For many, the holidays are here. Finding the perfect gift can be difficult. There’s so many Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals out there. We hope you are finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
If you’re still looking — or haven’t started — we can help! Our authors have put together a list of gift ideas from small businesses around the internet. Whether you’re looking for a cute notebook or some
Trey Stone, Author of At The Gate
I am a writer of dark things, including thrillers, sci-fi and horror. When not writing, I love playing guitar, video games, and being active.
Gift Giving: I love getting people gifts they can either use or consume: tickets to an event, gear for their craft or art, a workout gadget or a nice bottle of something tasty.
If you’re buying for a reader of speculative fiction, I recommend the Books of Babel series by Josiah Bancroft. If you’re shopping for a gamer, I recommend the single player, turn-based came called Monster Sanctuary by Team17. It’s also on sale now on Steam!
I’d also like to recommend anyone who likes thrillers to check out the books by indie author Dawn Hosmer. She sadly passed away earlier this year, but her legacy lives on in her excellent writing.
Nicole Zelniker
A gift certificate from your local indie bookstore is always a great gift! My favorite indie bookstores are Epilogue and Flyleaf. I love them with my whole heart.
Anything from BookishBirds on Etsy, but this one is particularly gorgeous.
A book off of BookShop! Every purchase from their site supports independent bookstores. I’ve been waiting patiently for the universe to send me American Refuge by Diya Abdo and Disfigured by Amanda Leduc but the universe has not yet complied, it seems.
Dakota Rayne
Love local bookstores. Before COVID, I’d host writing groups at Changing Hands Bookstore. They not only have books by indie and trad publishers, but they also host local artists. You can find quirky socks, fun mugs, colorful stationary . . . nearly everything and anything you can imagine!
As for individual books, my short list includes Night of the Living Rez, I’m Glad My Mom Died, Between Enzo and the Universe by Chase Conner, Between Starfalls by S. Kaeth.
If you’re looking for cool art recommendations, I love Kahla Paints for their spooky cats and possums, Urban Knight Art and for all of their gothic art, BatwordsMedia for punk progressive art.
If you’re shopping for a plant-lover, you can never have enough plants. Try HandRFarms, they’re always high quality.
But if money is tight, and you’re wanting to do something special for a writer friend, special gestures go a long way: borrow their book from a library and write a review, bake them cookies, offer to babysit (if they have minions), pitch their book on socials or to local bookstores. Or simply offer your time — meet up virtually or in person for coffee or a shared movie.
Life is short. If you find yourself stressing out over finding the perfect present (like I do), take a step back and remember that the best present you can give someone is your presence. Corny, I know, but it’s true, isn’t it?