As I mentioned before, on November 2nd I’ll be at the Southern Magic Romance Readers’ luncheon in Alabama. Aside from being the keynote speaker – which means giving a half-hour speech that will hopefully not turn into a rambling mess – I’m also providing a gift basket for a giveaway. My inclination is to fill the basket with these things:
Coffee (does life exist without it? :))
A new e-reader (take home books without more things to pack!)
A gift card for said new e-reader (what’s a new e-reader without a little something to help fill it?)
Chocolate (what goes better with coffee and books?)
However, since this gift basket isn’t for me (or I would totally do the above because books, coffee, and chocolate are my favorite things!) I’m asking for your input. If you were the winner of the gift basket, what would you hope it would contain? Remember, new houses, winning lotto tickets, jewelry, and handsome actors are outside my budget range *wink*
That would be a fabulous basket! I would have to give the coffee away though. 🙂
I would like a contribution to the SPCA. Anywhere in the country, it doesn’t matter which city.
I would want a gift certificate for a pedicure! Jeaniene, we should get a pedicure when we’re together! 🙂
Starbucks Card
Being that it fall and the weather is dropping.
Soft aloe socks (they sell them at Walmart, it so soft)
Coffee mug, (with a clever saying from your series)
Hot chocolate,
Biscotti, or chocolate spoon that you can stir you coffee and eat it at the same time.
Sugar rock stick that you can leave in your coffee and stir while it melts sugar into your coffee.
Some kind of cracker that will go with the coffee or hot chocolate.
Maybe a snuggie. When I cuddle to read I usually have a snuggie, fuzzy sock, coffee, and a book.
E-reader stand, if you get tired of holding the e-reader.
Hmm, maybe coffee and/or tea? So there’s an option and a cute mug to drink out of- maybe one with a book theme? I’ve seen very cute ones!
Other than that, yes to everything! Although I would include caramel and chocolate because yum.
I would say merchandise that has to do with characters. A stylist for ereader maybe. I kno when I went to raw in sept the big thing was an arc
I love all your ideas! Here are mine:
– At least one of your books, signed
– Any swag from your books
– Could you get signed books from any your author friends in time?
– Some nice-smelling things – candles and such. Choose scents that remind you of your books/characters.
– Giftcard to Ulta or Sephora, with suggestions on perfumes and/or makeup, i.e. Cat would wear this lipstick, Leila would wear this perfume, etc.
And now I’m considering coming. Birmingham is only a 3-hour drive. HMMM. 🙂
That is a wonderful basket. I have wanted an ereader for a long time. right now im using the kindle app on my phone, but when im flying i can use my phone.
How about a nice bottle of wine, shopping gift card or dinner some place nice!
How about a travel mug/regular mug to drink the coffee in?
Since I attending the luncheon I have to say I love your choices. I think maybe a t-shirt or coffee mug or a signed book would be great too! Looking forwarded to meeting you too!
PLEEEEEEAAAASE that would be AWESOME!
Something personally signed by you.
Hersey kisses (my favorite chocolate)
And something something with Cat and Bones on it <3333
(Or any Night Huntress, World, or Prince merchandise that's easily accessible to you)
Most likely I’ll be going there to see you so it would be awesome to receive something related to the series like signed books and other merchandise like those bones bracelets! 🙂
Signed audiobook or audiobooks of yours signed by both yourself and Tavia Gilbert since she is gonna be there 🙂
I agree with a lot of the items that others have chimed in. I’d add these as well:
A book light (for those of us too broke and stuck in our ways to buy an e-reader)
A fancy book mark or place holder
A handmade item such as a scarf or hat
Cinnamon scented candle
Gift set of teas.
something handmade to be extra special ( and tea instead of coffee)
i agree with the booklight idea too
I would love it if it included… Bones, Spade, Ian… you get the picture… 😉 You said no actors, they are characters you actually know and can include in a basket… right?
Other than a tag with my name on it, I think a signed book by you would make it perfect. 😀
Well, I don’t really have to contribute anything else, because all of the things mentioned above are great and I bet anybody attending will be hyped to win these things! It’s an awesome basket (whatever you choose from the above, or the basket you already thought up yourself) and really generous, too!
You are awesome!
Your basket sounds great, e reader and gift card for it are wonderful gifts. A mug or glass with Kat or Bones would be wonderful too, however I believe what you have put together is very sufficient. We don’t need to financially break the writer., 🙂
I coo over cute mugs but then end up re-gifting them. In the end, I like my own best because the rest are just off balls in the collection.
I love everything on your list. I’m a tea drinker, but the odds are heavily in favor of a coffee drinker receiving the basket. I think you nailed it! I would be over the moon with it!!
Make that “odd” balls.
Wine is always a good thing!
I like theme baskets. So Southern Magic Romance conference: local wine, chocolate, candles, shiny magic wand..
How about a case for the e-reader so they b scared to use it while they are there no one wants to break something new
An e-reader loaded up with all of your books would be a great addition to the basket.
The e-reader and gift card would be really great. Since everyone has different tastes you could give people a tea/coffee/hot chocolate option and have nice dunking biscuits in a tin with the tea, a classy box of chocolates with the coffee and some good marshmallows with the hot chocolate. With them you could give a signed copy of one of your books, a nice mug, scented candle and bookmark, as well as a t-shirt and/or bracelet with something to do with your books on them. I hope that helped and I didn’t suggest too much =)
An ereader with your books or a gift card for amazon or b&n would be a wonderful gift. And maybe a cuddly throw to curl up with.
I think that is a great gift basket. I bet even military soldiers men and women would like it. But maybe add a Music CD or Movie loaded into the ereader as well. Coffee and Chocolate are great too. Shoot I would love a gift basket like that.
I like what you have but, I think signed books by you would be better than the reader! You can get them anywhere. Signed books are more cherished!!!! Good luck to whomever wins this basket!!!!!!
I suggest coffee, tea and hot chocolate. I would suggest that you offer a caffeine free option. As with the chocoloate, I would suggest offering a small sampling of white, milk and dark. Sometime what you want varies with your mood.
As for T-shirts or wine, I would suggest avoiding those items. T-shirts because one size doesn’t fit all and wine only to avoid tempting someone who might be dealing with addiction.
As for books and an e-reader, I think a combination would be awesome. For all the reasons others have mentioned, an e-reader allows for convenience, a personally signed book is much cherished, and lots of us who read also love to listen to audio books especially when driving or cleaning house.
Best wishes for a successful event and good luck to all those who attend on winning the basket.
I have gone all E-Reader in the past few years, I miss my books sometimes, after all, how do you ask an auther to sign an EBook? I think If you included a basic cover to the E-Reader and autographed it there would be a nice compromise, the best of both worlds.
Good Luck 🙂
It all sounds good to me!!!
An ARC copy of “Up From the Grave”…
1st edition signed copies of either all of Cat’s books or a signed 1st edition of the first bk in each of your series.
A stuffed cat that looks like her Kitty would be cool!! It may be corny but a cat themed basket with a donation to the winners choice of animal charities.
What I would want? To win an opportunity to pick your brain. So, maybe give away a question & answer session with you!!
I love your basket. Not everyone is a coffee drinker, but they probably know someone who is so it’s not like it’ll go to waste. An alternate option would be a pretty mug. The winner could fill it with whatever he/she wants. Someone above mentioned a Starbucks gift card, which is a good idea; it can go in the mug. (Starbucks serves more than tea and coffee.)
The swag idea is nice too. Perhaps some of your favorite romance novels this year or recommended reads. I always love hearing genuine book recommendations from authors. You could note if the book has a yummy hero, kickbutt heroine, or sweeping love story.
Maybe the inclusion of a e-reader protector or cover, if it’s in the budget. Don’t want it to break while traveling! :o)
Love the basket. Some of the best gift baskets I’ve ever gotten had stuff I’d never bought for myself. I do think something signed would be awesome. Maybe a card that says “congratulations” or “hope you enjoy the basket”.
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