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Bestselling and Award Winning Author Lee Mathew Goldberg Discusses His Latest Work, The Ancestor

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Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of THE ANCESTOR, THE DESIRE CARD, SLOW DOWN and THE MENTOR from St. Martin’s Press. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the 2018 Prix du Polar. ORANGE CITY, his first sci-fi novel, is forthcoming in 2021. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. Lee’s Latest book THE ANCESTOR is a work of pure mastery, from start to finish the story captivates as much as it enthralls the mind and senses. We had a chace to catch up with Lee for an exclusive interview. This is what he shared up with us.

Talk to us about The Ancestor and how the historical aspect of the book linked together to formulate the plot and storyline in the book? 

The Ancestor is about a man who wakes up in the Alaskan wilderness with amnesia and believes he was a prospector from the Gold Rush in the 1890s. About a third of the book takes place in the 1890s as he remembers what led him to be frozen, so the novel is really a mix of historical and a present era. As he recalls more parts of the era, who he was become revealed as well that affects him in the present since he did many bad things back then in pursuit of gold. 

Within every good story comes a lot of research, in The Ancestor the story takes place in Alaska, how did you come about using Alaska as the place in which the story would take place and was it difficult to come envision the characters walking through the Alaskan forefront? 

Yeah, there was a lot of research for this one. I read a ton of books that took place in Alaska and during the Gold Rush there like Klondike by Pierre Berton and the Floor of Heaven by Howard Blum. Since the book takes place in a made-up town, I didn’t want to visit Alaska and have it color my imagination too much. It was also written during a very cold and frozen winter in New York City, so it wasn’t too hard to imagine the cold and snow.  

All of your books can be paved for the movies, The Ancestor is no exception, if you can pick any Hollywood actor to play the role of the lead character Wyatt, who would it be and why?  

100 percent Jake Gyllenhaal. So if you reading this Jake Gyllenhaal give me a call! Not only is he a great actor but he takes chances with his roles going back all the way to Donnie Darko. This would be. dual role, since he would also play Wyatt’s supposed descendant Travis. It’s definitely a meaty roll he can dig his acting teeth into!

You have been writing for many years, is there a common theme in your style of writing and if so how could a new writer adapt that theme to develop their own style of writing? 

My books have a lot of thriller elements to them and tend to deal with obsessions. My debut is about a man trying to break into Hollywood who does some terrible things. My next book the Mentor deals with obsessive writers and The Ancestor is about a man obsessed with learning who he was and a new family who reminds him of his own. I say you should always write what interests you rather than what you think a reader may like. A style of writing tends to develop naturally.

Now that The Ancestor is behind you I am sure your fans want to know, what’s next? Do you have any projects in the works and have you given any thought of writing your next book outside NYC?

Yes, I have a YA series coming up in 2021 about a girl in the 1990s grunge scene who runs away from home to become a singer. The starts in LA up to Seattle so there’s no NYC in that one!

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

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Lifestyle

How To Combine Astrology With Self-Care Rituals To Enhance Daily Living

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Self-care looks different for everyone. And it could look different day by day. Sometimes you just need meditation or journaling or a grounding ritual. Sometimes you need movement. Sometimes you need more rest. Have you ever wondered why it’s different day-by-day and why you can’t seem to “stick” to something?

Most of us know something about Western astrology, but have you ever heard of Vedic astrology (Jyotish)? Vedic astrology focuses on your moon sign (which may differ from your Western astrological chart), planetary transits, and Dasha period. These three areas shape how you feel, act, and process emotions every day. 

The time management app align27 doesn’t just focus on your typical horoscope. It gives you a personalized Vedic birth chart and a daily favorability forecast based on planetary influences. It uses a simple yet powerful stoplight system — green for favorable times, yellow for neutral, and red for moments when it’s best to slow down — to help you navigate each day with intention.

Why Vedic astrology and self-care go hand in hand

Ever have days where everything flows effortlessly and others where nothing seems to go right? That’s not random — it’s the influence of the planets at play. Vedic astrology teaches that planetary transits and periods, and the Moon’s placement each day all impact your energy. 

By understanding these influences, align27 customizes your self-care rituals to work with the planetary energies rather than against them. The result? A self-care routine that feels more natural, restorative, and in harmony with your personal astrology. 

How to align self-care with align27

1. Follow your moon sign for emotional well-being

In Vedic astrology, your Moon sign reveals how you process emotions, handle stress, and recharge. The align27 app provides real-time insights into your Moon sign’s current state, helping you plan self-care that supports your well-being.

  • Fire Moons (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): align27 will highlight action-oriented times, which are perfect for movement-based self-care like yoga, walking, or a workout.
  • Earth Moons (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Your best self-care moments often fall during grounding planetary periods. The align27 app helps you time activities like cooking, gardening, or Ayurvedic oil massages.
  • Air Moons (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Mental stimulation is key for you. Use align27’s favorable green time slots to plan journaling, reading, or creative work.
  • Water Moons (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional balance is crucial; align27 suggests introspective yellow periods during which self-care like meditation, breathwork, or music therapy can help you reset.

By checking your daily Moon sign insights in align27, you can sync your self-care with your emotional energy instead of forcing routines that don’t feel right.

2. Sync with planetary transits for daily rituals

Planetary movements in Vedic astrology directly influence your daily energy. Instead of following the same self-care routine every day, use the align27 app to check which planets are strongest and which ones need balancing.

  • Green periods: Ideal for action — schedule workouts, deep work, or personal projects. 
  • Yellow periods: Best for reflection — meditation, light reading, or connecting with loved ones.
  • Red periods: Time to pause — prioritize self-care, avoid big decisions, and rest.

For example:

  • If align27 shows a red period under Mercury’s influence, it’s a sign to unplug from tech and practice silence (Mauna) instead.
  • A green period during a Moon transit suggests a great time for emotional processing through journaling or spiritual rituals.
  • If Saturn is active, align27 might recommend structured self-care, like a disciplined yoga practice or fasting.

The daily timing feature of align27 takes the guesswork out of self-care, helping you plan around when the universe is actually working with you, not against you.

3. Use your Venus sign for beauty and self-love rituals

In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) represents luxury, pleasure, and how you experience beauty. But your Venus sign in your birth chart tells you what kind of self-care truly nourishes your soul.

  • Venus in Fire Signs: You love bold, energizing self-care. Ayurvedic herbal treatments, bright colors, and invigorating scents like sandalwood or saffron uplift your energy.
  • Venus in Earth Signs: You prefer high-quality, natural self-care. Organic skincare, silk bedding, and nourishing food rituals align with your Venus energy.
  • Venus in Air Signs: You thrive on social and intellectual beauty. Try mantra recitation, decorating your space with art, or engaging in deep conversations.
  • Venus in Water Signs: You need emotionally fulfilling self-care. Essential oil baths, soft textures, and music therapy create a calming atmosphere.

4. Strengthen your planetary weaknesses through rituals

Each planet in your birth chart has strengths and weaknesses based on its placement. You can balance planetary imbalances through specific self-care rituals:

  • Weakened moon? Drink warm milk with cardamom, wear white, and meditate under the full Moon.
  • Struggling with Rahu energy? Reduce digital distractions, light camphor, and chant “Om Rahave Namah.”
  • Mars overactivity? Avoid spicy food, practice slow yoga, and wear cool colors like blue or white.

The align27 app personalizes these remedies based on your birth chart and daily planetary shifts.

Align your self-care with the stars

When you integrate Vedic astrology into your self-care routine, you’re not just following trends but tuning into the ancient wisdom of timing and energy alignment. Instead of forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all self-care plan, you can create rituals that genuinely support you based on the cosmic influences at play.

With tools like align27, you can easily track your best days for rest, action, and reflection — making self-care effortless and aligned with the universe. Because taking care of yourself isn’t just about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for you, at the right time. 

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