Question - if you were bidding on this, what would you want?

[neadods]

The next big Team Wench do is the Midsummer Fantasy Ball for MS, also known as the MSFB. (Link for details on right on my LJ under "Team Wench".) The main moneymaker is always the raffle. Since I never get around to making the quilt I intend to donate and I'm rolling in books, I have decided instead to donate a series of book baskets.

My question to you - aside from the books, what would you want to see in each of these baskets? What would encourage you to put in a few bids?

#1 - Romances
1 dozen paperback romance novels; big, thick ones, all new; mostly historical but one or two moderns. The Corset Diaries and something else rennie-ish will be prominently featured. I was thinking of adding a bottle of Calgon and calling it the "take me away" basket, but I'm not sure how many people remember those ads. Other ideas were to include a box of bonbons and a candle, or bath oils and a scrubbie.

#2 - Fairy Tales
This one is close to complete, but if anyone has a good inexpensive idea, I'll take it. This contains Annotated Fairy Tales (a huge hardback), The Gentle Knight and the Bold Princess (a hardback anthology), Desperaux (a French fairy tale about a mouse), a blank paperback book with a picture of Puss in Boots on the cover, a treasure candle, and the Ever After game. (ETA - it's not new, but I have a spare copy of the 10th Kingdom VHS series, and it's tempting to toss it into the pack.)

#3 - Mystery
I can't list titles here because I'll be drawing heavily on the trade table at Malice for the stock; what I'm thinking of is a random selection with one or two hardbacks or trade paperbacks (the new Lillian Stewart Carl about Bonnie Prince Charlie has been set aside for this) and then maybe half a dozen paperbacks. Since this won't be a theme, I'm not sure what else to put in there.

OR

I have the option of using fewer books, but making theme baskets. For instance, a couple of English themed books and some tea. A couple of crafter books, some yarn, and knitting needles. A couple of cookbooks (I have two mystery themed ones, one of which is signed) and some cookie cutters or something. (If I dig around enough, I might have the option of doing an all theme cookbook one - some mystery cookbooks, some fantasy ones, etc.)

If you were bidding, would you go for quantity (many books, fewer side items) or quality (theme)?

I have the same questions about #4 - Fantasy/SF
Before I even contact the folks I know to ask if they'd be willing to donate, I can scare up about a half-dozen hardbacks and an equal number of paperbacks. Thing is - do I want to do Big Basket O' Book Doom with just the hardbacks? Do I want to try to pick themes?

And finally, speaking of themes, what do people think about the possibility of #5 - Creatures of the Night? I could make a Boogieman Basket out of Love at First Bite (the book, not the movie), Single White Vampire, Blood Games, and Curse of the Zwillig. That's two mass market paperbacks and two trades; two mysteries and two romances. Would you bid on such a thing? And what else would you want in there? Black candles? Bloody mary mix?

Or maybe just a dealer's choice basket, with a little bit of everything?

I've got a huge stack of books and no inspiration. Ideas would be wonderful.

ETA: To give some idea of other raffle prizes, I've seen a "romantic massage" basket, and there will probably be several trays of decadent fudge sold in 2# batches, homemade soap baskets, jewelry, etc. The biggie so far is a My Fi XM radio with complete accessories.

Comments

[lagilman]

Teme and quality, not quantity. But then, I already have too many books, myself...

[lagilman]

Theme. Argh.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I already have too many books, myself...

Any that you'd care to toss in this direction? Anything donated to Team Wench fits the definition of a charitable donation and I could write you a receipt.

[lagilman]

you still have my database, don't you? (which reminds me, resend your wished-fors, as that e-mail is currently trapped in the guts of the old dead latop and I can't remember the title of the third book you wanted...)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I have no idea. I'll poke around tonight, but there's no guarantee that I've still got it. I can just about guarantee that I don't remember any of the books I asked for even if I see the list...

[tchwrtr.livejournal.com]

Mysteries require tea. Possibly with a nice mug.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

If you have enough lead time to order some BPAL imps (or go thru the community and/or forum to buy some that people are selling off), those might make interesting and inexpensive additions. Don't worry about the scents, just pick appropriate-sounding names such as Spellbound for the Fairy Tales basket, or O for Romances. If the recipients like them, fine; if they don't, no major investment lost.

calgon ... take it away!

[fandance.livejournal.com]

I like your themes; the suggestion of tea with the mysteries is spot on! As for the romance, I say bring on the Calgon. The commercials are only what, 15 years old? Time to train the generations a-comin!
One of my pals still says to me (when she's had a stressful day) "Calgon!" to indicate it will be a night of unwinding.
... and how can I ever forget the Saturday Night Live spoof of Corazon Aquino in the bath when guerillas break in on her, and Corazon shouting "Calgon! Take me awa- ahhhh!"