Publishing houses print a limited quantity of press copies (or ARCs/galleys) to send to reviewers such as Kirkus as well as their press contacts. These unfinished copies are costly to produce, but their function is to generate publicity. Keeping this in mind, presses are usually eager to send out early copies, especially when they receive polite, professional emails from reputable sources! 

Poveglia, Italy, is the world's most haunted island. The Romans quarantined plague patients on Poveglia Island in the 18th century. Those infected with the plague, along with other diseased people, were abandoned on this island to die. This area was later converted into a mental hospital, which closed in 1968. Poveglia is off-limits to visitors, so any other creepy facts about this island will remain hidden.

An intriguing truth about the spine is that when you feel significant pain, such as banging your palm against a door, your body will remember it as well as your brain. For a few days, the neurons in your spinal cord send pain signals to the nerves in your wounded hand. As a result, your hand will be more sensitive, and even little touches will elicit an uncomfortable and unwanted sensation. This occurs because your spine stores a memory of pain. Furthermore, because your spine has a long memory, you should treat and care for it from an early age. Control your posture, exercise, and stretch your back muscles to ensure your spinal cord's long-term health.

Catnip causes enthusiasm in the majority of cats. Your cat may appear agitated, racing about and pouncing on objects. Cats' eyes dilate in numerous conditions. Of course, your cat may react differently, but many cats become more talkative and lively. A few cats may get violent when introduced to catnip, so give your cat some space if this is her first time trying it.

Despite enjoying widespread acceptance for many years, the "dominance" notion of dog training is gradually being exposed. "You should never try to dominate your dog," Hartstein says emphatically. The concept that you need to demonstrate your dog "who's alpha" by doing things like eating before them, making sure you're constantly in a higher position than them, or using punishing behaviour is obsolete and unhelpful. Of course, you should establish a schedule and ensure that your dog understands rules and boundaries, but ignore standard advice regarding dominance shows.

Chocolate, avocado, tomato, vanilla, courgette (zucchini), and various beans and chiles were all introduced to us by Mexico.

Wayanad is derived from the Malayalam terms 'Vayal' and 'Nadu,' which translate as 'paddy field' and 'rural land,' respectively.

Mirrors and light are the primary components used in kaleidoscope construction. Kaleidoscopes are a fantastic way to reflect things when combined with a few more materials.

Akira, a highly praised film, was also a significant technological success for the Japanese animation industry. It had 2,212 shots and 160,000 single images. This is around 2-3 times the cost of the average anime film. The majority of the film's scenes were planned to take place at night, which was normally avoided by animators during those days due to such sequences needing exceptionally high colour utilisation and that too with tremendous precision to make the picture seem pleasant. Akira defied all expectations by employing an incredible 327 hues throughout the picture, 50 of which were produced specifically for the film and its scene needs.

Hungary has a plethora of underground hot water sources. It's no surprise that Budapest is regarded as the world's thermal bath capital. There are dozens of spas and baths in Budapest, some of which are housed in magnificent buildings such as the Szechenyi, Gellert, or Kiraly Baths.

Zeus had a large family outside of his marriage to Hera. This enraged Hera, and in order to exact her vengeance, she claimed that their son, Hephaestus, was the result of a virgin birth. This meant that Hephaestus was not descended from Zeus, which infuriated the Thunder god. And he vented his rage on Hephaestus by tossing him off the summit of Mount Olympus.

Yes, even if you live in a snowstorm every other day, SPF is essential in your skin care programme all year. Sun exposure without protection can cause damage and eventually wrinkles, so choose a moisturiser with an SPF of at least 15.

The Jewish tradition of covering up mirrors during shiva (the seven-day period of mourning by the deceased's immediate family) is still practiced today. According to several Jewish sources, when the soul departs from this world, a void is created. This void may end up attracting evil spirits to fill it. These demonic ghosts have a penchant for attaching themselves to mirror reflections. To prevent this from happening, Jews cover their mirrors until the end of shiva.

Fennel seeds are high in fibre and may help with weight reduction and appetite control. They act as diuretics and boost metabolism. Fennel seeds, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can help you lose weight rapidly. To achieve the best outcomes, consume roasted fennel seed powder with warm water on an empty stomach. Fennel seeds are considered appetite suppressants since they help you remain fuller for longer (thanks to their high fibre content). This may also help you achieve your weight loss objectives and avoid overeating.

Dreams are experienced by people who are born blind, but not through the eyes. Instead, they have dreams that rely on other senses, but they are just as intense as those that rely on sight. Those who go blind later in life, on the other hand, will have visual images in their dreams.

You wouldn't anticipate centipedes to be perfect mothers given how brutal they are. Though it may come as a surprise, some species are actually fiercely protective of their young. In order to shield their eggs from predators until they hatch, females of the aforementioned species will encircle them. Some mothers will stay with their babies until they are old enough to leave the nest on their own, and these mothers will also clean the eggs to stop them from growing fungi.

The human population of Australia is around 25,704,340. In 2009/2010, The Australian Govt counted 27 million kangaroos across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Glass is one of the most durable and resilient man-made materials.

We propose ground almonds, which you can either create yourself from ground almonds or crush up whole almonds. This delicious dish wraps fish with ground almonds, an egg, and almond flour! See the recipe>>here.

During the scientific excavation of the site from 1912 to 1915, Hiram Bingham's team collected thousands of artifacts from the ruins and sent them to Yale University. Ceramics, jewelry, silver pieces, and human bones were among the artifacts discovered. For years, the Peruvian government argued that the artifacts should be returned, until Yale finally returned them in 2012.

Images or pictures of Lord Surya and Lord Ganesh, turmeric powder, roli (vermilion), akshat (raw rice), a chawki, red cloth, earthen lamp, incense sticks, ghee and wicks, camphor, date fruits (khajur), betel leaves, a small piece of sandal (Chandan), fruits and nuts, and sweet dishes are all required for the puja. During Chhat Puja, installing Lord Surya (Sun) Yantra is also regarded highly fortunate. Wearing a Ruby (Manikya) Ring on this important occasion also brings good fortune.

That slightly scandalous charcoal drawing of a topless Kate Winslet in Titanic was drawn by none other than the director himself, James Cameron. If you want something done right, sometimes you just need to do it yourself.