this is for those of you who know other writers far better than you know my work – but if you want to gift someone any of my books for Christmas (but aren’t sure which). Here’s a quick and dirty gifting guide:
if you like Guy Gavriel Kay (historical Fantasy) or Sharon Kay Penman (historical fiction, straight, no chaser) – the two faces of the Kay coin – you might like my historical fantasy trio, “Secrets of Jin Shei”, “Embers of Heaven”, “Empress”. They are all largely standalone but it does help to have read ” Secrets of Jin Shei” before you read “Embers of Heaven”. You can also join – or encourage your giftee to join – my Patreon, where I am currently about to engage on some Writing School posts which deal with the work on teh current WIP, which is another historical fantasy, too come, watch this space…
If you like watching movies like Galaxy Quest or Paul, or just enjoy science fiction conventions, try “AbductiCon”.
“The Were Chronicles” have recently been described as something that might emerge if “Ursula le Guin was playing with urban fantasy”, so yeah, there’s that for your guidance.
If you like shorter fiction, consider “Weight of Worlds”, “Untranslatable”, “Fractured Fairy Tales”, “Val Hall:Century” or my newest one, “The Wind’s FOur Quarters” – all collections of stories, some linked or themed, others more general, all suitable for readers who might like their literature like a box of chocolates to choose from.
If you’re looking for YA(ish) work – and remember that a good YA story can be enjoyed by anyone from 9 to 90 – you can try the four Worldweavers books (“Gift of the Unmage”, “Spellspam”, “Cybermage”, and “Dawn of Magic”
If you like your stories real(ish) with a sprinkling of fairy dust on them, consider “The Second Star” (WA State Book Award finalist, science fiction) or “Midnight at Spanish Gardens” (time travel(ish) fantasy).
Non-fiction? Try “The Alchemy of the Word”, “Houses in Africa”, “What the [CENSORED] Is It About Cats?” – i might also mention “Forever is shorter than it used to be” but that might be to mired in grief for a christmas outing…
You can get many of these books online through Books2Read or (obviously) via Amazon, after plugging my name into the search field; you can try and get your local bookstore to order copies for you (people have done exactly that recently and they have just got their purchases in their handses so it has been done, it can be done…) or you can alternatively order them directly through me. Just drop me a line at almaalexander @ AlmaAlexander.org and we can talk further. Another option which has always been in play is that you can order your books from your favourite source but I can send you a signed bookplate to stick into them if you want to give them to someone as a gift. If you think your book may not get there in time for christmas morning, you can always used that signed bookplate as a stocking-stuffer promissory note of sorts.
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