Eve Devon
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Muse Fuel Does Branding!

29/3/2013

 
Firstly, if you celebrate Easter - Happy Easter, everyone!

So every now and then I do a Muse Fuel post--these are things I do to keep Muse, and by association, me(!) happy.

As an author, sooner or later, you run into the concept of branding. Having a website and participating on different social networking platforms you start to realise that the more cohesive your voice and "look" is, the easier it will be for readers to find you, recognise you and remember you.

When I was putting the website together, Muse and I were in our element looking at colours, font styles and photos that could provide background for both romantic suspense and contemporary romance books (I didn't want pink, yellow was too sunshiny, green too nature-y, monochrome too business-y etc., etc.). Wait, what do you mean people don't take it to that extreme?!? Um...okay--in that case here's a simple post about a bag I made, which by coincidence, happens to use my own branding and can be used to deliver my swag to writer conventions--or, you know, advertise the "writer me", wherever I go!

If you feel like doing the same you will need:
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A Linen Bag
Image Transfer Paste, or Iron-on Image Transfer Paper
Some scraps of material
Coordinating Buttons
Fabric Glue
Cotton/Embroidery Thread (optional)

Instructions:
1) Iron the bag to get all the creases out.
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2) Choose a copyright-free image. I used a photograph I created for my website. WARNING: transferring the image you've chosen onto your bag reverses the image so if you have text or an arrow you want pointing in a particular direction, you will need to REVERSE your image before you print it out or photocopy it. Using a photocopy ensures even colour distribution. If you want a more distressed look use Image Transfer paste with an inkjet printout. This way the ink is loaded straight onto the paper and when you remove the transfer the colours will bleed out more.
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3) I used some Image Transfer paste that I had for transferring image onto fabric and printed my image from an inkjet printer to achieve a distressed look. Cut the image out and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to transfer your image to the exact place you want it to appear on the bag.
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4) Next measure the height of your bag and make a template of your web address using WordArt or by writing the text free-form.
5) Cut the letters out and tack them to your chosen material. I used denim and leather to match the colours in my image. Cut the fabric letters out.
6) Insert a protective layer into your bag. I used cardboard. Place the letters on your bag in your chosen postion. I used a tape measure to get straight lines and even spacing.
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7) Using fabric glue carefully fix your letters to the bag, making sure you leave a gap between the end of your name and "com". Glue over the edges of the letters to prevent the material fraying. You can also stitch around each letter using cordinating cotton or embroidery thread for a different look.
8) When the letters are dry choose a button to represent the "dot" in your web address.
9) You can either use coordinating thread to sew the buttons on or you can glue them on.

And voila: My Eve Devon.com bag!
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What do you think? I'd love to hear about some of the publicity craft projects you've done. Feel free to leave me a comment about them.

Eve

p.s. Look out for another Muse Fuel post coming soon in which I reveal the SUPER SECRET craft I've been learning for my Book Launch!

First Ever Review!

18/3/2013

 
I'm absolutely over the moon to get this 4 STAR review from RT Book Reviews for my May release: The Waiting Game.
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For my first ever review, I couldn't be happier. I don't mind telling you I'd been having nightmares where I was the first person ever to receive no stars, and worse, in those nightmares, I was also...naked! *shudders*

It's all starting to feel incredibly real now and it's fair to say that the closer I get to "release day", the further I find I've strayed from my comfort zone.

That's okay though--me and the deep-breathing thing have become firm friends over the last few years! And I think I've mentioned a time or two on this blog, that this journey is all about being separated from your comfort zone and learning not to shy away from things, so as not to limit yourself or your writing.

But I'm also learning that this journey has to be about celebrating the good things as well. Wow! I can't believe I actually came right out and said it.

As authors, most of us have had to learn patience, perseverence, self-belief, how to deal with rejection and how to keep perspective! The further along this adventure - the more we learn it's not only about the writing. Although, my little tip: remembering to make it mostly about the writing, does help you deal with all the other things ;-)

So...small celebration has taken place and now it's back to the writing!

Eve

When List-Making Goes Bad...

3/3/2013

 
Do you find walking around a supermarket without a shopping list shudder-inducing?
Or starting the week without a To Do list incomprehensible?
What about having a list of goals for the year? Don't you find that practical and on the cute side of target-driven?
Have you reached that "if it's not on the list, it doesn't exist" stage of life?

In this, my list confessional, ironically written in the form of a list, I try to discover if my once agile and awesomely organised mind hasn't become a little too enslaved by the list-making.

What would happen if I challenged myself to go a week without writing a list? Would I forget something so eye-wateringly important, karma would be belly-laughing at the payback possibilities? Would I get to the end of the week and see my self-esteem lying pathetically on the floor, starved of any sense of achievement? Or, would the amount of time freed up by the not making of the lists, mean I had to actually tackle the very stuff I avoided by spending time writing them on a list?

*clears throat* I haven't exactly carried out the challenge. What? I'm not stupid. A whole week without writing one single list? Baby steps, people.

Before listing the lists I write each week I offer you three types of list-makers: The Procrastinator, The Doer and The Stationery Addict.

As a writer I am all three of these. Sometimes at the same time!

I'm trying to remember when the penchant for list-making started. I definitely remember knowing that writing a revision plan, with a list of topics I needed to revise (and the order in which I needed to revise them) was going to be way more fun than the actual act of revising for exams. Early evidence of list-maker procrastinator?

Then there was the first time I had too many deadlines coming up at work. Being able to rely on my To Do list took the pressure off. Methodically achieving the list became my doer's redemption.

Lastly, yes, I am that person who buys novelty stationery. Little odd-shaped notebooks I fill with checklists, top-ten lists, wish lists/bucket lists, Christmas lists. To Be Read lists. Books I've Read lists.

As a writer I'm part plotter part pantser. I work out plot--albeit loosely to leave room for my characters to surprise me along the way. But this does mean I write lists of character traits and on a plotting board I put lists of scenes and lists of plot turns. So in any given week I write lists of the above and:
1) A To Do List. This list contains items that if I don't do, someone wil a) shout at me, b) nag at me, or c) look at me like I'm TSTL. I also list things so mundane I've practically already done them. (Sometimes I have. Not gonna lie--the act of crossing things off the list is strangely satisfying). Also on the list are things I would like to get done. And will get done. When I get sucked into that magical vortex where time doubles.
2) The food shopping list. Time is precious and if I return home missing half the stuff I need, I'm going to a) use unladylike profanities (sometimes fun) and b) have to go out again (not fun).
3) At the end of my writing day I write a list of where I want to take the scene the following day.

Hey. This isn't too bad. To think I was worried about a measly three lists a week. Nothing to see here folks.

Except...

Where does it all end? What if I were to start a List of Lists? Uh-huh. Start writing one of those puppies and no doubt I'm straying into "When List-Making Goes Bad" land.

That smacks of list-making in control of you, not you in control of list-making.

And what if I were to take any one of those lists and start subdividing, alpha-sorting and colour-coordinating???

Wait. That's what you do with charts, right? Phew. Charts are totally different. Charts = Spreadsheets. A spreadsheet isn't a list. Not really. I mean, sure people use them as lists, but
technically...

*heads off to turn "Things I need to do pre book launch" list into a spreadsheet*

Eve

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    Eve Devon's books on Goodreads
    The Waiting Game The Waiting Game
    reviews: 21
    ratings: 31 (avg rating 4.10)

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