Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 93

"The Gemini Connection" by Teri Polen - #SciFi #Thriller #YA - #Book Release And Launch Party

Teen twin brothers Evan and Simon Resnik are fiercely loyal to each other and share an unusual bond—they experience each other’s emotions as their own and can sense where the other is.

On their dying planet of Tage, scientists work tirelessly on its survival. Like the twins’ parents, Simon is a science prodigy, recruited at a young age to work with the brilliant creator of Scientific Innovations. To the bitter disappointment of their parents, Evan shows no aptitude or interest in science. As a Mindbender, he travels into the minds of scientists to locate buried memories, connect ideas and concepts, and battle recurring nightmares.

When Simon mysteriously disappears, Evan is plunged into a world of loss and unbearable guilt. For the first time, he can’t ‘feel’ Simon—it’s like he no longer exists. Evan blames himself. No one knows that he ignored his brother’s pleas for help on the night he went missing.

A year later, Simon is still gone. Evan lost his twin, but Tage might have lost its last hope of survival when it’s discovered that Simon’s unfinished project could be its salvation. Evan is determined to find him—somewhere—and bring Simon home. Their unusual connection might be more extraordinary than they know, and the key to locating Simon.

Join the Facebook virtual book launch party - tonight!
7 June at 17:00–19:00 CDT
https://www.facebook.com/events/410091202806092/

Buy your copy today from  
Amazon.Com, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, or Black Rose Writing.

#Ocean Themed #Poetry #Book - The Ocean’s Lullaby And Other Poems Now In #Audio!

A collection of more than 40 poems of various styles and lengths, many of which have an ocean theme to them.

As well as having an ocean theme in many cases, the poems in this collection explore a variety of other themes, using a variety of different tones; some funny, and others of a more serious nature. Themes include holidays, animals, imagination and creativity, depression and grief, among others; often overlapping with the ocean theme.

Previously only made available in eBook and paperback, "The Ocean’s Lullaby And Other Poems" is now available as an audiobook, read for you by Carol Weakland.

Regardless of the format you'd prefer, here's where you can buy the book:

Audible, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Chapters-Indigo, iBooks, iTunes, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, and The Book Depository.

The book also has a page on Goodreads.

#Music Monday: Jim Reeves - Bimbo

I'm a big fan of country music, as many people who know me well can tell you, and among the artists I love are ones like Jim Reeves. My Grandma's a big fan of Jim Reeves too, and it's her birthday in a few days time, so I thought I'd share one of his songs I know she's especially fond of. So, here's "Bimbo" for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!







Oh, and... Happy birthday, Grandma!

Tori's May 2018 #Book #Reviews - #AmReading

It's time to take a look at what I read in May.

But first...

If you have physical books you want bookends for, and happen to be a Star Wars fan, you should totally check out this Yoda bookend.

Anyway...

As with the previous posts like this one, 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.

Don't forget: the format I've reviewed may not be the format I read. Also, please remember that I read across multiple genres and age ranges, so you should always check if a book is suitable for the intended reader, especially when children are involved. Sometimes reading the book's description on its Goodreads page will be enough for this, but other times you may need to check elsewhere to figure out the genre and/or recommended reading level.

OK... On to the reviews!

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great addition to the series. I wish things hadn't been left the way they were by the end of this book with certain characters though.

The Queen's Nose by Dick King-Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I remember watching - and enjoying - the TV series based on this book when I was younger. The book is just as good.

Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece by Stephen Fry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an interesting and entertaining read - or listen, if you do what I did and grab the audio version read by the author - which will appeal to all who enjoy the old myths, especially those based around the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses.

Morgen of Avalon: Dreamspell 1 by Carol Weakland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a captivating and beutifully written story, which will appeal to anyone who loves to read stories based around the legend of King Arthur. Additionally, I have the audio version, read by the author herself, and she has a wonderful voice for audio book narration, which makes for a fantastic listening experience.

Witch's Legacy by Katrina Cope
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an extremely enjoyable read. The characters are well-rounded and relatable, and the plot is interesting. Add some wonderful writing by the author, and you have the recipe for a great read, which you won't want to put down until you've read the very last word... Even if it means you're up half the night to finish it, like I was.
*NOTE: I was gifted a copy of this book. This has in no way influenced my opinion of the book, nor the contents of my review.

Rescuing the Prince by Victoria Leybourne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A wonderful and beautifully written story, with some sweet moments, some entertaining moments, an interesting plot, and a great cast of characters.

Waylaid by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A fun quick read for fans of both the Rachel Morgan and Peri Reed books.

The Operator by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great second book for this series. The worldbuilding and futuristic devices are creative, there's a great cast of characters that are complex enough to keep you on your toes, and the plot is interesting and moves at a nice pace.

#FurkidFriday: A Lilie The #Westie Medical Update - June 1st 2018

Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie again.

I meant to tell you this last week, but didn't have time. Anyway, that cream stuff the vet gave us is working, but slowly.

The vet says the reason it's working so slowly is because I keep scratching. He's pretty sure it's dust mites in the carpet that's making me scratch a lot, because I don't have fleas or anything, and the fact no new sores have shown up anywhere means it's unlikely I have skin disease, which is what they first feared would be the case.

The humans are trying to keep the carpet as dust mite free as possible with the hoover creature, but really it's an old carpet that could do with being replaced, so they aren't sure how well they're doing. They're doing their best though.

The sore near my neck is healing slowest. The vet says it's because of my collar. He suggested they take it off - at least until the sore heals up - but that can't happen. There are two reasons for this:

I have a bell on my collar. Well, two of them, actualy, in case one falls off and the humans don't realize. This is because Mummy has broken eyes, and the bell helps her know where I am. Without it, she steps on me and falls over me.I hate being without my collar. I've worn it every day since I came to live with these humans, and get distressed without it on. My collar is my clothes, and I don't like to not be dressed. It's like how you humans are with those t-shirts and things you wear... You wouldn't want to wander around without clothes like that, would you? Well, neither do I!
Mummy loosened my collar a little, so it's not always resting on the sore area. The humans figured that was a good way to stop it rubbing on the sore as much, while leaving the collar on me. It seems to have helped. Healing is still going slowly, but it's obviously happening.

Lots of licks,
Lilie

#WriterWednesday - #Quotes About #Writing And Creativity

I think of writing with all of these quotes, but most of them could just as easily apply to art, or to any other kind of craft or form of creativity you prefer.

***~~~***

You do not have to write everyday. I'm giving you permission to take a day off. Marinating the mind is important--at least for my process. LEARN *YOUR* PROCESS.
~Tara Lazar

Ideas are easy. It’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.
~Sue Grafton

Inspiration comes and goes, creativity is the result of practice.
~Phil Cousineau

Technique alone is never enough. You have to have passion. Technique alone is just an embroidered potholder.
~Raymond Chandler

I spent too many years neglecting my muse. I believed creativity was finite, that when I gave my creativity to my employer, there was none left for my art. But creativity is not a fossil fuel of finite supply that must be transported in pipelines and on ships and driven around in automobile tanks. Creative thinking, I’ve learned, begets more creative thinking.
~Patrick Ross

Creativity Is Intelligence Having Fun.
~Albert Einstein

#MondayMotivation And #Inspiration - May 2018 Edition

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
~André Gide

Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.
~Allen Saunders

Everything you can imagine is real.
~Pablo Picasso

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
~Marilyn Monroe

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
~Ancient Chinese proverb

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
~Robert Frost

May 2018 #TV Talk And #Movie Mutterings: A Movie And TV Quiz - #AmWatching

I did this book quiz back in February, after seeing it on Jeanie's blog (as I mention in the post I just linked to). I thought at the time that many of the questions could easily be applied to movies or TV shows... With a bit of tweaking of words, of course.

So, since my DVD time has been much less than I hoped it would be, which means I'm not having many movies and TV shows to review, I thought I'd have some fun and tweak the questions so they could apply to movies and TV shows, and then answer them for this month's post. Feel free to play along. Oh, and let me know if you do, because I'd love to read your answers.

Anyway, here are the questions, along with my answers.

*What DVDs are on your coffee table?

There's a whole stack of them I'm waiting to find time to catch up on watching. I don't even remember half of what's there any more. I know there's a box set of "The Big Bang Theory" and some old Disney movies, as well as the "NCIS" DVDs I'm still trying to finish watching, but couldn't tell you beyond that.

*What TV series are you watching right now?

I'm still trying to catch up with watching episodes of "NCIS" - slowly but surely. It's taking longer than it should due to me ending up having less TV time than I'd hoped to have, and taking breaks after every couple of disks to watch some of the movies I want to see.

*What is the last great movie you watched?

This might change between when I'm writing this post and when it goes live, depending on what I watch in the meantime. However, at the time I'm writing this, "Moana" is the last movie I watched that I would really call a great movie. I've watched others that were really good... Even ones I'd give five stars to... But "Moana" stands out in my mind.

*What do you watch for solace? For escape? For sheer pleasure?

I watch whatever I happen to be in the mood for at the time. Mostly what I watch falls in to the catagory of either cartoons, kids movies, crime shows, nature shows, or documentaries, but I don't watch those things exclusively.

*What's your favorite movie?

Like with my favourite books, this has changed on and off, and probably will again. My favourite movie was a tie between "Practical Magic" and "The Craft" for a long time. But then I saw "Frozen" and I can't get enough of that movie, so would say that's probably currently my favourite. Although, "Santa Clause - The Movie" is still my favourite holiday movie, and has been since I was a child, with "Prancer" a close second on my favourite holiday movie list.

*What's your favorite TV series?

Like with my favourite books and movies, this can - and does - change. But my favourite TV series is a tie between "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory" these days.

*What movie or TV show did you think was overrated or just didn't like?

"A Game Of Thrones" springs to mind. The books were great, but I found the TV series confusing, and lost interest in watching it quickly. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about it. I still can't really. Although, as I said, I did enjoy the books.

*How do you like to watch your shows? DVD or Netflix? Morning or Night? In bed or on the sofa?

I generally watch my movies and TV shows on DVD, though I sometimes watch something using my Sky box. I don't even have Netflix yet, but might get it at some point.

When I watch things depends on when I know I can clear a good chunk of time to be able to watch a whole DVD in peace, which is why I don't get as much time to watch as I'd like, because that's not always easy to do. As for where: mostly on the sofa in the livingroom. Though I will sometimes stick a disk in my computer and watch it from bed.

*What's the best movie or TV show you ever received as a gift?

"Practical Magic" immediately springs to mind. It was a gift from an online friend named Melody. I unfortunately no longer speak to Melody, or even know what happened to her... We sort of drifted apart, as often happens. But I loved the movie from the first time I watched it. I don't have the video she sent me any more, but I've got a DVD copy to replace it. As I mentioned above, it was one of my top two favourite movies for a very long time. It's still in the top three.

*What kind of things did you watch as a child? Which childhood movies and TV shows stick with you most?

My favourite things to watch as a young child - other than the Disney movies many people my age were raised on, I mean - was anything involving "Care Bears" or "My Little Pony" (movies and TV shows alike). I also loved "Lambchop's Play Along" and "Mrs. Pepperpot" which I watched before school every single morning. Nature shows and documentaries have interested me since childhood too. I also loved "Ivor The Engine" and "Bagpus" very much. Plus, I enjoyed watching "Thomas The Tank Engine" and a few other shows my brothers loved. But don't tell them I said that.

When I got a bit older, I still loved these shows, but "Rugrats" and "Full House" joined the list, along with "The Simpsons" and several other shows it would take me forever to list. Later, "Pokemon" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!" became favourites of mine as well.

I still love all of them now, and would happily sit and watch any of them again and again.

*You're organizing a dinner party for the stars. Which three actors or actresses, dead or alive, do you invite?

Rupert Grint who played Ron Weasley in the "Harry Potter" movies, Brian Krause who played Leo in the "Charmed" TV series, and Emma Thompson who wrote and starred in the "Nanny McPhee" movies. Why? Because I love them in the shows and movies I just mentioned, and would like to see if they're as nice in person. Plus, they're the first three who sprung to mind.

#FurkidFriday: Lilie The #Westie Visit's The #Vet - May 2018 Edition (FD)

Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie.

I got to go visit that vet place again twice this month. I love going there! Everyone always gives me lots of attention, and tells me how cute I am, which I like to be told, even though I know already. There are usually treats too. It's great!

The first time was because I've got some sores on me. The humans and the vet are hoping it's not going to be the start of the skin problems that a lot of Westies get. It could be, or it could be that I cut myself when I was having a scratch. Since I scratch so much, either is possible, though the very fact I scratch so much means I have a high chance of having skin problems. Either way, the vet gave the humans some wet stuff in a tube to put on my sores. They call it cream, but it doesn't smell anything like the cream the Mummy human has on her strawberries sometimes, and the humans say I shouldn't try to lick it. I'm not sure why. Anyway, it's meant to make the sores better, but if it doesn't they say I'll have to go back there for the vet to look at my sores again, and they'll have to try something else.

The other time was because I had to go back to the vet again yesterday to get something sharp stuck in me. The humans said it was so I can try not to get some of the doggy illnesses that we dogs can get. I hope it turns out to be worth it.

I really like visiting the vet, because I love going places, especially when I'll get attention. They usually have great treats too. But I do wish the humans would quit with the wet things in bottles and tubes they keep squirting all over me. I could do without sharp things getting stuck in me too. Well, you have to take the good with the bad, I suppose.

Lots of licks,
Lilie

#WriterWednesday - May 23rd 2018

IMPORTANT: the new European Union privacy legislation known as "GDPR" (General Data Protection Regulation) comes into effect on May 25, 2018. This regulation initially impacts European Union member countries and aims to protect people from companies selling personal data. For more information - including what you need to know if you're an author - you may wish to check out this post.

I think Google/Blogger puts up a notice about cookies when you first visit my blog. However, I thought I'd make sure I'm completely covered, so I have added the following mesage to my sidebar, below the thing about copyright:

Please note: any cookies on my website are used to ensure normal website functions (for instance, Youtube videos won’t work without their own identifiers). These cookies cannot be switched off because the website wouldn’t work properly anymore. However, these identifiers do not store any personal data.

I have also added the following message to our "contact us and find us elsewhere" page:

Please note: by contacting either one of us via any of the following options, you are agreeing to be contacted in return. However, any information you share with us will not be shared with others, or used in any way we do not first obtain your permission for.

I will arrange for something to be put on my actual website about that last one too. Maybe I should also mention the cookie thing on there. I don't think my website does that, but just in case...

***~~~***

In case you missed last week's post: "Vinnie The Vegetarian Zombie" is now available in audio, narrated by Jenny Bacon. The audio book can be purchased via Audible, Amazon, and iTunes; click on the post I linked to just now for links, as well as full details of where you can buy the book in all available formats, including eBook and paperback. I only realized afterwards that it turned out I was announcing that one being available during National Vegetarian Week, which I thought was kind of cool.

That's all the news I have for you on my books and writing right now, because none of the other audio books are released at the cut-off time for this post - though some will be soon - and I'm still struggling to get any writing time in (other than the time I used to get ahead on blog posts where possible) so I don't even have any updates for you on that. If you're dealing with issues yourself right now, here's a post that gives some advice on how to deal with the real life "plot twists" that keep you from writing.

On the other hand, if you're dealing with writers' block, or struggling to get your muse to show up at the times you actually have a chance for a good writing session, you may like to check out these ideas for writing practice. In theory, they'll help you get started. Of course, after that it will be up to you to keep it going. With that in mind, here's a trick to help you start writing when you don't know what to write about.

So... What hinders your creativity? Also, how do you find time to write, and do you really not have time for that? Only you know the answers, but perhaps the posts I just linked to will help you figure things out.

While you're thinking about it, bear in mind the parts of writing no one talks about, because they'll be your reality if you want to take this writing thing seriously. Oh, and here's a fun trick to make your writing time more fulfilling (and more productive).

No matter what you find works for you, when it comes to your writing, don't forget the plants and payoffs in your story.

Also, if you're writing a prequel to whatever story or series you've written before, you might want to check out these tips to writing prequels and not hurting the originals, so you don't end up disappointing your readers.

On the other hand, if it's your book blurb you could do with some help with, check out this post on writing the dreaded book blurb.

By the way, do you write mysteries? Or, would you like to? If you answered, "yes," to either of those, check out Rachel's blog where she's been doing her anual mystery month posts, such as this one on writing the mystery novel. In fact, since mystery authors and mystery themed "short story Sundays" are involved, some of the posts may appeal to you if you're a mystery reader who doesn't write in that genre, so you might want to go check them out either way.

Regardless of the genre you write for, if you write middle grade books, you'll want to check out these six golden rules of writing middle grade. You can generally apply those rules to writing for children of any age, not just the 12 year olds the article mentions.

No matter what you read or write though, always remember: everyone is good at something - including you!