Jamie Quinn has an admirer, and it's not Kip this time--it's
Audiofile Magazine, hooray! My new narrator Fay Annette did such a lovely job
reading my 4th Jamie Quinn mystery, "Engaged in Danger", that
it's no wonder they loved it. If you would like a chance to love it too, I
still have some free download codes to give away. Just message me and it's yours.
In the meantime, check out this great review and, while you're at it, read all
the reviews in this excellent online magazine. J
Showing posts with label Jamie Quinn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamie Quinn. Show all posts
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Monday, February 15, 2016
Jamie Quinn Collection giveaway thru Feb. 29th :-)
Thanks to Susan at Suko's Notebook for the Spotlight and Jamie Quinn giveaway! Check out this lovely blog and enter for a chance to win. :-)
http://www.sukosnotebook.net/2016/02/a-cozy-giveaway.html
http://www.sukosnotebook.net/2016/02/a-cozy-giveaway.html
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Spotlight and Book giveaway! :-)
Check out my Jamie Quinn Mysteries on this great spotlight and giveaway! Thanks to Johanna for featuring my book on your wonderful blog, www.EpicBookQuest.com. :-)
http://epicbookquest.com/2016/01/28/featured-book-plus-a-giveaway-jamie-quinn-mystery-collection-a-jamie-quinn-mystery-1-3-by-barbara-venkataraman/
http://epicbookquest.com/2016/01/28/featured-book-plus-a-giveaway-jamie-quinn-mystery-collection-a-jamie-quinn-mystery-1-3-by-barbara-venkataraman/
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
NOTHING TO SNEEZE ABOUT
This post comes courtesy of Lori's Reading Corner and Great Escapes Virtual book Tours. :-)
NOTHING
TO SNEEZE ABOUT
Remember the last time you sneezed? There
was that little itch that sent your nose into high alert. This could be the big
one, you think, a real head-bobber, or it could be a tiny little nothing sneeze.
Or it could be a false alarm. You just never know what to expect. There's the
build-up, then the sneeze and, finally, the feeling of relief. And then it's
over, or at least you hope so. I always sneeze three times in a row, but that's
just my thing, a little author trivia.
So, how is a sneeze like reading a
mystery? Well, I'm glad you asked. Like
a sneeze, the plot of a mystery starts out slowly, the tension gradually builds
while the reader wonders, is something about to happen? Is this a clue? Is this
a major plot development? Or is it a fake-out? For every build-up of tension in a mystery,
there must be a release afterwards, a resolution to the problem and then a
period of low-tension. In most books, this pattern will happen many times
before the final resolution (the big sneeze!) which signals the end of the
story.
Without conflict, there is no story,
of course, so the writer wants to keep putting the characters in dangerous or
stressful situations. A good writer keeps the reader on edge by dangling the
prize in front of the protagonist and then snatching it away at the last
minute, or by throwing roadblocks in the way. The author has to be subtle about
it, so the obstacles vary constantly. Maybe the protagonist loses faith in
herself, or is physically detained. Maybe someone she cares about has a crisis
and she has to stop what she's doing to offer help. Or maybe she's sent on a
wild goose chase or follows the wrong lead. She may wind up in physical danger,
or some other kind of trouble.
Here's an example of a best-selling mystery plot. The novel begins with the murder of a beautiful
prosecutor in her apartment. The protagonist, also a prosecutor, was her co-worker,
and is assigned the case. Nobody knows that the victim was the protagonist's
former lover (raising the stakes). The protagonist's boss is up for re-election
and the murder of one of his people is embarrassing. If he loses the election,
the protagonist loses his job (raising the stakes some more). The election is lost
and suddenly the protagonist finds himself accused of the murder. There's lots
of evidence to implicate him: calls made from his home to hers the night of the
murder, a glass with his fingerprints on it, carpet fibers, etc. The courtroom
drama raises the tension even further; taking many turns along the way. But the
expert testimony proves unreliable. The protagonist learns the judge had a
relationship with the victim and also that the judge, the victim and his former
boss all took bribes from suspects. A crucial piece of evidence for the
prosecution disappears and the judge dismisses the case for lack of evidence.
But the reader still doesn't know
who killed the prosecutor! Was it the protagonist? He's the narrator, but is he
reliable? Yes, he is, and he figures out who murdered his former lover…dun dun
dun! It was his angry, betrayed wife who tried to frame him. Recognize the
plot? It's Presumed Innocent by Scott
Turow.
The challenge for the mystery writer
is how to build the tension to a crescendo and timing is everything. Think
about that horror movie trick where the girl (and the audience) is terrified because
we know something bad is about to happen. We're on the edge of our seats, our
hearts are racing, and, suddenly, something scary jumps out at the girl--and
it's just a cat. Everyone lets down their guard, shakes off the nervous tension
and--WHAM--the bad guy/monster/psycho/alien then attacks the girl. That twist
worked great the first time we saw it, but now we've come to expect it.
In my Jamie Quinn mystery series, Jamie
is a reluctant family lawyer who keeps finding herself involved in murder
cases. In Death by Didgeridoo, her
disabled cousin is accused of murdering his music teacher; in The Case of the Killer Divorce, Jamie's
client is accused of murdering her husband, and in Peril in the Park, Jamie and her boyfriend are in danger from an
evil jester who has already murdered one person. The tension rises and falls in
each book while Jamie tries to figure out what's really going on, while, at the
same time, there are mysteries to solve in her personal life. Because these
books are part of a series, the tension isn't completely resolved at the end of
each book. Certain story lines continue through to the next book and, in fact,
each book ends with the first chapter of the next book as a teaser.
Now, I think you understand how a
good mystery can be just like a sneeze. And who doesn't like a good sneeze? It can
be energizing and unexpected. But, at all costs, you want to avoid books which don't
have tension; the kind that go on and on, the ones you wish would hurry up and end
already. They are like having the hiccups and nobody wants those!
Thursday, January 1, 2015
MRS. GRAMMAR PERSON'S WISHFUL THINKING
Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here--and it seems that she has arrived just in time! The sight of you pulling your hair out and chewing your nails makes her sorry she didn't arrive sooner. But no need to fret, Mrs. G.P can see what the problem is and although she wishes there were a simple solution, alas, there is not. The truth is that the subjunctive tense is tricky and before she can begin to explain it, our favorite grammarian will need a strong pot of tea and some lovely biscuits. If you are in the neighborhood, you're welcome to join her for tea; she always buys extra biscuits, just in case.
Ah, much better! Now, Mrs. G.P. is ready to discuss the tense which makes everyone tense, the strange and wonderful, wonderfully strange subjunctive, the tense that allows us to engage in wishful thinking, to imagine things as they might have been, and to impose our will on others as if we were royalty, which, happily, we are not--and that's why we had to use the subjunctive.
We may not be royalty, Mrs. Grammar Person says, but we can still impose our will on others by insisting, demanding, commanding, urging, proposing, requesting, suggesting, asking, advising, recommending, and desiring that they take a particular action. Before you beg off with a migraine, please allow Mrs. G.P. to explain that the subjunctive tense often looks identical to the indicative tense--depending on whom you are bossing around. For example, "They walk to the park" is indicative. "I insist that they walk to the park" is subjunctive, but walk is still walk. So, why all the fuss? The fuss comes about when the speaker imposes his will on him or her (and sometimes them). Let's try it again see what happens. "He walks to the park" is indicative. "I demand that he walk to the park" is subjunctive. We see how the verb has changed, don't we?
Other ways we can impose our will on others (thereby requiring the use of the subjunctive) is with the following expressions:
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
Sometimes we are feeling more hopeful than willful, but even when we wish or hope for something to occur, we must still use the subjunctive. "I wish my brother weren't so stubborn" is wishful thinking because the speaker's brother is clearly stubborn and seems unlikely to change.
The most important thing to remember is that the subjunctive is used to describe conditions that are not true, as well as for commands, wishes, and requests. Most commonly, the subjunctive is used to describe a hypothetical situation, one that isn't likely to happen, such as, "If she were any tinier, she would be an ant." A factual statement would be: "When she was very tiny, she was just a baby."
Generally, a clause followed by "when" takes the indicative, and a clause followed by "if" takes the subjunctive.
Mrs. Grammar Person knows exactly what your next question will be--it's one of her many talents. You want to know how to use the subjunctive in the past tense. Well, it's quite simple. To use the past subjunctive you need only remember: had, as if and as though. The subjunctive is found after "as if" or "as though" and is used to indicate an unreal situation:
He was running as if he were being chased by aliens. (Let's hope not!)
She stared at me as if I were guilty. (I was framed!)
He talked about prison as though he had been there, himself. (Poseur!)
When we use the word "had" for the past subjunctive, the word "if" is understood, but not stated: Had he known about the rain, he wouldn't have gone to the concert. (We hope he enjoyed the concert, anyway.)
And now you've done it, you've learned the subjunctive! Mrs. Grammar Person congratulates you for mastering this difficult task so quickly. You are truly gifted grammarians, she says. As she sees the last of you out with a heartfelt good-bye, she sighs and murmurs to herself, "Oh, how I wish I were younger."
A familiar voice behind her answers, "My dear, I insist that you take that back."
Mrs. G.P. turns around and gives her friend a smile. "But, Mr. Syntax, it's true! Had I known then what I know now, just think what I could have accomplished!"
The gentleman takes both of her hands in his. "You are the incomparable Mrs. Grammar Person and I wouldn't change one thing about you. You are perfect just the way you are."
Our favorite grammarian squeezes his hand and blushes, but says nothing. Something remarkable has happened--for the first time in her life, Mrs. Grammar Person cannot think of anything to say. Her words have escaped her, taking wing together for one joyful moment in time.
Ah, much better! Now, Mrs. G.P. is ready to discuss the tense which makes everyone tense, the strange and wonderful, wonderfully strange subjunctive, the tense that allows us to engage in wishful thinking, to imagine things as they might have been, and to impose our will on others as if we were royalty, which, happily, we are not--and that's why we had to use the subjunctive.
We may not be royalty, Mrs. Grammar Person says, but we can still impose our will on others by insisting, demanding, commanding, urging, proposing, requesting, suggesting, asking, advising, recommending, and desiring that they take a particular action. Before you beg off with a migraine, please allow Mrs. G.P. to explain that the subjunctive tense often looks identical to the indicative tense--depending on whom you are bossing around. For example, "They walk to the park" is indicative. "I insist that they walk to the park" is subjunctive, but walk is still walk. So, why all the fuss? The fuss comes about when the speaker imposes his will on him or her (and sometimes them). Let's try it again see what happens. "He walks to the park" is indicative. "I demand that he walk to the park" is subjunctive. We see how the verb has changed, don't we?
Other ways we can impose our will on others (thereby requiring the use of the subjunctive) is with the following expressions:
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
Sometimes we are feeling more hopeful than willful, but even when we wish or hope for something to occur, we must still use the subjunctive. "I wish my brother weren't so stubborn" is wishful thinking because the speaker's brother is clearly stubborn and seems unlikely to change.
The most important thing to remember is that the subjunctive is used to describe conditions that are not true, as well as for commands, wishes, and requests. Most commonly, the subjunctive is used to describe a hypothetical situation, one that isn't likely to happen, such as, "If she were any tinier, she would be an ant." A factual statement would be: "When she was very tiny, she was just a baby."
Generally, a clause followed by "when" takes the indicative, and a clause followed by "if" takes the subjunctive.
Mrs. Grammar Person knows exactly what your next question will be--it's one of her many talents. You want to know how to use the subjunctive in the past tense. Well, it's quite simple. To use the past subjunctive you need only remember: had, as if and as though. The subjunctive is found after "as if" or "as though" and is used to indicate an unreal situation:
He was running as if he were being chased by aliens. (Let's hope not!)
She stared at me as if I were guilty. (I was framed!)
He talked about prison as though he had been there, himself. (Poseur!)
When we use the word "had" for the past subjunctive, the word "if" is understood, but not stated: Had he known about the rain, he wouldn't have gone to the concert. (We hope he enjoyed the concert, anyway.)
And now you've done it, you've learned the subjunctive! Mrs. Grammar Person congratulates you for mastering this difficult task so quickly. You are truly gifted grammarians, she says. As she sees the last of you out with a heartfelt good-bye, she sighs and murmurs to herself, "Oh, how I wish I were younger."
A familiar voice behind her answers, "My dear, I insist that you take that back."
Mrs. G.P. turns around and gives her friend a smile. "But, Mr. Syntax, it's true! Had I known then what I know now, just think what I could have accomplished!"
The gentleman takes both of her hands in his. "You are the incomparable Mrs. Grammar Person and I wouldn't change one thing about you. You are perfect just the way you are."
Our favorite grammarian squeezes his hand and blushes, but says nothing. Something remarkable has happened--for the first time in her life, Mrs. Grammar Person cannot think of anything to say. Her words have escaped her, taking wing together for one joyful moment in time.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Dab of Darkness
Check out my guest post in the beautiful blog, "Dab of Darkness":
http://dabofdarkness.com/2014/10/30/guest-post-catching-the-muse-by-barbara-venkataraman/
Also, there's a great review of my Jamie Quinn mystery, "The Case of the Killer Divorce".
Thanks, Susan!
http://dabofdarkness.com/2014/10/30/guest-post-catching-the-muse-by-barbara-venkataraman/
Also, there's a great review of my Jamie Quinn mystery, "The Case of the Killer Divorce".
Thanks, Susan!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Free book promotion through September 9th!
My first Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Death by Didgeridoo", is on free promotion today through September 9th on Kindle. Here is the description:
Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award.
Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.
Also, check out the listing on this excellent blog: Kindle Books and Tips. It's a great place to find free and discounted Kindle books.
http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2014/09/05/free-discounted-kindle-book-offers-323/
Please feel free to "Like" the post and share it on Facebook. :-)
Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award.
Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.
Also, check out the listing on this excellent blog: Kindle Books and Tips. It's a great place to find free and discounted Kindle books.
http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2014/09/05/free-discounted-kindle-book-offers-323/
Please feel free to "Like" the post and share it on Facebook. :-)
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
"The Case of the Killer Divorce" has been downloaded 4,000 times!
My 2nd Jamie Quinn mystery, "The Case of the Killer Divorce" has been on free promotion since Monday and has already been downloaded 4,000 times! Who knows what will happen in the next three days? I am working hard on the third Jamie Quinn book, "Peril in the Park" and hope to have it out by the end of April. :-) Thank-you everyone for your support!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
New free promotion-Jamie Quinn Mystery :-)
Check out my free promotion on Amazon Kindle!
My book, "The Case of the Killer Divorce," the second in the Jamie Quinn series, is free on Amazon through 4/5 at midnight. Check it out! :-)
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