For some reason, it didn’t quite register when my husband pointed the camera at me as I opened my birthday gift a week and a half ago, that there was something truly special secreted under the purple flowered wrapping paper I’d bought during a school fundraising drive several years ago. It turns out that he wanted to capture the look on my face as I opened the package to find my biggest (current) materialistic dream had been fulfilled.

He bought me a Kindle. And I am in love. Um, with him. Yeah, that’s what I meant.

Here’s the not-so-flattering picture he got, by the way:

As someone who gave up the love of reading as life got more and more hectic and then a baby was thrown into the equation, I fondled my new electronic device with mixed emotions. Of course, I was elated by the gadget…and the fact that my darling husband had actually heard something I’d said in the past six months. But, there was the fear that I wouldn’t use it enough. That it would be a waste of money.

Fortunately, I’m already about 90% done with my first novel (Alice Sebold’s Almost Moon) and already have a wish list in mind. Next will be The Timetraveler’s Wife, and then is Wicked. (I’m telling you, I am really far behind in pop culture reading.)

But, I’m not content with my piddly little list of “must reads.” I am insatiable at the moment. That’s why I’m asking you to offer suggestions for my wish list. What should I read, and why? Tell me about your favorite fiction. What classics make the world a better place by their mere existence? Fill me in on industry books I should be reading. What authors will blow my mind? What’s the best nonfiction book I’ve been missing out on for these last several years?

Go crazy, people. I’m hoping to have a list of 100 “must-read” books that lets me know my husband will get his money’s worth out of this purchase.

If you’re not reading this through your RSS Reader, it’s safe to assume the person who posted this is a content thief and should be reported.

by Deb Ng

I have to admit…if someone I know stuck a package of Blog Posts Sticky Notes in my stocking I’d be touched. It would mean the people in my life sort of get what it is I do. It might also add a touch of practical whimsy to my stocking. These aren’t your usual post its, they’re not even from the same company.

Blog Posts Sticky Notes are from the Imagineering company. Each sticky looks like blank blog dashboard or comment form. But better. Blog Sticky Notes use advanced pencil to paper technology. No wires are involved. No cable hookup – just you and your favorite writing instrument. I know. The idea of putting pen to paper might seem challenging at first, but it can be quite freeing. Try it once and see what I mean.

I promise, when your favorite blogger wakes up to find a be-ribboned package of Block Posts Sticky Notes under the sparkly pine he or she will marvel at your thoughtfulness and sense of humor. If Mr Ng took the time to find me an actual “blogging” gift, I’d probably bawl like a baby.

A package of these puppies retail for about nine bucks and can be ordered through the Imagineering Company website.

Trust me on this, it’s a small thing that will mean a lot.

Check out some of these other great holiday gift ideas for writers and bloggers:

• Cricket Laptop Stand and Power Squid
• Writer’s Remedy
• Jewelry for Writers and Bloggers
• Coffee 2.0
• Leather Wrap Journal
• External Hard Drives and Flash Drives

Make no mistake. I will NOT be waking up at 3:00 am to brave the crowds for the latest new items. I will NOT be pushing through throngs of people to fight over the latest “big” toy for my son. On Friday, I will be home enjoying my family. In fact, I have no plans to step inside a store or mall for the entire weekend. I’m not that adventurous. However, I know a few members of this community get a charge out of all the Black Friday deals and so I present to you some items of interest:

Black Friday Deals for Freelance Writers and Bloggers:

1. Vista Print: 80% off premium business cards+ free shipping
2. Vista Print: 50% off all calendars
3. Dell has a variety of notebooks and laptops on sale Friday.
4. MacMall has plenty of MacBooks up for offer
5. I like this Laptop Backpack at Best Buy
6. Staples has an office chair for $20 off
7. Staples also has a variety of computer accessories including cordless keyboards and mice. (I’m all about the wireless, myself.)
8. WalMart.com has a Flip HD video camera with accessories bundle. (I love my Flip)
9. A Hammer 400 GB portable hard drive at Buy.com is on $99 after rebate plus free shipping.
10. Flash drives make awesome stock stuffers at Buy.com.
11. Staples is offering $25 off on a Canon Power Shot digital camera.
12. Brookstone is taking $20 off a Flip Ultra video camera
13. Mac Connection has a variety of items for sale on Black Friday.

Happy shopping!

Wait. Put down the pitchforks. I know I said just a post ago that writers don’t want boring gifts, and I stand by that. Still, most of us do get a balance of practical vs frivolous as gifts during our respective holidays and birthdays. With that in mind, I’d like to appeal to the gift giver’s practical side today. Beside, I think I’ve thrown in a pretty good mix here.

Before I toss out today’s offerings, I’d like to stress these are not meant to give as “THE” gift. I might even go as far as to suggest that if you will be presenting one of these to a someone special you tape something sparkly or gadgety to it as well. Trust me, on this, I know.

Power Squid - I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the power squid. At first glance it’s a glorified multi-armed extension cord. It goes way beyond that though. If you’re one of those people who have a tangled mess of wires hidden behind your desk screaming out “fire hazard” you’ll eventually thank me for this recommendation. I appreciate that the plug has a swiveled head so I don’t have to push out the bookcase to plug it in. A small thing, but a big thing nonetheless.

The power squid is also infinitely more attractive than your run of the mill surge protector/power strip and takes up a lot less space. In addition to having five cords to plug your essentials into, the power squid offers two more bonus sockets on the body of the Calamari itself. They glow in the dark too, so you don’t have to turn on a light to plug something in. If you’re in the market for a new surge protector or want to replace the one you have, definitely go Power Squid. You won’t be disappointed.

Cricket Laptop Stand – The Cricket Laptop stand is a worthy stocking stuffer. In fact, it’s small enough to fit in a purse, briefcase, or yes, giant Christmas sock. It even has a fancy, be-drawstringed bag to carry it around with.  Anyone who works with a laptop on a regular basis will appreciate finding this puppy nestled in the fake cotton surrounding your Christmas tree skirt.

The Cricket Laptop Stand elevates your notebook to a more comfortable height. Since it’s fully adjustable, the height depends on your comfort, not someone else’s. Plus, with your machine raised up off the table, it increases the airflow making you less likely to overheat.

Now that I have one I use it often. I treally doesn’t look like much, but once you use it once, you’ll most likely use it again and again.

Check out some of our other recommendations for holiday gifts for writers and bloggers:

• Writer’s Remedy
• Jewelry for Writers and Bloggers
• Coffee 2.0
• Leather Wrap Journal
• Hard Drives and Flash Drives

Yesterday I contacted a sponsor for my Cookerati blog (Dunkin’ Donuts) to see if they would be interested in giving away a gift basket here. I thought it would be a nice change from the usual fare and an awesome gift for the winner. It occurred to me that I could do a lot more of these giveaways if I had enough sponsors and prizes. The thing is, whenever I put out word that I’m doing a gift guide or that I would like sponsors for giveaways, I get a whole bunch of self help books and laptop supplies. Now, there’s nothing wrong with these, but every blogging and writing blog in cyberspace are giving away ProBlogger books (been there, done that) and surge protectors. I was looking for something a little less….boring.

So I put out word that I was looking for fun gifts for writers and received an impressive response.  The problem is, my definition of fun, and some publicists’ definition of fun are two totally different animals. I had offers of extension cords, a heart rate monitor, a light for the inside of one’s toilet so the men in your lives don’t miss at night, and epoxy glue. Yes, epoxy glue. To give away to writers and bloggers.

I ask you…

Are these fun gifts for writers or bloggers?

I’ve also been looking around at some of the holiday gift guides going up at blogs and websites about this time and they’re mostly all books and software. Again, there is nothing wrong with this, but where’s the frivolity? Are writers all so serious we’re only books and computers? Speaking as the girl who received a paper shredder as the “big gift” one year, I can tell you we don’t only want books and power cords in our stockings this year.

We can have fun! Really!

I have a confession to make. Sometimes I like to tell a joke or two. If it’s really funny I’ll even let out a big old belly laugh. And on my downtime I’ve even been known to let my hair down and enjoy the company of others…outside of the house!! I know!

I understand we need to be practical. I even represent the practical side in my own gift guides and giveaways, but we’re not all books and computer programs. We’re actually pretty darn human. I don’t get my husband, the accountant, calculators and slide rules for the holidays. Nor do I give my sister the teacher apples and attendance books.

Show a little imagination when buying for the writer in your life. Check out some vintage typewriter key bracelets or baskets of bath products. Send your favorite blogger a bottle of wine or the latest gadget. Trust me, we’ll appreciate the distraction.

by Deb Ng

Here’s a fun way to battle writer’s block: Writers Remedy is a bunch of magnetic words in a jar. Simply take out some words, pop ‘em up on the fridge and mix and match until you come up with some ideas. There are 300 words in the jar, enough to nudge you back to the task at hand.

The jar retails for about $15 at the Magnetic Poetry website.

I’ve been accused of being too practical when choosing holiday gifts for writers and bloggers.  Today, I’d like to enter the world of frivolity with some jewelry suggestions for writers.

Typewriter Key Bracelet

typewriter key bracelet

Tell me you won’t be touched when a thoughtful person in your life buys you this typewriter key bracelet from eco.artware.com. It retails for $110 and we especially like that it’s made from the real thing, and recycling always gets thumbs up from the FWJ crew.

Typewriter Key Cufflinks

Typewriter key cufflinks

eco-artware.com also has something for our male readers. Typewriter key cufflinks. These retail for $43 for the pair but are on sale right now for $30.

Marbelized Book Jewelry

Marbelized book earrings, tie tack and lapel pin.

Isn’t this gorgeous? It looks like a marbelized journal. These come from Ashland Hardwood Gallery and are available as earrings, tie tack and lapel pin. They retail for $15 each.

Sterling Silver Computer Mouse Charm

Sterling Silver Computer Mouse Charm

This sterling silver computer mouse charm is adorable and will make a sweet stocking stuffer. You can buy it at Oodle.com and it retails for about $15.00.

Please see more holiday gifts for writers:

• Joffrey’s Coffee 2.0
• Leather Wrap Journal
• Flash Drives and External Hard Drives

by Deborah Ng

Last year Joffrey’s launched a Coffee 2.0 social media campaign to attract bloggers. They asked bloggers to sign up and sample their coffee. And what good coffee it is. I especially like that Joffrey’s gets the whole coffee/blogging thing. Did I mention the coffee is really good?

Joffrey’s offers organic coffees, flavored coffees, dark coffees, coffee collections, syrups, flavorings and more. If you’re looking to send your favorite blogger a coffee basket, when not send it from the people who actually GET blogging? A holiday sampler featuring a packet each of Mistletoe Mocha, Pumpkin Creme Brulee,  and Winter Wonderland will run only $25.00.  Not bad for a good cuppa.

Don’t miss my other suggestions for holiday gifts for writers and bloggers:

• Leather Wrap Journal from Kiki James of London
• Flash Drives and External Hard Drives

by Deborah Ng

Here’s an elegant holiday gift idea for writers. I recently received a Kiki James leather wrap journal as a gift and immediately faced two dilemmas. The first was that it was too beautiful to write in and the second was that I couldn’t wait to start writing in it. Not bad dilemmas at all when you consider many gifts people give me go into a closet and are promptly forgotten.

As someone who sits in front of a keyboard all day writing what other people tell me to write, it’s a real treat to hand write in a journal. Indeed I have a file cabinet filled with notebooks. But journals aren’t only for secret “Dear Diary” type thoughts. My journals hold ideas for some ebooks I’m writing, ideas for blog posts, plans for my house and more. When it comes to journaling, it’s all in the mind of the beholder.

A journal from Kiki James is a gift that, I think, would touch the heart of any writer. The outside is soft, buttery leather or suede and the inside is open to many possibilities. If I had a nit to pick, it’s that the pages aren’t lined. I’m one of those people who couldn’t write a straight line if my life depended on it.

The leather journals range in price but they average $30 to $60. I know , a little pricey but this isn’t your average journal from Staples or Office Depot. If you’re making a gift of a journal I would definitely suggest one like this that is classy, with a new leather smell that hits you as soon as you open the box.

Am I gushing? You would be too if someone gave you one of these. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.