Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Thank You Water



In third world countries there are children who walk all day just to collect water for their families.  Often, this water makes them sick.  Australians spend 600 million dollars on bottled water each year.  Imagine the difference that sort of money would make to those children and their communities.

Four Australian's in their twenties started a company called ThankYou Water.  One hundred percent of their profits fund water projects in developing nations.  The purchase of a single bottle funds one month's worth of water for someone in need.

The founders of ThankYou Water work for free and have additional jobs to make ends meet.  Literally every dollar you spend is helping someone, which allows us to be part of the solution.  If you'd like to learn more about the team and their company check out their website here or this video.

I'd love to see ThankYou Water sold worldwide and on the 4th of July the team is taking the first steps to get there by presenting to 7-Eleven Australia.  All they need from us is a show of support and you don't even have to leave your chair.

Here's how you can help:


ThankYou Water on Facebook  & ThankYou Water on Twitter

I have my fingers crossed that we'll be seeing ThankYou Water in our local 7-Eleven soon.



Stay tuned later in the week for next month's writing workshops!

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Feel Something or Someone


I'm in moving mode. 

I have a lot of things.  Quite possibly more things than one person should have.  Or perhaps it just seems that way when you get cardboard boxes and tape involved. 

So, I shall leave you with some entertainment while I continue packing.


1. Riot Kissing
I love this picture and the fact that the photographer who took it did so by accident.  Accidents are wonderful things. 



2. Random Acts of Kindness
One of my favorite YA authors is taking part in a collaborative Random Acts of Kindness competition with some fabulous prizes but more important than that is this story.  It takes a lot to get me to tear up and this bit of random kindness couldn't have happened to a nicer person.


3. Sneezing Panda
It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I'll never get sick of it.



4. The cat that barks until it's caught (enough said).


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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Harlequin Desire Makeover


It seems the Desire line has had a makeover Down Under. The interesting thing is that it’s just the Desire line and only the Desire line. If I pretend to be intelligent, I could probably draw a connection between the makeover and the switch from Silhouette Desire to Harlequin Desire. Anyway, have a peek at the before and after:

BEFORE                   AFTER

     

What do you think? I’m not going to lie. My first reaction was “Urgh!” but that was probably more reflection on my resistance to change than anything else. I can see where the marketing gurus were going with it. It does look a lot cleaner, not as busy - less is more. The swirl at the top is a clever representation of the trademark rose.

I think it’s growing on me.

To be fair, it is just a graphic.  I'm sure it's more impressive in the "flesh".  There's a lot of competition out there.  It has to be eye catching to catch the eyes.

When it comes down to it,  as long as I have an author, a title and a blurb with a cracking emotional story inside I’m good.

What do you think about the new covers?  And feel free to love them or loathe them because someone needs to be sure how they feel about them.

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Be Inspired on Time


Dear Blogspot,

If you don’t start letting me comment on my favorite blogs again I will have to switch to Wordpress. That’s right, I said the “W” word.

Lacey (who’s technologically grumpy).


And rant over.

Today, I have another tip for making the most of your writing time. This one’s all about having your muse at your beck and call. Being inspired on time is a scarily simple thing to achieve and here’s how it works:

1. Write at the same time every day.

That’s it.

This particular writing tip is based around habit and mental processes. Basically, if you write at the same time everyday it follows that you form a habit. This lovely habit trains the brain and that muse of yours to be prepared to do that activity at the same time each day. Therefore, when you sit down to your computer at 10.30 every night for 21 days (the time it takes to form a new habit) and demand that your brain let you introduce Harry to Sally then that’s exactly what you will get.

Of course you do have to be awake to some extent. This tip will not save you if you are totally and utterly exhausted because then, and you can take my word on this, your muse is on vacation and you have bigger problems than your plot hole—like your health. You have to take care of yourself if you want the brain to work properly—chronic fatigue and brain fog are two things that will only make life and your writing harder to do.

This has been another edition of how to write more without finding more time =)


In other news…

I’m being greedy with Minx interviews this month and this week I’m chatting to debut Harlequin Desire author Cat Schield. I love debut author books because they’re a sample of what the editors are looking for at this very moment. Come join us for a chance to win Cat’s first book Meddling with a Millionaire.

Also, a belated congrats to Andrea Laurence from the Writer’s Playground who was acquired by Desire last week. If you need a writing pick-me-up you can read her call story here.

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Short and Sweet

Hi all!

Today I'm over at the The Minxes interviewing debut Harlequin Medical author Wendy S. Marcus. Click here to find out what she'd wished she'd known before being published.

I'm a wee sick at the moment so you'll have to carry on without me but feel free to send chocolate - I'm almost out.
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© 2013 Lacey Devlin

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