It’s pretty simple here at Beyond Words. We’re ordinary men and women from around the world, seeking out the extraordinary in travel, health, and style, all while maintaining balance in a fast-paced, ever-demanding society.
We believe that every individual has the ability to make a difference in our world, and we want to give our readers a chance to bring attention to a cause important to them.
Every month, readers are encouraged to submit the charity of his/her choice by sharing a charity on one of our social media posts (or Sylvia’s)!
Your submissions will be reviewed by bestselling author Sylvia Day and she will select one or more to personally contribute to for the month. The selected charity will be featured in the next month’s Day it Forward to bring more awareness to its cause and allow for readers of Beyond Words to learn about and possibly donate to help its cause, too.
The charities Sylvia has chosen for the month of January 2020 are WWF-Australia’s Koala Crisis Fund and the Australian Red Cross.
WWF-Australia is one of Australia’s most trusted conservation organizations. WWF works in Australia and throughout Asia-Pacific to protect endangered species and habitats, meet the challenge of climate change, and build a world where people live in harmony with nature.
The Australian Red Cross supports and empowers people and communities in times of vulnerability. Their purpose is to reduce suffering across Australia and internationally through mobilizing the power of humanity.
Sylvia donated $750 USD ($1032 AUD) to each charity, and you can, too, here (WWF-Australia) and here (Australian Red Cross).
If you would like to submit a charity to Day it Forward for the month of February, please comment on our Facebook page, Instagram, or Twitter #DayItForward post(s) or Sylvia’s Facebook page, Instagram, or Twitter #DayItForward post(s). We appreciate and consider all submissions!
Dogs are amazingly loyal and their ability to silently listen without judgment makes them a writer’s best friend.
Emily Dickenson’s words sum it up nicely, “Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.”
We’re grateful for these charming canines, who provide love, companionship and inspiration to some of our favorite authors of all time.
First on our list belongs to bestselling author (and inspiration of our Beyond Words digital lifestyle magazine), Sylvia Day. We cannot get enough of her pups, Beck and Koji.
Stephen King, who has been terrifying readers for decades, doesn’t seem all too scary now that we’ve gotten a glimpse of, “Molly, aka the Thing of Evil.”
Molly, aka the Thing of Evil, has taken a paws-on selfie for all her Twitter fans, and forced me to post it. Or else. pic.twitter.com/e9IF1S70uJ
This sophisticated-looking pooch is companion to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. It looks like he takes his treats seriously. Do you think he’s begging for bacon?
Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Brave Enough, posts pictures of her dog, Janie. She is incredibly cute, exuberant and happy. Wish we could cuddle her!
Get a daily dose of adorable when you follow this list of wildlife rescues. And then share them on your social media to bring awareness to the amazing work these organizations do to help animals.
1. Black Jaguar White Tiger Rescue
Promoting animal rights to an audience of over 2.4 million followers, add these guys to your feed for a steady stream of spectacular big cat adventures.
A photo posted by Black Jaguar-White Tiger (@blackjaguarwhitetiger) on
2. Greenwood Wildlife Rescue
Few things are as adorable as tiny woodland creatures needing a helping hand. Greenwood Wildlife is an animal rescue site caring for roughly 2,300 critters a year, across 135 furry, fuzzy, cuddly species. Instagram: @GreenwoodWildlife | www.greenwoodwildlife.org
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is considered the most successful elephant and rehabilitation rescue in East Africa. Unfortunately, these majestic creatures are still widely poached, along with their not-too-distant-cousin the Black Rhino, endangering both species. This rescue’s “Orphan’s Project” works to reintegrate orphans back into the wild in Tsavo.
A photo posted by David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (@dswt) on
4. BatsQLD Flying Foxes & Microbats Inc.
Bats fall under the category of “so ugly, they’re cute.” And a few minutes on this feed will have you convinced. A self-funded volunteer group, its members are dedicated to educating the public on bats and flying foxes. They work diligently on habitat conservation projects, and the rescue and rehabilitation of injured, ill and orphaned bats up until release back into the wild. Instagram: @BatsQLD | www.batsqld.org.au
A lima bean – that is the size of a baby Joey when born. The Kangaroo Sanctuary is 90 acres of bushland home to 25 kangaroos. All lovingly cared for by Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, the star of Kangaroo Dundee by AGB films. He hopes to build the first wildlife hospital in Central Australia on the grounds of this sanctuary.
A photo posted by Home of Kangaroo Dundee (@thekangaroosanctuary) on
6. International Animal Rescue
Literally meaning “person of the forest,” orangutans are rapidly losing their rainforest habitat to make way for community growth, farming, and industrial modernization. The International Animal Rescue (IAR) aims to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans stolen from their mothers, locked in captivity, or otherwise displaced. Instagram: @IARorangutanRescue | http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/
Looking through this gorgeous feed run by an accredited wildlife expert is definitely the next best thing to going there. Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) in Miami offers its followers an array of stunning imagery and video footage of the diverse animals living there.
We know, we know…we said “wildlife” rescue, but without fail these dogs and kittens are wild at heart! For over a century, the Humane Society in New York has been housing, caring, and re-homing dogs and cats to loving families. In fact, they are responsible for helping a staggering 38,000 dogs and cats every year. Instagram: @HumaneSocietyNY | http://www.humanesocietyny.org/
You can almost smell the sweet cherry blossoms and taste the salty sea air when you look at the work of legendary 19th-century artist, Hiroshige. At a time when traveling long distances was arduous, if not impossible, Hiroshige’s woodblock prints of Japanese landscapes, festivals and monuments let people experience the wonders of their country without leaving their hometowns. You can do the same today with these 10 gorgeous selections from the Library of Congress’ Prints and Photographs Division. Explore more of the LOC’s phenomenal collection containing more than 2,500 pieces of art by Japanese artists from the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries here.
Need weekend inspiration that doesn’t break the bank? Almost any budget can enjoy a backyard tropical vacation without any reservations or TSA hassles.
Pin up some pictures of Hawaii to your vision board. Then, take a look at these simple recipes of Hawaiian food and BBQ specialties that’ll bring a little lei-sure time to your next weekend.
Haven’t got the resources to spend a summer at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop? Why not fashion your own cyber community using Twitter? Follow any or all of these hashtag writing exercises and other prompts and you might just finish your novel after all.
1. #FridayFlash
Exercise brevity with these hashtag challenges asking that you get to the point in around 5 words. Or at the most 1000. Flash fiction is a worthy exercise to get perspective on the weight of your words. And it’s also great fun.
Ever feel like you really got into a story? Take it to the next level by posing with your favorite classic books or modern fiction books and use this hashtag to share book-face meld shots easily worth a 1000 words.
Literary agents worldwide are on the Twitter sphere to answer your pressing questions about the writing business. Follow to hear fellow writers’ concerns about publishing as well as what’s happening with new media like digital books.
Most workshops recommend free writing to explore lurking ideas, and quick visual or verbal cues can sometimes spawn an entire short story. See where it takes you.
Booksellers hear the darndest things. And they share them on this hashtag which acts as a compendium of all the strange things people ask bookstore staff. Get to know your future audience.
“So you trade books? So do you only take books, or can I get something with like money?” You definitely CAN use money! #bookstorebingo — Alan (@bookmaggot) March 14, 2015
6. #NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month is probably the internet’s most demanding writers’ challenge. One month, one novel. The community of support though, might be just the thing to make it happen.
No, self, you have to finish the Nanonovel you’re working on now, you cannot start November’s novel now. It’s July. #amwriting#Nanowrimo — Kitty Chandler (@mightybattlecat) July 30, 2015
7. #PubTip
Another utility hashtag to get to the details of the publishing business, writers can use it to learn about things like what genres are currently oversaturating publishers, and other market facts.
#pubtip If your thriller is about some kind of agent and some kind of terrorist, just know that it’s a very crowded market and a tough sell — Alec Shane (@alecdshane) July 18, 2015
8. #WriteGoal
Everyone knows the anecdotes about stating a goal to achieve it. It really does work. So tag your aspirational word counts or chapter completions, and get one step closer to your dream.
Created by writer Joanna Walsh (@badaude), this hashtag points readers to books, essays and articles about women in the writing and publishing fields.
Halfway through 2015, here’s the gender transparency report on my reading: 28 books authored by women, 16 authored by men. #readwomen2015 — Jeremy P Bushnell (@jbushnell) July 2, 2015
10. #WeNeedMoreDiverseBooks
Hopefully we’ll just call it #books one day, but for the moment, follow this hashtag for stories inclusive of more diverse perspectives and cultures.
#SorryNotSorry that the only mug we really want to see in the morning is for coffee, and then follow it with some light reading – something like this list of Mark Twain quotes, compiled to get your day started with some wisdom by one of the best authors of all time.
What never goes out of style? Sporting kindness and generosity. One of the many ways to humbly don goodwill is through volunteering for causes that matter to you.
Here’s a list to get you inspired:
Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has one mission: build homes for people who need homes. Teams of Habitat volunteers all over the world are building homes right now so you can easily donate some sweat equity abroad or close to home. Every person deserves a place to rest and feel protected. You can be a part of the effort that gets them there.
Connect with Your Dream Cause
Do you dream of making the world a better place? Idealist.org connects you with the resources, organizations that can make that dream a reality. Launched in 1985, this global network has some been doing volunteer matchmaking for decades.
Help the National Park Service
Do you love nature and working outdoors? The National Park Service is always looking for volunteers. Park Service opportunities include collecting and gathering scientific data, and helping track wildlife, birds and plants for research projects. If you’re passionate about art, you can apply to be an artist-in-residence.
Give Back to Our Disabled Veterans
The Stephen Siller Foundation raises funds to build smart homes for severely disabled veterans. Smart homes feature voice-activation, automated doors and lights, specially designed showers, custom cabinets and counters, and other modifications needed by many returning veterans. The foundation hosts many 5Ks to build awareness and they always need volunteers.
Few things compare to the enduring pleasure of falling in love with men who live in the worlds of words. With outsized passions or masculine overtures, they’re not called heroes for nothing. Who is your favorite book boyfriend? Here’s a list of book heroes we love falling in love with, from the Beyond Words Team.
1. Mr. Darcy
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The consummate “don’t you see you’re in love?!” story, Pride and Prejudice stars Mr. Darcy who makes the book list for striking the perfect balance between conceited rich guy and noble humanist of convictions. Restrained passions between him and Elizabeth Bennet in Austen’s 19th-century tale eventually lead them to discover one fine day that they’re really, truly, mad for each other. Kiss. Deliver a letter.
2. Noah Calhoun
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
It’s 1946 and Noah Calhoun spends a sweaty day fixing up a house that’s almost 200 years old, to come home and quote some Whitman with a cup of tea. Need we say more? Dashing Noah Calhoun is the summer boyfriend of our dreams. And winter love, and spring love…
3. Heathcliff
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Love. It’s all about hate. Or at least acute episodes of brooding 18th-century passion. Heathcliff makes the list for his total dedication to loving Catherine as much as he can’t stand her. Their love blossoms as kids when social class is not an issue, but the fickle Catherine opts to marry for money and status, leaving Heathcliff to cut off his nose to spite his face. We understand the smoldering nature of your intense desire, Heathcliff, even if Catherine never quite does.
4. Rhett Butler
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Wiles don’t work. Tears don’t do the trick. Straight up pleading neither. Rhett Butler is the rebel with a cause. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows we are stronger than we think we are. And while he is the epitome of all that is enterprising, cunning, and masculine, the velvet of his true heart comes to life when he has a daughter. Sigh.
5. Gideon Cross
The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day
“Gideon Cross was an impossibly gorgeous man, so beautiful that people stopped and stared when he walked by. I’d once thought of him as a sex god, and his frequent–and enthusiastic–displays of prowess constantly proved me right, but I also knew he was all too human.” – Entwined with You
Despite being one of the 10 largest cities in the country, San Diego has an easy breezy small town feel. Seventeen miles of coastline ring the city, bringing wafting ocean breezes to the collection of diverse neighborhoods that comprise it. Known for its sunshine, surf culture and laidback attitude, San Diego is coming into its own. Whether you have a week or a weekend to explore, we’ve gathered our top picks of must-sees in this sunny, seaside city, whatever your mood.
Begin the day sipping coffee by the sea at the Swell Café in Mission Beach. Located a block from the ocean, the sweet smell of coffee mixes tantalizingly with an ocean breeze. The popular spot roasts its own beans while staying conscious of its impact on the environment. You won’t find any Styrofoam here. So, grab a cup “for here” and order from their diverse breakfast menu. From acai bowls to vanilla bean French toast, there is something delicious for everyone from the health-conscious to the less-so.
Get Arty: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Downtown
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the architecture of our downtown location this Saturday! Join us for two FREE…
This offshoot of the larger MCASD space in La Jolla is worth a visit, especially if you’re under 25 (admission is free!). Dedicated to art made after 1950, the space is small and intimate with just a few quiet galleries to explore. Currently on display through February is Robert Irwin’s literally brilliant Light and Space, a room-sized installation of florescent light tubes. You can also interact with Judith Barry’s experiential video installation, Voice Off, an exploration of our interior and exterior voices made manifest at the same time.
Get Shopping: Junc Life in South Park
It takes a village to create holiday spirit! Start yours with one of these! #junclife #lifestyle #shopsmall #christmasvillage #gifts #decorations #shoplocal #accessories #southparksd
From Downtown San Diego, the cozy and tree-lined enclave of South Park is less than a 10-minute drive away. Meander in and out of a bevy of boutiques, many of which specialize in local and artisanal goods. It’s like a well-curated Instagram account come to life. Junc Life bills itself as a “lifestyle mercantile” and carries new and vintage clothes, accessories, furniture and food. Its offerings are quirky, eclectic and often one-of-a-kind, just like the neighborhood itself.
Get Tipsy: Societe Brewing Company in Kearny Mesa
San Diegans love their beer as evidenced by a booming craft brewery scene. More than 100 breweries entice locals and tourists alike to taste their specialties. Brewery-hopping tours have popped up in the last few years, but we suggest heading directly to the tasting room at Societe Brewing Company. Brewed on the premises, four distinct series of beers can be sipped and analyzed in a big open space. Get a bite from one of the food trucks that rotate throughout the week and if you plan to stay a while, grab a board game and play with your new beer-loving friends.
Get Down: RoofTop600 in the Gaslamp Quarter
Give yourself a midweek treat with drinks by the Rooftop600 at Andaz fire pit!
Revelers of all kinds are drawn to the Gaslamp Quarter, the heart of San Diego’s booming nightlife scene. Victorian buildings are nestled among skyscrapers and a trolley chugs its way down the main drag. The walkable neighborhood makes bar- or club-hopping eminently doable, even in heels. Head up to RoofTop600 at Andaz. This poolside hotel lounge transforms into a club at night, complete with velvet ropes, fire pits, DJs and bottle service. But if Vegas-level clubbing isn’t your scene, there are plenty of other options all within stumbling distance.
A lifestyle magazine inspired by author Sylvia Day