It’s my favorite time of the year, when I watch Hallmark holiday movies while searching the Internet for gifts that authors and writers will love.

This is the sixth year I’ve done this, and I got a little help with ideas this time. I used Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a service that helps journalists find sources.

I was able to use about one-quarter of the nearly 40 responses generated by my HARO query. That help, combined with my own digging around, yielded 29 excellent ideas for you, a writer friend, or someone in your writing group.

You’ll find a wide range of gift types and prices. Start shopping!

Gifts that authors and writers will love

Click on each product name to get more information. Full disclosure: Some of the selections include affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission on sales but the cost to you is the same. To keep it simple, presume they all have affiliate links. Also, prices are subject to change (I’ve seen changes in the past 48 hours!). 

1. Cute and colorful book socks 

This company has a really nice collection of bright and colorful socks for book lovers. There are several options at this Amazon link, and more on the manufacturer’s Happypop brand site, where there’s a 20 percent off Black Friday sale.

$6.99

2. Punny teas

As a tea drinker, I love these LiTEAry teas. Options include Agatha ChrisTEA and Mark Twainquility.

$8.99 for 20 teabags

3. Author t-shirt  

Tell the world you’re an author by wearing your job title on a t-shirt. You can find a lot of “author” t-shirts online, but I like the simplicity of this one and the “Ask me about my book!” message on the back. Pick your own style and color; sizes run a little small.

Basic t-shirt, $24.25

4. The Courage Habit

This guide helps creative professionals – you – to create courage as a brain-based habit, leading to everything writers need to find success: confidence, progress towards goals, and emotional resilience.

$13.84

5. Reader Book Review Form

Every author needs a copy of my fill-in-the-blanks form that helps readers write those all-important reader reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other retail and review sites. There’s one for fiction and another for nonfiction.

$9 for one, $17 for both fiction and nonfiction forms

6. Aqua Notes Waterproof Note Pad

Back by popular demand! If you’re like me and get your best ideas in the shower, you need this.

$9.50

7. How Your Story Sets You Free

A great choice for memoirists, this guide teaches you how to share your experiences and invaluable knowledge with the people who need it most, whether it be in a book, blog post, motivational speech, or conversation.

$10.99

8. Prospek blue light glasses  

We’ve all heard plenty about the potential for harm from blue light emitted by digital devices. Reduce eye strain and headaches with computer glasses.

Starting at $38.45

9. Literary Places

A travel journalist provides comprehensive and atmospheric outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Full-page color illustrations instantly transport you to each location.

$14.85

10. Marble notebook

For the writer who has everything.

Starting at $85

11. 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die Page-a-Day Calendar 2020

With the insight of a bookseller and the enthusiasm of a devoted reader, James Mustich shares hundreds of titles that range from the obscure to the immortal, the ancient to the contemporary. This is definitely going on my wish list!

$11.70

12. AuthorLab

Save your favorite author time with an AuthorLab membership. AuthorLab is an all-in-one author platform with industry-leading software, tools, templates, and training videos for book covers, layouts, websites, and promotional materials. .

$29/month or $199 annually (get 50% off with my coupon code, AuthorLab50)

13. 365 Daily Book Marketing Tips  

Let me give your author a book marketing tip every day for a year via email — for just 99 cents for the entire year! It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

$.99 (yes, 99 cents for all 365 tips)

14. Grammarly premium  

This version of the popular Grammarly tool goes beyond grammar to help your favorite writer ensure that everything they write is clear, engaging, and professional.

$29.95/month, $19.98/month quarterly, $11.66/month annually

15. Noocaf Focus coffee  

Writers need two things to succeed: caffeine, and the ability to focus. This unique dark coffee blend does both by adding nootropics – substances that might improve memory, creativity, and motivation.

$32 for 12 oz.

16. Writer travel mug

Keep that Noocaf coffee hot in this book-themed stainless steel travel mug. What a great stocking stuffer!

$23.99

17. Notebook with super powers

Now the author who likes to compose in a notebook and edit on the computer can bridge the analog and digital worlds. Write on Optik Paper, then download the companion free Scribzee app to scan, save, organize, share, and access notes at any time, from any place.

$9.99

18. Handwoven book necklace

A mother/daughter duo handcrafts this seed bead necklace on an 18-inch silver-plated chain. The pair donates 10 percent of the profits to the House of Heroes, an organization that helps repair and improve the homes of military and public safety veterans who need help.

$40

19. “Careful or you’ll end up in my novel” bracelet  

The adjustable bracelet made of stainless steel fits anyone and comes with a polishing cloth. It’s packaged in a gift bag.

$13.99

20. WordSmith Deck

Get 100 intellectually stimulating writing prompt cards designed to inspire journaling, cure writer’s block, cultivate creative writing, and sharpen writing skills.

$19.99

21. Multi-tasking Lap Desk with USB Light

I liked my plain, ordinary, nothing special lap desk that I use on the porch in the summer until I saw this beauty. In addition to a nice little tablet slot, it has a slide out mouse deck with a smartphone slot.

$48.24

22. Smartphone external battery pack 

I love this portable iPhone external battery – I never travel without it. Whether you get this brand or another (Anker also has lighter options with less power), I recommend an external battery pack not only for travel, but for pesky power outages. (Stuff happens.)

$49.99

23. You are a great, great author mug

All politics aside, this should be your motto. If it’s a gift for someone else, tell them this is exactly what you think of them. Motivate them while making them smile. We all need both, hugely.

$14.95

24. R-E-A-D bunting 

Add this simple garland to your favorite author’s stocking while supporting an independent artist.

$11

25. Apple AirPods

I had a pair of knock-off, $20 wireless earbuds until my family felt so sorry for me that they bought me the real thing for my birthday. These truly are a must-have for any book lover who listens to audiobooks all the time, as I do. I’m no longer tethered to my phone with a cord when I’m walking, doing housework, or cooking.

Splurge on this pair or, if you don’t have an iPhone, get the equivalent for your phone. For me, they are almost as life-changing as my DVR.

$134

26. Library Card Zipper Pouch 

How cute is this old-school library card zipper bag? It’s perfect for the baby boomer on your list. Scroll through all of the other options on the page, too. There’s one for every kind of book lover.

$12.00

27. I’d Rather Be Reading Tote

Wouldn’t this make a good book club gift? Side and bottom gussets mean it will hold a lot of books – or anything else. Click through to the second picture to see all of the colors available for this strong canvas tote.

$22.50

28. Author earrings

Here’s a subtle way to say, “I’m a writer.” They’re a great stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift.

$10.37

29. The Celebrity Black Book 2019

Does your favorite author want a celebrity endorsement for their book cover? This resource has verified mailing addresses for more than 56,000 celebrities, influencers, and public figures worldwide.

$97

More gift ideas

We have many more ideas in previous gift guides. They include “27 of the best gifts EVER for authors and writers” and “Gifts for authors and writers: 25 perfect, hand-picked ideas.”

You’re certain to find just the right gifts in any of these guides.

Now it’s your turn! If you use or enjoy something that would make a great holiday gift for an author or writer, tell us about it in a comment.

I hope that this month, you will give or receive a book for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or for any other holiday or occasion (or already have).

Books truly do keep on giving as they’re read and re-read or passed along to others.

It’s not too late to visit a local independent or chain bookstore or big box retailer to buy a book for anyone of any age. Don’t forget about gift cards, too! Because you can purchase and send them digitally, it’s so easy to let your recipient select the book of their choice.

Turn to Google for inspiration

Need ideas for books that will make great gifts? Google will help!

Googling “books for mystery lovers” got me to this Pinterest page with soooo many covers.

Searching for the best children’s books led me to a helpful article on Parents.com, “Parents’ 10 Best Children’s Books of 2017.”

Buzzfeed Books is a wonderful resource. How about “43 Books You Won’t Be Able to Stop Talking About?”

My own favorite source is the “Popular Book Club Books” list on Goodreads. Never disappoints.

And, of course, you probably know authors with books that will make great gifts. (Even better if you can get one signed.)

For example, I participated in a Secret Santa Facebook name draw this year with a large group of people I don’t know.  A quick look at the Facebook profile for the woman whose name I drew revealed that she’s an avid runner, so how could I not get her my friend Jen Miller’s popular memoir, Running: A Love Story?

Books are the best gifts year-round

This is the gift-giving season, but it’s not the only time of the year you’ll need to give a gift.

The next time you want to give the perfect Valentine’s Day, birthday, graduation, bridal shower, Father’s Day, or Mother’s Day present, look for a book.

You’ll enjoy searching for the just the right choice. And you just might introduce the recipient to something new, interesting, or exciting.

Would your book make a great gift? Tell us why and provide a link in a comment. 

From jewelry designed especially for authors to gift cards and courses, you’ll find something here that your author or writer will love.

You’ll also find 32 more ideas from last year, and another 29 from the year before.

Start shopping now!

Click on each product name to get more information. Full disclosure: Many of the selections include affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission on sales. To keep it simple, presume they all have affiliate links. Also, prices are subject to change (I’ve seen changes in 48 hours!). 

2. Website URL and hosting

Authors and writers must have a website. Make sure your gift recipient can get the “write” URL at a 30 percent discount. I use GoDaddy for URLs (they offer site hosting, too), and use HostGator for my website hosting. Get a 25 percent discount with coupon code CJSAVE25.

Prices vary

3. Writing is My Superpower T-shirt

People who aren’t writers are impressed with people who are. You might as well reinforce that impression with this honest gift.

$15.99

$24.995. Book Marketing Coaching

Let me guide your author with an hour of telephone coaching time focused on his or her specific book.

$150 for one hour

6. Moo.com gift cards 

Use a Moo.com gift card to pay for business cards, postcards, and other custom-designed and printed book marketing materials. 

Price = how much you want to spend

7. Writer in Residence Door Hanger

Nothing says “I’m a writer” like a door hanger! These are hand-decorated using pages from classic literature and strung with biodegradable jute twine.

$13.72

8. Typewriter Pillow Cover (pillow not included)

Can’t you picture this in any writer’s home office? Note that it’s available in three sizes and doesn’t include the pillow. (You can get a pillow insert at a craft or fabric store or at Target.)

$38+

9. 365 Daily Book Marketing Tips

Let me give your author a book marketing tip every day for a year via email — for just 99 cents for the entire year! It’s the gift that keeps giving.

$.99 (yes, 99 cents for all 365 tips)

10. Typewriter Coasters

Beverages not included.

$13.40

11. Keep Clam and Proofread Mug

Get it?       

$12.96

12. Author Marketing Club Membership

Authors need reader reviews and an Author Marketing Club membership includes access to the very cool “Reviewer Grabber Tool” that helps them find and reach Amazon reviewers. Membership also includes access to other essential tools, free training, and a wonderful author community.

$24.95 per month or save 50 percent with the $149 annual plan

This suitable-as-a-stocking-stuffer gift is a very, very important reminder for every author and writer.

$4.99

14. Typewriter Key Charm Bracelet

I love this! Colors are neutral, so women can wear it with anything.

$48.95

Every author needs the inspiration of this laser-engraved oak clock hanging over the desk.

$59

16. The Artists’ and Writers’ Cookbook: A Collection of Stories with Recipes

You don’t have to be a cookbook author to love this.

$20.40

3 months $44.99

I write all day and don’t know what I’d do without something like this. Save your writer’s mousing arm with this gift.

Try out a standing desk without a big investment. This adjustable device that sets on top of an existing desk is an affordable alternative to a full-on standing desk.

20. Scrivener Software

Authors swear by this software that helps them organize their throughts and makes the book-writing process easier. (I bought it, but haven’t tried it yet. )

$40 

21. Dixit Storytelling Game

Improve your storytelling skills and have fun at the same time with this game.

$27.99

22. Steampunk Bookends

Every writer and author I know is also a serious reader. You have to hold those books in place with something, right?

$89

23. Typewriter Birthstone Earrings

It’s not enough that this is a clever idea and they’re pretty. They’re also handmade!

$17.85

24. Book Club Wine Glasses

You don’t need to be in a book club to appreciate these glasses . . . but wouldn’t they make the perfect gift for your book club Secret Santa name draw?

$23.14

Course fees vary

Now it’s your turn! What author-related gift do you want to receive? What gift would you recommend to our readers?

Tip of the Month

I like to share a “Tip of the Month,” a free resource or tool for authors, on the last Wednesday of the month.

This month, let’s look ahead to 2018 with these fun calendars to color from SarahTitus.com.

Coloring can be therapeutic.  So can planning for success in the coming year by scheduling your book marketing activities on a calendar. But first, download Sarah’s printable calendar pages to color, and block out a little time to color with pencils, markers, or crayons in the most mindless way possible! You deserve it.

Apparel

“Ask me about my book” t-shirt with book image. Women, short sleeves, lots of colors.

“Ask me about my book” t-shirt with script writing. Women, short sleeves, lots of colors.

“I write” t-shirt. Men, short sleeves, lots of colors.

“Will write for chocolate” t-shirt. Women, short sleeves, lots of colors.

“Will write for chocolate” long-sleeve shirt. Women, long sleeves, lots of colors. If this link takes you to short sleeves, look in the pictures in the lower right for the long-sleeve version because this link seems to be tempermental.

“Careful or you’ll end up in my novel” t-shirt.  Men, short sleeves, lots of colors. I love this one!

“I write because I must” apron. Much better than “Kiss the cook.”

“First drafts don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be written” apron. What a perfect gift for a cookbook author!

“Super author” apron. You’ll believe it when you wear this.  

Books

Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives. An assortment of words and ideas for describing extraordinary things.

My Life Story.  Create your own diary and record all the highs and lows, trials and tribulations, times good and bad in your entire life time. Capture all the different events during your life time in one book instead of buying a new diary every year.

Gift cards for e-books. You’ve wondered how to do this, haven’t you? What a cool idea — and a great way to give a popular book!

Accessories

Book cover made into pin or tie tack: Diane Plumley (FINSBRYATgmail.com) will turn your author’s book examples into jewelry for around $20 (sorry, no website).

Text art wall canvas fabricated from vintage public library catalog cards. The artist has a small selection; inquire about custom quotations, too. A portion of each sale goes to libraries and literacy programs.

White noise machine. This is particularly useful if you’re trying to write in a noisy workplace or corner of your home.

Colorful character thumb drives/flash drives. So cute!

Book Lover’s Gift Box. It includes the banned books coffee mugs, Notable Novelists card game, book lover’s magnets, and Mirth in a Box sticky notes.

“Jane Pawsten” iPhone case. Artist Chet Phillips turns our favorite literary character into a cat.

Vintage typewriter notecards. Anyone who started writing on a typewriter will love these.

Drinkware

Insulated mug personalized with your author’s book cover. What author wouldn’t love sipping from a tumbler displaying his book cover?

“Writer” coffee mug. You know . . . in case anyone wonders while you’re sipping coffee at 2 a.m. while pounding away at the keyboard to meet tomorrow’s deadline.

Food

“Readers Choice.” This lovely, aged hollow book is filled with carefully selected sweets and freshly roasted nuts (but it’s pricey at $100).

Premium, fresh-roasted coffee. The coffee you select from Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee is roasted by hand only after you order it and sealed immediately in a special de-gassing bag that preserves its freshness and flavor until you’re ready to brew it. My writer friend Pat Curry and her husband and co-owner donate 50 cents from every bag sold to Children’s Safe Drinking Water.

Boxful of healthy snacks. Toss out those Fritos. Nibbles offers an impressive selection of unusual healthy snacks to feed the writer’s brain — all for under $20 and free shipping. There are even yummy options for gluten-free gals like me.  

What’s your favorite gift for writers and authors? Tell us in a comment!