Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 177
September 8, 2014
Owl photos from Saturday
We went to the local hospice for a fair they had going on there on Saturday (August 6th 2014) and were surprised to see they had owls there.
We tried to get photos, but most of the owls weren't willing to stay still enough for decent photos. Apart from this Barn Owl, who didn't seem interested in us at all:
And this European Eagle Owl, who was lapping up all the attention:
I didn't get the name or age of the Barn Owl, but the European Eagle Owl's name is Big Bird, he's 9 weeks old, and apparently very happy to be petted, since he let me pet him from head to tail so I could check out the fluff-like feathers he still has left on his head from when he was even younger compared to the feathers on the rest of him (which are still softer than cotton wool, but not so fluff-like).
We tried to get photos, but most of the owls weren't willing to stay still enough for decent photos. Apart from this Barn Owl, who didn't seem interested in us at all:
And this European Eagle Owl, who was lapping up all the attention:
I didn't get the name or age of the Barn Owl, but the European Eagle Owl's name is Big Bird, he's 9 weeks old, and apparently very happy to be petted, since he let me pet him from head to tail so I could check out the fluff-like feathers he still has left on his head from when he was even younger compared to the feathers on the rest of him (which are still softer than cotton wool, but not so fluff-like).
September 6, 2014
Cinderella's Escape by Gita V. Reddy; free this weekend on Amazon!
Cinderella's Escape by Gita V. Reddy
Free on all amazon stores on 6th and 7th September, 2014
Link to amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/CINDERELLAS-ESCAPE-Gita-V-Reddy-ebook/dp/B00I805O7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410011001&sr=8-1&keywords=cinderella%27s+escape
Cinderella's Escape is about Anna Maria who gets caught in a very difficult situation when Priscilla becomes her stepmom. Her stepsisters also cause her a lot of grief.
Anna Maria is a modern day Cinderella but she does not have a fairy godmother. She wishes she had one, naturally, but when things get really bad and her life is in danger, Anna Maria finds a way out.
This is what reviewers have to say about Cinderella's Escape...
DD Gott rated the book with five stars on amazon.com:
She says, "I really liked the way it kept a positive attitude even when things looked so bad."
"the story brings you to the conclusion. a twist that you will NEVER see coming."
Ruma Chatterjee rated the book with five stars on amazon.com:
She says, " basic human emotions that tug at the heartstrings of not only children but adults as well."
June Finch rated the book with five stars on amazon.co.uk:
She said, "the story was so well written that it was like one of the true story tales."
From the blurb:
Anna Maria lived with her stepmother Priscilla, and her stepsisters, Stella and Marcella.
Cinderella's stepmother was no way as evil as Priscilla. Her stepsisters were a little less mean than Stella and Marcella.
Anna Maria did not live among cinders because there were no cinders. There were no mice and rabbits to play with either.
But there was a mystery to be solved and an escape to be made!
BRAINS + COURAGE = FREEDOM + HAPPINESS
From Cinderella’s Escape:
“I’m sure when Cinderella went to that ball, she took greater pleasure in outsmarting her stepmother than in the carriage and the ball dress and the glass slippers.”
“Even if the fairy had not appeared, Cinderella would have found a way out. She would have had to. It’s called survival.”
“Was I not lucky to be a modern day Cinderella? At least I did not have to sleep among the cinders.”
Free on all amazon stores on 6th and 7th September, 2014
Link to amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/CINDERELLAS-ESCAPE-Gita-V-Reddy-ebook/dp/B00I805O7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410011001&sr=8-1&keywords=cinderella%27s+escape
Cinderella's Escape is about Anna Maria who gets caught in a very difficult situation when Priscilla becomes her stepmom. Her stepsisters also cause her a lot of grief.
Anna Maria is a modern day Cinderella but she does not have a fairy godmother. She wishes she had one, naturally, but when things get really bad and her life is in danger, Anna Maria finds a way out.
This is what reviewers have to say about Cinderella's Escape...
DD Gott rated the book with five stars on amazon.com:
She says, "I really liked the way it kept a positive attitude even when things looked so bad."
"the story brings you to the conclusion. a twist that you will NEVER see coming."
Ruma Chatterjee rated the book with five stars on amazon.com:
She says, " basic human emotions that tug at the heartstrings of not only children but adults as well."
June Finch rated the book with five stars on amazon.co.uk:
She said, "the story was so well written that it was like one of the true story tales."
From the blurb:
Anna Maria lived with her stepmother Priscilla, and her stepsisters, Stella and Marcella.
Cinderella's stepmother was no way as evil as Priscilla. Her stepsisters were a little less mean than Stella and Marcella.
Anna Maria did not live among cinders because there were no cinders. There were no mice and rabbits to play with either.
But there was a mystery to be solved and an escape to be made!
BRAINS + COURAGE = FREEDOM + HAPPINESS
From Cinderella’s Escape:
“I’m sure when Cinderella went to that ball, she took greater pleasure in outsmarting her stepmother than in the carriage and the ball dress and the glass slippers.”
“Even if the fairy had not appeared, Cinderella would have found a way out. She would have had to. It’s called survival.”
“Was I not lucky to be a modern day Cinderella? At least I did not have to sleep among the cinders.”
September 3, 2014
I've been interviewed by Alex
It's time for another author interview!
This time it's with Alex over at http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/.
Go to http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/author-interview-sixty-five-victoria-zigler-fantasychildren/ if you want to read it.
This time it's with Alex over at http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/.
Go to http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/author-interview-sixty-five-victoria-zigler-fantasychildren/ if you want to read it.
September 1, 2014
Book sale! Plus, I'm September's author of the month on Goodreads "Smashwords Authors" group!
All this month I'm author of the month on a Goodreads group for Smashwords authors.
We'll be discussing me and my books, and people will have the opportunity to ask me questions about myself, my books, the characters from my books, or anything else they feel it worth asking me about.
You can follow the discussion at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1981288-victoria-zigler---september?comment=105316114# if you're interested.
I'm offering the oppertunity to those who aren't members of that group to ask me questions in the comments section of this post on my blog, or by going to my author page at http://www.goodreads.com/toriz and submitting a question in the "ask the author" box provided on that page.
Also, since being author of the month has made me feel generous - and since the 7th book in the series comes out this month - I've made the first 6 books of the "Kero's World" series free on Smashwords throughout September!
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.
Don't forget to look out for "Kero Crosses The Rainbow Bridge" - coming September 11th 2014!
If that's not enough, I also have two half-price books for you!
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.
We'll be discussing me and my books, and people will have the opportunity to ask me questions about myself, my books, the characters from my books, or anything else they feel it worth asking me about.
You can follow the discussion at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1981288-victoria-zigler---september?comment=105316114# if you're interested.
I'm offering the oppertunity to those who aren't members of that group to ask me questions in the comments section of this post on my blog, or by going to my author page at http://www.goodreads.com/toriz and submitting a question in the "ask the author" box provided on that page.
Also, since being author of the month has made me feel generous - and since the 7th book in the series comes out this month - I've made the first 6 books of the "Kero's World" series free on Smashwords throughout September!
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.
Don't forget to look out for "Kero Crosses The Rainbow Bridge" - coming September 11th 2014!
If that's not enough, I also have two half-price books for you!
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.
August 31, 2014
Character interview: Cubby the polar bear
Cubby the polar bear from my latest book "Cubby And The Beanstalk" is being interviewed today over at Creative Barbwire
You can check out the interview by going to http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/sunday-surprise-64/ if you want to know more about Cubby.
You can check out the interview by going to http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/sunday-surprise-64/ if you want to know more about Cubby.
August 30, 2014
August 2014 reading challenge - new authors
One of the groups I'm on over on Goodreads had a reading challenge for August to encourage you to try books by new authors (as in, authors that are new to you). A pretty good challenge, I think! So, I joined in... Here are the authors that made my new-to-me list this month, as well as the book(s) I read by said authors:
1. Laurel A. Rockefeller.
A New Start In The Niobrara For Mr. And Mrs. O'Malley ~ read on August 1st 2014.
Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni (The Legendary Women of World History, #1) ~ read on August 5th 2014.
Catherine de Valois (The Legendary Women of World History, #2) ~ read on August 5th 2014.
2. Kevin Andrew Murphy.
Penny Dreadful ~ read on August 4th 2014.
Pathfinder Tales: The Secret of the Rose and Glove ~ read on August 9th 2014.
3. Josephine Heltemes.
Will You Call My Name ~ read on August 24th 2014.
Santa in a Shopping Cart ~ read on August 24th 2014.
The Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Guide to Revenge ~ read on August 24th 2014.
4. Alessandra Nadudvari.
Nicky and the Lost Templar (Adventures Of Nicky, #1) ~ read on August 25th 2014.
5. Michael James Ploof.
Billy Coatbutton and the Wheel of Destiny (The Sock Gnome Chronicles, #1) ~ read on August 25th 2014.
1. Laurel A. Rockefeller.
A New Start In The Niobrara For Mr. And Mrs. O'Malley ~ read on August 1st 2014.
Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni (The Legendary Women of World History, #1) ~ read on August 5th 2014.
Catherine de Valois (The Legendary Women of World History, #2) ~ read on August 5th 2014.
2. Kevin Andrew Murphy.
Penny Dreadful ~ read on August 4th 2014.
Pathfinder Tales: The Secret of the Rose and Glove ~ read on August 9th 2014.
3. Josephine Heltemes.
Will You Call My Name ~ read on August 24th 2014.
Santa in a Shopping Cart ~ read on August 24th 2014.
The Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Guide to Revenge ~ read on August 24th 2014.
4. Alessandra Nadudvari.
Nicky and the Lost Templar (Adventures Of Nicky, #1) ~ read on August 25th 2014.
5. Michael James Ploof.
Billy Coatbutton and the Wheel of Destiny (The Sock Gnome Chronicles, #1) ~ read on August 25th 2014.
August 28, 2014
Me and Barb last week
Here are the promised photos from when I met fellow indipendant author, Barb, a week ago.
Barb writes under a couple of different pen names, including the one I've read books by, which is Barbara G.Tarn. To learn more about her and her books, check out her blog at http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com.
We were by the seafront not far from Hastings peer, and if our hair looks a bit messy, it's because it was rather windy. It was threatening to rain too, but we did manage to avoid getting wet.
Oh, and you see the knitted unicorn in the photo? His name is Victory (Barb named him) and I made him to give to Barb as a gift. Barb loves unicorns... Check out her blog tomorrow and you'll see what I mean.
Barb writes under a couple of different pen names, including the one I've read books by, which is Barbara G.Tarn. To learn more about her and her books, check out her blog at http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com.
We were by the seafront not far from Hastings peer, and if our hair looks a bit messy, it's because it was rather windy. It was threatening to rain too, but we did manage to avoid getting wet.
Oh, and you see the knitted unicorn in the photo? His name is Victory (Barb named him) and I made him to give to Barb as a gift. Barb loves unicorns... Check out her blog tomorrow and you'll see what I mean.
August 26, 2014
Cubby And The Beanstalk
Cubby And The Beanstalk
Genre: Fairy Tales And Fables/Fairy Tale Adaptations
Description: "When Cubby’s Mother tells him to take their old goat to market and sell her so they can buy food, Cubby ends up trading the goat for a bag of magic wishing beans. His Mother is furious, and in her rage throws the beans outside and sends Cubby to bed. You may think that was the end, but you’d be wrong! In fact, it’s just the beginning!
Loosely based on the stories of ‘Jack And The Beanstalk’ and ‘The Magic Cooking Pot’, this is the story of a hungry little polar bear and his journey up the beanstalk to the home of the magical giant skybears."
Published: August 26th 2014
ISBN: 9781310906428
Buy it from Smashwords: link goes here
Available elsewhere soon!
Cubby And The Beanstalk - officially released today!
"When Cubby’s Mother tells him to take their old goat to market and sell her so they can buy food, Cubby ends up trading the goat for a bag of magic wishing beans. His Mother is furious, and in her rage throws the beans outside and sends Cubby to bed. You may think that was the end, but you’d be wrong! In fact, it’s just the beginning!
Loosely based on the stories of ‘Jack And The Beanstalk’ and ‘The Magic Cooking Pot’, this is the story of a hungry little polar bear and his journey up the beanstalk to the home of the magical giant skybears."
That's the synopsis for my latest book, which is officially released today. It's called "Cubby And The Beanstalk" (in case the title of the post didn't make that obvious). Anyway, if you want to find out what happens when Cubby the polar bear goes up the beanstalk, grab your copy today!
It's available from Smashwords in all formats they offer, as well as from many other retailers.
Loosely based on the stories of ‘Jack And The Beanstalk’ and ‘The Magic Cooking Pot’, this is the story of a hungry little polar bear and his journey up the beanstalk to the home of the magical giant skybears."
That's the synopsis for my latest book, which is officially released today. It's called "Cubby And The Beanstalk" (in case the title of the post didn't make that obvious). Anyway, if you want to find out what happens when Cubby the polar bear goes up the beanstalk, grab your copy today!
It's available from Smashwords in all formats they offer, as well as from many other retailers.
August 24, 2014
Random happenings - August 24th 2014 (kinda FD)
In the past two weeks we've been to "The Love Cafe" - which is the cafe we used to go to with Kero - twice, "Alpha Cafe" three times, "Costa Coffee" once, "The Coffee Bean" once, and the cafe in Waterstones bookstore once. We'd be reluctant to go back to the cafe in Waterstones, because it's rather expensive, and we were quite glad at the time we only went there for a drink and a sit down. But we'll be happy to go back to the others any time!
We've also walked along the seafront a couple of times, walked around town a couple of times (including going to Hastings' weekly market this past Thursday) and walked to a couple of places more local. Also, I got an audiobook of Miss Marple stories when we were in Waterstones, and we went to Asda to do the grocery shopping. Plus, we've ridden the train a few times, and someone let me check out his motorbike - which was really cool, and had skulls for headlights!
Thursday's outing wasn't just the two of us though, since we met up with a fellow author who I met through Goodreads. Her name is Barb, she's from Italy, and she was visiting the UK so said she'd come down to Hastings to meet up with us. She writes under a couple of different pen names, but if you want to check her out, her blog is at http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com and you can find other links to do with her from there. I'll put up the pictures Kelly got of the two of us together once we get them off the camera.
On Friday my ankle made it perfectly clear that it had been walked on enough. I'm surprised it took so long, actually! But we'd already planned to stay home this weekend anyway, so it's no big deal. Besides, I needed to catch up on a bit of reading before I end up behind on my reading goal for the year, and wanted to do some work on a knitted blanket I'm making for myself (which I want to complete in time for this Winter); both of which were things I could do at the same time thanks to text to speech on my Kindle, and both of which were things I could do while resting my ankle. I actually ended up doing a bit of writing this weekend too!
We've also walked along the seafront a couple of times, walked around town a couple of times (including going to Hastings' weekly market this past Thursday) and walked to a couple of places more local. Also, I got an audiobook of Miss Marple stories when we were in Waterstones, and we went to Asda to do the grocery shopping. Plus, we've ridden the train a few times, and someone let me check out his motorbike - which was really cool, and had skulls for headlights!
Thursday's outing wasn't just the two of us though, since we met up with a fellow author who I met through Goodreads. Her name is Barb, she's from Italy, and she was visiting the UK so said she'd come down to Hastings to meet up with us. She writes under a couple of different pen names, but if you want to check her out, her blog is at http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com and you can find other links to do with her from there. I'll put up the pictures Kelly got of the two of us together once we get them off the camera.
On Friday my ankle made it perfectly clear that it had been walked on enough. I'm surprised it took so long, actually! But we'd already planned to stay home this weekend anyway, so it's no big deal. Besides, I needed to catch up on a bit of reading before I end up behind on my reading goal for the year, and wanted to do some work on a knitted blanket I'm making for myself (which I want to complete in time for this Winter); both of which were things I could do at the same time thanks to text to speech on my Kindle, and both of which were things I could do while resting my ankle. I actually ended up doing a bit of writing this weekend too!
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Author and book news for children's author and poet, Victoria Zigler, as well as general news from the life of the Zigler family; furry and otherwise!
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