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Meet children’s author and poet, Victoria Zigler and a book review

Posted: March 28, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Interview, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , |51 Comments
thumbnail_Treasuring Poetry

Treasuring Poetry

Today, I have talented children’s author and poet, Victoria (Tori) Zigler, visiting Writing to be Read to tell us about her favourite poem and poet.

What is your favourite poem?

As I’ve often said, I always struggle with picking favourites, and the fact my favourites will generally change depending on my mood doesn’t help. My three favourite poets are Robert Frost, William Wordsworth, and Dylan Thomas, with Emily Dickenson and Edward Leer right behind them – the latter especially when I want something light-hearted. But as for a favourite poem… Now, that’s a little more difficult. Like I said, that changes constantly. However, this poem by Emily Dickenson entitled “There Is No Frigate Like A Book” is definitely among my favourites:

“There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away,

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears a Human soul.”

This is a beautiful poem, Tori. A great choice.

What is your interpretation of this poem?

Something I learned quickly as a child, and know all too well now: a book can take you to all sorts of places, both real and imagined, without you having to leave home. The kind of traveling even those without much money can afford, and even those with ill health can manage without too much difficulty, and that’s a wonderful thing.

I also read a huge amount as a child, Tori, and it also brought me a huge amount of pleasure. 

What emotions does this poem invoke in you?

Sheer joy, because it reminds me of the hours of pleasure reading has so far given me throughout my life, and makes me think of the many places I’ll get to visit, and worlds I have yet to explore, between the pages of those books still on my to-read list.

I also still derive great pleasure from books and reading. My formats have expanded to include ebooks and audiobooks recently too.

If you could choose to write like any well-known poet, who would it be?

I’ve never really thought about it before. I mean, a couple of times I’ve used the style of someone for inspiration, but mostly I just write my poems, and if the ones in my head are similar in style to those by others, so be it. But if I had to pick someone, I’d probably have to go with Edward Leer, especially since he is someone I’ve consciously mimicked the style of in the past, as demonstrated in my poem “A Pair Of Chinchillas Went To Sea” – which I’m sharing for you below.

“A pair of chinchillas went to sea,

In a boat that was painted bright red.

They took some oats, and plenty of nuts,

And some hay to use as a bed.

 

They sailed away for a month and a day,

To a place where it always snows.

Their only regret was that it was wet

Upon their little toes.”

The above poem can be found among those in my poetry collection, Puppy Poems And Rodent Rhymes – one of a pair of similarly titled pet themed poetry collections, the other being Rodent Rhymes And Pussycat Poems – which was published in 2018, and is available from a variety of online retailers in multiple eBook formats, paperback, and audio. In fact, both titles are available in all those formats, along with the rest of my books.

Thank you for sharing this lovely poem, Tori. I have read this book and you can read my Amazon review here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1YCKVTULTFA4V

What is special to you about this poet’s writing style?

His poems are so fun. They’re great for lifting the mood. The style also lends itself well to writing for children, which is likely a large part of why it appeals to me enough that I consciously mimicked it, since most of my stuff is written with children in mind.

I also enjoy fun poetry, Tori.

Waves of Broken Dreams and Other Poems

What Amazon says

A collection of poems of various styles and lengths, which are about heartache, loss, pain, and broken dreams.

Note: Some of the poems in this book may not be suitable for younger readers.

My review

This is the third poetry book I have read by Victoria Zigler and it is just as beautifully written as the others. This one has a darker theme as it focuses on themes of loss, rejection and broken dreams, as the title suggests.

I have often thought the the best poetry is about sad and emotionally disturbing topics because circumstances and situations that provoke great passion in the poet facilitate the flow of strong words and ideas. Victoria Zigler clearly shares this perspective and says so in one of her upfront poems entitled “When Poets Write Best”. I have extracted the following stanza from that poem:

“I’ll tell you if you want to hear

The reason I think why

Poets write the best when

They feel they want to cry.

The reason is quite simple

And to me it seems right

Writing poems help them heal

And makes their hearts once more light.”

I enjoy Victoria Zigler’s poetry because it is not overly complicated. Her words and messages are straight forward and for me, that makes them much more powerful than verses where I have to look up words and scrabble to understand what the poet meant or intended.

Her love of children and people in general comes through strongly in a lot of her poems. One poem that made a strong impression on me was “Your Penny”. The second stanza of this lovely poem goes as follows:

“There are children everywhere

Who need it more than I

Whole families who’s greatest gift

Is the fact they didn’t die

So, let them have your penny

Show them all your care

Let them know that this year

Somebody is there.”

A lovely book of poetry by a talented poet.

Purchase Waves of Broken Dreams and Other Poems

About Robbie Cheadle

IMG_9902

Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with six published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about my mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with my mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton). All of my children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications.

I have recently branched into adult and young adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differential my children’s books from my adult writing, I plan to publish these books under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. My first supernatural book published in that name, Through the Nethergate, is now available.

I have participated in a number of anthologies:

  • Two short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Dark Visions, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre;
  • Three short stories in Death Among Us, an anthology of murder mystery stories, edited by Stephen Bentley;
  • Three short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Nightmareland, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre; and
  • Two short stories in Whispers of the Past, an anthology of paranormal stories, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth.

I also have a book of poetry called Open a new door, with fellow South African poet, Kim Blades.

Find Robbie Cheadle

Blog: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com

Goodreads: Robbie Cheadle – Goodreads

Twitter: BakeandWrite

Instagram: Robbie Cheadle – Instagram

Facebook: Sir Chocolate Books

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51 Comments on “Meet children’s author and poet, Victoria Zigler and a book review”

  1. robbiesinspiration says:
    March 28, 2020 at 3:25 am

    Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:

    Poet and children’s book author, Victoria Zigler, is my March Treasuring Poetry guest and has shared her favourite poem and poet. I have also shared a review of her poetry book, Waves of Broken Dreams and Other Poems. Thank you Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Ritu says:
    March 28, 2020 at 3:28 am

    Lovely!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. Darlene says:
    March 28, 2020 at 4:27 am

    A wonderful post. Poems can be so healing, especially at times like this. xo

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. jenanita01 says:
    March 28, 2020 at 4:56 am

    This was a lovely introduction to one of the best poets I have read in a long time…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Liz Gauffreau says:
    March 28, 2020 at 9:30 am

    I enjoyed this installment of “Treasuring Poetry.” Reading Dickinson’s poem and Victoria’s comments, I can’t help but wonder how movies, televisions, videos, and all of the digital media out there for us to consume have changed our perception of the ability of books to transport us to other places and times.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. kayelynnebooth says:
    March 28, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Thank you for joining us here today Victoria. It is a pleasure to have you as a guest on “Writing to be Read”.

    This is a wonderful interview and review, Robbie. I thought your example of “Your Penny” was quite appropriate in the times we are living in currently, when we especially need kindness and empathy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    March 28, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
    A lovely interview with Children’s poet and author Victoria Zigler talking about her latest book with Robbie Cheadle hosted by Kaye Lynne Booth.. #recommended

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    March 28, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    Lovely interview Robbie and Tori and I am fond of Edward Lear’s poetry too.. good choice…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Patty says:
    March 28, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    Reblogged this on Campbells World.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    March 28, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    Thank you, for the fantastic interview, and the pleasure of a very good poem, too. Michael

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. D. Wallace Peach says:
    March 29, 2020 at 9:10 am

    I enjoy these interviews, Robbie. They’re so unique and give such insights. And thanks for sharing Victoria’s book of poems. I agree that darker poems are often more intriguing and have a greater impact. Congrats to Victoria on her book and the wonderful review. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. Looking Back on 2020 and Forward to 2021 | Writing to be Read says:
    January 1, 2021 at 6:00 am

    […] Cheadle’s poet guests included Sally Cronin, Colleen Chesebro, Victoria Zigler, Sue Vincent, Annette Rochelle Aben, Christy Birmingham, Kevin Morris, Frank Prem, D. Avery, Geoff […]

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  13. Deadlines, Reminders and Announcements | Writing to be Read says:
    April 26, 2021 at 6:00 am

    […] Victoria Zigler (March) […]

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