Gift Guide for Writers and Readers
Just add gift wrap to these 2021 book releases.
Since you can only gift so many fancy bookmarks to the bookworms in your life, I’ve rounded up some 2021 book recommendations from readers!
For the friend you trust with your most complicated emotions:
Mara recommends Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, “a beautiful story about friendship whose ending made me feel proud of both the characters and Rooney as an author. And those email exchanges! 🥵”
For the coworker who’s been WFH since March 2020:
Caitlin recommends Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke, a debut novel that “transcends its hook (the whole novel is written in Slack) and is quite profound about the nature of work and how we connect to each other. Plus: extremely funny!”
For the poet in your life:
Michael recommends Flower Grand First by Gustavo Hernandez, a collection of poems containing “intricately wrought worlds-in-a-moment that sweep the reader through vivid emotions and images.”
For the history nerd who always has a library book on their nightstand:
Krystina recommends The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, a novel about J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white.
For the writer who has waaaaaay too many pens:
This nostalgic sleepover-inspired zip pouch will wrangle every writing utensil and paper clip you’ve got. I designed this pouch with my friend Aysha Miskin! They’re handmade here in Jacksonville, FL, and by purchasing one, you’ll directly support our studio space.
For the voracious reader who’s impossible to shop for:
Can’t go wrong with a Bookshop gift card. Did you know that Bookshop.org has donated over $17 million (!!!) to independent bookstores since the site launched last year? By shopping with Bookshop, you keep bookstores alive.
Happy shopping this holiday season!
Chatting NaNoWriMo on the Why We Write Podcast
I recently spoke with Lesley University’s Why We Write podcast about surviving National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. In this episode, we discussed:
Who should (and shouldn’t) take on the challenge of NaNoWriMo.
How to keep writing once NaNoWriMo ends.
Why talking walks and talking to ourselves are some of the best tools we have as writers.
Catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or online.
Tell me about your lonely victories.
“I’ve finally finished typing up my handwritten first draft of my novel. Now onto my favorite part—revisions!” —Julia
“I think every word I write is already a victory. I’m alive and I’m able to write. That is itself amazing!” —Susana
I bet you’ve done something pretty amazing in your writing life, too. Tell me about your own lonely victories in the reader questionnaire.
If you enjoyed reading this newsletter, you can support my work by shopping my Bookshop.org affiliate page or tipping me for coffee.