The Z Files: Rosie Amber ~ Leo

Astrology ~ a bit of fun, a load of rubbish, or something to take seriously?

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to write a piece about whether or not they're typical of their sign, and how its traits affect their writing life ~ if at all...

I featured fifty-one writers and bloggers last year ~ if you would like to have a look at the list (with links), they're all HERE


My first guest of 2016 should need little introduction to many Twitter based bloggers of the book reading and writing community ~ Rosie Amber, book blogger extraordinaire and big-hearted Leo!

It is a change to be featuring Rosie rather than the other way round, so I'll let her take the stand without further ado ~ all blog links, etc, after she's had her say :)

"Oh to be a Leo – Born to Rule? Not me, but I do make a great second in command. 

Looking back it’s been both a delight and a curse in my past. I love the sun and the warmth it brings so my star falls at an ideal time of the year for me, long summer days, holidays and lazing around, that’s me, I like to bask in the warmth surveying my domain, does that make me smug or just proud?" 

"Now the jealous trait - As a child I saw an August birthday as a curse, I waited all school year for my birthday and just when I got there, everyone was away on holiday, plus when we all returned to school in September, blow me if someone had a birthday on the first day back and I was at the back of the queue all over again. 

Loyal – as I said above, believe it or not I prefer NOT to be the leader, but I pour lots of traits into making a great second in command. Here I tick off; determined, enterprising, encouraging, generous, energetic and faithful. If you’ve got me backing you up, we make a mean team. That will last until on rare occasions the temperamental Leo trait rears its ugly head. But I’m not one to get into an argument with a face to face blow out, I’ll go off and give you the silent treatment."

"Creative – So just at this point many of you will be scratching your head about me – I’m Rosie Amber the fearless leader of the “Rosie’s Book Review Team”, I’m putting myself “out there” exposing myself to the world on social media, yet I claim I’m not a leader? Firstly it’s easy isn’t it? I’m sat behind my computer, see second in command again. Secondly I put that down to my creative side which has now had time to re-emerge, into this I can push my fun and friendly side, my generosity to others that I give to book reviewing and my dramatic side. Don’t get me started on telling you a tale, we’ll be here for the rest of the morning, I can do a good recount of some great incidents." 

"Energetic – Anyone who knows a bit more about me knows I’m a busy person and I can fit that expression “If you want a job done give it to a busy person” I’ll get it done, organised and sorted. When I met up with some members of the book review team last October, I had the hotel booked, the weekend planned, maps of the places we needed to go, even a print out of all the motorway services on the route for rest breaks – but we had a laugh too – I may have printed out the list of motorway services, but it sat back at home on my desk.  I may have planned a meet the author at a book swap session, but it was a bit of a one horse event and we chose coffee and an afternoon chatting instead. Although I did pull off a completely mad idea and had us all posing as “Rosie’s Angels” 

So for now I’ll leave you with my lion’s ROAR!"

Could this be Rosie?

Having been one of the members of the book review team that met up last October, I can confirm that Rosie is a warm, friendly and creative lion, very typical of the sign indeed!  She's always thinking of some new idea for the blog, such as her new video reviews on YouTube; maybe running Rosie Amber Book Awards is the most Leo trait of the lot ~ the Queen of the Jungle distributing her new year's honours!

If you would like to read the review team's opinions on all sorts of books submitted for review, have your own book reviewed (don't forget to read the guidelines) or take part in the wonderful world of Rosie Amber generally, you can follow her on Twitter HERE, and look at the rest of the blog that I haven't already linked, HERE!  

Famous Leo authors for Rosie?  I've chosen someone I know is one of her favourites...

.... the amazing JK Rowling, lion queen of fantasy fiction for all ages!

and because Rosie's a country girl at heart, I've also chosen lovely Beatrix Potter :) 

***

 

The Z Files: Rose Edmunds ~ Leo

Astrology ~ a bit of fun, a load of rubbish, or something to take seriously?

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to write a piece about how typical they are of their sign, and how its traits affect their writing life ~ if at all...

Has your favourite writer been featured yet?  Links to all previous posts at the end of this one :)

It's luscious Leo the lion time again ~ I present Rose Edmunds, writer of financial and psychological thrillers, and a partner in Mainsail books.  Her latest tome about the evils of high finance in the City, Concealment, has been extremely well received; you can read my review HERE 

What does Rose have to say about being a Leo but a bit of a Virgo?  Warning: I suspect she might have approached this in a slightly tongue-in-cheek fashion ;)

"Hi Everyone – it’s great to be posting on Terry’s blog.  What a fantastic idea – I wish I’d thought of it!  Of course when she asked me I said yes, because I’m so helpful, and I didn’t want to be left out. Obviously I’d have preferred being in charge of the whole thing, because I’m a born leader, but I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to show off.  My husband says I’m far too bossy to be charismatic, but what does he know? 

Creative? Well naturally - I’m a best-selling author after all! Although I’m not at my best when hung over after a sociable night out."

"I’ve actually spent a lot of time crafting this because I really need to be the best in the series. Also, it’s been a Herculean task to find a picture that does me justice, because I’m so image conscious. But because I’m very determined I eventually located this one, of which I’m very proud.

Finally, being on the cusp, I have a Virgo alter ego who is appalled by all this self-aggrandisement, but that’s another blog post…"

Having the odd planet (well, four) in Virgo myself, I feel Rose's pain!  I'm looking forward to her next novel, the continuing adventures of "Boy-have-I-got-some-crap-to-come-to-terms-with" Amy from Concealment ~ you can keep up with all news on Ms Edmunds' website HERE  and follow her on Twitter

Now, let us find Rose some fellow Lions to play with in the sunshine...

...certainly enjoying her time in the spotlight ~ 

author of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins..

... and I've chosen SciFi and mystery author Ray Bradbury, because he shares your actual birthday, Rose (though not the year, I hasten to add!)

Coming next - a bestselling chick lit Capricorn

Previous Posts:

Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Proofreader Julia

Leo: Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson

Aries: Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison

Gemini: Norah Colvin, Jerome Dumont, John Privilege, Shelley Wilson

Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black

Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,

Capricorn: Steffany R

Sagittarius: Rachel Amphlett, Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort,

Virgo: Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub,

Pisces: Maria Savva, Sacha Black

Scorpio: Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh, Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist, 
Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Valerie Poore,
Cancer: Katie Oliver, Mark Barry,
Libra: Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B

The Z Files ~ Alex Johnson ~ Leo

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers/bloggers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work.  Most of the zodiac has had its first outing now, with many more to come...please see the links at the end of this article for other posts. Thanks for your interest!

Today I'm delighted to introduce my second fellow Lioness, who knows all about Leo glamour ~ Alex Johnson is a journalist and researcher in the beauty and perfume business.  She's published two works of contemporary women's fiction on Amazon: Run Away and The Perfume Muse (links at end of post).... one suspects the latter, in particular, might be very well researched!  Is Alex fiercely feline in her working life, too?

"Never cross a Leo!"

"Strong, opinionated, bossy, stubborn – that describes me and my sister who are both Leos! What an explosive combination! She’s four years older than me, so thought she was entitled to boss me about when I was little, but I wasn’t having any. One day, when she was sitting on me and tickling me till I couldn’t breathe, I managed to grab hold of a pencil and ram it into her arm. More than 50 years later, you can still see the broken-off lead under the surface of her skin…Fortunately, we learnt to keep our fierce leonine tempers (mostly) under control and now we’re best friends"

"Looking at Leo traits, I agree that I’m creative (of course!), warm and charismatic (ahem!) and very determined. My father used to say he didn’t have to worry about me because I “just get on with things.”  I think that’s why I’ve been able to work for myself for 25 years and also found the time to write three novels. My motto is “write a little and every day” and it works for me. 

Julie, the main character of Run Away and The Perfume Muse, is like me in lots of ways: but she’s a lot more gutsy than me and is prepared to turn her life upside down for her new lover. Would I? Well…it is fiction, isn’t it?"

 A lion with perfume ~ Julie, maybe... or Alex??

I chose these famous writers to make up the Leonine trio with Alex:

Emily Bronte, a Leo herself, and you don't get much more Leonine 

than Catherine Earnshaw!

....and the super glamorous Danielle Steele, 

another lioness with her own perfume...!

I feel I ought to also supply the names of some famous Leo kings and queens of beauty and perfume  ~ how about Coco Chanel and Yves St Laurent?
You can follow Alex on Twitter or check out her books on Amazon UK or Amazon.com

Next: Aquarius

Previous Posts (click name to see post): 
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Leo: Anne Goodwin
Gemini: Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Lynda Renham
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort,
Cancer: Mark Barry
Virgo: Barb Taub
Pisces: Sacha Black
Scorpio: Jenny Twist
Taurus: Valerie Poore
 

 

The Z Files: Anne Goodwin ~ Leo

Welcome to The Z Files.  I asked writers to produce a piece for me to show how the characteristics of their zodiac signs manifest themselves in their work, and the way they work... they were invited to treat it as seriously, lightly or cynically as they wish!  For previous posts, please see the links at the end of this one.

When I first thought of this I did my own Leo post to kick it off - then, lo and behold, the first two posts I received were from Leos, too!  Never let it be said that we lions are not on the ball :)  Today I'm pleased to introduce fellow Queen of the Jungle and north-easterly person, Anne Goodwin, who has recently published her debut novel, Sugar and Snails ~ if you take a look at that Amazon link you'll see it has many stunning reviews already :)

Anne Goodwin takes a cynical look at astrological characteristics; here she asks:  How could I be a Leo? 

"I must have been about seven or eight when I first learnt about horoscopes – or horror-scopes as I genuinely believed they were called. And not without reason: discovering my star sign proved beyond reasonable doubt that I was inadequate. Like the lion, Leos were supposed to be in charge of the pack, not hiding at the back, scared to open our mouths. 

So forgive me if I’m somewhat sceptical about diagnosing personality according to patterns in the night sky. A sociable charismatic leader I most definitely am not. I’ll accept creative and determined, but aren’t these characteristics of any writer who craves publication? If I appreciate being appreciated, does that make me like a lion basking in the sun?"

"If I paid any attention to the Zodiac, I wouldn’t have made the narrator of Sugar and Snails another Leo. You don’t stick your head above the parapet when you’ve got something to hide. Had I thought about it, I’d have lodged Diana under Cancer: a dutiful hard-working teacher unable to dissociate herself from painful emotions from the past.

But there’s one Leo characteristic I’d claim for the pair of us, and that’s warmth. As in my picture, I’m quite a smiley person, and Diana is only waiting for someone to love her to bring out her natural warmth, displayed in the colours of her cover image. All she needs is one more sunrise over the pyramids to embrace it for herself."

 

I'm duty bound to stick up for astrology, I suppose, so I feel I must point out loads of writers aren't as determined as you, Anne, and that your online presence has a somehow queenly aura I can't quite put my finger on!!  You can follow Anne on Twitter where she is a keen sharer of blog posts, or read more from her on her blog

And finally ~ I wonder if Anne has anything in common with these lady Leo writers?

Crime maestro P D James....

.... and fantasy land lady herself, Enid Blyton!

Up next: a Cancer who thinks he's half Gemini, followed by an initially sceptical Virgo!

Previous posts:

Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Gemini: Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort

The Z (Zodiac) Files: Terry Tyler & Proofreader Julia ~ Leo & Aries

Welcome to The Z Files!  I invited around 70 authors, bloggers, proofreaders, etc, to tell me about their sign of the zodiac, what it means to them (if anything!) and the effect its characteristics have on their work.

For all other posts, please see the links at the end of this piece. I've had a pleasing response so far, and am now posting three or four times a week.  I've also been checking out the star signs of some (more!) famous writers, for use in each post :) 

I'll start the ball rolling with my Leo self, followed by a fellow fire sign, my proofreading Aries sister ~ welcome to The Z Files!

Me ~ Leo

Traditionally, Leos are golden lions, charismatic and confident (think Mick Jagger, Barack Obama, Kate Bush, Mae West, JLo, Robert Redford) with an overbearing streak (Madonna, Mussolini, Napoleon).  But a Leo's confidence can be a shaky thing.  On a good days I feel positive I'm a moderately okay human being and a reasonable writer.  On bad days I know that I'm not only old, fat and stupid, but have just written 30K words of utter codswallop, and any talent I did possess has disappeared.  However, I'm basically an optimistic and practical person, so the next day I will get a grip!  The determination bit makes me sit down, day after day, when it's sunny outside; I spent the afternoon of the Christmas Day before last redrafting Kings and Queens ~ which is a very Leo title! 

Warm hearted, friendly and fun, cheerful... it depends. I don't do the social media thing unless that's how I'm feeling, because my Leo pride doesn't want my online presence to be a depressing one!  Generous?  Usually, I hope.  I'm fairly helpful, and I do my best to spread the word about others' work that I love, to the extent that I even bore the person I'm supporting.  And I'm not slack about getting the beers in!  Romantic... not in an idealistic, girly way, but I do have a tendency to be swept away by grand passion; now I am in the autumn of my years (and happily married), though, I write about it instead!  As for born to rule ~ well, I can be a bit bossy....'I think you should do it my way' - urgh! I try to curb it, though not always very successfully...I'm forever thinking 'oh God, I came on a bit too forcefully there, didn't I' ~ I loathe myself sometimes!  Which takes us back to confidence...

★.:*´`*:.☆

I was worried that nobody would respond to this (maybe because of my Leo shaky confidence!), so I roped in my sister, Julia, to write a bit for me, too.  In typically Aries fashion, she said 'Oh God, if I must, I'm not a bloody writer, I never know what to put', or something similar... but then came up with this, most promptly - also very Aries of her!

Julia Gibbs ~ The Aries Proofreader

"I am, I believe, very typical of my sign. I started my own proofreading business because I don’t want anyone else to tell me what to do. I see myself as a sort of champion of correct grammar and punctuation, cutting through typos and errors with my sword of righteousness! This gives me great satisfaction, because Aries people are very fond of military metaphors, and also see things in black and white, right and wrong. And we’re champions of the underdog – oh yes, that’s me, I believe very strongly in promoting indie authors, whose work has as much right to be seen as that of traditionally published authors. Once more unto the breach, dear friends* (ps, Julia, Henry V was actually a Leo!) with me on your side you can steal a march on the competition!"

I would like to add that, in a very Aries way, Julia has a reputation for honesty and professionalism, - hey, she even delivers mine on time!  She also doesn't beat about the bush, which is something I appreciate in any sphere of life

You can follow Julia on Twitter or find out more about her on her blog, on which she does actually write some rather good pieces!  You can also find out more about what she does so successfully for many writers.

★.:*´`*:.☆

Now for the 'we are not worthy' bit:

One of mine and Julia's all time favourites, 
wonderful Leo Writer Dorothy Parker

..... and another lady we both love, Aries writer Elizabeth Jane Howard. 

Thank you for joining us!  Up next: Gemini

All other posts - just click on the name to see the article:
Gemini: Haydn Lee, Norah Colvin, Jerome Dumont, John Privilege, Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Sagittarius: Jan Ruth, Adrienne Vaughan, Rachel Amphlett,  
Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort, 
Leo: Rose Edmunds, Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson, Rosie Amber
Cancer: June Kearns, Emma Gray, Sarah Boucher, Katie Oliver, Mark Barry
Virgo: Heather Burnside, Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub,
Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,
Pisces: Lizzie Lamb, Julie Haiselden, Maria Savva, Sacha Black,
Scorpio: Judith Barrow, Gen Gannon, Stacey Garrity, Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh,  
Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist,
Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Valerie Poore,
Aries: Joanne Phillips, Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison
Libra: Marcia Carrington, Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B 
Capricorn: Georgia Rose, Wendy Janes, Annie Lyons, blogger Steffany R