Thursday, December 29, 2016

Jamie Quinn Series gets a shout-out! :-)

A happy end-of-the-year surprise for yours truly--a shout-out for my Jamie Quinn series on the blog : http://gbmysteries.blogspot.com! 

Check out their latest post, "It's a Mystery", to see if you've read their favorite books of 2016. I found some great recommendations. Thanks, Gayle!




Wednesday, December 28, 2016

"Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" is free on Kindle through 1/1/17!

Care for a spot of tea with your grammar? Download my humorous grammar book, "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person", free on Kindle through January 1st. :-)

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and she has the answers to all of the questions you never thought to ask. As a dedicated and serious grammarian, she will do what it takes to be entertaining and enlightening, but never vulgar or coarse. Heavens, no! Where are her smelling salts? Warm and witty, Mrs. G.P. makes grammar interesting with rhyming, wishful thinking, story-telling and a champagne toast. You are cordially invited to join her for a spot of tea!



https://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1482930686&sr=8-4&keywords=barbara+venkataraman


Tuesday, December 27, 2016

You Think You Know a Person...:-)


This essay is excerpted from my (award-winning) book,  "Quirky Essays for Quirky People"


I just read something disturbing but, if I tell you about it, then we'll both be disturbed. Remember--YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Did you know that bacteria living in our bodies outnumber human cells 10 to 1?
10 to 1! That means, for each human cell in your body, there are ten microorganisms, which may include bacteria, fungi and archaea. I don't even know what archaea are--and I've read the definition! The only part I understood was that they produce methane, which stinks, both literally and metaphorically. In fact, the number of different bacteria species living on your skin alone could approach five hundred. And that's not just your skin we're talking about, it's mine too! And fungi! Do we have mushrooms growing out of our ears, or what?
And the news gets worse: each of us hosts thousands of types of bacteria with different body sites that have their own distinctive communities. For example, your belly button (an area I assume you never think about, unless you are one to contemplate your navel) can host any number of 1,400 strains of bacteria that call it home.

So, it turns out you can live in a gated community, but you can't be one. You have no say in the matter: you are a microbiome, an aggregate of microorganisms that live in your skin, your eyes, your mouth, your gut, and other places which I can't talk about in polite society.
Before you completely freak out, let me tell you that some of these organisms are beneficial, like gut bacteria that aid in digestion, and others that help maintain our health in different ways. The most unsettling news is that we have no idea what the majority of them do. But, have no fear, we (well, not me, of course, it's the 200 researchers in the Human Microbiome Project) are studying them in an effort to figure out what the little buggers are up to.

Of course, since they outnumber us 10 to 1, it seems that we ARE the little buggers! 
****************************************************************************************************
Here is a news update on what's happening in the world of the microbiome--short answer--more than you ever dreamed!

http://www.salon.com/2016/12/25/disrupting-daily-routine-of-gut-microbes-can-throw-off-your-circadian-rhythms_partner/



Monday, December 19, 2016

Check out the new blog "Oscar Buzzed" :-)

Check out the new blog, "Oscar Buzzed", and enjoy the latest news and commentary about Oscar-worthy movies and the actors who appear in them. Every year, a select few are nominated to win the highest honors for film-making. And every year, we cinephiles-on-a-budget must decide what's worth it and what's not. This is your guide to the award season films.

https://academyawards.tumblr.com/


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

"Engaged in Danger" free on Kindle thru 12/10! :-)

Hey everyone!

My 4th Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery, "Engaged in Danger", is free on Kindle right now through 12/10, so why don't you check it out? It's free! Lol

Blurb:

Finally, life is good for reluctant family law attorney, Jamie Quinn--her father may get his visa soon, her boyfriend is the bomb, and her law practice is growing like crazy--but when she agrees to take on a high-profile divorce case, everything falls apart. What looked like an opportunity to work with her friend Grace and make some serious bucks has turned into a deadly game, one that could destroy their friendship and tear their town apart. Why couldn't Jamie just leave well enough alone?

Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Danger-Jamie-Quinn-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0159LGVHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481040569&sr=8-1&keywords=engaged+in+danger


Saturday, December 3, 2016

Cutest baby wombat ever! :-)

As you may know, I have a fondness for wombats--even if they are the reason my poor protagonist Jamie Quinn can't be with her boyfriend, Kip. Check out this short video of the cutest baby wombat ever, you'll see why. :-) 


https://youtu.be/-OOiUy6iXio