19 February: Pisces

Today, the Pisces zodiac sign begins. 10 things you didn't know about Pisces.

1. Pisces is the twelfth and final sign in the zodiac. Its name comes from the Latin word for fishes.
2. The symbol of the fish evolved from the Greek mythological creatures the ichthyocentaurs. They had the upper body of a human, the front legs of a Horse and the tail of a fish. These creatures were present at the birth of Aphrodite, to help her. According to legend, she and her son Eros transformed into two fish in order to escape from the monster Typhon. They are often depicted tied together, so they wouldn't lose each other.
3. There's a German legend associated with the constellation which also features fish. A poor man named Antenteh met a pair of magical fish, who offered to grant him a wish. He declined, but when he told his wife the story, she insisted he go back to the fish and ask them for a beautiful home. However, she wasn't satisfied, and nagged for more wishes - to be a queen in a palace and later, a goddess. The fish then got angry with her and took it all away, leaving her to live in the crude cabin they started with.
4. In Babylonian times, the constellation of Pisces was actually two constellations, The Great Swallow and the Lady of the Heaven. Around the first millennium BC people began to refer to "the fish cord or ribbon" which connected the two.
5. Stars in the constellation include Van Maanen's Star, a 12.35 magnitude star and Alpha Piscium, which forms part of the cord connecting the two fish.
6. Whether we are still in the Age of Pisces or have entered the Age of Aquarius is a matter of debate. As to when the Age of Pisces began, scholars draw parallels between the birth of Christ, the Fisher of Men, often symbolised by a fish, and the start of this age. Christ is said to show many personality traits associated with the sign, and in addition, the opposite sign to Pisces is Virgo, which could be equated with the Virgin Mary.
7. Pisces is a water sign, ruled by the planet Neptune.
8. Pisces colours are violet and sea green; birthstones are coral, sapphire and amethyst; plants are alder, heliotrope and opium poppy. As the final zodiac sign, Pisces rules endings, death, eternity and letting go. It also rules mystery, romance, dreams and illusions. In terms of the body, Pisces rules the Feet and lymph system.
9. People born under this sign are said to be sensitive, sympathetic, intuitive, generous and compassionate. They tend to put others first and have to be reminded to look after themselves at times. They're likely to be interested in the spiritual and mystical side of life, and to be creative.
10. Famous people born under this sign include Albert Einstein, Liza Minelli, George Washington, Rhianna, Elizabeth Taylor, Bruce Willis, Jon Bon Jovi, Daniel Craig and Sharon Stone.

NEW!

Settling the Score

Another collection of short stories, even more murder and mayhem with carol singers, an orchestra out for revenge, a sinister magic stone and a haunted mansion.

Available on Amazon:
Paperback            E-book


A Tale of Two Sisters

During a battle with supervillains, a horrific accident leaves the Warner family with no option but to believe their youngest daughter, Jessica, is dead. It doesn't occur to them that the bad guys could, or would, save her.

Jessica wakes up with no memory of who she is or how she came to be on a space station with two bionic legs, a bionic arm and a bionic eye. She is told her family abandoned her and is sent back to Earth with a mission - to kill them. While Jessica wants to kill her family, along with the twin boys who once rejected her, she knows what the Alliance of Supervillains are asking her to do is a suicide mission. She decides to get her revenge in her own way.

As Jessica puts the first part of her revenge plan in motion, she finds herself with an agonising decision to make. Before she can decide, the Alliance come for her, determined to make her do their bidding. This time, it's the Alliance who leave her, crippled and at the mercy of the Warner family, who have no idea who the Alliance's Black Rose really is.

Jessica finds herself having to re-think her decisions in light of what she now learns about her family, the Alliance, the twins, and herself. It would appear the Alliance have left her with an unwanted and permanent reminder of her time with them. Or have they?

Jessica's older sister, Jill, knows her destiny is to be a doctor and specialise in bionics and genetic variant medicine. She is also hopelessly in love with Christopher, Crown Prince of Galorvia. Can their romance survive the lies Christopher told her when they were both at school, an unplanned pregnancy and Sophie, the wannabe princess who comes between them?

Available on Amazon
Paperback

E-book