'Tis the Season...

by Michelle Douglas

Reading: Realism by Damien Grant

Watching: QI

Listening to: The Beatles (The Singles)

Making me smile: the box of Lindt Balls in the fridge

Okay, we all know Christmas is about the food, but the other secondary, minor thing Christmas is about is... PRESENTS!

And books are my present of choice.

[Question asked by almost any member of my family] "What would you like for Christmas, Michelle?"

[Which they then promptly answer for themselves] "Don't tell me... A book, right?"

You bet. Any book. Books I've heard off by my favourite authors, books I've never heard of, non-fiction books, fiction books, category romances, literary fiction, poetry, textbooks, whatever. Quite frankly, just bring it on. This of course means I love to select books as gifts for the people in my life too.

[As an aside here, I think it would be wonderful to work in a bookshop in the lead up to Christmas. I have an uncanny ability to hone in on grandmotherly types hovering about the children's section. They'll tell me they're looking for a book for 10-year-old little Johnny or 13-year-old little Sadie and I will promptly give them a recommendation. Then I walk out of said bookshop with shoulders pushed back and chest puffed out. Okay, yes a sad case, I know.]

This is my book-present list so far for this Christmas, but if you have a recommendation that I should add to my list, or a book you think is more suitable than the one I've chosen, please let me know!

For my Husband: he loves humorous books. He also loves the television show QI. I've grabbed him copies of QI: The Second Book of General Ignorance, and The QI Annual 2011. He is going to seriously enjoying stretching out on the lounge with them come Christmas evening.

For my Sister: She loves her dog. I've grabbed her Kandy Shepherd's Home Is Where The Bark Is. She's gonna love it!

For my Niece: I bought her Anne of Green Gables for her birthday. We LOVE Anne with an E. Her special request is the next two books in the series - Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island. Tick.

For Grandma: My grandma has been reading Mills & Boon romances for as long as I can remember. Her absolute favourites are Medicals. Sue Mackay's debut Their Marriage Miracle will be making it's way into her stocking. (I'd add Sharon Archer's books, but she's already read them!).

For my Step-Mother: She's a big horror fan and when I saw Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars, I couldn't resist.

For my Brother-In-Law: he's a big thriller reader. Loves Matthew Reilly. I've grabbed him the latest Clive Cussler - Lost Empire.

For my Dad: Dad doesn't read anything but the newspaper. He does, however, like to try out new recipes. Earlier in the year I was asked to supply a couple of recipes for a cookbook for the charity Snap4Kids. Guess what Dad is getting for Christmas?

Because it is Christmas - and it is the season to be jolly... and generous - I'm giving away a copy of my December release Christmas at Candlebark Farm along with a set of very cute gift tags from Oxfam, to one lucky commenter. Just tell me what book you are most hoping will make its way into your stocking this Christmas.