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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

12 Reasons a Novel Is ALWAYS a Novel Christmas Gift

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

A novel is a perfect Christmas gift for the readers (and maybe even the non-readers) in your life. Print books, eBooks, & audiobooks make the perfect gift! via @chautonahavig

Here’s the thing.

I know you don’t want to hear it, but Christmas is only TEN weeks away–and that’s assuming you’re reading this the day it was (re)published!  If you are reading it tomorrow or the next day, well… you know.

But with Christmas inevitably comes the whole topic of gift-giving.  People seem to find gift-giving more and more stressful every year.  I hear statements like, “I don’t have time to shop and gift cards are just boring!”  Others love the idea of gift cards but fear it’ll seem like a cop-out.  So, I thought I’d share my:

12 Reasons a Novel IS ALWAYS a Novel Christmas Gift

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

12 Reasons to Give Books for Christmas

  1. Reading T-Shirt
    Image courtesy and property of Amazon.com

    You’re contributing to the literacy of our society.

  2. They’re cheaper than a vacation but provide a similar “escape.”  My books have the bonus of being “the write escape.”  Snort. 
  3. With Christian Fiction, you can give both an escape and encouragement.
  4. They’re lightweight for shipping, packing in suitcases, or carrying into Grandma’s house with all the other packages (unless you give books to everyone.  Then they have the added benefit of a workout on Christmas/delivery day!)
  5. They aren’t breakable–unless the story breaks the reader’s heart, and won’t break the bank (although they could break your back–see #4)
  6. They are never too big–meaning Aunt Fran doesn’t get miffed because you thought she was bigger than she is. Caution: some books (like Hawthorne’s, for example) are definitely too big.
  7.  They are never too small, which totally disappoints the recipient. However, some end when the reader never wants it to–making it too small but in a good way.
  8. It’s a thoughtful gift.  Does the recipient enjoy Mystery?  Suspense?  Romance?  Historical?  Fantasy?  Series?  Stand alones?   Good news for eclectic authors like me:  I write it all!  WOOT.  I even write for children!
  9. It helps the logging industry!  Let’s keep those loggers employed!  Did you know the United States has more trees now than it did 100 years ago?
  10. They’re easy to wrap!  No more oddly angled boxes!  No, sir.  Just fold a piece of wrapping paper over one edge of the cover, crease the other end, wrap around the book, fold the ends in, and tape.  Voila.  Easy peasy.  And, for the eco-conscious, you can use grocery bags with pretty ribbons instead of regular wrapping paper.  It takes less than an over-packaged whatzzit, too.  That’s right!  No additional packaging to worry about clogging the landfills.
  11. Aggie SeriesThey’re “instant.”  While gift cards are always appreciated, a stack of little cards on Christmas morning gives no immediate pleasure, while a book allows the recipient to curl up in a corner somewhere and enjoy it–no waiting!  Books are always open on Christmas.  😉  Caution:  It might be wise to give the cook his or her bookish gift AFTER Christmas dinner.  😉

    Remember how I said you shouldn’t read my books?  Remember how I also said I am a hypocrite?  I got a few sweet emails assuring me I’m not.  But here I am, proving it!  I tell you not to read them and then I make a post encouraging you to… buy books!  I should repent!  But I won’t.  😉
    Wait… I didn’t say you should READ them, did I?  I said you should give them as gifts.  Is that hypocritical?  Hmm… yeah.  It is.  But at least I didn’t lie when I said you shouldn’t read them, did I?  Hee hee

  12. Because I’ve written dozens of books, and reviewed even more! *shameless self-promotion moment. Sorry*  To check out books that I reviewed this year, here’s a link to my Review Category. To check out the books I have in print, peruse the Books page.  To peruse what’s coming or has just been released, check out the New & Coming page!
North & South by Gaskell
Image courtesy and property of Amazon.com

So here’s the thing (name that TV show).

Books are wonderful, simple, and thoughtful gifts for any reader.  Of course, if you have people who don’t read on your Christmas list… just strike them out!  You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life!

I mean, um… well, then you’ll have to come up with something else, but a lot of non-readers enjoy audiobooks or the movie versions of other well-loved books.

It’s an idea anyway, right?

kindle unlimitedCan’t decide what book to give or have a voracious reader who will have that book devoured before Christmas dinner hits the table?

I’ve got you covered.  If you have a special someone on your list, and you’re prepared to spend a little more on him or her (or you have friends and family who would like to chip in for a great gift, what about a Kindle Unlimited Subscription?

Tons of books available… ten at a time, but unlimited per month!  And if you’re concerned about how this affects authors and your desire to support them (thank you for that!) then please check out this video!

And As I Said, What about AudioBooks for a Christmas gift?

christmas presentsFor your jogger, commuter, taxi-mom, or just someone who likes having a book going at all times, audiobooks are a great gift.  Give a subscription or an individual title.

To learn more about why I LOVE audiobooks and highly recommend them, check out this episode of Because Fiction Podcast.

I have several books on audio:

  • Deepest Roots of the Heart
  • Past Forward (volumes 1 and 2 and others to come soon)
  • The Aggie Series (Ready or Not is available and the others coming)
  • Christmas on Breakers Point  (The Independence Islands series)
  • Dual Power of Convenience (The Independence Islands: coming in a few weeks)

Books or bath salts, Kindle or Keurig, have a fabulous Christmas and I look forward to a great New Year with you in 2021!

If you need a paperback, snag one on sale while you can HERE.

*Note: This post was originally published in October of 2014 and I’ve updated it for today!

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Comments

  1. Leah Spencer says

    October 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Oh! Oh! Oh! I hope you run that Past Forward special again!! I so badly wanted to buy all 6 paperback books last year, but an unemployed husband held me back. This year, he’s employed!!!!!! I love Willow. 🙂 I miss Willow. I want more Willow! Please? 😀

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
byChautona Havig

Debut Author, Sara Brunsvold, is bursting on the Christian Women’s fiction scene with an amazing book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. With characters who have captivated my heart from page one (and enough quirkiness to keep my attention to the last), Sara Brunsvold is sure to become a favorite author, and this book is already on my top five of the year before it’s even released!

Note links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!

If you’d told me that I’d fall so in love with two chapters of a book that it would push that book into my top five of the year so far, well… I’d have laughed.

The joke’s on me because it happened with Sara Brunsvold’s The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. This debut women’s fiction novel has a bit of a split-time element and is set in Kansas City. Trust me when I say that meeting Clara was one of the most fun introductions to a character I’ve ever had. I just love this woman, and I’m drumming my fingers to get to read more about her.  Not surprising considering it won the ACFW Genesis’s award a couple of years back. 😀

Sara says her passion is intergenerational stories, and you definitely get this with Aidyn and her “assignment,” Mrs. Kipp.  But you also get inter-cultural and ideological influences in this book as well.

And then there’s that next book she has coming out.  You know, the one about a gal cooking her way through her grandma’s German cookbook?  Yeah.  The one we have to wait until early 2024 for?  Yeah. That one.  Sigh.

When Sara told us about her favorite authors, a lot of things made sense.  Just sayin’. Find out which of Katherine Reay’s books are her favorites and how she fangirled over Reay’s response to an email (and why you should email your favorite author!).

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You’ll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

This book is 40% off with free shipping from Baker Book House. That’s less than the Kindle version if you like paper!

You can learn more about Sara at her WEBSITE (and sign up for that newsletter so you can get Mrs.Kip’s 8 Rules to Live By). Oh, and if she does those videos of her cooking through that book, you’ll want to know when/where to find them.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple 
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  • and more!
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
May 20, 2022
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