Giving a Kindle book as a gift is as easy as 1-2-3!

(Updated December 2017, but really not much has changed.)

If the cold wind is howling and the last thing you want to do is go out Christmas shopping, never fear! Scheduling the gift of a Kindle book is something you can do for nearly everyone on your list. Even if your recipients don’t use Kindle, they can use a computer, smartphone, tablet, or even a Nook to read Kindle books with these handy apps. Here’s how to do it:

1. If you haven’t already done so, go to Amazon.com and create an account, including a “1-Click” payment option. Go to the page where the Kindle version of the book is for sale. In the column to the right of the title you will find a “Give as a Gift” button. Click on that button. You may be asked to verify your password one more time.

2. Complete your gift purchase by filling in the name and email address of the recipient. Then you may elect to have the gift link sent immediately, or schedule it for any day up to one year past the purchase date. If you’re the type of person who likes to put wrapped gifts under the tree, simply email the link to yourself, print it out, wrap it, and after the recipient opens it, forward him or her the gift link email. You must provide the recipient’s name, your name, and an optional message of up to 300 characters. You may also preview the email before sending it. When you are all set, click “Place your order,” sit back with your hot cocoa, and let someone else brave the mall! Your account will be charged immediately. (Unfortunately, as far as I can tell this option does not work for free books, pre-ordered books, or on any of Amazon’s international sites.)

3. Your recipient will receive an email with a link to the gift page, either within a few minutes of your order, or on the future date you have specified. (Be sure to check spam folders if the email doesn’t show up in a timely manner.) Recipients have the option to accept the gift, read a sample of the book, or simply exchange the amount of the book gift for an equivalent Amazon credit which is automatically applied to their account.

So eliminate the stress of shopping trips, marathon wrapping sessions, lost receipts, and long lines, and load up your virtual cart with some good books for everyone you love this year!

(Perhaps someone on your list could use my latest title, Prayers for the Mother of the Groom, or one of my best-selling homeschooling titles available, of course, at Amazon.)