By Elaine Viets
Wondering what to get your favorite writer for the holidays? (Psst. It’s OK to include yourself.) I’ve put together this list when I was supposed to be writing. As of this writing, all of these items could be delivered in time for Christmas.
Writers’ Tears Copper Pot Whiskey
Some writers get maudlin after a few too many. Writers’ Tears seems to honor that tradition. Walsh Whiskey’s website says that “19th and early 20th century Ireland was a golden era both for Irish whiskey and, perhaps coincidentally, for great Irish novelists, poets and playwrights.” It kinda-sorta says if you are knocking back Writers’ Tears, you may join the ranks of Irish literary giants from George Bernard Shaw to Bram Stoker. Writers’ Tears also “been to Ian Buxton’s publication 101 Whiskeys to try before you die.
For pricing and more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/bd58e7ua
A Writer’s T-shirt that says, “I am a writer – anything you say or do may be used in a story.”
One holiday, my Aunt Betty announced at dinner, “This meal is off the record.”
I promised Betty nothing said at that meal would wind up in a book or blog. This shirt is fair warning for friends and family. It’s $10.19 at Etsy, and has options for writers, bookworms and journalists. https://tinyurl.com/mut3y4hh
PS: I wear a women’s large in the V-neck style.
Fahrney’s Pens
Some people can happily spend the day wandering around a hardware store. I feel the same way about pen stores. When I got my first real, live contract with a publisher, I bought a Mont Blanc to sign the contract. Now most publishing contracts are signed electronically, but I still love pens. I’ve been eyeing this Smithsonian dinosaur fossil rollerball pen for $53.60. https://tinyurl.com/3n7kd7b8
Leather bound notebook
Your favorite writer can plot their bestseller in a leather-bound notebook. Jenni Bick has a collection starting at $11 This Savona Italian leather notebook is $25.60 https://tinyurl.com/4dm9v752. You’ll also find good deals for leather notebooks on Etsy.
Writing a mystery is a complicated puzzle
That may be why many writers enjoy jigsaw puzzles. Here’s a 500-piece Murdle in The Mystery Mansion puzzle at Strand Books for $19.95.
Get holiday felines with this 500-piece puzzle
Happy Hanukcats by Galison
It’s $14.53 at Thriftbooks. https://tinyurl.com/252um7b6
Get the holiday felines with this 500-piece puzzle
Writer Fuel
For the coffee lover
A ground coffee tasting kit. The 9 coffee flavors include Amaretto, breakfast blend, Irish Cream, French Vanilla and hazelnut. Amazon. $23.99 https://tinyurl.com/3swjavpy
For the hot chocolate drinker
A disco ball hot chocolate cocoa bomb with star-shaped marshmallows.
From Target. $4 each. https://tinyurl.com/4zujrb28
For the tea drinker
A tea sampler from the Republic of Tea.
Tea drinkers can try 7 different flavors including Hydration Watermelon and Hydration Blueberry Lime. $11. https://www.republicoftea.com/single-sips-sampler/p/v20473/
More quick gift ideas
Donate to a favorite charity in your friend’s name.
Give a gift basket.
Give a meal service.
Give free babysitting.
Give a gift card.
This is my last blog of 2025. Happy holidays, however you celebrate.
Enjoy my new Florida Beach mystery, “Sex and Death on the Beach.” https://tinyurl.com/492ffwa8
Good morning everyone!
An excellent list to be sure. I have somehow become a whisky drinker/collector. Writers Tears is a nice bottle. If you are used to Jameson, Writers Tears is worth the money. And yes, I can taste the difference between Irish, Scottish, and Kentucky whiskeys.
I love pens. Retro 51 makes a whole line of fun designs. They take an easy to find refill too. A great every day pen. My pen today is a Cross Townsend.
I have known Elaine for longer than we will talk about. 🙂 She has blessed me by putting some of my stories into books. “Dead of Night” is what happens when your child decides to go to Transylvania University and you tell a mystery writer about a university with a crypt under the Administration building. Just be careful. The children still use the phrase, “Aunt Elaine kills people for a living.”
As I recall, Alan, one of your daughters took some of my bookmarks with rather gory titles to school. You and your family lead such interesting lives. I do kill for a living, but only on paper (so far).
Great list, Elaine!
I like to donate to a literacy organization in honor of writers who have helped me along this writing journey.
Also, Steve Hooley’s pens make great gifts.
Happy holidays to you!
Sorry to leave Steve’s pens off the list. They are reasonably priced and have terrific backstories. Here’s the link.
https://stevehooleywriter.com/legacy-pens/
Wonderful meaningful donations, Kay!!!
One that benefits both of us.
Wonderful gift suggestions, Elaine. These would also work very well as rewards for completing a writing goal or project.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Thanks for this terrific list, Elaine.
Chuckling at the anecdotes about Alan’s kids. They do memorable marketing for you.
Steve Hooley’s pens are prizes in my newsletter drawings and contests at conferences.
Here are captions from two of my favorite t-shirts:
(With a backdrop of prison bars) “Writing is a Life Sentence.”
“Friends help you move. Good friends help you move the body.”
But I could always use another one…
I had a writing t-shirt that read “Plotting Murder Makes Me Happy,” which I wore out. Once, I forgot I had it on and wore it to my gym, and ended up getting the wide-eyed side-eye from another member. Oops.
One of my librarian friends told me she found a terrific place to hide a body. We spent her day off driving along the Missouri River and found several good places.
Great list, Elaine!