Welcome Victoria Zigler to Indie Author Friday! If you’re looking for poetry and children’s books, she has over 40 to choose from. As a Potterhead, I loved her answer to which fictional character she’d be.
A collection of poems of different lengths and styles – some with a hint of humour, others of a more serious nature – exploring a variety of themes, such as animals, nature, emotions, and the world around us.
Losing a sibling is hard. Losing three of them is even harder. Repairing a broken bond of trust is harder still.
After his three brothers disappeared, one after another, gone to a mysterious place known only as The Rainbow Bridge, Buddy the degu is all alone in his cage. Confused and frightened, he knows only one thing for certain: he last saw his brothers in the hands of the human caretaker. That knowledge breaks the bond of trust forged between Buddy and his human in the years since he was a pup, and leaves him convinced that letting her get her hands on him will mean he disappears too. Somehow, she has to convince him he’s wrong, and earn back his trust.
Based on actual events that took place in the life of one of the author’s own degus, and told from the point of view of a degu, this is the story of how patience and love taught a confused and terrified rodent how to trust again.
What’s the most constructive criticism you’ve been given in your writing career?
I had someone give me some constructive criticism regarding my writing of battle scenes recently. The advice was really appreciated, because I’m rubbish at writing battle scenes that really make you feel like you’re there. I’ll be sure to bear her comments in mind next time I need to write one.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
“Keep your poems and stories safe.” Because I have very few of my early poems and stories, since I never worried about keeping them safe as a child, and it would have been nice to have them to look back on. I had plenty from my very late teens and later – which I’ve rewritten and expanded on to make many of the books in the list of my published works – but almost nothing from before that, despite the fact I’ve written both poetry and stories since I was old enough to know how.
How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
It hasn’t changed it much. The main difference now is that I’m more careful about making sure editing happens, and have to organize things like covers and marketing.
What’s your favorite kind of cookie and why?
I love shortbread. Especially proper Scottish shortbread. I don’t know why, and I don’t really stop to think about it while eating it, since I’m usually too busy enjoying my snack.
A penguin walks through the door wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?
He greets me – though not by name, of course – and then says, “Can you tell me the way to Penguinopolis?” And he’s here because he got on the wrong flight when trying to get home from a trip to Mexico, so now he’s lost. I think I might go with him when he goes home, just to make sure he gets there safely. Well, also because then I can play in the snow, but that part’s a secret… Shhh!
If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?
I want to be Hermione Granger, because then I could have access to the Hogwarts library, and get to meet Luna Lovegood. Plus, she’s really good at magic, and being able to do magic would be cool too.
Author Bio
Victoria Zigler is a blind poet and children’s author who was born and raised in the Black Mountains of Wales, UK, and is now living on the South-East coast of England, UK. Victoria – or Tori, if you prefer – has been writing since she knew how, has a very vivid imagination, and spends a lot of time in fictional worlds; some created by her, others created by other authors. When she remembers to spend some time in the real world, it’s mostly to spend time with her hubby and pets, though sometimes to indulge in other interests that capture her attention from time to time. To date she has published 8 poetry books and more than 40 children’s books, with more planned for the near future. She’s also contributed a story to the sci-fi and fantasy anthology Wyrd Worlds II.
Social Media
Website: http://www.zigler.co.uk
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/toriz
Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Zigler/424999294215717
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/victoriazigler
Buy Links
How To Catch Snowflakes and Other Poems
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/720432
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/7131538
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catching-snowflakes-and-other-poems-victoria-zigler/1126277024
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/catching-snowflakes-and-other-poems
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/catching-snowflakes-and-other-poems/id1230038242
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catching-Snowflakes-Other-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546383204/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Catching-Snowflakes-Other-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546383204/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Catching-Snowflakes-Other-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546383204/
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Catching-Snowflakes-Other-Poems-Victoria-Zigler/9781546383208
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34947667-catching-snowflakes-and-other-poems
How To Trust Your Human
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/724848
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/7188605
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-trust-your-human-victoria-zigler/1126412328
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/how-to-trust-your-human
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/how-to-trust-your-human/id1237703591
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-Your-Human-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546844899/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Your-Human-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546844899/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Trust-Your-Human-Victoria-Zigler/dp/1546844899/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35160154-how-to-trust-your-human
Thanks for having me over. 🙂
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So happy to host you, Tori!
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Lovely learning more about Victoria and her work. (And I, too, liked the Hermione answer.)
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Thanks, Staci!
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Me too – wouldn’t mind being Hermione at all. I’ve always been a cat person, anyway.
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I love all animals, but a big cat is my absolute favourite animal; my favourite animal in the whole world is a lion. My hubby would love a cat like Crookeshanks.
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A lovely interview with Victoria, Teri. I had no idea she had so many children’s books. I must take a look at them.
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Thanks, Robbie!
If you check out any of my books, I hope you enjoy them.
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Thanks, Robbie. I was also surprised to see so many – what an accomplishment!
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Either that, or a sign I need to get out more. Take your pick. 😉
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Wonderful to meet you, Victoria! We share a passion for poetry and shortbread cookies. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Teri. Always a joy to stop by.
Wishing you both a lovely weekend. Cheers! 🙂
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Nice to meet you too, Natalie! 🙂
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I thought of you when I learned Tori also wrote poetry – glad you two met!
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That’s so kind of you! We’ve connected on Twitter as well. Thank you for the introduction! 🙂
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You’re welcome – guess I’m just a matchmaker at heart.
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I imagine many of us can relate to Victoria’s wish that we’d saved poems and writing from our young days. They are fun to revisit. Lovely interview, Victoria and Teri. And those Scottish shortbread cookies don’t last long at our house either. 🙂
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I also thought about that, Diana. I wrote some poetry and short stories for high school publications and I have no idea whatever happened to them. Would definitely be fun to re-read – and probably laugh about!
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Thanks, Diana! Yes, I’m sure a lot of people who have written for years wish they had some of their earlier stuff.
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Holy Hannah — how prolific! Congrats to Victoria on her collection of books. I got a kick out of the penguin answer. Hugs!
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Those penguin answers are always good for a laugh. Hugs, Teagan!
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Thanks, Teagan! Glad you liked the penguin answer.
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