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Ask the Author: Victoria Zigler
Answered Questions (48)
Victoria Zigler
Sorry, but I have no idea what the issue is. I've had it happen on groups before myself, and when I try again later it works. If it still doesn't, tell the Goodreads help team, since they'd be in a better position to do something about it than I am.
Victoria Zigler
It's active, but it's never been a group with a lot of participation or heavy posting traffic.
Victoria Zigler
Yes, I would. Thanks for offering.
Victoria Zigler
There should be a menu near the option to follow, which is meant to allow you to send a private message. If that doesn't work, go to my website at www.zigler.co.uk and look for my eMail address on there. If you do it that way though, make sure you ensure the subject line clearly states why you're eMailing me, because otherwise I might mistake your eMail for junk and delete it by accident.
Victoria Zigler
That is strange.
Well, for the benifit of anyone that happens to in the future: my website is linked on my profile, and my eMail address is listed on there, so as long as you remember to include your book's title, genre, blurb, and available formats, I'll consider review requests that way too. But make sure you make it clear in the subject line why you're eMailing me, and start your message off using my name, or I might mistake your eMail for junk.
Well, for the benifit of anyone that happens to in the future: my website is linked on my profile, and my eMail address is listed on there, so as long as you remember to include your book's title, genre, blurb, and available formats, I'll consider review requests that way too. But make sure you make it clear in the subject line why you're eMailing me, and start your message off using my name, or I might mistake your eMail for junk.
Victoria Zigler
No. You should be able to send me a direct message without us being friends.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Hector,
My policy regarding accepting books for review is that you need to send me a private message giving the title, genre, and blurb for the book, as well as letting me know the available options for formats. I will then be able to not only tell if the book itself interests me, but if you have a format available that works for me.
My policy regarding accepting books for review is that you need to send me a private message giving the title, genre, and blurb for the book, as well as letting me know the available options for formats. I will then be able to not only tell if the book itself interests me, but if you have a format available that works for me.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Chris,
Well, apart from the obvious of recommending my own books - because I naturally want people to read those - some great options if you're looking for something to read this Summer are, in no particular order...
For children:
The Chronicles Of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
They Stole the Earth! by D.W. Hitz
The Adventures of Rocky and the Bear Claw Club Series by Steven Allan Pease
The Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver
The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
The Nikki Powergloves Series by David Estes
Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson
For young adults or older:
The Mae Martin Mysteries Series by Amber Foxx
The Atlantis Grail Series by Vera Nazarian
The Fatemarked Epic by David Estes
The Hat Series by C.S. Boyack
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (be warned: depression and suicide trigger warnings apply)
Sarah by Teri Polen
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
I could probably list more, but those are the first ones that come to mind, and I'm going to leave it at that.
Some are newer titles, others are much older. But they're all books I've read and enjoyed at some point. In a couple of cases more than once.
Well, apart from the obvious of recommending my own books - because I naturally want people to read those - some great options if you're looking for something to read this Summer are, in no particular order...
For children:
The Chronicles Of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
They Stole the Earth! by D.W. Hitz
The Adventures of Rocky and the Bear Claw Club Series by Steven Allan Pease
The Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver
The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
The Nikki Powergloves Series by David Estes
Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson
For young adults or older:
The Mae Martin Mysteries Series by Amber Foxx
The Atlantis Grail Series by Vera Nazarian
The Fatemarked Epic by David Estes
The Hat Series by C.S. Boyack
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (be warned: depression and suicide trigger warnings apply)
Sarah by Teri Polen
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
I could probably list more, but those are the first ones that come to mind, and I'm going to leave it at that.
Some are newer titles, others are much older. But they're all books I've read and enjoyed at some point. In a couple of cases more than once.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Raphael,
First of all, thank you for your kind words.
As for the answer to your question: you should write whatever you want. If you feel the desire or inspiration to write about the current situation, by all means go ahead and do so. If you'd rather steer clear of the topics, do that instead. Regardless of what's going on in the world at any given time, a writer of any format or genre should only feel they absolutely have to write on a particular topic if their job requires them to, otherwise you should pick your topic based on what inspires you, or which topic you feel you have something worthwhile to say in.
First of all, thank you for your kind words.
As for the answer to your question: you should write whatever you want. If you feel the desire or inspiration to write about the current situation, by all means go ahead and do so. If you'd rather steer clear of the topics, do that instead. Regardless of what's going on in the world at any given time, a writer of any format or genre should only feel they absolutely have to write on a particular topic if their job requires them to, otherwise you should pick your topic based on what inspires you, or which topic you feel you have something worthwhile to say in.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Liz. I'm not sure how to answer this, because if you're looking for a traditional publisher, or even a small publishing company, I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm indie (self-published) and don't work with anyone like that. So, the answer is technically both yes and no. Yes, because I'm my publisher and I am based in Wales. No, because I publish my stuff myself via sites that aren't based in Wales (Smashwords and Amazon).
Victoria Zigler
I might. If the book's blurb makes it sound like something I might enjoy. So, I'll take a look and see if the blurb interests me. If it does, I'll get in touch.
For future reference though - both for you and anyone reading this - a private message with details of the book's genre and its blurb would make things easier on everyone, since I could then know immediately if it's something I'd be interested in reading.
For future reference though - both for you and anyone reading this - a private message with details of the book's genre and its blurb would make things easier on everyone, since I could then know immediately if it's something I'd be interested in reading.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Tommy.
Not really, no.
I mean, there are some advantages in that I've learned some skills I otherwise wouldn't have - like learning braille, for example. But beyond that, there are few advantages to it.
As for fewer distractions... Nope. I'm just as likely to fall down the rabbit hole that is research, or be sucked in by social media, etc, as a sighted person is.
Being blind might change the way I do things, and even potentially the way they get my attention. But distractions still exist in many forms, and we're all equally likely to be tempted by those distractions, regardless of the amount of sight we may or may not have. Hey, we're only human, after all. I know plenty of sighted people who are as good at filtering out distractions as I am, and some who are far better at it, so that's nothing to do with my blindness.
Not really, no.
I mean, there are some advantages in that I've learned some skills I otherwise wouldn't have - like learning braille, for example. But beyond that, there are few advantages to it.
As for fewer distractions... Nope. I'm just as likely to fall down the rabbit hole that is research, or be sucked in by social media, etc, as a sighted person is.
Being blind might change the way I do things, and even potentially the way they get my attention. But distractions still exist in many forms, and we're all equally likely to be tempted by those distractions, regardless of the amount of sight we may or may not have. Hey, we're only human, after all. I know plenty of sighted people who are as good at filtering out distractions as I am, and some who are far better at it, so that's nothing to do with my blindness.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Tim,
I don't mind you asking at all; ask away. :)
Since I mostly don't bother checking which version of a book I'm reviewing on Goodreads, it won't be obvious, but I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I've always been a fan of audiobooks, even when I still had some sight to read print, and am definitely still a fan. I only wish most of them weren't priced so much higher than eBooks and print books.
Of course, some audiobooks are more enjoyable to listen to than others, and not just because of how some books are more enjoyable than others in general, but also because there are some absolutely terrible narrators out there. Being a fan of audiobooks yourself though, I expect I don't need to tell you that.
For the record: all my books are available as audiobooks. I make them available as eBooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks, since I know people have their format preferences, and it's important to me to make my books as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, regardless of their prefered reading format, or the one that's most accessible to them for any other reason.
If you do check out any of my books, I hope you enjoy them, and if you grab them on audio, I hope you think I made good choices with the narrators.
I don't mind you asking at all; ask away. :)
Since I mostly don't bother checking which version of a book I'm reviewing on Goodreads, it won't be obvious, but I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I've always been a fan of audiobooks, even when I still had some sight to read print, and am definitely still a fan. I only wish most of them weren't priced so much higher than eBooks and print books.
Of course, some audiobooks are more enjoyable to listen to than others, and not just because of how some books are more enjoyable than others in general, but also because there are some absolutely terrible narrators out there. Being a fan of audiobooks yourself though, I expect I don't need to tell you that.
For the record: all my books are available as audiobooks. I make them available as eBooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks, since I know people have their format preferences, and it's important to me to make my books as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, regardless of their prefered reading format, or the one that's most accessible to them for any other reason.
If you do check out any of my books, I hope you enjoy them, and if you grab them on audio, I hope you think I made good choices with the narrators.
Victoria Zigler
That's an incredibly difficult question to answer. For one thing I'm not very good at picking a single favourite for almost anything. For another thing, my favourites will change depending on my mood. It also depends which genre of fiction you mean, and in some cases also what age range you're thinking of. Some of my favourite authors - ones who will always be somewhere in my favourites list, no matter what - include: J K Rowling, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, Terry Pratchett, David Estes, Charles Dickens, and Michelle Paver, but that's by no means a complete list, and I'm not sure I could pick just one and stick to it.
Victoria Zigler
That's actually a difficult question to answer, since I have favourites among the poems in all my poetry collections. Besides, my favourites may not be the favourites of my readers, and I expect no two readers will agree on the same favourites from all my poems anyway.
Other than my pet poetry collections, my poetry books are a selection of different kinds of poems with different tones and themes, so whichever you pick will have a good chance of having a poem or two in it you really like, and give you an idea of the different kinds of poems I write.
Although, "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" is maybe the best of those poetry collections, since I'm sure - and hope - I've improved during the years between when "Mr. Pumpkin-Head And Other Poems" was published, and when "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" was published.
Other than my pet poetry collections, my poetry books are a selection of different kinds of poems with different tones and themes, so whichever you pick will have a good chance of having a poem or two in it you really like, and give you an idea of the different kinds of poems I write.
Although, "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" is maybe the best of those poetry collections, since I'm sure - and hope - I've improved during the years between when "Mr. Pumpkin-Head And Other Poems" was published, and when "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" was published.
Victoria Zigler
Thanks, Penny. Yes, I am. At least, as long as you don't ask me on one of the days when self-doubt has popped in for a visit, or I've just found out the typo fairies have been having fun with what I thought was a nicely edited and ready to publish manuscript, or I'm feeling like nothing I do in my attempts to market my work is achieving anything... We all get those days, of course, and they aren't fun. But other than at times like that, I'm enjoying my author journey. I wouldn't give it up, that's for sure, even with all the less fun parts of being an author.
Victoria Zigler
that is a very good topic suggestion. We absolutely can, and I have just created one. It is possible for you to do it yourself, and you could have done so, but I figured I would go ahead and create the thread myself.
Victoria Zigler
Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your kind words, and can assure you I fully intend to write and publish more books.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Waleed,
Personally, I'd advise a bit of revision before you do anything. However, if you really want some feedback now, you can make a request for people who might be willing to give feedback in the group, sharing a brief description of what it's about, asking people to message or eMail you so you can send them the first draft to take a look at, and then hoping people get in touch. But I don't advise you publish your first draft anywhere. First drafts are never ready to be publicly shared.
Personally, I'd advise a bit of revision before you do anything. However, if you really want some feedback now, you can make a request for people who might be willing to give feedback in the group, sharing a brief description of what it's about, asking people to message or eMail you so you can send them the first draft to take a look at, and then hoping people get in touch. But I don't advise you publish your first draft anywhere. First drafts are never ready to be publicly shared.
Victoria Zigler
Hi Walter, and thanks for your kind words. I don't think it matters how old you are when you get published. Anyone who achieves that goal deserves congratulations, regardless of the age they did so.
As for your question: the main form of book promotion I use is guest posts and interviews on the blogs of others. Plus I have Twitter and Facebook and mention my books there, as well as on threads I have on all the Goodreads groups I'm a member of. Getting your name in front of people without just shouting at them to buy your book seems to me to be the best way to do it. It's not fool-proof, but nothing is, and it costs nothing but time to do guest posts, and at least gets more reads and clicks than, "Please buy my book," posts do, even if most of the people don't buy copies of my books after reading the post. But, hey, at least they see my name mentioned, and there's a chance they might. So it's what I do.
I also sometimes return the favour and spotlight others on my own blog - in particular those with pets; I've started a feature for pet interviews, which you can find out about here: https://ziglernews.blogspot.com/p/blo... - which potentially drives traffic to my blog from those, so can also potentially mean new people discovering my books. Plus, it's fun putting the posts together.
I hope that answers your question.
As for your question: the main form of book promotion I use is guest posts and interviews on the blogs of others. Plus I have Twitter and Facebook and mention my books there, as well as on threads I have on all the Goodreads groups I'm a member of. Getting your name in front of people without just shouting at them to buy your book seems to me to be the best way to do it. It's not fool-proof, but nothing is, and it costs nothing but time to do guest posts, and at least gets more reads and clicks than, "Please buy my book," posts do, even if most of the people don't buy copies of my books after reading the post. But, hey, at least they see my name mentioned, and there's a chance they might. So it's what I do.
I also sometimes return the favour and spotlight others on my own blog - in particular those with pets; I've started a feature for pet interviews, which you can find out about here: https://ziglernews.blogspot.com/p/blo... - which potentially drives traffic to my blog from those, so can also potentially mean new people discovering my books. Plus, it's fun putting the posts together.
I hope that answers your question.
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