• Blog

    We are all busy so you can stop telling everyone now!

    4/13/2015

    Any Way You Slice It Mug and BookWHY ANNOUNCING HOW BUSY YOU ARE IS REDUNDANT
    I started this blog post and I was going to write about the ways in which routine, especially for a writer, can help counter all the busy in our lives but then my mind wandered off.
    ***

    I know we all spend a lot of time these days telling each other how busy we are.

    In fact, if I one more person tells me how busy they are I may scream. Not because they’re not busy but because the truth is most people are busy. (I might even be busy…maybe, probably not, but maybe…)

    If you have a job, elderly parents, kids, a partner, friends, you volunteer, you play a sport, you cook, you go the the gym, you have a hobby, you’re in a bookclub or any combination of those things you are more than likely busy. So I think that pretty much covers most people. We’re all busy.

    (There are also different types of busy – good, happy, I’m planning to climb Everest busy is not the same as bad, scary, I think I’m losing my job and my kid is sick busy. The first is exciting and invigorating and really you shouldn’t complain. The second type is not what I’m talking about here AT ALL. The first is made up of adrenalin and interesting choices and the second is a hard slog where you need to reach out for support because you need some of the other busy people to make some time and help you even if they have to skip bookclub or a yoga class.)

    There are definitely times some people are more busy than others – five kids under five and you are busy, finding elder care for parents and you’re busy, a major work event the week before Christmas and you are busy – all those things at once and well, you’re crazy busy.

    Some people however are always busy and often so busy telling you that, they barely have time to stop and ask you about your life.

    So when I say “please don’t tell me you’re bus”y I mean the day to day life stuff that we all have it’s just life. It’s the life you’ve chosen to have.

    When you tell someone “I’m so busy” you’re really saying. “I’m very important.”

    Or when you say “I’m too busy to volunteer/read a book/join a gym” , which no doubt your companion has just announced that they do, well, what you are really saying is either:

    a) I’m busy doing things that are important to me and that thing you do has little or no value to me (or less value than the things I choose to do). (And that is actually fine…I would rather read than go to a gym any day…busy or not…and I know loads of people who are the opposite.)
    or
    b) I really feel bad I’m not doing that thing, I would kind of like to, so I’ll put the fact that you are doing it down.

    “I’m so busy” as an excuse every time you see someone makes them feel like they should thank you for finding time for them. It also seems to impy you think they aren’t busy. They may in fact just juggle things better, or not tell you about the many things on their plate because you’re too busy to listen, return a phone call or heck even meet up.

    You know that expression “If you want something done give it to a busy person?” Chances are someone with far more on their plate than you has the time to do that thing you can’t. Just don’t tell them how busy you are as the reason you can’t do it.

    ***
    My post on the power of routine will appear later in the week.

  • Blog

    A competition for the launch of Building Attraction

    10/31/2013

    Building Attraction - Monique McDonell - CoverI’m launching Building Attraction this Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

    That’s exciting news isn’t it? Well I think so- hence the big print.

    Did you know that also happens to be a very big day in the Australian calendar – Melbourne Cup Day. If you don’t know it’s a very famous horse race – it’s Australia’s version of the Kentucky Derby. People have long, lunches, bet on the fillies and possibly have a champagne or two.

    As you can see from the cover here is a horse or two in Building Attraction.

    Here’s the book blurb:
    Hers has been a life of too many responsibilities and his has been a life of too few. Could the thing that initially repelled them from each other finally be the ultimate source of attraction?

    Holly Adams has two jobs in the city, two petulant teenage sisters to support, a farm with a big mortgage and a terrible secret that propels her forward. Brad Winchester has a reputation for being a spoilt playboy who has abandoned his family business but he also has a secret that has finally brought him home.

    When they are forced to together at work (Holly works at the cut-throat PR Consultancy that handles his family’s account Winchester Homes – They don’t build homes, they build dreams”) a series of misunderstandings has them at odds.

    Still while working together they learn they have more in common than either might have imagined – common friends, family loyalty and dreams of something different. When life keeps pushing them in each other’s paths they must decide whether this is an attraction that might be worth building on after all.

    ***
    Would you like to win a copy of Building Attraction and a prize?

    There are two ways to win:
    1. If you’re a regular follower of my blog, my Facebook author page or on twitter this one isn’t to hard (Hint: pretend it is my horse)… Guess what I named the horse in the novel? That’s it. What is Holly’s horse called? Tell me in the comments
    section and which prize you would like with your e-book – a tote or a mug!

    2. Choose your own name for the horse and I’ll choose one at random. Tell me in the comments section and which prize you would like with your e-book – a tote or a mug!

    Simple….leave a comment here on the BLOG…the prizes are an e-book and a mug or an e-book and a tote – you choose your prize.

    Good luck and I hope you back a winner.

    Building Attraction Tote and Mug

    Comments

    Nic Herrmann
    10/31/2013 04:25:51 pm

    Mmmm sorry Monique I clearly don’t read your blog😥

    Karen Mate
    11/1/2013 11:33:50 am

    Sapphire. I would love to have one of tote bags and an ebook!
    Reply
    Monique
    11/4/2013 03:12:06 pm

    Karen looks like you won! 🙂 I’ll send you the book via Amazon…I’ll need you to e-mail me your address so I can send the tote bag!

  • Blog

    In honour of my birthday…a competition.

    8/23/2012

    Mr Right and Other Mongrels MugToday it is my birthday. I don’t know what to say.
    I thought I’d run a quiz and a little give away.

    Into the comment box, the questions cut and paste.
    Answer them by Monday, you have no time to waste.

    And you could win a mug or a paperback book
    So come and do my little quiz, please do take a look!

    Ok cheesy poem over.
    Answer the questions below and you could win a mug or a paperback.

    Which do you prefer out of the following? There are no right or wrong answers.

    1. Mountain or sea?
    2. Ocean or lake?
    3. Blue eyes or brown?
    4. Martini or daiquiri?
    5. e-book or paperback?
    6. Coffee or tea?
    7. Chips or cake?
    9. Red wine or white?
    10. Dinner or dessert?

    I’ll put my own answers up later.

    Comments

    Elaine
    8/23/2012 09:57:04 am

    1. Mountain or sea? SEA
    2. Ocean or lake? OCEAN
    3. Blue eyes or brown? BROWN
    4. Martini or daiquiri? DAIQUIRI
    5. e-book or paperback? E-BOOK
    6. Coffee or tea? COFFEE
    7. Chips or cake? CAKE
    9. Red wine or white? RED
    10. Dinner or dessert? DESSERT

    Gwen
    8/23/2012 09:59:15 am

    1. Mountain or sea? mountain
    2. Ocean or lake? lake
    3. Blue eyes or brown? brown
    4. Martini or daiquiri? daiquiri
    5. e-book or paperback? paperback
    6. Coffee or tea? coffee
    7. Chips or cake? chips
    9. Red wine or white? white
    10. Dinner or dessert? dinner
    thanks Mon! For a great fun contest

    Linda Gauthier
    8/23/2012 09:59:22 am

    Sea,
    Ocean.
    Brown
    Daiquri
    paperback
    Coffee
    Chips
    Red
    Dinner

    Ellen
    8/23/2012 10:09:23 am

    1. Mountain or sea? Mountain
    2. Ocean or lake? Lake
    3. Blue eyes or brown? Brown
    4. Martini or daiquiri? Martini
    5. e-book or paperback? Paperback
    6. Coffee or tea? Coffee
    7. Chips or cake? Cake
    9. Red wine or white? White
    10. Dinner or dessert? Dinner

    Anna
    8/23/2012 11:36:48 am

    1. Mountain or sea? mountain
    2. Ocean or lake? lake
    3. Blue eyes or brown? blue
    4. Martini or daiquiri? daiquiri
    5. e-book or paperback? ebook
    6. Coffee or tea?tea
    7. Chips or cake?Cake
    9. Red wine or white? white
    10. Dinner or dessert?dessert

    Jen
    8/23/2012 09:34:34 pm

    1. Mountain or sea? Sea
    2. Ocean or lake? Lake
    3. Blue eyes or brown? blue
    4. Martini or daiquiri? Daiquiri
    5. e-book or paperback? ebook
    6. Coffee or tea? coffee
    7. Chips or cake? chips
    9. Red wine or white? red
    10. Dinner or dessert? dinner

    Gisele
    8/23/2012 09:51:31 pm

    1. Mountain or sea? sea
    2. Ocean or lake? lake
    3. Blue eyes or brown? brown
    4. Martini or daiquiri? martini
    5. e-book or paperback? paperback
    6. Coffee or tea? tea
    7. Chips or cake? cake
    9. Red wine or white? red
    10. Dinner or dessert? dinner

    Renee Brown
    8/23/2012 09:55:31 pm

    1. Mountain or sea? sea
    2. Ocean or lake? ocean
    3. Blue eyes or brown? blue
    4. Martini or daiquiri? daiquiri
    5. e-book or paperback? ebook (never thought I’d get to the point where I’d say that!)
    6. Coffee or tea? Diet Coke. 🙂
    7. Chips or cake? cake
    9. Red wine or white? white
    10. Dinner or dessert? dessert

    Betina Miller
    8/24/2012 11:10:55 am

    1. Mountain or sea? – Mountain
    2. Ocean or lake? – Ocean
    3. Blue eyes or brown? – Brown
    4. Martini or daiquiri? – Martini
    5. e-book or paperback? – E-book
    6. Coffee or tea? – Coffee
    7. Chips or cake? – Cake
    9. Red wine or white? – Red
    10. Dinner or dessert? – Dessert

    Nancy
    8/24/2012 11:32:16 am

    1. Mountain or sea? Sea
    2. Ocean or lake? Ocean
    3. Blue eyes or brown? Blue
    4. Martini or daiquiri? Martini
    5. e-book or paperback? ebook
    6. Coffee or tea? coffee
    7. Chips or cake? cake
    9. Red wine or white? red
    10. Dinner or dessert? dessert

    MaryK
    8/25/2012 05:47:12 am

    1. Mountain or sea? Sea
    2. Ocean or lake? Ocean
    3. Blue eyes or brown? Brown
    4. Martini or daiquiri? Martini
    5. e-book or paperback? e-book
    6. Coffee or tea? Coffee
    7. Chips or cake? Cake!
    9. Red wine or white? Red
    10. Dinner or dessert? Dessert

    Happy birthday, Monique!

  • Blog

    Fun Mail!

    7/22/2012

    Mr Right and Other Mongrels Promotional Material - Mug and PostcardsToday I got some fun promotional items in the mail.

    Take a look! See they’re very cute aren’t they? I’ll be using these keyrings, sticky notes and mugs for a promotion very soon.

    I really love the way that green awning pops out. It looks so fresh.

    It’s weird to see that gorgeous cover on other things but it is weird in a very good way.

    I have a mug I kept for myself. After all I’d hate to miss out and every so often it’s nice to have a treat.

    Stay tuned for the competition details later and a chance to win your own mug.

    Meanwhile I’m off to have a coffee.
    Mr Right and Other Mongrels Mug

    Comments

    Robyn
    7/23/2012 04:20:03 am

    LOVE the artwork!
    Reply
    Monique
    7/23/2012 09:18:39 am

    Thanks Robin. Me too!!

    Billie
    7/26/2012 02:47:06 am

    They’re cute!