Two more book promos! :-)

My new publisher, Next Chapter, is so good at keeping those promos coming. :-D  Be sure to check these 99 cent promos out between 10/31-11/4:

The Case of the Killer Divorce (Jamie Quinn Mystery Book 2) 

In book two of the Jamie Quinn Cozy Mysteries series, Jamie has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to her mother's death.

It's business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie's client becomes the prime suspect. When she can't untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client's name.

Jamie's also hoping that in his spare time, Duke can help her find her long-lost father. But can the two find out who the killer is, and bring him to justice?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJE3UES/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i7

Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person

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/gp/product/B00RUQY6B6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i4

WORD RIFF OF THE DAY

"So I'd like to know where, you got the notion…"

My brain likes to sing. I know that sounds like fun--except it's not. My brain gets stuck on one phrase, singing it over and over without any help from mouth or vocal cords. How does it do that? Is this what madness sounds like? When King Lear said that a person's notion weakens he meant they were losing their grip on reality. It shouldn't be surprising then that an antonym for notion is reality.

"Don't rock the boat, don't rock the boat, baby"

Notion comes from the Latin word notio (idea) and from notus (known) and is remarkably similar when translated into a number of languages, all of which use a variation of the word notion or idea. Seems like everyone has notions, wherever they live. Only in North America does notion also mean a sewing item, like buttons, pins, zippers, and hooks.

"Our love is like a ship on the ocean
We've been sailing with a cargo full of love and devotion."

A cargo full of love and devotion. Ah! Who wouldn't want that? We have The Hues Corporation to thank for this catchy song and lovely rhyme. What other words could they have picked to rhyme with ocean? Not as many you would think: Emotion or potion could have worked, but I don't see any possibilities when it comes to commotion, promotion, demotion, or lotion. Personally, I would have loved to see them try to use Laotian.

A notion can simply be an idea or it can be so much more. A notion can be an idea that springs to life because of your beliefs, your impressions, your opinions, and most importantly, your perception of the world. There's a Spanish phrase, cada cabeza es un mundo, which translates to each head is its own world. In other words, your perception of reality is your reality.

A notion can also be an impulse or desire, especially the whimsical kind. Oh, whimsical, you're one of my favorite words but, Shh…don't tell the others.

According to vocabulary.com, a notion is lighter than a theory and embraces a whimsy that a simple idea never could. If you share a far-fetched idea with others, someone might respond with where did you get that notion?

You just tell them, "Be quiet, I'm singing."

My Extra Key :-)

Of all the mysteries in my life, the one I someday hope to solve is the mystery of my extra key. Like most people, I have a ring of keys, the keys to my own little kingdom. There's a key to my house, shiny and silver; a key to my sister's house, a bronze colored key that always sticks in the lock and takes all my strength to turn; two keys to my office, a square one for the door, another for the front gate, and my extra key. For the life of me, I don't know what it's for but I'm afraid to throw it out in case it's critically important, the one key I need for an emergency yet to be imagined. 

I've wracked my brain trying to figure this out. Is it a key to my neighbor's house? No. Is it a key to my former neighbor's house? No. (Apparently I'm the go-to girl for spare keys to your house.) Is it a key to a suitcase, a safe deposit box, a jewelry box, a bicycle lock? A treasure chest, a magic closet, Pandora's Box? What is it for and why is it here? I don't remember putting it on the ring, let alone why it's there. Am I losing my memory, or even my mind? Is this how Alzheimer's starts?

I wonder how I can figure this out. Maybe a Facebook post to my circle of friends asking if anyone needs their key back? A lost & found ad on Craigslist? Maybe I could reverse-engineer the problem, try the key in every lock I find in all my usual haunts. I could undergo hypnosis and return to the time I acquired the key, maybe resolve some phobias along the way. Or I could do the unthinkable--take it off the ring and stick it in a drawer. (You thought I was going to say throw it out, didn't you?) No, I won't do that. I'm going to keep it on my key ring and imagine it's the key to my happy place, my refuge from the world, my cozy corner. There's a rocking chair there with a soft tattered quilt, a purring cat, and my favorite book, its pages dog-eared. It's always raining outside in a steady downpour that taps on the window as I stay snug and dry. Nobody has a key to this secret room except for me. And every time I see my extra key, I'll smile a secret smile and think about my secret room and what I'll do the next time I go there.

Don't Mind Me--As I Read Over Your Shoulder :-)

I'm afraid I have some bad news, Big Brother really is watching you. It took a while for George Orwell's dystopian world of "Nineteen Eighty-Four" to come to pass, but here we are. Your computer is watching your every move, your phone tracks you--heck, even Uber knows where you are after you've deleted the app. And no, you're not paranoid if you think your toaster is judging you or your fit-bit is giving away all your secrets, it's true. Welcome to the "Internet of Things"! Here's some more bad news, I've been watching you too. I never meant for it to happen, I swear, but the temptation was too great. If Big Brother is watching you, Little Sister is right behind him.

It started innocently enough. I wrote a few books and self-published them to Kindle. I eagerly agreed to be part of the Kindle Unlimited library in order to gain exposure for my books. Then KU switched from paying authors by the download to paying them by the pages actually read. You probably don't know this, but Kindle is watching you read every page--and so am I. I have an up-to-the-minute website telling me which of my books is being read, how many pages, and what country you're in! It's astounding, it's fantastic, and it's terribly addicting. Like watching the clock in Times Square tick down the seconds to the new year, I can't stop watching you read. It's lonely for me, I wish we could talk. I have so many questions for you. "Did you like that part? Were you surprised by the ending? Did my corny joke make you laugh?" You're so close, yet so far away...

Anyway, I didn't mean to freak you out. Please keep reading and don't mind me as I look over your shoulder. I'll be cheering you on! 

Funny Oxford Comma! :-)

People debate the usefulness of the Oxford comma and fret over the use of any comma, but one little comma can change everything.

Here's a charming example from a t-shirt I saw:

"I love barbecuing my friends and my family." Underneath it said "Don't be a cannibal, use a comma!" lol!

Last week, on Jeopardy, the Oxford comma was one of the answers. The question was:  "I greatly admire my parents, Superman and Wonder Woman." Unless you're a superhero (and maybe you are), you need an Oxford comma after the word Superman. 

Who says grammar can't be fun? For more grammar tips, check out my book "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person," which is free on Kindle through April 16. :-)

They should have read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" :-)

Fellow Grammarians, rejoice! Your devotion to the rules of Grammar, your delight in punctuation used properly has been vindicated! Those of us in the know don't need to be told the power of a comma, its ability to conquer kingdoms. Why, just examine this famous example:

A woman without her man is nothing.

Now, replace the commas where they were so callously removed:

A woman, without her, man is nothing.

Ah! So much better.

In today's grammar news, the mighty comma has rewarded the grammar purists. A Maine court settled a grammar debate over serial commas with a ruling on overtime pay for dairy truck drivers!  

https://qz.com/932004/the-oxford-comma-a-maine-court-settled-the-grammar-debate-over-serial-commas-with-a-ruling-on-overtime-pay-for-dairy-truck-drivers/

For further edification and a load of laughs, I recommend: "Eats, Shoots & Leaves", by Lynne Truss. My version came with a grammar repair kit in the back, a page of stickers that included apostrophes and commas for emergencies.  I immediately used one of the apostrophes to correct a wooden sign in my son's room that read: "Surfs up" Shudder! Now, if I could only climb a 20 foot ladder and correct the sign of a nearby business: "Carls Patio Furniture", my life would be complete.

Love to all! Mrs. Grammar Person

"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

Mrs. Grammar Person Admires Adverbs :-)

MRS. GRAMMAR PERSON ADMIRES ADVERBS

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and intends to make adverbs perfectly clear.

Adverbs are our versatile friends that answer the question: how, where, why or when (but not who).

They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs as well; Mrs. G.P. will explain if you sit for a spell.

Adverbs work alone and with others in a number of ways; if there's no verb or subject, it's an adverbial phrase (during class, to the moon).

Mrs. G.P. will try to clear the haze; sometimes an adverb is an infinitive phrase (to catch the train, to see her father).

Now that you are in a daze, Mrs. G.P. will explain the prepositional phrase (under the bed, behind the dresser).

This next rule may give you pause but if there's a verb and a subject, it's an adverb clause (when she arrives, after we eat).

More and less, least and most, comparative adverbs allow one to boast.

The most familiar adverbs all end in -ly, like the dog ate his treat happily.

Extremely, quite, just, almost, very, too, and enough are adverbs of degree.

Being punctual is an uphill climb without early, late, now and first, our adverbs of time.

Some adverbs are superfluous, which is rather sad, but very, extremely, and really have nothing to add.

Adverbs are grand and we use them like crazy, but use them too often, readers think you are lazy.

And adverbs of frequency, like every day, let Mrs. G.P. know when you'll be passing her way. (Do drop by for tea, won't you?)

The Fourteen Longest Words in the English Language :-)

Mrs. Grammar Person just had to share this blog post from Grammarly.com:

See if you know the fourteen longest words in the English language. Now spell them if you dare. :-D

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/14-of-the-longest-words-in-english/?AT3389=1

Enjoy Silver's Tea Party :-)

If you haven't checked out Silver's Tea Party, you should. This monthly tea sharing event is full of interesting news about books, gardening, guests, and, of course, tea. This month's event features a post by our own Mrs. Grammar Person. Thanks for the hospitality, Colleen!

https://silverthreading.com/2016/05/29/silvers-tea-party-a-monthly-tea-sharing-event/

"Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" giveaway!

Check out the "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" giveaway right here:

http://www.editingpenandpublishing.com/fun/

Thanks, Annie!

Join us for Silver's Tea Party on February 14th!

Silver’s Tea Party is on Sunday, 2/14/16 – Mark Your Calendars!

Don’t forget that Silver’s Tea Party is on Sunday, February 14, 2016. Silver has a couple of special guests planned that you are going to really enjoy.

On top of that, we are going to do a book giveaway, our first on Silver Threading!

Barbara Venkataraman will be giving away a copy of her book, Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person. 

Amazon link:  http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455408942&sr=8-1&keywords=teatime+with+mrs.+grammar+person

Here is what she says about her book which contains humorous essays on grammar:

“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!”

HOW DO YOU ENTER TO WIN THIS FUN BOOK?

First… make a cup of tea and join us on Sunday, February 14th. Make sure to find Silver’s Tea Party post to enter the drawing. Please comment on that post with your e-mail and your personal pet peeve, be it grammar or syntax, so that Mrs. G.P. may soothe your jangled nerves while offering tea and sympathy for your grammar woes. This will be a random drawing by the author herself, so make sure to leave your comments and most hated grammar disasters!  Here is the link:  http://silverthreading.com/

Lovely review of "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" :-)

Thanks for the great review, Susan! :-)

http://dabofdarkness.com/2015/12/02/teatime-with-mrs-grammar-person-by-barbara-venkataraman/

Audio-book download codes to give away! :-)

I have download codes for my new audio-book, “Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person”, narrated by Carrie Lee Martz. If that sounds like your cup of tea, let me know & I’ll send you a code.  Mrs. Grammar Person would be so pleased if you could leave a review afterwards. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447080333&sr=8-1&keywords=teatime+with+mrs.+grammar+person

New audio-book is out! :-)

Hooray! "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" is finally out on audio-book and Carrie Lee Martz did a fantastic job of narrating. Maybe she really is Mrs. Grammar Person!

http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Teatime-with-Mrs-Grammar-Person-Audiobook/B01783UKVK/ref=a_search_c4_1_7_srTtl?qid=1446071837&sr=1-7

Interview with Mrs. Grammar Person. :-)

Check out this new interview with Mrs. Grammar Person. :-) Thank-you to Emilia at the Book Bug Blog!


https://bookbug2012.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/10-questions-interview-with-mrs-grammar-person-via-barbara-venkataraman/

The Open Book Society's review of "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person"!

Thanks to Heidi & Andra at The Open Book Society for the wonderful review of "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person"! xoxo


http://openbooksociety.com/article/teatime-with-mrs-grammar-person-by-barbara-venkataraman-obs-book-review/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpenSocietyBookClubDiscussionsAndReviews+%28Open+Society+Book+Club+Discussions+and+Reviews%29

Check out my guest post on Beck Valley Books! :-)

Thank-you to Sharon for inviting me to write a guest post for her wonderful blog!

http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com/
Be sure to check out Beck Valley Books for used, rare and out of print books. :-)

Finding hard to find titles, unusual titles, lovely old books and even modern titles was a booklover's dream......There's nothing better than holding a lovely old book in your hands, knowing it has its own unique history.  We have now found ourselves with thousands of used, rare and out of print  books, selling them worldwide on our website at www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk  You can always rely on our friendly service.