Review Archives - Valerie Moss

November 19, 2019January 29, 2021

Chants – Spells & Witches – e78s1

episode 78 season 1

My first Audio Book, production, Wicca for Beginners written by Amelia Greenwood

Episode 78

Recently, yours truly got accepted into the spoken word world and now I have my first produced Audio book live on Audible. Wicca for Beginners by Amelia Greenwood. This is something I’ve been working on for several months and I am quite excited to have been accepted into his world of voice reading. Following along my suite with this forum of podcasting – now I’ll get to lend my voice into other avenues, genre’s and titles. My first audio book partnership with Amelia Greenwood is called Wicca for Beginner:; The Ultimate Guide to Wiccan Rituals, Beliefs, Tools, and Spells. A Book for Solitary Practitioners and Witches to Get Started With Witchcraft, Herbs, Candles, and Moon Magic

Welcome back to Valerie’s Variety Podcast with your host me, Valerie Moss this show is about ReViews, InterViews and my DailyViews. It’s a story podcast about my life in Calgary, WhatEVER | WhenEVER. The show drops every Tuesday. Follow me on Instagram @ValerieJMoss Pinterest @VJMoss Facebook @ValeriesVarietyPod

How did this start?

The book I was asked to produce was on a subject I’m not well versed in, the Wiccan Religion. I was however more inclined to read something out-loud that is in the vein of a guide or a manual to gain some experience. I wasn’t sure about having another voice inflection for a character for example, a male. Maybe one day but today I’ll stick with manuals, guides and maybe cook books lol, 1 cup of this and a sprinkle of that. If you’re loving my voice, which I’ve heard from some of you – then you can listen and learn about Wicca if you feel so inclined to indulge in this magical world of Wicca and learn about the myths and truths on this nature based religion. I’ll share some snippets of my book with you to entice you.

Take a listen…

Throughout the show today I’ll give you a few highlights of this process, working with the ACX team – this is the company that fill up audible with all the books we love to listen to. I’ve been looking for a side hustle and I’ve now found one!

First step is to create a profile on ACX, so you add samples, upload these to your profile, write a description of each one

Val’s Valerie’s Sample – take a listen, this sample I created for my Valere’s segment on the podcast which I love but it might have been a little too crazy for this interviewees, so I back burnered it for now but I had fun with the production of it the music and the playing around with my name!
Ways of a Freelancer – audition I loved this book content full of very current information – not accepted tho to produce
and last but not least is my introduction to my weekly show – take a listen
Wicca – I added this sample of my latest audio book, what is Wicca – I’m proud to be requested and approved to produce this audio book. This is a nature based religion not something cynical that’s depicted in the movies. I learnt so much about Wicca

Next you search for titles accepting auditions – this is where you go down a rabbit hole of authors accepting producers. Everything from romance, to sci-fi, to manuals, you could even listen to the bible (I’ve thought about this option) here’s some of the auditions I’ve submitted:

Backpackers Guildbook
Lovely Bones – collection of poems
Manipulation and Dark Physchology
to name a few

The author usually provides a description of what they are looking for like vocal style American accent, inspirational, male or female preference, and more detail perhaps with the genre. or someone who can perform – I’ve read this several times. I wish I did better in my drama class in high school.

You submit your audition and stand by for an answer…accepted or rejected. You usually hear pretty fast.

So, the author for Wicca for Beginners found me – the process can work this was also – very flattering as this author loved my voice! Yes people this is a book about Wicca – entry into whitchcraft. The Wiccan religion and dispelling those myths that are ‘cast’ around this religion. It was a very interesting read in the end I thoroughly enjoyed it. Covering topics like, history, most popular places to visit and practice, how, when, altars and more. Table of Contents

What is Wicca? (snippet) – 2 mins
Basic Principles and Ethics (snippet) – 2 mins
Wiccan Belief Systems? (snippet) – 2 mins
Rituals and Practices (snippet) – 2 mins
Magic and the Book of Shadows (snippet) – 2 mins
Next Steps (snippet) – 2 mins

When I was conversing with the author, they mentioned that it was okay for me to discuss the book, I offered to have them on the show but they chose to decline. Notice how I’m not sharing this person in more detail? It’s interesting as the Author Amelia Greenwood is the pen name – lots of authors do this – did you know that? I mean besides Stephen King and other famous ones running stories under other names – I didn’t think it was as common as it is.

Conclusion

What do you think? Interested in learning more. I’m sure you have 3 hours in your daily commute to give this new genre of audiobook a chance. I have a request, if you’re interested, send me a note, text to my email, Valerie@ValerieMoss.ca and I’ll send you a code for a free credit to listen to this book – yes for free. In exchange, I’d love to get your feedback – write a review on Audible for me, tell me what you think of the production quality, my voice, my cadence, the overall sound, personality etc. I would love a review of this book and hey, while you at it – give my show a 5 star rating on your podcast app, leave me a review while you’re at it.

If you would like a copy of this book, Here’s a referral Link

Thanks for listening today, and if it wasn’t for all of you I wouldn’t have had the courage to persue the ACX audiobook world. Thank you!

Want a free audio book code email me@ Valerie@ValerieMoss.ca or text me to this email also. Would love to hear from you.

Visit my show notes for a link to this book, also if you are an active Audible subscriber, the Wicca religion is very popular right now plus with Halloween or Samhein (the original name of this special celebration). Audible has 35 new Wicca books in the last 30 days – seriously this is a growing religion. Anyway as always, thanks for listening and keeping me in your list of podcasts, with so many options out there competing for our time, It’s awesome to know that I’m one of your listener choices.

This show, Valerie’s Variety Podcast is written, produced and edited by me, Valerie Moss, through WordPress and GarageBand, the loops I use in the show are provided through GarageBand, background recordings are recorded by me and my trusty iPhone. The music TASCAM 40 and TASCAM 128 is produced and written by my music man Jason Schnell.

Talk to you next Tuesday

September 24, 2019January 28, 2021

Mains arrive, my choice is better – e70p2s1

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episode 70 part 2 season 1

Listen to PartOne here of this two part episode up until we eat our appetizer

Welcome back to Valerie’s Variety Podcast with your host me, Valerie Moss, this show is about ReViews, InterViews and my DailyViews, it’s a story podcast about my life in Calgary. This show drops every Tuesday. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest

As our Day Date Continues…

33:59 our main course comes and don’t you just love it when they change out your cutlery?34:34 because we had decided to share both meals we needed to figure out how to split them up. As we get our meals shared between the two plates with meals on them, i know we could have asked for plates. One thing tho aobut keeping the plate that comes out is it’s already seasoned and warm, getting a fresh plate that is not connected to this meal isn’t the best option…were enjoying our meals 38:12 Jeff every once in a while likes my choice in ordering better than his – this was one of these rare times.43:16

39:25 the gargonzola cheese is so stinky and weird. Do you guys love cheese in your house or when you go out as mcu as we do? We are always buysing a variety of cheeses to eat at home with fruite and olives. 54:00

Sauce, wine cooler and room – delightful

Conversations between Him and Her

41:31 when I listen to these convos that me and my hubby over glass’s of wine and during day dates when our young person isn’t in ear shot. He shares with me some of his wants and desires about life. We discuss having our roots in Calgary and maybe retiring in the west in Kelowna or Oliver…41:48 then I hear these things come out of him – I woner if deep down he really could do this or if it’s something he likes to watch and admire, taste from afar? Soemtimes I wonder if we’re on the same page would he do these things, make wines and cheese and some small batch craft beers?

45:03 he thinks I can tell a good story, he’s right about that! Once, day we will produce and sell something onine and I will tell a story about it – a romantic story I’m sure…55:46 he is pretty shy and hasn’t actually come on my podcast – he’s said a few things here and there but to come on a speak about soemthing at length I’m not sure he’d be up for it. He’s pretty shy…I thought one time he could talk about cars as he’s a serious car guy but no go (so far)

Retirement Dreams

Isn’t it funny what you remember, when we talk about retiring and runming a little business in the west…we remember this story. 46;32 we can see ourselves there – it’s beautiful and rich in lanscape and perfec views. WE want to have that good feeling inside ourselves with whatever the retirement plan might end of being 50:36

The dessert menu: 56:20 well I can’t remember now if we ended up at Frenchie for their Key Lime pie which is one of the BEST key lime pies…but we passed on dessert here – this time.

1:01 listening to him say this – he’s totally right, we all love food, we like it to a fault at time when binging or eating pour choices. But it’s a social thing and makes us feel good inside. And like I said earlier when you only eat once a day make it yummy and satisfying and hittingall the right senses – touch, smell, site, taste and sound! So we started talkimg about my dad who’s a chef turnend xpat professor in the middle east. He chnges his profession in his 50s and se la vie! 1:03

September 17, 2019January 28, 2021

Truffle Popcorn? Yes – e69s1

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Episode 69 Part ONE

In the next two episodes we are reviewing Sauce, Italian restaurant and market. Located 3326- 17 Avenue SW. This place is located in the Chorus Entertainment Building and is a weekly stop for us to curb our Truffle Popcorn craving. We enjoyed this place so much during our day date – that this episode is broken up into two parts, part TWO will be released next week.

Sauce Italian Restaurant & Market is an absolutely awesome Italian food stop. — Sauce signature ‘S’

I first went to this place with my GF Jenny she frequented it and we went for supper one night and ever since I wanted to bring Jeff there. So, we finally went one day while have a day date while London was at a bday party…it was worth it.

When you walk in there’s a great deli in one area with ready made meals, small cafe style of tabls ad chairs, Italians and others visiting and drinking espresso. Around this are there’s shelves stocked with Italian foods, sauces, pasta’s olives, italians sodas and more..the stage for the Pcon is highight by their signature bag of Metallic Red, it’s a lrage size and worth the purchase.

There’s crates stamped with their signature ’S’ in red. The sausages and curing meats are hanging yearning to be purchased an dmake into a charcuterie board. Cheses are chilled and sliced in take home wedges. Their dessert bar is so beautirul, corner ceramic stove, espresso machine, pastries and goodies gallore. Workers waiting to help box up your favourite sweets.

Once you mange to get by this stand, you can move into the waiting area for the restaurant and ‘wait to be seated’ We made a reservation…as wer’e siting and kabitzing the waitress pours our water…we enjoy settling in for the next hour or so. When we were heret it was still chilly out we have our new featherlite winter jackets on – as you can hear we are quite happy with them.

Calamari Lobster Risotto,

Here’s what risotto is, think creamy rice but is’ no soupy it’s thick like a good cheesy pasta. Risottos is typicaly made with a lot of butter and cheese, you can make a roux also to help with the richness of this meal, ti’s very good when it’s prepred right

So my hubbys voice is a bit soft but he says, ravioli is not enough food – you know how Ravioli comes out, you get 4 squares place on a large plate – it’s sort of shoking when the price refects like 10 orders. So we pass on this altho it doesn sound good.

We settle on Calamarie to start 5:28

the waitress offeers us bread to sop up the pomodoro sauce I order the fuzili and Jeff orders the Risotto…we enoy thebeautifully decoarted restaurant and our wine…

6:11 the lights in this place are beautiful we are thinking of changing our lights out to somethig more spectaular then our modern, plane square globe style.Something to add some character. Like chandeliers…..

The Atmosphere

Jeff proceeds to tell a story about the mens washroom listen to this…6:52 so you walk in and there’s a long hallway giant square in the middle with one urnal in the middle of this – which would fit many urinal. he can just see the guy waiting for you. and then one bathroom stall. I too describe the bathrooms – yes the bathrooms are gorgeous.

Match Stick Quilt, made by me, Valerie Moss (this is our room today)

9:50 (after) so I started making thsi new10:33 quilt for us – for our bed so change things up a bit – you can see pictgures of this on my site but now I”m like erch – what? he doesn’t want this on our bed!!

1017 Jeff explains our quilt on uur bed… He’s right I made that quite testing out a contemporary technique, it ended up working perfectly to our room personality. Again pics of this on our website. This quilt took me years to fimish and I’m pretty proud of it that’s for sure.

10:33 we test and taste eachothers wines. He’s moving into more of the red wines lately where as I’m still on the white wine side of things. He in the end likes my wine and I don’t mind his…you can hear the kitchen wich is just off to the back of where we are sitting. 11:56 – can you smell the garlic

Chandeliers brighten up any room and add a personality — Chandelier in Studio 17 – today in my studio @Valerie’s Variety Podcast central

12:28 Candelier cover your cords in fabric or tools or toile. In the end when we hung the chandeliers we didn’t have enough cord to go any longer then we could so this chain link is showing instead of being covered. Best laid intentions right?

Sauce vs Cassis

14:13 We care now comparing this “sauce’ restaurant with Castle – Cassis Bistro another Itelian makret,, restaurant location we’ve been to a few times. 14:27 (after) we were invited to a breakfast paring with my friend Jenny and her bf. It was a bit pricey at a rate of a nice meal in a fine dinig restaurant, they paried all of the course with wines (Italian) and it was delightful. This breakfast was held in Cassis and we were served by the husband and wife team that own the place. They have a movie projector showing old black and white movies up on a big screen at the back of the place. Ths place might hold ony about 40 people. There wa s a 1 person band playing/singling in the background – it was quite romantic. 14:49 so if you’re not familiar with Hello Dollies they are a scrumptious combination of condensed milk, chocochips and coconut and graham wafer crumbs, combined in layers into a sweet dessert bite.

15:39 around us the tables are getting reserved for parties that will be filing in soon. As Jeff menionted it’s only 4:30. The one table has 2 high chairs – they are definitely a family friendly restaura nt. Lots of street parking also on 17 Avenue and all of the off streets around the building.

16:07 have you heard of Tavernatta – its on Edmonton Trail south of 16 Avenue toward the diner delux and where the old OEB used to be. This place is amazing another great option for home cooked pasta, good wines and a great ambiance. It’s bustling and warm inside. Sometimes people are sitting at the outside tables playing bottce ball and enjoying lunch.

Our Appetizer Arrives

17:15 our meal comes…well the calimarie. It’s kind of served in open peppers – sort of positioned so well on the plate, smells amazing – I can almost taste this as I’m writting nad it was very good. 19:00 we are enjoying dipping the bread the waitress suggested in tthe sauces and the oils.

How good is the Calamari?

19:48 read after – wow fantastic Jeff says. One thing about the OMaD (one meal a day) eating regime is that food tasts so much better – first you are hungry, second you want to eat really good food when you break your fast. Youdon’t just eat anything you want food to be really good like top notch super satisfying. 20:13 I dont love it – you want to love food when you only 1 time per day…20:55 sorry about my full mouth but I don’t love calimarie in generally Jeff and London both really like it and typically will just share an order.I prefer to not look a tthe knarley tentacles stikcing out everywhere. Jeff put it right this meal is a ‘adult’ version of Calamarie.

21:44 Who doesn’t like a nice slice of bread, dipped into a fantastic saucee? or just with peanut butter and bananaas lol or bread…wait a side note my massage lady she doens’t eat bread like ever! – hmmm that sounds uspect dont you think?

22:22 are we enjoying the appies…umm yes! the sauce and the bread and the peppers are amazing the pomodor sauce it’s incredible. 31:56 the waitress clears our appetizerplate and ofers anoter glass of wine while we wait for our main course. She has these very funky glasses on and they looked fabulous on there – give someone a compliment once in a while – mean it tho – and make someones day!

23:13 as some of you know I bake bread at home 1-2 times per week. I’ve been doin this for about 5 years. Jeff’s been asking me lately if I can switch up the bread ‘loaves’ style and make maybe smaller loaves or buns instead. Hmm this might work if my bread maker could do this for me…23:56 a mixer.? erch – we don’t not need another applieance in this house. Do you have a bread maker? The beauty is you don’t have to wait around checking for rising and other timed events while makeing bread in a breadmaker – the breadmarker does the timing for you…

26:55 recently I went through a change phases with my glasses being comfortable and some days I just deal with them bugging me all day..sliding down pinching, pressing whatever it is but now I have another optin I went and got fitted for contacts. Do you wear contacts – like them or prefer your glasses – have you been through this – changed from glasses to contacts or flip beween the two?

Moments between Mom and Daughter

28:25 every night i lay with London and we read stories share secrets and things about our day. She gets on these kicks where she wants to learn and hear stories about wh en she was younger so this day..we talk about her ‘baby sisters’ their names were Chooney and Savanna and sometimes she had a brother names Duggen. This went on for quite a while I’d pick her up from day care and they would comment about London’s ‘baby sisters’ knowingfull well London was an only child.

——

What did you think of part ONE, describing bathrooms – hanging my new chandelier, my new quilting project, other places we’ve been or want to go, our appetizer full of knarly bits and the start of our entre while the rooms wafts of garlic…such a fun day

Part two will come out next week as we sit and make plans and goals for our future. You’ll get more of a glimpse of our life and our dreams. We talk about London and all this is during our day date…what do you and your life partner talk babout