Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 38

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 22-06-20

We don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
~Howard Zinn

Some things in life are out of your control. You can make it a party or a tragedy.
~Nora Roberts

Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.
~Laini Taylor

We make realities out of our dreams, and dreams out of our realities. We are the dreamers of the dream
~Roald Dahl

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
~Edgar Allan Poe

No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.
~Cinderella

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
~James Dean

For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own.
~Albus Dumbledore

Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.
~Linda Mastandrea

Participate in your dreams today. There are unlimited opportunities available with this new day. Take action on those wonderful dreams you've had in your mind for so long. Remember, success is something you experience when you act accordingly.
~Steve Maraboli

Success occurs when your dreams get bigger than your excuses.
~Unknown

Things are only impossible until they're not.
~Jean-Luc Picard

Lilie The #Westie On The Release Of "Snowlilie's Brother" - #NewRelease #KidLit #Pets

Hi everyone.  This is Lilie the Westie.
Just in case you didn't see when Mummy talked about it last week: I've got a new book out.

Well, OK, I suppose it's Logan's book too.  Either way, Mummy tells you all about it in this post from last Tuesday, which is when the book was officially released.  But I'm excited about being in another book, so I wanted to tell you about it as well, in case you missed seeing her post.  Well, also because it's exciting

It's called "Snowlilie's Brother" and is all about when I got my little brother, Logan, last year, even though I wasn't sure what his name was meant to be at first, or even how I felt about having a little brother.  I know how I feel about it now, but you'll have to read the book to find out for sure, unless you've figured it out from our posts.  Even if you have, you should read the book anyway, because we're cute, and because Mummy promised to buy us new toys with the money from book sales.  We love getting new toys, so would love for that to happen.  You would too, right? *cute sad puppy dog look*

So, here's a picture of the cover, and all the details of what the book is about, and where you can get a copy - just to save you having to go read Mummy's post.  Jacob Blackmon did the cover - he's someone Mummy and Daddy talk to on the computer - and Daddy's really impressed with how well he drew us.  He did do an awesome job, didn't he? Almost as cute as our actual photos...

Getting a little brother is a good thing... Right?
 When Snowlilie the West Highland White Terrier first meets her new little brother – a Cavapoo puppy, who tells her the humans call him Rascal - and realizes having a little brother means having a new doggy friend to play with, she’s excited. That is, until she realizes it also means sharing everything with him – including her favourite ball, some of her food, and Mummy and Daddy’s attention.
 Will Snowlilie be forced to tolerate a little brother she doesn’t like? Or can she learn to like Rascal, and accept the changes having a little brother means?

You can now buy “Snowlilie’s Brother” in a variety of eBook formats from multiple online retailers, including – but not limited to - Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.
The book is available in all formats those places offer,, so there should be a version that works for you from at least one of the places it's for sale, regardless of your chosen method of reading eBooks, whether that be via Kindle, Nook, some other tablet or eReader, smartphone, or even your computer.
However, if you're one of those people who isn't a fan of eBooks, don't worry, Mummy and I haven't forgotten about you.  Audio and paperback versions are to be arranged as soon as possible.  Hopefully very soon.

Regardless of your prefered format though, you may be interested to know that the book also has a Goodreads page.

If you buy a copy, I hope you enjoy it.  I know Logan and I will enjoy the toys Mummy will get us with the book sale money, that's for sure, so thank you if you buy a copy and help us get some new toys.
Lots of licks,Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 18-06-20

Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.
~Dia ne Duane

 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.
 
Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.
 
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
 
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube. ~ 
OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right? ~
 
Reading:This week I read three books.  Well, finished one and read two others. Either way, here's what I read during the past week, along with my book reviews.
 
Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As much as I'm a fan of the series, I have to admit this one only just managed to scrape the four star rating I'm giving it. I mean, I really enjoyed this book for the most part, but didn't totally love it, and can think of several things I didn't enjoy about it. There were a few places in this book where I felt like the events or details were drawn out a bit more than they needed to be, a couple of times where the scene - while interesting - really didn't do anything to move the plot forward, and a couple of deaths of minor characters I wish hadn't happened. Also - while the ending isn't a cliffhanger, and I did think it was a lovely ending in many ways - I found it frustrating that things were left as they were as regards Roger and Brianna's part of the story. Other than that though, this was a nice addition to the series, and I look forward to the next book.
  Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is an excellent addition to this series; a sweet romance, and an action-packed paranormal tale, with plenty of entertaining scenes. If you enjoy those kinds of things, you should read this book, as well as the previous books in the series. No, it's not essential to have read the others before you read this one, since you won't be lost if you don't know who everyone is. I do suggest you try to though, since there are some things you'll only know about some of the characters if you've read their stories in previous books.
  The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. It would have been a five star read for me, but the ending felt kind of sudden and lacking in emotion. Up until that point I thought it was an excellent and beautiful read, but the ending was a disappointment, which took away a lot of my enjoyment of the rest of the story. 
~ 
Watching:Actually, I've got nothing to say for this part, because this week I watched absolutely nothing.  I didn't even do a good job of keeping up with YouTube videos from channels I follow.
 ~ 
Listening:This week I've been listening to soothing music like panpipe music, when I've listened to anything at all.  So, here's some music like the kind I was listening to - in fact, one of the songs I listened to - for your listening pleasure... Enjoy!
 

#WriterWednesday: An Authorly Update And Some Writerly #Quotes And Links - #AmWriting 17-06-20

In case you didn't see it, but would like to go check out the post: "Snowlilie's Brother" - my latest release, featuring Lilie and Logan - was featured in the Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore this past Sunday (June 14th 2020) along with a review of "Witchlet" - one of my older titles.  My thanks to Sally for doing the post to start with, as well as to Robbie for reading and reviewing "Witchlet" a while ago.  Also, thanks to anyone who shared the post, or does so at any point in the future.
 
In other authorly news: I'm currently taking auditions for a narrator for the audio version of "Snowlilie's Brother" on ACX.  If you're a female narrator who wants to audition, you have until Friday (June 19th 2020) to submit your audition, since that's when I'm making my choice.  I just thought I'd let you know. 
The paperback version of "Snowlilie's Brother" is also in production; I'm just waiting for the physical proof of the paperback to arrive.  Assuming there are no issues with the physical proof, and nobody from KDP finds any issues during the final approval stage, the paperback version of "Snowlilie's Brother" will become available in a couple of weeks. 
In the meantime, let's take a look at what I've gathered to share with you this week. 
The writing process, and writing life in general:10 reminders for writers who don't feel like their words can make a difference
You're never 'ready' to write a story
One writer.  A million new ideas
 

“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of.”~Joss Whedon

 
Writers' block, and idea generation:6 non-writing hobbies that can still inspire your writing
A big, bold list of creative writing activities
Creative eavesdropping 

“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”~Arthur Plotnik

 
Characters:Things to consider when making your characters suffer 

“The first draft is black and white. Editing gives the story color.”
~Emma Hill

 
Editing:Do you have to be a good writer to be a good editor?
Grammar rules: who vs. whom 
Publishing:How to publish with KDP: Part 10, how to upload your eBook file 

“No author dislikes to be edited as much as he dislikes not to be published.”~J.Russell Lynes

 
Marketing:Churn rate and transmedia storytelling
Online marketing doesn't mean lying, cheating, or conning customersAuthor's notes: another terrific oppertunity
 

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.”~Dr Seuss

 
Book reviews:Noobs' guide to self-publishing - reviews on KDP/Amazon

10 #Inspirational #Quotes

Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.
~Jack Kornfield

Your actions are your only true belongings.
~Allan Lokos

Let us keep courage and try to be patient and gentle.
~Vincent Van Gogh

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day, and the rest will fall into place.
~Unknown

Tranquillity & peace are contagious. One only thinks of the contagiousness of illness, but there's the contagion of serenity and joy.
~Anais Nin

That’s life: starting over, one breath at a time.
~Sharon Salzberg

I think when we don’t know what to do it’s wise to do nothing. Sit down quietly; quiet our hearts and minds and breathe deeply.
~Maya Angelou

Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.
~Alice Walker

Though the world is now dark, better days are at hand.
~Celeborn

No good sittin' worryin' abou' it. What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does.
~Hagrid

#MondayMotivation - #Quotes + Words Of #Wisdom 15-06-20

Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.
~Vincent Van Gogh

We need the security of our certainties but we need too the stimulus and the challenge provided by uncertainty. If we climb the hill to explore the valley on the other side it is not just in search of food; it is in search of adventure.
~C.R. Milne

Raindrops are my only reminder that clouds have a heartbeat. That I have one, too.
~T Mafi

If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.
~John Maxwell

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
~Chinese Proverb

One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar.
~Helen Keller

The way you start your day determines how well you live your day.
~Robin Sharma

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
~Rumi

Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.
~Earl Nightingale

Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.
~Anais Nin

It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
~Marcus Tullius Cicero

The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow.
~Jonathan Lockwood Huie

#Pets Are For Life, Not Just For Lockdown - #Covid19 #Coronavirus

Hi everyone.  This is Lilie the Westie.
We heard about lots of people during the locking down while Avirus was happening who got new family members with fur, feathers, or scales.  Especially people who got dogs or cats to join their families.
Now, Avirus isn't actually over, but lots of places aren't locked down any more, or not locked down as much.  This means lots of people who were at home now have to go to something called, "Work," - or so Mummy says.
So, this post is just to remind those people who got new family members while they were locked down not to abandon them now.  After all, they were there for you when you needed them for company.  Now that they maybe might need you more than you need them, remember to be there for them, since they'll still be there for you when you let them.

Maybe you have to go to the work thing now, and can't take them with you, which is fine.  Even if we don't like when our humans go away, we learn to accept it.  But let them wait for you at home, where they'll be glad to spend what time they can with you when you can be at home too.
There are lots of reasons why maybe someone can't keep a pet after all.  It's sad, but I understand that.  Not being locked down any more shouldn't be one of those reasons though, and I hope you thought about that before bringing them home. But, if you really can't keep the pet now you're not locked down any more for some reason, at least make sure you take the pet to a place where it can be looked after properly.  Only if you have to though.  After all, a pet should be for life, not just for lockdown, and there are already an awful lot of pets in shelters looking for homes.
A shelter is better than being abandoned on the street.  A real forever home is better still.

Lots of licks,Lilie

#AmReading + #AmWatching + #AmListening - Media Shares And #Reviews 11-06-20

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?
~Oscar Wilde

 
Welcome to this week's weekly media shares and reviews post!
 
*Disclaimer: no matter what's being reviewed, all opinions in this post are entirely my own, and I reserve the right to have them, regardless of who may or may not share them. Feel free to express your own in the comments, but please respect my right - and the rights of other commenters - to have opinions that might differ from yours, and to express those opinions too.

Also, please remember that I read/watch/listen to things in a variety of genres, and for all ages, so you should make sure you check that the book/movie/show/song is suitable for the intended audience before reading/watching/listening to it, especially if children are involved. I take no responsibility for anything which may happen as a result of failing to do so.

If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.

Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.

Unless otherwise stated, all music videos are via YouTube.
  
OK. Let's see what I've been reading, watching, and listening to, and which song I'm going to share this week, shall we? After all, that's the point of this post, and why you're here today, right? Not that I have much to say this week, but there you go.  Let's get to it anyhow.
 
Reading:I'm reading "Written In My Heart's Own Blood" - the eighth book in the "Outlander" series - but haven't finished it yet.  I think I'm a little over half way through it now, so will hopefully finish it in time to be reviewing it next week, unless something happens to prevent my getting my usual reading time in during the coming week. 
Watching:Despite my tentatively made plans of doing otherwise, this week I didn't actually watch anything, unless you count various YouTube videos uploaded by people I'm following on there, and I didn't really even watch very many of those to be honest.  So much for my plan - or hope - of finishing season 6 of "Game Of Thrones" on the weekend.  Well, maybe I'll have better luck this coming weekend? *looks hopeful*
  
Listening:This week I've been listening to very little music, and not really paying all that much attention to the bit I did listen to, if I'm honest.  So I wasn't sure what to share with you this week.  With that being the case, I'm sharing the song whose title keeps popping in to my head lately, since at least I know I definitely did listen to this one during the past week (in the hopes of making it go away, which didn't work).  So, here's "Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi.  Enjoy! 

#WriterWednesday - My #Pet Themed #KidLit #NewRelease + Colouring Books + #WritersLife + Writerly #Quotes And Links - #AmWriting 10-06-2020

In case you missed yesterday's post: "Snowlilie's Brother" is now available.  As mentioned in the post I just linked to, you can buy it in a variety of eBook formats from multiple online retailers - purchase links can be found in that post, but here are the links for the Smashwords version and the Kindle edition - and will be able to get it in audio and paperback as soon as I can arrange for those to be available.  If you buy a copy - either now, or when the other formats become available - I hope you enjoy it.  If you do buy and read it, please consider leaving a review, either where you purchase the book, on your blog, or on Goodreads, because reviews help authors, so are very much appreciated. 
Also, if you want to tell your friends and followers about the book - like Kevin has done in this post - that would be very much appreciated too.  Thank you in advance if you do so, and thanks to Kevin - and anyone who shares his post - as well, since spreading the word is another thing that helps authors a lot.
 
In other bookish news: if you - or anyone you know, be they children or adults - happen to be a fan of colouring books, especially animal themed ones, you might be interested to know that my Hermann's Tortoise, Artemis, is featured in two versions of the "Magnificent Pets" colouring book from Praise My Pet, after I was approached by someone I follow on Twitter and asked if I would submit a tortoise photo or two for the project.  you can find Artemis in both the Colouring Book For Children and the Mandala Coloring Book For Adults, which are due for release on June 27th 2020, and are currently available to pre-order at a discounted price.  If you grab either version, I hope you enjoy colouring Artemis' photo, as well as the photos of all the other pets in the collection. 
"There is no perfect time to write. There's only now."
~Barbara Kingsolver
 
OK.  Let's see what I have to share with you today. 
Blogging:Why every blogger should have an 'About me' page on their blog 

“Whatever you describe to another person is also a revelation of who you are and who you think you are. You cannot describe anything without betraying your point of view, your aspirations, your fears, your hopes. Everything.”

~James Baldwin

 
The writing process, and writing life in general:9 writing challenges for novelists, poets, and moreA writers' guide to patience, practice, and persistance
How to stay motivated when working from homeMake all the writing plans you wantHow to feel like writing again
10 gentle reminders for writing when everything's on fireWriting through your feelings helps more than just you
How you know you've found your calling
The revision stage is supposed to be hard
Writing: there is no one size fits all
 
"Talent is extremely common. What is rare is the willingness to endure the life of the writer."~Kurt Vonnegut
 
Writing romance:5 things about writing kisses 
Random writing tips:The building blocks of story: sequels
4 mistakes to avoid in your prose
When to tell and not show
 
"You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better."
~Anne Lamott
 
Editing:12 reasons self-editing is the best writing coachHow to properly capitalize your titles 

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
~William Wordsworth

"Snowlilie's Brother" by @VictoriaZigler - Out Now! #NewRelease #KidLit #AnimalStories #Pets #Dogs

Getting a little brother is a good thing... Right?
 When Snowlilie the West Highland White Terrier first meets her new little brother – a Cavapoo puppy, who tells her the humans call him Rascal - and realizes having a little brother means having a new doggy friend to play with, she’s excited. That is, until she realizes it also means sharing everything with him – including her favourite ball, some of her food, and Mummy and Daddy’s attention.
 Will Snowlilie be forced to tolerate a little brother she doesn’t like? Or can she learn to like Rascal, and accept the changes having a little brother means?

The above are the cover and description for my new book, which tells the story of Lilie's adjusting to having Logan join the family, and is officially released today, in honour of it being a year ago today that he came home.
You can now buy “Snowlilie’s Brother” in a variety of eBook formats from multiple online retailers, including – but not limited to - Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.
The book is available in all formats those places offer,, so there should be a version that works for you from at least one of the places it's for sale, regardless of your chosen method of reading eBooks, whether that be via Kindle, Nook, some other tablet or eReader, smartphone, or even your computer.
However, if you're one of those people who isn't a fan of eBooks, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you.  Audio and paperback versions are to be arranged as soon as possible.  Hopefully very soon.

Regardless of your prefered format though, you may be interested to know that the book also has a Goodreads page.