Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
In Iceland, it is customary to give one another a book on Christmas Eve.
This tradition is called Jólabókaflóð, or “Yule Book Flood,” and it originated during World War II, when it was difficult for Icelanders to get regular gifts to their island nation in time for the holidays.
For better or worse, we’ve made it through this bizarre, mixed-up year. Though the holidays will look a little different in 2020, I still think you deserve to treat yourself and your loved ones to a flood of books this December.
Whether you’re buying gifts for the writers on your list or you feel you deserve a treat after all you’ve been through (spoiler: you do), I wanted to suggest the following roundup of resources, books, and goodies for the literati among us.
A Down-Home Southern Christmas, Courtesy of Kay Dew Shostak
Kay Dew Shostak is one of my longest-running clients, and her mix of humor, Southern charm, and heartfelt characters draw me in each time I get to edit one of her books. 2020 saw Kay add the Southern Beach series, a cozy mystery series set in a fictitious version of Amelia Island, Florida, to her line-up. You can check out the first installment, THE MANATEE DID IT, here.
If you like your books this time of year to be about the holidays, then I would suggest Kay’s Chancey Presents, a one-off novella set in the fictional town of Chancey, Georgia, where Kay’s other successful series takes place. Whenever I’m trying to convince a new fan to check out the Chancey books, I pitch the series as “Gilmore Girls with a Southern drawl,” so if you find yourself missing Star’s Hollow, try this one-off and then give the rest of the series a go.
You can find all of Kay’s books and information on new releases at KayDewShostak.com.
Books to Help You Escape This Holiday Season
There’s a reason Netflix’s stock has done so well during the pandemic: most of us want an escape these days. Even though we can’t travel physically, we can still take a trip to the luxurious, foreign, and sometimes even fantastical settings within the pages of the following offerings.
An oldie but a goodie, my client Leslie Wells’s one-off Dancing with Mistletoe is a charming introduction to her romance duology about Julia, an editor in 1980s New York who meets and falls in love with a Rolling Stones type British rocker, Jack. If you’ve ever daydreamed about shacking up with your favorite celebrity, this escapist (and sometimes steamy) one-off might be for you.
Rainbow Crate’s announcement of WW in its December 2020 box, via Twitter.
If Jack and Julia are a little hetero for your tastes, might I suggest any number of novels by either Amanda Radley or Emma Sterner-Radley? The married #WLW authors have come a long way since I started editing their work, with Amanda now published through Bold Strokes Books and Emma rocking it in the Faber Academy’s writing program. If I had to pick just two of their novels to recommend this holiday season, I’d go with Amanda Radley’s Swedish Christmas Fairy Tale and Emma Sterner-Radley’s Whispering Wildwood, a fantasy novel set in a forest full of mystical creatures. (WW is also part of a Rainbow Crate subscription box, just in time for the holidays! Congrats, Em!)
I first read The Lord of the Rings trilogy over my sixth-grade winter break, so there’s something about icy-cold weather that makes me want to curl up and read fantasy fiction. With that in mind, I’d also recommend Natasha Gumbs Barlow’s prose poem and photo book, Lilith Unbound. If your vibe, even around the holidays, is a bit dark and moody, this gorgeous art photography, full of hand-sewn angels’ wings and poetry inspired by Warsan Shire, is for you.
For the Aspiring Writers in Your Life (Yourself Included!)
While everyone else seemed to fall in love with Save the Cat this year, I spent time revisiting old favorites. I have to therefore recommend Stephen King’s “memoir on the craft” On Writing. A couple of people I know have complained that they didn’t enjoy the tales from King’s boyhood. Though I disagree with this—I find the stories charming—if you can stick it out until you get to his lessons on making time to write, you won’t regret it.
Also, quick self-plug: I have a 30 Days of Writing planner/journal for anyone who is trying to show up and make their writing a habit more than something they do occasionally. You can learn more about the journal here. Order by December 15 to get it in time for the Christmas holiday!
Let’s Commend the Following Writers for Debuting During a Pandemic!
I have a number of writing friends to cheer on this year, and I would be remiss to keep them off this list.
My dear friend Julie Bloemeke’s poetry collection Slide to Unlock has been nominated for several awards since it was published back in March. You can learn more and order a copy here.
Long-time client Laura Morelli got a two-book deal with William Morrow last year, and the first of her two books, which both balance World War II and Renaissance timelines, debuted in September. You can learn more about The Night Portrait here. What’s more, Laura’s still self-publishing on occasion. Her novel The Giant, about Michelangelo’s David (and about the struggles of Michelangelo’s lesser-known friend Jacopo Torni), was given a glowing review by Publishers Weekly. PW said, “Morelli delights with this portrait of an artist in the shadow of giants.”
Speaking of favorable reviews by PW, my client Dave Ackley transitioned from his usual historical novels into the world of crime fiction in 2020 with The Opinion Page. According to PW, “[f]ans of intriguing puzzles populated by convincing characters will be pleased.”
Hatch Editorial Services’s Query Coaching Calls
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to start querying agents, but you don’t know where to start? I would suggest gifting yourself an hour of coaching time with Hatch Editorial. Based on practical lessons learned in New York trade publishing, Jessica’s query letter feedback and advice have helped writers go from form rejections to full manuscript requests. To book a call either now or after the holidays, visit www.hatch-books.com/coaching.
HES Gift Cards
Purchasing this digital gift card creates a unique code. The gift card recipient can enter this code at checkout to subtract the gift card value from their order total.
This gift card never expires.
Finally, Hatch Editorial has gift cards available starting at $25. The gift card produces a digital code you can enter at checkout for other products in our shop. When it comes to items for purchase that are not in the shop—like query coaching calls or editing projects—mention the gift card, and Jessica will apply the amount to your total.