Monday, February 13, 2017

Travel Pictures and Book Cover Creation

After posting a brief account of my recent cruise from Singapore to Thailand to Vietnam and back to Singapore, I got a lot of requests to see more pics of my trip. Okay, if you insist (I always love sharing my travel pics).

If, however, you are more interested in How to Create Book Covers that Sell Books, then pop on over to the Insecure Writer's Support Group website to check out my article there.

I don't have many great photos of Singapore, though it's a beautiful city. It was a humid, raining day. I did get to the Singapore Flyer, a massive Ferris wheel and below is probably my best shot with it in the background (if you look closely).
Leaving Singapore:
Travel advice: Don't go on a cruise if you want to stay on your diet:
Dining in opulence on the Mariner of the Seas, Royal Caribbean:
Just outside Bangkok, Thailand:
Reckon I could sneak one of these onto the balcony of my new place? Every good balcony needs a dragon fountain...
I love all ancient ruins and/or intricate workmanship. It's great when I get both in the one place.
The Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya, Thailand:
Floating market, Pattaya, Thailand:
Vietnam wasn't as pretty, but I still enjoyed it.
Okay, I have a gazillion more pics, but that's enough for now.
Don't forget to check out my article on the IWSG website: How to Create Book Covers that Sell Books

Where have you travelled to recently? What's your favourite travel destination?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Writing, Reading and Travel #IWSG

I've just come back from a cruise from Singapore to Thailand, then Vietnam and back to Singapore. I took a book with me (The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu) but didn't open it once. I kinda felt guilty about that when I chose to watch the in-flight movies instead. I squeezed in three and a half of them each way. Think how much reading I could've done! It's not like I'm not enjoying the book. Nope, I'm loving it. It's quite an exceptional science fiction with great ideas and concepts. But the truth was, my brain just needed to switch off. You see, the problem with being a writer is when I read I analyse ... or, if the book is really good, I feel super inspired to write, or I mope and wish I could write like that--which is ridiculous since we all have our own way of writing and our own unique stories. But I still mope on the occasion. Just because.

How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

I'm not quite back into the swing of things yet as I had expected. The world continues to shift and rock as if I'm still on the boat. Hopefully my weary brain will land on shore soon.

In the meantime, I'd like to welcome into the IWSG fold, two new admins:
Heather Gardner will be running the conferences page at the IWSG site.
C. Lee McKenzie will be our media relations expert.

Also, check out the cover of  our upcoming IWSG anthology, Hero Lost, if you haven't already.

And, we have an IWSG swag now. You can get your own IWSG pen, magnet or t-shirt. Check it out HERE.

Every first Wednesday of the month the members of the IWSG post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG, then please go HERE to find out more and join up.