Tag: Hugh Roberts

Book reviews by D.G. Kaye

Sunday Book Review – More Glimpses by Hugh Roberts

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Today’s Sunday Book Review is for Hugh Roberts’ newest short story book – More Glimpses. If you’re familiar with Hugh’s first book – Glimpses, this new book of stories that keeps you gripped till the end will continue to do so. For those who have yet to enter Hugh’s world of oddities, time travel and twisted endings, you’re in for a treat.

 

 

Blurb:

Do you believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden? Or know the real truth about what lurks inside every mobile phone? Would you steal items from a blind person, or send your neighbours on a time travelling adventure fraught with danger and menace to save the human race from a bug? How about staying in a sleepy village where many murders have taken place or coming to the aid of royalty while out shopping?

These are just some of the subjects covered in the second collection of short stories and flash fiction from author and writer, Hugh W. Roberts.

‘More Glimpses’ gives the reader an opportunity to take a peek into the lives of normal, everyday people whose lives are all on a path full of twists, turns and unexpected endings. However, it’s not only about the humans; nothing escapes the extraordinary journeys Hugh has planned for you. If you are a lover of shows such as ‘Black Mirror’ or ‘The Twilight Zone’ then you’re in for another exciting trip in this second collection from Hugh. Come and meet the characters who had no idea their lives were about to be turned upside-down. Enjoy the ride!

 

My 5 Star Review:

Hugh Roberts never disappoints with his uncanny ability to take a simple life event and twist it into a life-altering situation, keeping us glued till the very end. It’s always a struggle to figure out where this author will lead us with his often dark trysts into another dimension. Like in true Roberts fashion, More Glimpses takes us into the lives of some interesting characters – many of whom don’t always have good intentions.

A few stories which stick in my mind: The Whistle – when love succumbs to war, what happens when time travelers’ plans get bungled up in The Bag Lady, Murder in Evershot brings us the life-like game of Clue mixed with a bit of Miss Marple and a good warning about letting strangers know where you live, you may never look at carrot cake the same way again after reading Easter Bunny Cake. And one of my favorites – The Jump – burning love at both ends of the candle can be a biatch and Karma comes in for just desserts.

This book of short stories offers a wide array of genres to entertain, sometimes frighten, and make you think. You may need to leave the lights on when reading!

 

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39 Weeks: 39 Blogs Everyone Should Follow In 2017 – Week 3: Debby Gies – D. G. Kaye Writer – Hugh’s Views & News

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We as bloggers all strive to write posts to engage readers whether to entertain or inform.

 

When I began blogging, like many of us, I wasn’t sure just which direction to go with my blog, but within the first year I settled into my own blog and found that besides sharing snippets about my books and interesting articles and tips I learned through the self-publishing process, that I was most comfortable just being myself.

I speak and interact on my blog and other’s just as I do in my books. If I come across injustice, I’m going to speak about it. If something sucks, I’m going to share about it. But mostly I love to share things that include resolution and helpful links, apps, and articles that could be of interest to others. I also learned to share a lot more about my personal self because after all, all my books are taken from my own life experiences. There’s nothing left to hide when one bares all in their books for the world to see.

I write about all these different things because I enjoy doing so. I’ve never been one to write for ratings. In fact, I honestly couldn’t even say how many are following me, or how many views my blog has had, that’s the truth. And with this said, I find it truly humbling that my blog was chosen as one of Hugh Roberts‘ 39 Blogs to Follow. My little space here in a sea of beautiful blogs in the cyberworld was singled out by Hugh, and that made me feel so elated that my posts are recognized and are adding value to many of my readers.

So today I thank all of you for your followings, comments and interest. And I’d especially like to thank Hugh for choosing my blog to be featured on his popular blog. Please read Hugh’s post below.

Hugh Roberts

 

 

Today, the 3rd of the 39 blogs I’ll be recommending to you over the course of 2017, is the blog of somebody who has offered and given me so much support and encouragement that if it were chocolate, I’d have enough of the sweet stuff to feed the whole world for over one-hundred years (I may keep a few bars of milk chocolate for myself, though).

D. G. Kaye is a published Canadian author, writer and blogger, known to many as Debby Gies. Debby’s blog is one of the most informative blogs I have read. Check out her ‘about me’ page by clicking here.

Debby isn’t afraid when it comes to sharing, writing and publishing blogging tips, self-publishing tips, social media tips, and even tips on subjects such as cleaning up your Amazon linksand how to autograph your books from across the miles. She’s full of ideas, as her blog posts show, and attracts many readers from all over the world.

The author of five books (and currently in the process of writing two more), Debby always has time for her readers. She reads and answers comments left on her blog posts with lightning speed; something which she has every right in priding herself on. She’s also a blogger who visits, reads and comments on other people’s blog posts; so expect to see a lot of her around the blogging world. Click here to check out Debby’s Amazon author page and details of all her current books.

A keen promoter of other authors’ works, Debby also runs a guest post feature, ‘Who has a new book?’, where authors can showcase their latest book and answer some of her questions. I had the pleasure of having a post published on Debby’s blog in December. Please Continue Reading .  .

 

Source: 39 Weeks: 39 Blogs Everyone Should Follow In 2017 – Week 3: Debby Gies – D. G. Kaye Writer – Hugh’s Views & News

Tech talk

Why I May Have Ended Up In Your #Spam Folder – Hugh’s Views & News

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tech talk

Hi peeps, this is a reblog from Hugh Roberts on a serious topic that has been baffling both of us all week. Hugh and I have been conspiring, trying to figure out what’s going on.

Before you get to reading his post on spam, I just want to say what a trying week I’ve been having as though the planets are having a party throwing every wrench into anything possible I’m working on regarding technical issues. I don’t seem to be the only one these things are happening to, including my formatter who was supposed to have my new book files to me earlier this week and hasn’t yet because of her loss of wifi.

 

Besides my book issues, WEIRDPRESS has been wreaking havoc on me. I apparently, have lost the ability to comment on many of your posts. When I comment and hit ‘post’, the comment disappears into thin air without an explanation. I’ve emailed a few of you to ask if they perhaps went to spam, only to find, I’m not even in spam when that happens. But plenty of you have found me in spam, the blogs where I was lucky enough to get my comments through. I’ve also noticed my notifications aren’t all coming through. So if you did receive a comment from me and replied and found no response from me, it’s because Weirdpress didn’t notify me of follow up comments.

 

I have tried a ‘workaround’ method to try and comment on some blogs. Some of them will let me sign in from another social site, such as Facebook. In those instances you will notice  my name is my full name Debby Gies instead of my usual ‘dgkaye’ with my gravatar. Also you won’t be able to hover over the gravatar. This is infuriating and I’ve wasted countless hours and nights this week trying to find resolution to no avail. So all I can ask is that you please check your spam regularly because it seems that there are many of us getting lost there. As for my commenting on your blogs, if you see I’ve ‘liked’ your post then you will at least know I’ve been there. I wish someone would figure out what’s going on. If you have any ideas, please leave them in comments.

 

And now I’ll share with you what Hugh has to say:

 

Reblog and featuring

Why I May Have Ended Up In Your Spam Folder

 

I’ve been taken hostage by the WordPress spam monster and, since Wednesday, all the comments I’ve been leaving on other blog posts seem to have gone straight into the spam folder.

Please check your spam folder and let me know if you find me in there. If you do, then please mark the comment as not spam. The spam monster will then release me and I’ll appear in the comments section of the post.

I first heard reports the WordPress spam monster had been taking hostages about a month ago. My understanding is that if it happens to you, you need to report it to WordPress. The problem at the moment is that all the WordPress engineers are at some conference and won’t be back until Monday 26th September. Therefore, whilst I will still be visiting and reading your blog posts,  I won’t be leaving any comments until I know the problem has been sorted out. CONTINUE READING

 

Source: Why I May Have Ended Up In Your Spam Folder – Hugh’s Views & News

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 28 – Glorious – Hugh’s Views & News

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blog challenge

This week’s photo challenge by Hugh Roberts 

 

Hugh has invited anyone to join his weekly photo challenge, asking us to join in and share a photo we find ‘Glorious’. I had to jump in because I wanted to share one of my favourite (of hundreds) of a shot I took in Arizona.

 

This picture was taken as the sun was setting while on our way back to Scottsdale from beautiful Sedona. To me, it’s more than glorious, it’s spectacular!

Arizona Sunset
Arizona Sunset

 

“This week’s photo challenge is all about the word Glorious.

For this week’s photo challenge show me what your interpretation of Glorious is. Maybe it’s the weather or a stunning view you came across on a recent trip. How about a celebration that was glorious or an outstanding performance or sports event which you were part of?

Want to join the fun? Here’s what you need to do.

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which interprets Glorious.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 28 – ‘Glorious’
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.”

Source: Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 28 – Glorious – Hugh’s Views & News

Blogging basics

6 Reasons Why You Should Unfollow My Blog – Hugh’s Views & News

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Blogging basics

Today I’m reblogging my witty friend, Hugh Roberts‘ post about the reasons to unfollow a blog.

 

In the post, Hugh will go over some of the things that some bloggers may not appreciate about a blog, leaving them with the decision to unfollow. These are some great tips here from Hugh to help your followers stick around.

 

reblogging

6 Reasons Why You Should Unfollow My Blog

“Unfollowing blogs. It’s something many of us don’t like talking about and something many bloggers seem to fear. However, one of the best things that will happen when you unfollow a blog is that it will free up your WordPress reader and/or your email box. The more you unfollow the more they will be freed up.

Why should you unfollow a blog and why should you unfollow my blog? . . .”  Continue Reading

 

Source: 6 Reasons Why You Should Unfollow My Blog – Hugh’s Views & News

blog

How To Become A Successful Blogger: Part 3 – How To Ensure Readers Will Keep Coming Back | Hugh’s Views & News

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My friend and blogger extraordinaire Hugh Roberts has a diverse blog where he writes and shares some fantastic short stories, creates some fun and interesting blog challenges, he’s on the Annual Blogger Bash committee, and  he also offers up some great advice in his latest series on how to become a successful blogger.

Reblog and featuring

Today I’m sharing Hugh’s post on How to Ensure Readers Will Keep Coming Back to your blog.

 

How To Become A Successful Blogger: Part 3 – How To Ensure Readers Will Keep Coming Back

 

By Hugh’s Views and News on

“If we were inviting people around to our house for dinner, a party or just for a coffee, most of us would want to ensure that our home was clean, tidy and looking good, right? If that’s the case for our homes, then shouldn’t it also be the case for our blog?

 

After writing a new blog post, WordPress allows us to preview the post before we publish it. If you haven’t noticed it then the ‘Preview’ button sits right beside the publish button. I’m always surprised by how some blog posts look as if the author never previewed the post before publishing it. One of the most common errors I see is when large gaps appear between paragraphs or when there is a large blank space at the end of the post. Another error is a sentence being interrupted by an image or photo.

 

Another off-put for me is when there are large blocks of text within a post. . . ” Continue Reading 

 

Source: How To Become A Successful Blogger: Part 3 – How To Ensure Readers Will Keep Coming Back | Hugh’s Views & News  

 

You can read Hugh’s post for successful blogging Part 2 on Creating Pingbacks HERE

 

And Part 1 is all about creating an ‘About me‘ on your blogs and what’s important to include. Read that article HERE

 

DGKaye©2016

blog challenge

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 10 – Faces | Hugh’s Views & News

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blog challenge

This week Hugh Roberts‘ #blogchallenge is all about Faces. Hugh invites us to post a photo on our blogs of an object that appears to have a face, and link back to his blog.

 

Photo taken by D.G. Kaye, Sedona, Arizona Jan, 2016
Photo taken by D.G. Kaye, Sedona, Arizona Jan, 2016

 

I took this as the perfect opportunity to share a most beautiful site in Sedona, Arizona – The Holy Cross Chapel and beside it, built up in the red rock mountains, is what is perceived as the Madonna and child followed by 3 nuns, or as some perceive to be, the 3 wise men.

 

Finding God Through Art –

 

“The Chapel of the Holy Cross is an architectural landmark and shrine. It was a gift from Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a sculptress, philanthropist, and a devout Catholic, who believed the arts should be in service of spirit and indeed, considered the Chapel of the Holy Cross to be her greatest artistic achievement and the fulfillment of her life’s mission. In 1932 Staude had an epiphany. While she gazed upon the newly completed Empire State Building, she saw a cross superimposed on the structure, and she thought, “What an idea for a church!” This idea, which affirmed her belief that churches should speak to the people of their time, would haunt and inspire Staude. “God can be worshipped as a contemporary–bringing him closer to earth and every one of us,” she said.

 

Initially, Staude envisioned the chapel as a modern skyscraper cathedral that would encircle one city block. Her early sketches impressed Lloyd Wright, son of the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, but were not approved by the archbishop of Los Angeles, her home at the time. . . . .” To read more about this fascinating, deemed, holy site, read the article below:

Source:  http://www.gatewaytosedona.com/popular-articles/item/31-sedona-arizona-landmark-the-chapel-of-the-holy-cross

 

Blog Challenge Source: Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 10 – Faces | Hugh’s Views & News 

 

DGKaye©2016

Weekly Photo Challenge by Hugh Roberts – #Stripes

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Hugh's Weekly

Hugh Roberts is running a new #Photochallenge. This week he’s inviting us to post a photo that contains stripes within it.

 

As I am away on vacation, I hadn’t planned on taking on any challenges, but as Hub and I sauntered down to the pool on this beautiful day in sunny, Scottsdale, Arizona, I realized that what I was wearing over my bathing suit was striped.

 

I had Hub snap this photo en route to the pool.

stripes 2

 

 

If any of you wish to participate in this, or any other challenges Hugh creates, please visit his blog, HughsNewsandViews.

 

Here are the rules:

 

Want to join the fun? Here’s what you need to do.

1. Take a photo of anything that has stripes.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Photo Challenge: Week 9 – Stripes.”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section below so that other participants can view your post.

 

Entries for this week’s challenge are open until Monday 25th January, 2016, and I’ll showcase five entries when announcing the next challenge.  I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.  Have fun!

DGKaye©2016