Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 175

Kindle accessability

I think there's something wrong with my Kindle. I'm trying to give it a good charge and hope that helps, but so far it's not really doing much. It's had this little glitch where it turns off randomly since I got it. I don't mean going on standby with the screensaver thing, which many ereaders do. I mean actually just suddenly going from being in the middle of reading something to being completely turned off (without even so much as a "turning off" - which is what I usually hear when turning it off). But that wasn't really causing me more than a minor inconvenience from time to time, so I ignored it. Plus, since I got my Kindle Keyboard when Amazon were no longer making them, I got it off ebay, and with that there was no guarantee it was definitely brand new (and I'm pretty sure it wasn't, but was just "as new"). It's worked hard for me in the pretty close to 2 years I've had it!

Luckily, many of my ebooks are from Smashwords where they have multiple formats, so while I figure it out I don't have to ignore the pile of books waiting for me to read them, since I still have things I can read using my computer. Many others need a Kindle though. Before anyone mentions it... The Kindle for PC thing doesn't work. Well, I mean, it does work, but JAWS (my screen reader) won't read the text of the books, and the text to speech feature isn't part of it.

Anyway, just in case I have no luck persuading my Kindle to work, I contacted Amazon. They think it might be dead too, but I managed to find out some interesting information for if - as we suspect - I need to replace it.

It turns out Amazon have now started thinking about accessability for the visually impaired. Most likely because Apple were stealing their customers. But, regardless of the reason, they are.

I got the following information from them about it:

***

With accessibility features, you can navigate your Fire with special gestures and read aloud the selections you make onscreen.

Fire 2nd Generation and Fire HD 1st Generation have the following accessibility features:
- Voice Guide allows you to hear spoken menus, selectable items, and descriptions when touching the screen.
- Explore by Touch allows you to use special gestures while navigating your Fire.
- Orientation Lock disables screen rotation.

To turn on accessibility features:
1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, and then tap More.
2. Tap Accessibility.

Fire HD and Fire HDX have the following accessibility features:
- Screen Reader allows you to hear spoken menus, selectable items, and descriptions when touching the screen.
- Reading Speed allows you to adjust the speed of the speaking voice when Screen Reader is turned.
- Explore by Touch allows you to use special gestures while navigating their Fire.
- Screen Magnifier allows you to zoom in the screen.
- Use Large Font Size increases the size of menu items.
- Closed Captioning adds captions to videos when available.
- Convert Stereo to Mono plays all audio through a single channel.

To turn on accessibility features:
1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Actions, and then tap Settings.
2. Tap Accessibility.

To turn on Screen Reader and Explore by Touch from any screen, press the Power button until you hear an alert, and then place two fingers (slightly apart) on the screen and hold for five seconds.

To learn more about accessibility on our all-new Fire devices, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html?docId=1000756063

***

The above is the contents of an e-mail I was sent to confirm what we discussed on the phone.

I thought I'd share the information for the benifit of anyone interested, or anyone else who may need to know about the accessability of ereaders for blind and partially sighted book lovers.

Stormy Monday - October 6th 2014 (FD)

It's a stormy Monday morning; perfect for water dwelling creatures, like ducks, water sprites, and sea fairies. Not so nice for the foxes, squirrels, and pixies, who prefer dryer weather (pixies can't fly if they're wings get wet). But, regardless of the inconvenience to pixies, ice giants are blowing their chilly breath across the land, while skybears water the Earth from up in the clouds they call home.

I, on the other hand, am sitting at my desk pretending to be doing something useful, when I'm actually just writing this blog post. I'd say not to tell anyone, but since I'm publishing this online, where anyone can see it, that would be a pointless request, don't you think?

It's not like I really have anything important - or, even very interesting - to post about, since all I've really done in the past couple of days is the usual day to day stuff: feed and play with the degus and gerbils, do housework, etc. But, I'm writing a post anyway.

This morning, for example, I made sure I was up to date with sorting ratings and reviews on Goodreads for what I read over the weekend, had some egg on toast for breakfast, then I spent some time looking up names with certain meanings for characters for upcoming stories, and pretty soon I'll be working on some writing. I've also made a start on todays chores, and given the degus and gerbils breakfast and a bit of attention. Once I'm done writing, I'll do some more chores, then either read and then take a nap, or nap and then read, depending on if I'm tired and sleepy or not. Then it will be dinner time for me.

Like I said, nothing either exciting or interesting. I just thought I'd stop by and post something.

Well, there is one interesting thing about today... Today is AliceKay's birthday! So, happy birthday, AliceKay!

Random ramblings - October 3rd 2014 (FD)

How did we get a couple of days in to October already?

***

I often mean to sit down and do a blog post about how my day has been, or what I've been up to lately. But I somehow never get to it.

Not that I really have anything exciting to say about most days, since my days mostly contain the same activities but in different orders. I sometimes think of the people out there who read blogs as a way to take a peek in to the lives of others though.

I used to do blog posts like those all the time, but - like I said - I somehow don't end up doing them these days.

Well, I'm still not really doing one of those posts today, but I am going to give you a bit of a change from all the book related posts I've posted over the past couple of weeks, and post a few random bits and pieces I'd have mentioned if I'd been doing the posts about my day to day life I was just talking about.

***

My Dad, Dad's girlfriend, my Nan, and one of my brothers (Carl) came for a visit last weekend.

We had take-away Friday night; Indian food for most of us, but Kelly had pizza and Nan had fish and chips (neither of them are that keen on Indian food). Then we had breakfast at the café by the train station that's called "Alpha Cafe" on Saturday morning; cooked breakfasts for everyone but me (I just had an egg baguette).

On Friday evening we also tried out the new "Star Wars: Edge Of The Empire" roleplaying system. It was fun, and a pretty simple system to get to grips with. At least, I thought so.

Click here to watch a clip for the game on YouTube.

After breakfast on Saturday we all caught a taxi in to the old part of town (where Kelly and I don't usually go, since we usually go in on the train and it's quite a walk from the station to that part of town). We were also going to go along the seafront and take some photos, but by the time we'd gone through town I just wanted to go home and rest.

***

Kelly and I were playing with some online quizzes the other day. Apparently...

According to two different quizzes... The mythological creature I have living inside me is a dragon, and I should be a fire dragon if I'm an elemental dragon. Funnily enough, we were discussing what creature I'd be if I could be a non-human creature on my Goodreads author of the month thread only the day before I did those quizzes, and it was a dragon I picked.

According to two other quizzes, the member of the X-Men I would be is Kitty Pride, and I'd be a Wookie if I was in Star Wars.

Also, I'm officially considered weird according to a quiz to see how weird you are.

***

We ended up replacing the degu cage. The cage was only a year old, but we noticed rust on it and thought it best to replace it before it got worse (especially with all our attempts to stop the degus gnawing on the bars being unsuccessful).

I don't begrudge the degus a penny of the money the cages cost, but I couldn't help having a bit of a moan about the fact they cost so much, yet don't last like they should. It can't be helped though; if that's what they cost, then that's what we have to pay... Whether I like it or not. It's ridiculous though!

Anyway, we should have a couple of photos of the new cage on the camera, which we'll sort out some time soon.

Brew and Boil release bash

Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.

Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved.
But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; He has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.

And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.

Revenge. That’s all that’s left for witch hunter Rhett Carter. The magic-born have stripped everything from him - killed his friends, cursed his warlock father, shattered his future - leaving him bare and broken, but not dead. Their mistake.

When Rhett and Laney are suddenly thrust in different directions, Rhett must decide who to trust and who to kill. Backed by his trusty canine sidekick Hex, Rhett will embark on his deadliest mission yet, one that will lead him directly toward those who want him dead, pushing his unique resistance to magic to the edge and back again as he tries to remove his father’s curse.

Separated from Rhett, Laney seeks to understand the strange changes to her sister, Trish, who’s believed to be the last living Clairvoyant, and what role she’s destined to play in the future of humankind.

Wrapped around everything are four major groups: the Necromancers, the Changelings, the witch hunters, and New America, the remnants of humanity. When the major forces are brought together for an epic battle, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Get both Brew and its sequel, Boil, the first two books in the Salem's Revenge series, for a special price of $0.99 each for a limited time only (Amazon Kindle exclusive: Brew until October 17th; Boil until October 7th) Click on the above buttons to take advantage of this limited time deal!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads  ●  David's Blog  ●  Twitter  ●  Facebook  ●  Tumblr  and his  Goodreads Fan Group      
David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.



To celebrate the launch of Brew and Boil, David Estes is also giving away FREE Kindle copies of his popular YA dystopian AND adventure book, Fire Country. Just click the above link to nab your free copy.

September 2014's reading challenge

You're probably not surprised to hear this, but one of the groups I'm a member of on Goodreads had a reading challenge for this month.

The goal this time was to read books for certain September holidays. There are a couple I didn't get to, and September is just about over, so I know I won't get any more of the challenge done in time, and because of that, I might as well post this now. Anyway, here's what I managed to get read:

*'S' is for September: Read a book that starts with 'S' or a book whose author's first or last name starts with 'S'.

I read "Songbird" by Angela Fristoe, on September 13th 2014.

*International - Chocolate Day (Sept 13): Read a book about something you love to do or something you are secretly addicted to? (can be anything)

I read "Books Of The Immortals - Earth" (Books Of The Immortals, #5) by Barbara G.Tarn, on September 4th 2014.

*International Literacy Day (Sept. 8): Read a book, any book!

I read "On The Way To Everywhere" by Kirsten B. Feldman, on September 5th 2014.

*Swap Ideas Day (Sept. 10): Borrow an idea from a fellow group member, read a book you found on another member's shelf. Or read a book to participate in a group/buddy read and swap your ideas about that book.

I read "In A Handful Of Dust" (Not A Drop To Drink, #2) by Mindy McGinnis, on September 25th 2014.

*Positive Thinking Day (Sept. 13): Read a happy or funny book.

I read "The Imaginary Invasion" by Ubiquitous Bubba, on September 27th 2014.

*Ask a Stupid Question Day (Sept. 28): Ever see a book and wonder why you've never read it? Find out - read it!

I read "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson, on September 17th 2014.

*Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choosing!

I read "E" (E, #1) by Kate Wrath, on September 7th 2014.

Character interview: Arael

Here's another character interview!

This time it's with Arael the elf, from the "Quest For The Purple Pumpkin" story (published in the "Wyrd Worlds II" anthology).

So, if you want to learn more about Arael and her world, go to https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/character-interview-number-twenty-seven-arael-fantasyyachildrens-books/

Character interview: Polly

It's time for another character interview!

So...

If you want to meet Polly from my "Quest For The Purple Pumpkin" story (published in the "Wyrd Worlds II" anthology) then just go to http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/sunday-surprise-72/

2014 Third Quarter Challenge - The Chinese Zodiac

One of the groups I'm a member of on Goodreads had a challenge for this quarter based on the Chinese zodiac. The challenge goal was to read books based on the character traits given to the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The challenge was from July 1st 2014 to September 30th 2014, and we were to read books for as many as we could in that time.

Here are the details for the type of books we were to try and read, along with the details for the books I read for them:

1. The Horse. On January 31, 2014, it becomes the Year of the Horse! Horses like being the center of attention. Read a book where the main character is famous OR read a memoir about or a biography of a celebrity.

I read "Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni" (The Legendary Women of World History, #1) by Laurel A. Rockefeller on August 5th 2014.

2. The Goat. Home is where Goats feel the most comfortable. Read a book that takes place in the country you were born in.

I read "Art Pengriffin & The Curse Of The Four" by Norman Revill on July 23rd 2014.

3. The Monkey. Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Read a humorous book.

I read "Unholy Cow" by John H. Carrol on July 18th 2014.

4. The Rooster. Roosters tend to "tell it like it is." Read a non-fiction book.

I read "Meditations Through the Year: Nature's Cycle of the Seasons in Guided Visualization" by Dorothea Breitzter-Kings on August 2nd 2014.

5. The Dog. While loyal and faithful, Dogs have trouble finding mates. Read a book that contains a troubled romance.

I read "Persuasion" by Jane Austen on August 23rd 2014.

6. The Pig. Pigs love to have fun but tend to prefer spending to saving. Read a book you have purchased (rather than borrowed).

I read "Pathfinder #3 — Rise of the Runelords Chapter 3: "The Hook Mountain Massacre"" (Rise of the Runelords #3) by Nicolas Logue, Mike McArtor, and James L. Sutter on August 1st 2014.

7. The Rat. Constantly seeking knowledge, Rats are curious and clever. Read a book that teaches you something.

I read "Emma Learns To Sprout" by Shir Guez on July 24th 2014.

8. The Ox. Oxen aren't very sociable and prefer life-long friendships to casual acquaintances. Read a book in which the main character could be described as an introvert.

I read "Books Of The Immortals - Earth" (Books Of The Immortals, #5) by Barbara G.Tarn, on September 4th 2014.

9. The Tiger. Tigers love to be challenged. Read a book you find challenging in some way maybe because of its length, style, or subject matter.

I read "The Man In The Moon" by Luke Spychalla on July 30th 2014. The difficulty was that the text was embedded in the pictures, which made it impossible for me to read the text.

10. The Rabbit. Rabbits tend to enjoy meeting people from different places and learning about different cultures. Read a book about a culture not your own.

I read "Stories The Iroquois Tell Their Children" by Mabel Powers, on September 24th 2014.

11. The Dragon. The Dragon is often considered to be the strongest sign, and the only one that is a mythical animal. Read a book that contains a mythical or paranormal creature.

I read "Ilse Witch" (Voyage Of The Jerle Shannara, #1) by Terry Brooks on July 2nd 2014.

12. The Snake. Snakes work hard but tend to be easily bored. To prevent boredom, read a short book (i.e., one with fewer than 100 pages).

I read "Drippy The Peg-Legged Rainbow" by John H. Carrol on July 16th 2014.

Toby in the spotlight

One of my "Toby's Tales" books are in the spotlight today:

http://peersofbeinan.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/promo-tobys-special-school/

Hurry! Book sale ends soon!

There's less than a week left in which to take advantage of my free and half price ebooks!

So...

To get your free copy of "Kero Goes Walkies" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312873, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code PQ38G at checkout.

To get your free copy of "Kero Celebrates His Birthday" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/319037, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code ZS89S at checkout.

To get your free copy of "Kero Gets Sick" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/324875, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code WP58U at checkout.

To get your free copy of "Kero Celebrates Halloween" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342194, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code DY54E at checkout.

To get your free copy of "Kero Goes To Town" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/344560, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code BD89P at checkout.

To get your free copy of "Kero Celebrates Christmas" go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/344566, add it to your cart, and enter coupon code UK65U at checkout.

You can also...

Get "Jinx And The Faerrie Dragons" half price by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/447528, adding it to your cart, and entering coupon code KY48Z at checkout.

Get "Cubby And The Beanstalk" half price by going to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/459061, adding it to your cart, and entering coupon code JE87N at checkout.

Please feel free to share the above links and coupon codes with your family, friends, book-loving pets, neighbours, strangers you meet on the street, or anyone else you think might be interested in grabbing copies of the books.

Remember: the coupon codes will only work until September 30th 2014.