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.

For a lot more books covering a wide range of trending topics, check out what’s available at www.selectvu.com.

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.

Get lost in some classic fiction from top writers with the books from www.selectvu.com.

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.