I’ll be the opposite of miserable as long as I can do this.” He tightens his grip on our interlaced fingers, indicating he’s content just to be here with me, holding hands. “Hang on. I’ll be right back.”

He disappears into the hall, and I hear him clomp down the stairs, then back up a minute later. “Close your eyes,” he calls from outside the room. “Okay?”

“They’re closed.”

“Keep ‘em shut.” He makes some racket up near the TV, and for a second I think he might be switching movie choices on me. Like I’d let him get away with that.

It gets brighter on the other side of my eyelids, and I scrunch my eyebrows together. Not because it’s that bright, but because I’m so confused by what he could be doing.

“Okay. Open.”

He stands proudly in front of the TV, which he’s draped with a string of colored Christmas lights. They’re covering part of the screen, but I don’t care. He’s so adorably sweet, I almost can’t stand it.

I hop up off the couch, and before wrapping my arms around him, I lean in and give the tiny round scar on his cheek a quick kiss. Merry Christmas to me.

Have you read What You Always Wanted?
You really should because how cute are Maddie and Jesse?

What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae
Series: If Only… #8
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s on March 29, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Add to Goodreads | Amazon

If only…he was the boy she’s been dreaming of.

Theatre girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she’s struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family—but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theatre’s dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball—not dance—is Jesse’s passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?

This fun, high school theatre romance in the If Only line is for anyone who has ever wished for that impossibly perfect guy.

About Kristin Rae

Lover of books, music, chocolate, and crafty things. My young adult contemporary novels WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN, and WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED are out now, from Bloomsbury. Represented by Marietta Zacker of the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

Website | Twitter

 

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Once Upon a Winter’s Eve by Tessa Dare | Book Review

Posted December 11, 2016 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Once Upon a Winter’s Eve by Tessa Dare | Book ReviewOnce Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare
Series: Spindle Cove #1.5
Also in this series: A Night to Surrender, Beauty and the Blacksmith
Genres: Historical Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 113
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Some wallflowers bloom at night…

Violet is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. The gentlemen aren’t beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet’s feet. He’s wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he’s not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable… Love.

A Christmas ball crasher! Guys, I love Tessa Dare’s stories. They are always so unique and swoony, and this one doesn’t disappoint at all. I’ve always been the quiet, bookish wallflower type, which is why I loved Violet Winterbottom in A Night to Surrender (review coming in January). Now I love her even more! She’s smart and sassy and sweet. She’s also assertive and strong. She’s been through a LOT. I loved the mysterious injured man, and who he became to Violet. Boy, was his entrance memorable the way he stumbled into the ball injured and delirious and fell on her lap. The mystery and conspiracy surrounding him were super intriguing, and I really enjoyed getting to know him. He doesn’t speak English, so Violet’s language expertise brings them together as she tries to figure out who he is. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say… he’s not who he first appears to be.

I think I liked this story more than the one in A Night to Surrender! I wish it were longer because I really connected with these characters and the story. I hope to see more of them in the next Spindle Cove novel so I can see what they’re up to. Definitely read this book if you plan to stick with Spindle Cove or if you’re looking for a quick romance (it can stand on its own but there’s a cameo of the characters we met in the first book so that’s fun!). Sometimes novellas feel rushed or incomplete, but this one didn’t! I loved it!

Merry Christmas from Vienna, Austria | Book Blogger Guest Post

Posted December 10, 2016 by Jana in Guest Post / 3 Comments

Today I’m welcoming one of my dearest book blogging friends, Karin, from My Life… Karin wrote about the Christmas markets in Vienna a few years ago, and I’m so happy to have her back to talk about her beloved Christmas traditions and the differences between Christmas in the USA and Christmas in Austria. I’ve wanted to visit Austria since I saw The Sound of Music as a little girl, and Karin’s posts always make me want to visit even more! Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us, Karin!

Merry Christmas from Vienna, Austria
by Karin

Merry Christmas from Vienna, Austria to all you lovely readers and a big “Thank You!” to my dear friend Jana for asking me to, once again, be a part of her Christmas Countdown.

She also let me write about any Christmas related topic I wanted and so I decided to tell you a bit about my Christmas time.

Christmas in the USA and Austria is really different – at least it seems like it from my side of the pond.

Christmas time for me starts on December 1st. That’s the first day for Christmas tunes, visiting the Christmas markets (if you want to know about them in greater detail, I wrote a post for Jana 3 years ago) and especially it is the first day you open your advent calendar. I cannot remember a time I did not get one from my mum. There are many different kinds you can buy – filled with chocolates, spices, nail polishes, teas, etc. – but mine were always handmade by my mum. I can remember a year she made me 24 fir trees out of toilet paper rolls and a cut-out fir and filled them with different little goodies. I also often got a big wicker basket filled with packages but this year I got a stack of different colored boxes, filled with coupons (a mulled wine at a Christmas market), chocolates or tiny figurines.

A must during Christmas time is also visiting one, two, three or all (that would be around 20 in Vienna only) Christmas markets. The biggest one in Vienna is in front of city hall and the whole square is filled with tiny wooden huts where you can buy ornaments, toys, stuffed animals, mulled wine, jacket potatoes, chocolate covered strawberries (a must have each year), chocolates, jewelry and so many more things. Visiting means putting on lots and lots of layers to survive the cold (often it’s the only time during the year I put on a hat), exploring all the goodies they sell at the stalls and finishing with some yummy food (chocolate covered strawberries as dessert) and one, two, three cups of mulled wine in good company.

I graduated high school 12 years ago and we had a class system (not a course system). So all 20 students were together all day and the teachers came into our classroom. We also had one teacher who was “responsible” for the class and acted as an intermediator between students, teachers and parents. Our teacher taught Math and French and for 12 years now, we (our teacher and all 14 students of my graduation class) meet regularly during Christmas time to get some food and catch up on all the things that happened in our lives. It is such a lovely and nice tradition that we always find time in our busy lives to fit this evening in.

In case you did not know, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve aka December 24th. School holidays usually started on either the 22nd or the 23rd and for over 15 years now, me and all of my friends have a tradition of meeting in our favorite pub on the evening of the 23rd to celebrate Christmas together. We bring Christmas cookies and enjoy each other’s company. December 23rd is a date every one of my friends puts into their new calendar on January 1st because it’s our very own and very beloved tradition. It’s a chance for all of us to come together and catch up. Since we now have jobs and some have kids, we don’t see each other often during the year and we are never all together in one place at the same time. There are smaller groups that see each other regularly but on December 23rd we all, which means around 150 people, gather around and celebrate. Some people I’ve known for 20, 25 years and some just became friends 2 years ago – it does not matter, Christmas celebration starts on December 23rd.

On the day of Christmas Eve, me and my parents put up our Christmas tree. Yes, that’s right, Austrians only put it up on Christmas but we leave it up till January 6th or even longer. So during the morning we reorganize part of our living room, put up the tree, irritate my dog Felix because there is now a big tree in the apartment and decorate it while listening to Christmas music (until my mum gets antsy and demands that enough is enough and we switch back to a radio station). Decorating the tree is mine and mum’s job. My dad tolerates it that he is responsible for putting the tree up straight but after that he usually vanishes and is seen again at lunchtime.

For many years we had a fixed menu each Christmas – turkey with dumplings and red cabbage – but some years ago we decided to mix it up and now we are cooking something different each year. Last year we had homemade “Tafelspitz”, an Austrian specialty of slow cooked beef with lots of yummy side dishes. I insist on having a special kind of ice cream as dessert so that’s still there each year.

Christmas Eve is also really special for us because me and my parents exchange gifts around 5 pm and after some quality family time, some American friends come over to celebrate with us. So Christmas Eve for me means having an intimate time with my immediate family but a big party with good food and lots of laughs as well.

December 25th is the day we spend with the extended family. My mum’s mother and my dad’s dad live about an hour away from Vienna and we go to my grandmother’s for lunch and afterwards we drive 15 minutes to my grandpa and celebrate with my aunts, uncles and all the cousins. We enjoy coffee and Christmas cookies, visit my grandmother’s grave which includes a walk through a dark and quiet town and after that my grandpa goes to check if the “Christkind” – our version of Santa Claus – has arrived and lights the candles on the tree. Before opening the presents, we gather around to sing Silent Night (loud, in a high pitch and we usually are not sure which is the second and which is the third verse but still …).

December 26th is the day of rest in my family so me and my mum can usually be found on the couch reading one of our new books and my dad is usually somewhere in the apartment practicing his mandolin.

I love Christmas time and enjoy seeing the beautiful lights all over the city and I cannot wait to meet up with my old classmates, friends and family.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas with your loved ones and would love to hear your holiday traditions in the comments.