Tips for Packing Your Carry-on Luggage

Have trouble packing everything into your suitcase so it can fit in the overhead compartment? If this is you, read on for some tips so you can save yourself the hassle of checking in your bag on your next flight.

Choose Wisely

Always invest in a bag which you love, whether it be a duffel bag or a roller. Duffels have the advantage of being smaller and fitting a lot easier into the overhead bin, but they often come with shoulder stress. Rollers, on the other hand, make things much easier to get around but often get checked in at the gates, especially when flights are full.

Pack It Right

Packing makes all the difference. Choose clothes that won’t wrinkle easily, like cottons and jerseys. Also, packing a capsule wardrobe of versatile items that can be layered and worn in different ways will make mixing and matching much easier.

Use Bags

By packing a series of small, sealable plastic bags, you can really streamline your packing process. Bags can be used for all sorts of small items such as cords and chargers, jewellery and shoes. This makes finding these smaller items a whole lot easier.

Keep Liquids at Home

Try to pack liquid-free if possible. Then, when you have landed at your destination, pop into a convenience store and stock up on all your toiletries including shampoos, deodorants and anything else you might need.

If You Do Bring Toiletries…

Sometimes there are items which you just cannot live without. If this is the case, opt for a clear toiletry bag so you can see all of your items quickly and easily, as this will make clearing security a whole lot easier.

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How to keep positive on a tough day

Life can get us all down from time to time, whether it’s been a hard day at work, money troubles or relationship issues, it can test us. If you’re having a tough day or a bad experience recently, here are some tips on how to keep positive.

Appreciate what you do have - At the hardest of times, we often forget about the good things in our lives and what we actually have. When you’re feeling low, try and make a list of everything positive in your life. It could literally be the smallest thing ever but soon the list will pile up and you’ll realize that everything is okay.

It’s okay not to be okay - Everyone has down days even the most positive person you know. It’s natural to have down moments and feeling as if everything sucks. But what’s more important is getting out of that mood and away from it.

Pursue your hobbies - To distract yourself on down days, pursue things you love to take your mind off things. This could be anything from shopping, reading a book to cooking. We all have different hobbies that can instantly cheer us up and feel happier again.

Think positively - It may sound silly, but if you start to think positively and know in your heart it’ll all be okay, things will be okay and settle. Put that positive energy out in the universe and it’ll come straight back at you.

Smile - Simple but effective. A smile can help you feel happier and those around you - and is an easy way to spread positivity.

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What are the biggest selling literary genres each year?

Every so often, there will be a breakout must-read book or an individual who enjoys a great run of success and these are usually reflected in the bestseller lists each year. However, as books come and go, and authors enjoy peaks and troughs, the genres they write in endure.

Some genres are more lucrative than others, although it’s probably best for any aspiring writer to simply concentrate on their craft rather than what kind of book is going to make them a lot of money. 

Even if you do decide to dive into the genre which makes the most money, there’s no guarantee you’ll be coining it in.

In terms of book sales in the US each year, romance and erotica is the top selling genre, raking in around $1.5 billion every year. It’s perhaps not surprising when you consider that authors such as the late Barbara Cartland and Danielle Steele are among the most widely read in the history of literary. 

Second on the last, although a good bit behind, is crime and mystery, a genre which clocks about $730 million each year, showing that we still love a good gripping whodunit or layered thriller to sink our teeth into.

The third biggest selling genre may surprise you, although in many ways it might not if you walk into any bookstore. Inspirational and spiritual books make around $720 million a year, meaning many of us still love a good self-help book or something to help us relax and destress.

Science fiction and fantasy is next, hitting just shy of $600 million a year while horror is a fair bit behind in fifth, generating about $80 million each year.

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Book trends for 2019

Trends in any market are continuously changing as news develops and more discoveries are being made. If you’re a mass book fan or someone who is planning to write your own book, these trends are something to keep in mind for 2019.

Diversity will continue to be a driving economic force in publishing - There’s no doubt that in 2019, diversity continues to be more widely accepted as it should be, and there are more multicultural influential voices in the news. Whether it means including it in your written work or sharing books that involve diversity, it’s something that undoubtedly does well on the publishing front in today’s open and accepting society.

Reading is being done on different mediums - Goodbye are the days where we head down to a bookshop and buy our latest read. Today, avid readers are reading novels in various different mediums and will continue to do so. It could be through online browsing, app reading subscriptions or on a kindle. Fewer people are seeing traditional reading as important and swaying towards the more convenient way - on their mobile device.

Look towards alternative media - As well as different ways to browse books, there are also different ways to write books and other content. Alternative writing platforms exist such as Wattpad, which began 12 years ago and has become one of the greatest fan-fiction websites, used by many. The site now hosts over 550 million stories by writers worldwide. It’s a prime place to have your writing seen and eventually get published.

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Publishers must keep pace with the trend towards diversity

While writing is an art, publishing is a business and businesses need to keep up with trends to survive.

An author will explore a genre or theme based on what they are interested in or what they have experience in, but whether that book will make it to print or be a success depends on how a publisher handles it and promotes.

Like any business, publisher first and foremost like security, so going with tried and trusted themes and characters is often the safest path to take to get the best returns.

However, they must also be wary of what way the wind is blowing at any given time and move with it.

Right now, when of the biggest trends in publishing is a demand for diversity, both in the identity of authors and contents of their books.

TV and film have had to deal with a lot of criticism that certain minorities were underrepresented on screen and behind the camera.

There has also been a similar clamor in the world of literary fiction and it is largely customer driven. For decades, the majority of books featured heroes who were white, straight and often male. Of course, there have been a wide range of different characters from different backgrounds in these books, but often the most prominent and sympathetic characters have followed the same blueprint. This has also been reflected in the profile of those working in the publishing industry.

But just as cinema and television have had to rise to the challenge of diversity, publishers are now realizing that they must do the same.

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Punching in the clock: What famous authors did before they hit the big time

Writing is a calling which many answer, however it can take others a bit longer to respond to the call, throw all their eggs in the writing basket and make it their main job. Some of the most well-known and most successful writers have worked in a range of jobs, some mundane, some fascinating before finally follow the path into becoming a published writer. Here are a few of the jobs done by famous writers before the struck it big in writing.

Douglas Adams – Bodyguard

The man behind the successful sci-fi comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy’, who also wrote for celebrated British comedy troupe Monty Python, previously worked as a bodyguard for the family of a Middle Eastern oil tycoon.

Nicholas Sparks – Dental supplies salesman

Now known as a doyen of modern romance writing, with many of his books already being adapted for the big screen, Sparks’ head wasn’t always in classic boy meets girl stories. In a previous life, he sold dental product by phone.

Agatha Christie – Apothecary assistant

Ever wondered why a large number of people die by poisoning in Agatha Christie novel? Well, the author herself spent a good deal of time working alongside an apothecary in a hospital.

Stephen King – Janitor and gas station attendant

King’s path to the top was a rocky one, but he never gave up on his dream. He first worked as a janitor in a high school and also worked at a gas station attendant before finally getting his big break with his novel Carrie.

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Books to look forward to in 2019

It’s never too early to look forward or to get a head start on figuring out what books you want to read next year. Make sure you do just that with our list of books to look forward to in 2019.  Whilst 2018 was a great year, and we have no doubt you probably still have some must-read books you need to check out. If you want to stay ahead of the curve next year it would definitely help to make a note of these exciting upcoming releases.

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

From the New York Times, bestselling author of 2012’s The Age Of Miracles comes this strange and mysterious book. Set in a Southern California college town in which residents are plagued by being unexpectedly plunged into a state of coma-like deep sleep, this vividly surreal book is sure to be hit next year.

We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Endorsed by acclaimed writer and essayist Roaxanne Gay as “an incisive and necessary work of brilliant satire” this hard-hitting work examines racial identity and violence in America through a setting that is both futuristic and alarmingly present in its veracity.

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

If you enjoyed Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere then this book is definitely one for you. Or for anyone that is a fan of generation sweeping character pieces that explore the responsibilities and bonds of family, as well as love in all its myriad forms and difficulties.

If you want to make sure you’re up to date on the latest books, then why not head over to www.selectvu.com and browse from their selection of all the latest and greatest audiobooks and eBooks.