Love to read? Know someone who does? This may be the perfect giveaway for you. As a way to thank all of you readers out there for supporting me, I’m doing a massive giveaway. Ready?
I was trying to come up with all the things you might need to make for a cozy reading experience, and my FB friends helped by offering a wonderful list of these womens gifts and suggestions! Thank you!
Obviously, the number one suggestion was… Books! So each package will include a HARDBACK edition of my newest novel, Beyond the Ashes. Let me tell you, these hardbacks are gorgeous. Instead of those annoying dust jackets that slip around, the artwork is printed onto the cover. I wish you could hold one, just to see. Hey, maybe you can! I’m giving away a total of EIGHT copies. In addition to the three gift packs, I’m sending out five more copies to readers. (3+5=8, right?)
But, back to the cozy reader gift packs! In addition to a book, my friends suggested items like fuzzy socks, a plush throw blankets, a cute Christmas mug, specialty cocoas, organic tea, chocolates, holiday candles, and journals.
Are you ready to see what I’ve put together?
Cozy Reader Collection #1, San Francisco edition:
This collection is San Francisco-themed. Since Beyond the Ashes is set in 1906 San Francisco, it seemed right to include some local specialties. The chocolates and cocoa are both from Ghiradelli’s (of course!) and I’ve included a fun SF cable car Christmas ornament that I picked up in Chinatown. Isn’t it cute? Maybe it will remind you of that time that Ruby nearly got run over by…oh, you haven’t read the book yet? Oops!
[The first pack includes: One copy of Beyond the Ashes, a cable car ornament, a throw blanket, fuzzy socks, organic peppermint tea, Ghiradelli peppermint bark, Ghiradelli assortment, Ghiradelli cocoa packs, a Christmas mug, a gingerbread-scented candle and a small journal.]
Cozy Reader Collection #2:
Basket two is for the word-lover. I assume most readers love words, right? Both the cozy throw and the cocoa mug are covered in Christmas words and phrases. Other items include: journal, fuzzy socks, Swiss Miss cocoa collection, Hershey’s candy cane kisses, pine tree scented candle, organic chamomile tea, and a hardback copy of Beyond the Ashes.
Cozy Reader Collection #3:
Basket three is for the animal lover. The throw is decorated with penguins and polar bears and the fuzzy socks have raccoon faces. How cute is that?!
Other items include a Let it Snow mug, dark chocolate/mint truffle Hershey’s kisses (mmm!), organic Jasmine tea, a gingerbread candle, Swiss Miss cocoa, a journal, and a hardback copy of Beyond the Ashes.
And don’t forget . . .
I’m also giving away FIVE ADDITIONAL COPIES of Beyond the Ashes! So, if you don’t win one of the cozy gift packs, you might still win a book. And really, who needs the other stuff? A cozy reading experience is really all about the book, right?
I hope you’re as excited about this giveaway as I am. Please share it with your friends. With eight prizes (3 baskets + five additional books), there will be plenty of winners! There are also several ways to earn additional entries. Check out the entry page below to learn all your options.
The contest is open to anyone 18 years or older and from US addresses, only. (I hate having to do that, but since it involves shipping, it’s the only way I can keep it cost-effective.) The contest will close on Monday, December 14th at noon Pacific time. I will announce the winners as soon as possible and if you respond right away, I *should* be able to get your prizes in the mail in time for Christmas. No promises, but I’ll do my best.
Good luck!
The gift I received as a child that I held dearest to my heart was a set of plastic horses my dad sent me when my parents were separated. He gave me a white stallion and a black stallion, because I loved The Black Stallion and all things horse related. I played with those horses daily, until my parents got back together. Both horses were lost in our move from California, where all my family and friends were, to Washington. I remember feeling mad because my favorite toys were lost, and sad as I missed my extended family and watched my parents work things out. But I mostly remember realizing the best gifts couldn’t be bought as I focused on bring thankful to have my parents back together. Maybe one day I’ll replace those horses. 🙂
Very sad when parents separate I completely understand I have 3 children an me an there father separates devastating for my children even hard on Christmas for them
What a precious memory, Xochi! I was a big Black Stallion fan, too. And just about every other horse book that was out there.
My Daughter 16 loves reading an my two middle age boys also me an my husband loves to read nice gifts would be the first one under tree so far money problems as of right now.sad
I’m glad to hear you have readers in the house. I’ll be praying for you and your family, Christa!
Please an thanks merry Christmas amen an his bless you all
LOL About the only memorable childhood Christmas gift I remember is NOT getting the Chatty Cathy doll!
It’s funny how those memories stick around, isn’t it?
The only thing that comes to mind right now is a doll called Baby First Step. She walks on her own. Also, The Monkees talking hand puppet.
Fun!
The year I got my clip on roller skates (the ones that you had a key to tighten on your shoe) and a white Bible with my name of in.
I had some of those roller skates! They were hand-me-downs, but I still loved them.
I collected bears and my mom’s friend gave me a big wonderful stuffed bear!
I am a recovering stuffed animal addict. I love them all.
I remember a homemade quilt that my great grandfather gave me before he died!
What a treasure!
I remember getting the little black and white TV for my bedroom when I was around 12. It was hidden behind the chair, so I was super disappointed at first.
susanlulu@yahoo.com
I bet you had a lot of fun with that, Susan!
My favorite Christmas gift was a Little Golden Book, Duck and His Friends. I got a doll that said “Ma-ma” that year, too. I was 5 years old, 1948.
You have a good memory, Sherry! Books make great gifts, don’t they?
I got a beautiful Madame Alexander doll when they were all the rage. It was one of the 8″ ones and I still have it (fill in the blank) years later. Thanks for the opportunity to win. The prizes look wonderful and your book looks awesome! Congratulations on your new novel.
Thanks, Winnie! I remember the Madame Alexander dolls. They were lovely.
We were always poor growing up. My parents divorced and it was just mom and three kids under three when my dad left my mom. My most memorable Christmas gift was just before leaving for college when my mom bought me an ink jet printer. She wrapped the printer cable separately so I would have more than one gift to open. 🙂
Wow, she must have saved up for that. Did you open the cable first?
She made sure that I opened the printer first. 🙂
My grandmother made me a doll with red yarn hair and green eyes.
I still have my Raggedy Ann doll. Such a precious treasure!
Remember getting a record player,it played 45/78’s records.
Wow! Do you still have it? Those are hard to find anymore.
Oh no…..i wished i did.
When in high school, I wanted a good 35mm camera (pre digital days ?). I know money was tight for my parents, so I wasn’t expecting it. On Christmas Day, the last gift they had me open was a really great camera. I was so shocked. I used it for years and had a terrible time giving it up for a digital one. Though I use a digital camera now, I still have and cherish the one from Christmas. I know what a sacrifice it was for them.
Thank you so much for the chance to win such wonderful giveaway prizes.
Stephanie C.
I love photography, Stephanie, so I know what you’re saying about giving up that last film camera. 🙂
Do remember my daddy working two jobs to give us Christmas when times were hard. My white go go boots were such a surprise as I didn’t think we could afford them. My daddy is 89 now and fighting cancer. I’m so blessed to have my parents. Thank you for a chance to win. Merry Christmas!
A spirograph.. had hours of fun with it 🙂
My brain has gone blank! That’s terrible! I DO remember getting a tea set when I was 4. ?
I remember getting a play kitchen that I had begged my parents to get.
I seem to have trouble remembering the most special gift. Maybe it was the year when my mom gave me Cicely Mary Barker’s The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies book. I had fallen in love with it the moment I set my eyes on it at a local sale. I still have it now and probably wouldn’t be able to part with it since it’s become so dear to me. Books were the closest thing I had to friends. We couldn’t afford much back then, so it was a really special Christmas. Thank you for the lovely giveaway, Karen. – Blessings, Juli
I remember the year that I received my Ragdy Ann Doll
My favorite childhood gift was a homemade doll that my grandma made for me. It really meant alot to me that she took the time to make me something special. I wish I still had that doll. Also my Aunt made me a Raggedy Ann doll and I still have her. Thank you for the giveaway. Have a blessed holiday season.
My most memorable gift was when I was a teenager and my mom and dad got me the gift of horse riding lessons. That lead to getting a horse and spending the last 3 years of high school at shows and 4h functions.
My favorite gift was the Invisible Woman. It was a model of the human female body. You would paint the body parts, muscles and all. It was very interesting and fun learning tool.
Hmmmm…. it’s hard to remember! I got a giant stuffed panda bear one year that I just LOVED (it was way bigger than me!)! And I definitely loved when my aunt got me an American Girl doll (Samantha). 🙂 In fact, I still love my Samantha. 🙂
My favorite was a Winnie the Pooh that my aunt sewed for me. I loved it and I still have it.
I remember getting a Shirley Temple doll. Don’t remember how old I was but it was a lovely doll.
The gift that I remember the most was a kit to sew a stuffed cat with kittens when I was in junior high. That is really the only actual gift I remember specifically from childhood.
I wish you had asked for just our favorite gift. That would have been easy. Back in 2008 our son returned from a tour in Iraq with the Army in October. I hadn’t gotten to see him since his return and he was supposed to come home for Christmas. I had been told he would arrive on the 22nd, the day after my birthday. Then on the 20th when my husband went to work (supposedly) he picked him up at the airport to surprise with him being in time to celebrate my birthday with me.
I remember getting an American Girl doll for Christmas. It was so special and unexpected. I still have her on display, too.
The gift I liked best were the Nancy Drew books I received.. They helped me become the reader I am today.
Thereadmaster(at)me(dot)com
Oh, that’s an easy one. The quilt my great grandma made and gave me the Christmas just before I turned 4. I still have that quilt and it’s hard to sleep without it. Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas gift was a Baby Tender Love. My mom even put real baby clothes on her. Love my mom for doing that for me.
Great question! I particularly remember getting my first Barbie (Angel Face Barbie) and that was the start of a glorious obsession with Barbies! 🙂
I always received a special doll for Christmas–usually whichever one was popular that year. I still have 3 of my dolls.
The childhood Christmas gift I most remember was really a set of 4 gifts from Santa: a baby doll in a bed, a red metal clothes chest (for doll clothes) and a Lu Ann Sims doll. Lu Ann was a vocalist on the Arthur Godfrey show (tells you something about my age, lol).
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity, Karen!!
Shared post on Facebook.
I remember I was about 11 or 12 & I got a Mickey Mouse wind-up watch with a denim band. I had wanted a watch for a while and this was the exact one I had asked my parents for 🙂 I was so excited! Don’t know whatever happened to it, but I had it for a long time!
Thank you for the chance to win some great gift baskets & of course a copy of your book!
My black “Chrissy” doll. She had a ponytail that you could make long or short. She was my favorite toy!
My mom had me customize a baby doll (choose face shape, skin tone, eye & hair color) she said was for my younger sister. Turns out she wanted to give it to me all along so I have a baby doll that reminds me of my little sister. Now my own daughters love to hold it and love on it.
I remember being overwhelmed and surprised with the Christmas gifts of a sled and cowgirl boots one Christmas! As an adult, the first Christmas after we adopted our first child, after years of waiting, was extremely special!
Probably the gift I remember the most is a Chatty Cathy doll. I also remember the year “we” got a puppy, but that was really my brother’s gift.
My Beloved Grandma gave me one year the Family Bible that’s been in the family for over 100 years.
A pretty pink sweater.
I would say a little silver cross from a group of friends. My family did not celebrate Christmas growing up, and it wasn’t until middle school that my friends and I exchanged gifts. It was special, since it was my first cross since accepting Christ. I still wear it to this day.
My mother made me a rag doll one year, and she gave it my hair color, my eye color, etc. I still have that doll today, and I still love her. Looking at her I see all the love and time that my mother put into making her, and it never fails to impress me that with small children at home, my mother still made us wonderful gifts by hand.
I remember a white stuffed cat my grandfather gave me!
My parents gave me my first diamond ring.
My favorite Christmas presents came at the same time ~ a soft turquoise short sleeve sweater with little pearl buttons on the front and my very first rooted yellow-haired doll. I woke my sister up to show her what Santa had left under the tree for me, after her family had driven through the night to arrive at our farm home fifteen hours away ~ likely with a sleigh full of presents 😀 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
The childhood Christmas gift I will always remember was my first Cabbage Patch Kid Doll. My mom stood in a line for hours to get one for me.
My favorite Christmas present was a ring my mother had made for me. She made it from her engagement ring from my dad and a Lindy star gem. I loved it and still wear it today. I received it in 1985. Thank you so much for this generous giveaway. Merry Christmas and God Bless
I received a beautiful doll from my mother. She had made a pretty taffeta dress for it. I still have the doll 60 years later!
A saddle for my pony 🙂
thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
Wow, I don’t remember any one specific Christmas gift – so generically, perhaps, the gift of reading? My parents encouraged reading, and I loved all the places I could go to through the pages of a book. More than one Christmas included books – what a treat!
These baskets are wonderful and any booklover would get many hours of enjoyment from all of the goodies. I think my most memorable chilhood Christmas gift would be my calendar roller skates. On how Oliver skating circles in the garage all winter! By the way…basket number 3 is my favorite!
Books, always books! A copy of Little Women, the set of Little House on the Prairie–these are just two that I still have and now my children are reading! Thanks for the giveaway!
My dad built a doll house for me! It was so wonderful! I even got a station wagon to park beside it in my stocking from Santa that year!
I’m going to show my age. My favorite Christmas gift was a Mrs. Beasley. In fact, I still have her.
I remember my grandfather giving me my first Barbie – she came in black & white striped bathing suit, but he got a beautiful wedding gown too. And one Christmas my brother & I found the stash of presents in my parents bathroom stall shower. Most things were hidden in bags, but I could see the metal snow saucer I had asked for.
I don’t really remember specific gifts, just being with family and my daddy reading the Christmas story out of Luke on Christmas Eve.
When I was eight years old I remember looking through our French doors into the living room and amid the sparkling Christmas tree lights sat a beautiful blue bicycle.
This year turnabout, we’re giving our two grandkids bicycles.
The Christmas gift I remember the most is the silver bells I always got. They started when I was 4 and my grandfather asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him a bell off of Santa’s sleigh. And every year after that until he died in 2009 I got a bell. They were the gift I will cherish forever.
My paternal grandparents got me the snow skis, and my parents got me the ski boots!
coat
My parents always hung a new dress on the curtain valence by our Christmas tree. We lived in Nigeria as MK’s and anything brand new was amazing. sm
I wanted a strawberry shortcake doll that blew kisses so badly one year for Christmas. My grandparents who had little bought me the doll, AND my grandmother knitted her some clothes. The gift was stolen…long story….but the sacrifice they made and the time my Grandma spent on the clothes is a memory I won’t forget!
I most remember my teddy bear with a wind-up turn key that played music. I received him on Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house, and it was marked from Santa. To this day, I don’t know if he was from my parents or my grandparents!
One of the most memorable presents my parents got me was a Baby Alive. I loved her dearly. When I was 13 my grandfather gave me another baby doll. My grandma had just passed away and he was unsure of what I would like. I cherished that gift dearly.
There are two special gifts I remember — one was a homemade cat from my mother — the day after Christmas my dog attacked it! The other was a purple hippopotamus my grandma made for me. It was big, scrunchy, and awesome! I kept in on my bed and my husband actually slept with it (his excuse was that it kept him from turning over on his bad shoulder). That hippo was well loved for over 20 years! Thanks for the fun memories.
I remember a sweater I got from an aunt. I loved it so much and at the next family party another aunt got me the same sweater!
Rabbits coat.
One Christmas that always stands out was the year I got the Disney movie Conderella. I’m pretty sure I watched that movie almost every day, and still remains one of my favorite animated movies today. 🙂
My white go-go boots! Oh, how I loved them. I even wore them later to go fishing…
As a reader, I remember getting books from my aunt!
I guess I am showing my age but I was given a choice of a bicycle or a small black and white tv. I took the TV.
a baby doll I named Vicky – she talked – her mouth moved and her eyes moved.
I remember getting a pearl ring when I was in my mid teens. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had plenty of love. I felt like a princess wearing that ring!
Hmmmm…I’m not sure I remember a few:) I love all my gifts but I think I have more memories of gifts I’ve given:)
A Barbie Ski Lodge. It was bigger than I was.
First – what AWESOME giveaways!
As far as the childhood gift I remember most dearly, that is probably the dog my parents adopted for us one year. She became one of my best friends 🙂
Awesome gift baskets, Karen!
My girls recently asked me this same question…but they already knew the answer, because I have told them the story many times. 🙂 Growing up, my parents didn’t have money for a lot of “extras,” so when I asked for an electric piano, I knew it was a long-shot. On Christmas Eve (when we opened presents), I didn’t see any box with my name on it that could possibly be a piano, and I was so disappointed. Little did I know that my mom put my dad’s name on the box, just so I would be totally surprised. My mom snapped the best picture ever when I opened that box. 🙂 I loved that thing…
The one I most remember is because of what happened to it shortly after Christmas. I was 12 and I got a white stuffed cat that I loved so much. It reminded me of my cat Snowball that was hit by a car, another tragedy. I left my cat on the couch when I went to school and when I got back home my older brother barred my entrance into the house. He wanted to warn me about what I would see when I entered. Our great dane Isabelle had taken my cat and tore her to pieces and she was all over the front room. I cried for days.
princessdebbie1 [underscore] 2000 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Hmm the childhood Christmas gift I remember most dearly… That’s hard to narrow down to just one! I guess I would have to pick a fuzzy pink “Princess” journal that came from my Daddy. He always called me his little princess, so it was super sweet when he gave me that journal for Christmas in elementary school. I carried it around with me everywhere and taped pictures I took of my friends and family and favorite places onto the pages. I still have the journal in my childhood keepsakes box!
I remember I usually got whatever the “big” item I wanted was each year. Which looking back now is something I really cherish knowing that my mom as a single mom made it happen. Money was so tight but she never made us feel that way.
I got Samantha from The American Girl dolls when I was in third grade. It was the one gift I really wanted that year.
A doll baby and buggy. Oh how I loved that Christmas gift from my parents. I was 5 or 6 at the time!
When I was younger I loved the doll buggy I got rom my Parents for Christmas
Carolyn Jefferson.
My favorite gift as a child was the year I got a art set, it was paint, paintbrushes, markers, colored pencils all in this white organizer that would sit in my dresser and spin.
Awesome giveaway! Merry Christmas!
The pinterest tab isn’t working.
Decorating the Christmas tree and watching old movies on tv with my family 🙂
My mother made me a dollhouse out of cardboard and scraps of paper and fabric. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but loved it later and still have all the furniture.
I got a sleeping bag for Christmas. It has puppies on it. My sister got a mermaid one. We spent hours in them underneath the Christmas tree and even more on Saturday mornings watching cartoons while growing up. Such fun and simple memories.
I got a writing set of tools. There were assorted pads of different sizes of paper, a personalized ink stamp and red ink pad. There were pens, pencils and other stamps. It was so much fun!
I think my favorite Christmas gift ever was when I was about 6 or 7. On Christmas morning, there was a wicker bassinet in front of the fireplace. Inside was a beautiful doll that cried when I turned her onto her stomach. I named her Nancy and treasured her for years!
Another special gift was when my grandparents gave me several of the American Girl books. The main character was named Samantha just like my newborn cousin.
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
The Christmas present I remember most is a doll I got when I was 5. I kept it until I was grown and had children.
I remember receiving my first bicycle and a doll one year. Thank you for awesome packages as giveaways. I would love to win a copy of your book–the cover sounds amazing! Blessings.
My favorite present was actually by way of my older brother who got a large set of Lincoln Logs and let me help him build stuff.
I always enjoyed receiving books for Christmas (still do!) but I also remember the year my sister and I both received doll houses. What fun we had!
A game called Carnival when I was around 10 years old
I got a Big Toy Box jewelry box. It was like a treasure chest.
A Nancy Drew book. Loved those.
The year our entire family received bicycles. Oh, what fun we had riding those bikes on Christmas Day!!! We lived in West Texas so the weather was warm. Even as children my siblings and I were shocked our parents were able to afford those bikes.
What awesome gift baskets you are giving away!!! Can’t go wrong with a pair of fuzzy socks and a throw.
Thank you for the chance to enter this giveaway.
Can’t wait to read your book!
Love to win these baskets! Thank you for offering them!
My best and first Christmas gift I got was when I was about 8 years old. A doctor brought presents for my brothers and sisters. There were six of us. I got my first ever coat, my brothers got underwear, and my two sisters got coats too.
Probably Christmas 1969 or 1970, I wanted a Cord Organ. My father was military and stationed at Fort Carson, so we lived in Colo. Springs. I remember getting up Christmas morning and not seeing it in the living room and feeling so disappointed and when I turned around, it was by the wall, near the kitchen and I didn’t see it for Mom China cabinet. I would have been 11 or 12 years old.
The Christmas gift that leaves the most fond memory, and still makes me tear up to this day, was a reel-to-reel tape recorder. My brothers gave it to me and they each taped a message on it for me. I wish I still had it to listen to. But I can still hear my youngest brother’s message in my head. He taped this, “Cheryl, we bought you this tape player. We went far out to get this for you, and we’re glad we did!” He was only 10 at the time and these sweet sentiments were not a regular happenstance. So for me this is a sweet, sweet memory.
And I LOVE the cardinals on the journals! The cardinal has always been a special “gift” from God when I need to hear His “I love you. I am here.” I can’t tell you how many times I have felt blue, or even happy, and I look out the window and he will be sitting in the tree in my back yard, or I hear his voice singing, “Cheer, cheer, pretty, pretty, pretty.” Thank you, Karen, for giving me a smile today!
Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic giveaway! I was so excited to receive my first Cabbage Patch doll; I still have her!
My most memorable gift was a Cabbage Patch Kid the year they were all the rage, and my mom had to stand in line for it for hours! It was not easy to fit into our budget at that time, so I didn’t expect to get one. It was a wonderful surprise!
Lady Revlon doll, shows my age…. love the San Frans. giveaway one of my favorite cities.
The favorite Christmas gift I received during my childhood is a tie between a Betsy-Wetsy doll and an apron my mother had sewn with many pockets.
The doll wore a diaper and came with a little bottle. When you gave the doll a drink, it wet in the diaper, which you then had to change.
The pockets of the apron were full of little supplies like pads of paper, crayons, scissors, and many other items a little aspiring school teacher enjoyed.
My sisters and I all got Cabbage Patch babies one year, and we all still have them 🙂
One thing I remember getting Christmas was a power dish , it is golden and a did is on top of the lid . I still have it and charisma it . I love to read and I have a daughter that is married and she has always loved to read . I have never read any of your books , but always love to find new authors . Thanks for the chance to win some of your gifts .
the best Christmas gift I received was when I was 12 years old. I received the entire set of ‘Mars’ books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I finished them before Christmas vacation was over!
My dad got me a horse pendant which I still have today. I’ll cherish it as long as I’m alive.
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
Let’s see….Mama always tries and succeeds in getting AMAZING presents but I think one of my favorites was definitely my American Girl doll Samantha! I played with her SO much I wore her out! 🙂
Merry CHRISTmas!
Amada (a.m.a.th.a)