January 7th, 2010 / 11:42 am
Uncategorized

HTMLG Secret Santa: What Did You Get?

I conducted a very scientific Secret Santa survey, and out of three people polled, only one person got a gift from their HTMLG Secret Santa, yet all three sent gifts. I was one of the people I polled, and I was NOT the person who got a gift. I want my gift! Also, this poll conclusively indicates that only 66 2/3% of Santas sent gifts. It’s not too late. Your recipient will still appreciate a gift, even now! I know that because 2 out of 2 people who did not get a gift yet said so. You will still be loved and praised despite your (forgivable) tardiness.

But for those who did receive a gift, what did you get? Tell me how excited you are! I need that right now.

78 Comments

  1. Maud

      My Secret Santa (@chelseagsummers on Twitter) sent me a book I can’t believe I’d never heard of before: The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. It’s a collection of twisted dollhouse death scenes based on real-life crimes and tragedies, and a mini-biography of the criminal investigator and grandmother who created these dioramas to teach her detectives to focus on details. It arrived on Christmas Eve, and I’ve been reading and re-reading and thumbing through it since.

  2. Maud

      My Secret Santa (@chelseagsummers on Twitter) sent me a book I can’t believe I’d never heard of before: The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. It’s a collection of twisted dollhouse death scenes based on real-life crimes and tragedies, and a mini-biography of the criminal investigator and grandmother who created these dioramas to teach her detectives to focus on details. It arrived on Christmas Eve, and I’ve been reading and re-reading and thumbing through it since.

  3. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I received a year’s subscription to Mud Luscious Press’s chapbook series and was thrilled.

      Will we have any opportunity to find out who our Santas were? Is there a mechanism for unveiling? I’d like to thank mine.

      I sent a gift to my Santa, but the gift I sent (Pank 4 and Aaron Burch’s chapbook) is due for release later this month, so he has not received it yet.

  4. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I received a year’s subscription to Mud Luscious Press’s chapbook series and was thrilled.

      Will we have any opportunity to find out who our Santas were? Is there a mechanism for unveiling? I’d like to thank mine.

      I sent a gift to my Santa, but the gift I sent (Pank 4 and Aaron Burch’s chapbook) is due for release later this month, so he has not received it yet.

  5. Amber

      I am seriously buying this RIGHT NOW. Thank you for sharing.

  6. Amber

      I am seriously buying this RIGHT NOW. Thank you for sharing.

  7. Travis Kurowski

      I just received my gift late last night. It is a beautiful looking book from Les Figues Press wrapped diligently in a Whole Foods bag. When I opened it, my wife picked up the wrapping and, not knowing what it was, said, “Oh, what nice wrapping.” Goes to show you that $30 wine isn’t always better than $5 wine. I was excited about the book instantly, as the elegant design of Les Figues books have always grabbed my attention at book fairs, but I had thus far been too stingy to buy one. The book is a story collection titled “I Go To Some Hollow” by Amina Cain (here’s a link: http://www.lesfigues.com/lfp/180/i-go-to-some-hollow), and I am very much looking forward to reading it. Should be a nice break from classroom preparation and the usual avalanche of literary magazines. Thanks Secret Santa & HTMLGIANT.

  8. Travis Kurowski

      I just received my gift late last night. It is a beautiful looking book from Les Figues Press wrapped diligently in a Whole Foods bag. When I opened it, my wife picked up the wrapping and, not knowing what it was, said, “Oh, what nice wrapping.” Goes to show you that $30 wine isn’t always better than $5 wine. I was excited about the book instantly, as the elegant design of Les Figues books have always grabbed my attention at book fairs, but I had thus far been too stingy to buy one. The book is a story collection titled “I Go To Some Hollow” by Amina Cain (here’s a link: http://www.lesfigues.com/lfp/180/i-go-to-some-hollow), and I am very much looking forward to reading it. Should be a nice break from classroom preparation and the usual avalanche of literary magazines. Thanks Secret Santa & HTMLGIANT.

  9. J. A. Tyler

      I received a copy of Lifted Brow and am already loving the lit and art within. It was a great gift exchange – thanks htmlgiant,

  10. J. A. Tyler

      I received a copy of Lifted Brow and am already loving the lit and art within. It was a great gift exchange – thanks htmlgiant,

  11. Tobias
  12. Tobias
  13. Amy McDaniel

      I can peek at who everyone got, but then I would know who hasn’t sent me a gift. So I will give my santa a little more time and then check for you.

  14. Amy McDaniel

      I can peek at who everyone got, but then I would know who hasn’t sent me a gift. So I will give my santa a little more time and then check for you.

  15. Adam Robinson

      Did not receive anything, unless it was a contributor copy of Redivider which I am not in. If that’s it, though, thanks Santa.

  16. Adam Robinson

      Did not receive anything, unless it was a contributor copy of Redivider which I am not in. If that’s it, though, thanks Santa.

  17. Tony Perez

      Just bought Powells only copy…

  18. Tony Perez

      Just bought Powells only copy…

  19. Kyle Minor

      I received a subscription to the Threepenny Review, for which I’m grateful.

  20. Kyle Minor

      I received a subscription to the Threepenny Review, for which I’m grateful.

  21. Reb

      My secret santa sent a message that my gift would be late and then last week said he/she was about to send it. I haven’t received it yet, but maybe it’ll arrive today. This post makes me a little nervous that there’s a post office conspiracy–I just sent a note to my person to make sure he received them.

  22. Reb

      My secret santa sent a message that my gift would be late and then last week said he/she was about to send it. I haven’t received it yet, but maybe it’ll arrive today. This post makes me a little nervous that there’s a post office conspiracy–I just sent a note to my person to make sure he received them.

  23. aaron

      I got, I believe, a W.S. Merwin book. It’s at home, and I’m not, so I can’t say which one specifically. “The Shadow of Sirius” I believe. I’m excited to dig in! But it wasn’t noted as from my secret santa or anything, so I guess it is slightly possible that I ordered it for myself and then completely blacked out the memory of doing such.

      I saw a comment somewhere else that my secret santee received his and his comment seemed positive about it, so that made me happy.

  24. aaron

      I got, I believe, a W.S. Merwin book. It’s at home, and I’m not, so I can’t say which one specifically. “The Shadow of Sirius” I believe. I’m excited to dig in! But it wasn’t noted as from my secret santa or anything, so I guess it is slightly possible that I ordered it for myself and then completely blacked out the memory of doing such.

      I saw a comment somewhere else that my secret santee received his and his comment seemed positive about it, so that made me happy.

  25. Amy McDaniel

      This is all excellent news.

  26. Amy McDaniel

      This is all excellent news.

  27. alec niedenthal

      One year subscription to Conjunctions. Oh baby.

  28. alec niedenthal

      One year subscription to Conjunctions. Oh baby.

  29. Ken Baumann

      I got an awesome & large collection of titles from Chuckwagon Press. Thanks again, Sean! And thanks, Amy, for organizing!

  30. Ken Baumann

      I got an awesome & large collection of titles from Chuckwagon Press. Thanks again, Sean! And thanks, Amy, for organizing!

  31. rachel y.

      Caketrain in the mail to me, +(!) 2 CK books of poetry: “Check-In” by Elizabeth Skurnick and “Afterpastures” by Claire Hero. Yeeeeeah! Thanks, Book Clauz!

  32. rachel y.

      Caketrain in the mail to me, +(!) 2 CK books of poetry: “Check-In” by Elizabeth Skurnick and “Afterpastures” by Claire Hero. Yeeeeeah! Thanks, Book Clauz!

  33. Michael Kimball

      That’s a great book.

  34. Michael Kimball

      That’s a great book.

  35. Michael Kimball

      I didn’t get anything, but I sent Actual Air by David Berman and Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality by John Darnielle to somebody whose two favorite things are books and music. I hope they got there.

  36. Michael Kimball

      I didn’t get anything, but I sent Actual Air by David Berman and Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality by John Darnielle to somebody whose two favorite things are books and music. I hope they got there.

  37. Laura Ellen Scott

      I got a copy of Erik Gumeny’s Exponential Apocalypse! am happy for this thread that confirms receipt of the gift I sent–

  38. Laura Ellen Scott

      I got a copy of Erik Gumeny’s Exponential Apocalypse! am happy for this thread that confirms receipt of the gift I sent–

  39. megan milks

      I got several fine things that probably exceed the $$ limit (bad bad!) — Finery #6, Niina Pollari’s chapbook Fabulous Essential, Anna Joy Springer’s The Birdwisher, and Selah Saterstrom’s The Meat & Spirit Plan. If only Santa had always been an awesome feminist writer…

  40. megan milks

      I got several fine things that probably exceed the $$ limit (bad bad!) — Finery #6, Niina Pollari’s chapbook Fabulous Essential, Anna Joy Springer’s The Birdwisher, and Selah Saterstrom’s The Meat & Spirit Plan. If only Santa had always been an awesome feminist writer…

  41. Dan Wickett

      CG sent me the latest R.T. Smith story collection which I knew nothing about – I’m a fan of his writing too, so was happy to receive.

      I know I sent something to whomever I was the SS for, but do not for the life of me remember what I sent. I believe two books, maybe one was a Monson Our Apertures as that’s something I picked up a few of when it came out to give away as gifts.

  42. Dan Wickett

      CG sent me the latest R.T. Smith story collection which I knew nothing about – I’m a fan of his writing too, so was happy to receive.

      I know I sent something to whomever I was the SS for, but do not for the life of me remember what I sent. I believe two books, maybe one was a Monson Our Apertures as that’s something I picked up a few of when it came out to give away as gifts.

  43. Tim Horvath

      I received a copy of Hans Fallada’s Every Man Dies Alone, published by Melville House. I haven’t started it yet, but based on the blurbage it looks to be quite a literary page-turner. Plus anything that Primo Levi lauded I am likely to as well.

  44. Tim Horvath

      I received a copy of Hans Fallada’s Every Man Dies Alone, published by Melville House. I haven’t started it yet, but based on the blurbage it looks to be quite a literary page-turner. Plus anything that Primo Levi lauded I am likely to as well.

  45. Rebekah Silverman

      I got my gift. A copy of Bluets by Maggie Nelson. It is going to be the best. I also ordered my secret santa gift and was told that it shipped by the publisher. I hope that’s true.

  46. Rebekah Silverman

      I got my gift. A copy of Bluets by Maggie Nelson. It is going to be the best. I also ordered my secret santa gift and was told that it shipped by the publisher. I hope that’s true.

  47. Roxane

      I know some people ordered their giftees our chapbook and/or PANK 4 both of which will ship around 1/15.

  48. Roxane

      I know some people ordered their giftees our chapbook and/or PANK 4 both of which will ship around 1/15.

  49. Nathaniel Otting

      Adam,
      Send me your address and Walser & Company will send you a box o’. (This is not a trick to get your email to win the commenter 14 contest. If I wanted your email, and I do, I would get it from one of the fine authors you are publishing this year, like Mike Young, my Secret Santa, who got me the two new Cannibal Books (by Shane Jones & Amish Trivedi–I ate them up. You should get them while you can), or Rachel B. Glaser, who just joined facebook, and whom I will probably give Remainland and/or Killing Kanoko, which I got from a still secreter Santa. Thanks, Action Books, Cannibal, Amy, all.

  50. Nathaniel Otting

      Adam,
      Send me your address and Walser & Company will send you a box o’. (This is not a trick to get your email to win the commenter 14 contest. If I wanted your email, and I do, I would get it from one of the fine authors you are publishing this year, like Mike Young, my Secret Santa, who got me the two new Cannibal Books (by Shane Jones & Amish Trivedi–I ate them up. You should get them while you can), or Rachel B. Glaser, who just joined facebook, and whom I will probably give Remainland and/or Killing Kanoko, which I got from a still secreter Santa. Thanks, Action Books, Cannibal, Amy, all.

  51. Nathaniel Otting
  52. Nathaniel Otting
  53. Nathaniel Otting
  54. Nathaniel Otting
  55. TJ

      I received the first two issues of No Colony, which is awesome. Thanks santa.

  56. TJ

      I received the first two issues of No Colony, which is awesome. Thanks santa.

  57. Reb

      I received The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey

      and a bottle of beer.

      I have no idea if my giftee received his gift. He never responds to my Elfster messages and I don’t even know his last name, just his initial.

  58. Reb

      I received The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey

      and a bottle of beer.

      I have no idea if my giftee received his gift. He never responds to my Elfster messages and I don’t even know his last name, just his initial.

  59. D.W. Lichtenberg

      I got a copy of Hobart and a subscription! One of my fave mags.

  60. D.W. Lichtenberg

      I got a copy of Hobart and a subscription! One of my fave mags.

  61. Larry L.

      Man I loved that Darnielle 33 1/3… have you read Joe Pernice’s Meat is Murder?

  62. Larry L.

      Man I loved that Darnielle 33 1/3… have you read Joe Pernice’s Meat is Murder?

  63. Nate

      Karen sent me Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Thanks, Karen!

  64. Nate

      Karen sent me Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Thanks, Karen!

  65. Erica

      my recipient sent me a nice thank you on elfster, so I know he got his gift, but I’m still waiting for mine. this happened me to me last year too!

  66. Erica

      my recipient sent me a nice thank you on elfster, so I know he got his gift, but I’m still waiting for mine. this happened me to me last year too!

  67. aaron

      yay!

  68. aaron

      yay!

  69. gina

      the only thing that i technically spent $ on was the saterstrom book, so i managed to stay in the guidelines! can’t help but send BOL titles when i get to do mail trades, i am such a proud mama. so glad you enjoyed them! xo

  70. gina

      the only thing that i technically spent $ on was the saterstrom book, so i managed to stay in the guidelines! can’t help but send BOL titles when i get to do mail trades, i am such a proud mama. so glad you enjoyed them! xo

  71. gina

      i received “death in spring” by merce rodoreda which looks fantastic & right up my alley. htmlgiant secret santa is the best!

  72. gina

      i received “death in spring” by merce rodoreda which looks fantastic & right up my alley. htmlgiant secret santa is the best!

  73. Vince

      Hope you like it, Rebekah! Also, I ordered it from Women and Children First in Chicago, and the handler sent me a nice message that she too was taking part in the HTMLGIANT exchange. A holiday miracle. No arrival of my gift yet, although the school where I teach has lost packages before. Here’s hoping not…

  74. Vince

      Hope you like it, Rebekah! Also, I ordered it from Women and Children First in Chicago, and the handler sent me a nice message that she too was taking part in the HTMLGIANT exchange. A holiday miracle. No arrival of my gift yet, although the school where I teach has lost packages before. Here’s hoping not…

  75. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      That handler was most certainly Jac.

  76. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      That handler was most certainly Jac.

  77. Stephen Pemberton

      I received Sons of the Rapture by Todd Dills, as well as a bunch of mini-books and miscellany from Featherproof Books. Thanks, Kevin!

  78. Stephen Pemberton

      I received Sons of the Rapture by Todd Dills, as well as a bunch of mini-books and miscellany from Featherproof Books. Thanks, Kevin!