Yep -- TPTB have once again granted permission for our HF Forum to have its own Secret Santa Exchange. Everyone is welcome to participate. If you haven't joined us before, please read the below, and if you have any questions, PM me. If you've participated before, you know the drill (but read the below anyway).

There are just three simple steps to take part in this fun and long-awaited holiday extravaganza: 

(1) Send me a PM telling me that you're in and, most importantly, giving me your address (and your email address if you want Kindle or Nook ebooks). Sign-ups start now and will continue through November 1st (or thereabouts) -- which should be plenty of time for all, even the lollygaggers.

(2) Make a "most wanted" list to post in the separate "Most Wanted Lists" thread. On this list should be the WL books that you most want AND that are unlikely to be posted to you within the next two months.  You should list between 5 and 10 books to give your Secret Santa a range of choices -- please include title, author, and desired binding (i.e., hard-cover, paperback, or e-book). If you wish, you can provide links to each listed book's page, ISBNs, or links to your WL or a book list that you've created. These books DO NOT need to be historical fiction and DO NOT need to be on your PBS WL. Also, please note on your post if there are any allergies (e.g., pet hair, smoke, etc) that you need your Secret Santa to be aware of.

(3) After sign-ups are completed and I randomly assign you a secret buddy, find a book (or 2 or 3) on your buddy's "most wanted" list, wrap it (them) up and send off the package in time to arrive for Christmas/Chanuka/ Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice.* A good deadline for Media Mail is December 5th; for First Class, Parcel, or Priority, December 15th.  Media Mail will invariably be the least expensive option.

Rules/tips:

• Please do not request a specific secret buddy.
• There is a money limit of 15 dollars, not including shipping. You can buy more than one book.
• The books can be used or new, but MUST meet PBS posting guidelines
•  If you have a problem that will prevent you from being able to send a package to your buddy, please let me know as soon as possible. We all understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions, and I have a back-up plan in case this happens. No one will be left without a gift. 
• PM me when you have mailed your package.
• Include a little note or card in your package to let your buddy know who you are.
• If you want to add a little something extra to the package, send a bookmark. Yes, yes -- I know you all want to send holiday ornaments, stationery, wind-up Santas, stuffed reindeer, chocolate, wine, etc. -- this is neither expected nor required. If you choose to do so, please note that any extras count toward your shopping limit AND render your package ineligible for Media Mail. (If you insist on sending chocolate and wine, you should send them directly to your Secret Santa coordinator, i.e., yours truly, who will determine after a taste test, whether or not to send them on.)
• Even though you are not receiving PBS credits, you may still use PBS Delivery Confirmation with or without PBS printed postage IF you want. See the posting below for how to do this. I recommend Delivery Confirmation (whether through PBS, the Post Office, or PayPal) so that you can track your package. This is the holiday season, after all. Again, please send in a timely fashion so that your package will arrive before the holidays -- but not too early!!
• When you receive your package, post about it, brag about your goodies, and thank your Secret Santa.

Disclaimer: Because we are not depositing PBS credits, PBS allows us to have this exchange in the HF forum rather than in the Games forum AND only during the holiday season. This is considered an UNMODERATED game -- which means there is no recourse through PBS if one's Secret Santa doesn't follow through, books don't meet posting requirements, the package gets lost, blah, blah, blah. In other words, if you participate in this Secret Santa exchange, you are doing so at your own risk. 

Let the fun and games begin!!!

^*Don't worry about your package arriving in time to anyone celebrating Chanukah (or Hanukkah or Chanukkah or Hannukah or....). As Stephen Colbert knows, Chanukah starts ridiculously early this year (i.e., on Thanksgiving). Anyway, it's a bit odd to get gifts from Secret Santa for Chanukah -- but if you want to light the Hanukiyah as you open your package, I'm sure the Maccabees won't complain.

Secret Santas

• Cheryl M. (hannamatt52)
• Carolyn R. (yankeechick)
• Alice J. (ASJ)
• Aubree G. (notyourstar)
• Becky T. (beanie5)
• Josie C. (brwneyedbeauty)
• Deborah A. (DebKit)
• Jeanne L. (bkydbirder)
• Lynne J. (Doughgirl)
• Sharla U. (sharz96)
• Lauri E. (Luluette)
• Lori L. (loralei)
• Donna W. (drw)
• Mimi M. (mimima)
• MK C. (Kellsmom)
• Kristin K. (escapeartistk)
• R E K. (bigstone) 
• Holly P. (MichiganderHolly)
• Kelly P. (KellyP)
• Linda B. (KellyP)
• Kelly E. (rainfall)
• Colleen J. (shukween) 
• Kathy F. (txmom24)
• K. A. U. (SetDancer)

IF you'd like to send your Secret Santa package using PBS Delivery Confirmation (DC), there are two ways to do so. In both cases, you need money in your PBS account. The first method allows you to purchase PBS DC only; the second method allows you to purchase PBS DC with printed postage.

1) Custom Delivery Confirmation Label: Go to "My Account" and click on "Custom DC." Click on "Create a New Label." Fill in the name and address of your secret buddy and print the DC label. If you are sending via media mail, this option will cost you 50¢ in addition to postage -- 30¢ is the PBS fee which is deducted immediately and then a 20¢ USPS fee will be collected at the post office. If you are sending via first class, then you will pay only the 30¢ PBS fee.

2) Mail To A Friend Option: Go to the book's page on PBS -- which you can access by searching for the book or by clicking on the book's title on a WL or RL. Click on the "More Options" button and then "Mail to a Friend." Fill in the name and address of your secret buddy. Then you can print the wrapper as usual -- adding PBS DC only, PBS DC with printed postage, or no extra services. IMPORTANT: If you are using PBS postage, check the weight. Sometimes the weights are wrong. AND, if you are sending more than the one book, you will need to change the weight to reflect the additional book(s). The cost of using PBS DC with printed postage is 55¢. If you use printed postage, you can just drop the package in any blue box -- no standing in line at the Post Office.  Also, when you use this option, the book goes onto your account and you will need to mark the book received after your buddy lets you know that it was delivered.

This sounds like fun.  I'd love to join in this year.  

Count me in!  I'll send you an e-mail.

I sent you a PM, Deb.  Since I'm not here in the forum very often, not sure if I can participate.  But would like to.

I'm in! Thank you!

Let's do it again.  Thanks for offering this fun exchange.  I'll work on my list in the next few days.

PM has been sent.  Now to work on my list.  Thank you!

Who knows who your Secret Santa will be???

Deb,

Linda is in !!

Kelly is in !!

We'll get our respective lists pulled together and get them posted soonest!

Thanks for being our SS Coordinator again!

Kelly

Remember to send me your address if you want to participate in Secret Santa!!

How can you resist??? Sign up for the HF Forum's Secret Santa!

(If your name is not on the list of Secret Santas above, then you haven't sent me a PM with your address.)

I haven't been around in ages, but I am trying to get more reading in. I would love to participate again this year! I'll pm ya!

1) Is your name on the Secret Santa list above?

2) If not, send me a PM with your address. NOW.

Don't make me get out the wet noodle!!        

(The more the merrier...and we want this to be a very merry holiday!)

Deb - when are you closing this???? any ideas yet? Some people don't have their most wanted books listed in the other thread - get the noodle out!

Not to worry...still another week to go. 

Oh, y'all just KNOW I'm in......

Can't wait to see who I get this year!

Would just like to mention this to Deb: Please don't assign me anyone that is highly allergic to cats.  I am not planning on insulating my package with cat hair or anything but given the herd I have at my house I am pretty sure a cat allergic recipient would expire upon coming within 10 feet of my secret santa box. ;-)

LOL, Holly! How many kitties do you have over there? We have 3, but were at 5 for a long time. :)

Hehehehe...this year's Secret Santa is brought to you by cat hair! I have two little boogers sweeties myself.

I would like to join in this year!  Sending PM .....

But I like my cat hair!

Secret Santa sign-ups close on Friday, so if you haven't signed up, do it now!!

And please remember to post your most-wanted books here: Hey, Santa Baby -- because if you haven't posted by the time I send out the assignments, I invariably get complaints from some impatient Secret Santas...and then I get annoyed and take it out on my DH. So do my beleaguered husband a favor and post your list!!

After losing our dear motherly tabby last year, we have added a new kitten at our household.  He'll be lucky if I don't accidentally mail him with my SS package, as he is incredibly curious and into everything :) such a joy to have!

Double post