TOP 10 GIFTS FOR SERIOUS READERS
By C. Hope Clark
Readers have their ways, and many of those ways are set in stone. They like certain books, certain lighting, certain types of e-readers, even the specific style of slippers on their feet. Readers possess habits and characteristics that nonreaders may not understand, and unless you know a reader well, you could miss the target and give what you think is a grand reading gift that totally misses the mark.
Reading is a serious hobby. If you didn’t know that, ask a hard-and-fast reader what she will and won’t tolerate in her books, reading setting, even the format of the book. Just like a part-time doll-maker, carpenter, or gardener have preferences and experience, so does the reader. Think this is an exaggeration, do you? Step back and note how many writers, publishers, agents and editors hop when reader preferences shift. Yep, readers can make millions dance to their tune.
So what’s a reader what for Christmas? Besides books, of course! Let’s delve further into what readers would appreciate for the holidays and make your gift-giving easier this year.
1) An e-reader.
Not just any e-reader, though. When you buy a Nook for a Kindle person or vice versa, the package may not even get broken open. Know which political affiliation your reader prefers when it comes to electronic devices. These days an e-reader can drop below $100 in a heartbeat, giving your special reader ease of carrying hundreds of books in an item that can slip in her purse.
2) Tea, coffee and that oh-so-special cup.
Go with diversity and assortment when you aren’t sure which tea or coffee your reader relies upon to find her moment. An antique, bone china teacup might delight that historical romance person. A mug with a grip like brass knuckles could thrill the thriller reader. And if you really aren’t sure about the flavor tea or the coffee strength, go with a Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or Seattle Market gift card. If you want to go big, the single-serving expresso machines are all the rage, letting your reader alter her coffee per the book she reads.
3) A subscription to Audible.com
Many readers grab their stories during commutes or long distance trips. Audible.com has per book or unlimited books per month options, with very reasonable prices. An ill reader, a busy reader, or a runner who prefers stories to music are great candidates for this gift. www.audible.com
4) Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or bookstore gift cards
Books become an expensive hobby to the ravenous reader. Imagine the joy of walking into a bookstore (or perusing online) and being able to buy anything you want at a time when the rent might be due or a charge card’s collecting interest? Ever notice how readers weigh their purchases in the store? They’re rationing themselves, and it’s agony trying to select two books when you want to read twenty. Make your reader giddy at the opportunity to splurge.
5) Book journals
Hard-core readers keep up with the books they’ve read. Why wouldn’t they? Some readers cover a hundred books in a year. Gone Reading has a cute assortment of journals purely for this purpose. http://gonereading.com/book-journal/
6) Book lights
While some e-readers are back-lit, others are not, and of course old-fashioned paper books need illumination. Clip lights are handy in the car, by the bed, next to the recliner. They are inexpensive (under $20) so you might buy more than one, for every situation. You can buy them specifically for certain e-readers, making for a nice combination present/ For the reader with aging eyes, consider a strong desk lamp or floor lamp; they even come with magnifiers. http://www.magnifyingaids.com/Lamps_Magnifiers To someone struggling to see, the perfect visual setting is key to the most story enjoyment.
7) Scented candles
Science has proven that our sense of smell is our strongest connection to memory. If you give a book, add a candle to the gift. Downstream, after your reader has finished her book, the scent of that candle will bring back memories of the story, the characters, and the wonderful friend who gave her the experience.
8) Finally, books
Electronic or audio, paperback or hardcover, invest in a book your reader would be thrilled to receive. As a twist, buy several books of a 
single author, or several books from a single publisher like Bell Bridge Books. www.bellebridgebooks.com Use a theme like dog fiction, or mysteries involving librarians, or historical women’s fiction in the Pacific Northwest. Don’t just give a book. Demonstrate that you gave deep thought to a gift with meaning.
Readers love to read, and aiding them in their efforts to sink into grand stories is about the best gift you can give them. And it only takes a little extra attention to make that gift personal, unusual, and memorable for Christmases to come.
BIO
C. Hope Clark is author of The Carolinan Slade Mystery Series, set in rural South Carolina. Lowcountry Bribe is available wherever books are sold, and the second in the series, Tidewater Murder, will be available April 2013. Hope lives along the bank of Lake Murray in central South Carolina with her federal agent husband and mini-doxie Roo. She is also long-time editor of the award winning FundsforWriters.com – www.chopeclark.com
