By Larry Hodgson
It is well known that gardeners garden in the summer … and learn over the winter. Indeed, they like nothing better to pepper their moments of winter repose with a good read from a gardening book. And with Christmas just around the corner, I suggest that you include a book on gardens or gardening as a gift for the gardeners in your life.
There’s no lack of choice! Any bookstore offers dozens of gardening books. A few years back, I would have suggested one of mine, but I haven’t written any in English for a while and the older ones are no longer in print. There is one—one of my first, actually, written over 20 years ago! —, Houseplants for Dummies, that still seems to be out there. I actually get no royalties from that book (written under contract with a simple lump sum payment as recompense), but if you want to buy it, that’s fine with me.
Most garden books do offer their authors royalties, though. Typically, each book sold gives them 5% of the book’s value. Not much considering how much work they put into it: months and months of research and writing. And I know of no garden book author who has made more than a modest amount from book sales. So, you could consider buying a gardening book a gesture of Christmas charity!
So, enjoy shopping for the ideal gardening book for your gardening relative or friend! And don’t forget to buy the book long enough in advance so you have time to read it before giving it away!
Always on my Christmas list. This year is no exception. Helps get me through the worst of winter.