Black History Month Reading-FREE Ebooks

Today begins Black History Month in which we celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and take a sobering look at how far we have to go to achieve equality for people of color.

As a Floridian, I watch with horror as our governor tries to erase black history in Florida and marginalize people of color, banning books from classrooms so students can't learn about Rosa Parks Frederick Douglass, or Martin Luther King Jr., or read books by Toni Morrison. It's gut-wrenching and, together, we need to raise our voices in opposition.

Ironically, the only thing Governor DeSantis ever did for the black community was posthumously pardon the Groveland Four and he wouldn't have if it weren't politically advantageous at the time.

The Groveland Four were four young black men falsely convicted of a heinous crime in Jim Crow Florida in 1949. Their story is all too familiar but stands out because Thurgood Marshall chose to represent them in their appeal. Gilbert King told the story of this shameful chapter in Florida history in his Pulitzer Prize winning book: Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America.

After reading this book in college for an assignment, my son Josh decided to help the families pursue posthumous pardons for the men and, after four years and many setbacks, he was successful.

If you would like to read about his quest for justice and become inspired to start your own, I'm giving away FREE EBOOKS of our book: "Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four" for the entire month of February. 

Blurb:

Discover the incredible four-year quest for justice for The Groveland Four, and learn how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be.

Accidental Activist is a primer for positive action, and a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn by reading this book:

    Everything takes more time than you think 

    Nothing ever goes according to plan

    Help can come from unexpected places

    Time is on your side

    Everyone is connected

    You can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it

    Your goals can change along the way

    Flexibility is key

Let's get started, shall we?

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Activist-Justice-Groveland-Four-ebook/dp/B07Z5TYNT7/ref=sr_1_15?crid=1ZL1Y6Z6J91R0&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1675270554&sprefix=%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-15

 

 

 

Perma-free ebooks! :-D

For your reading pleasure, my publisher, Next Chapter, has a wide variety of perma-free books you can access in 2 ways.

First, you can subscribe to their free daily newsletter where they highlight new releases, perma-free series, first titles, as well as full-priced books: https://www.nextchapter.pub/newsletter Always a fun read!

Second, you can check out the free books page: https://www.nextchapter.pub/free-books

Happy reading to all and to all a good night! :-D

New audio-book! Download codes available:-D

Audio-book promo! My new book, Duck for Cover & Other Tales, is now an audio-book narrated by the wonderful Emily Wilson. If you'd like a download code and are willing to write a short review, please message me. :-D

Amazon Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Cover-Other-Tales-Collection/dp/B0BMKBVFR7/ref=sr_1_16?crid=1Y1ARZPTXSAKS&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1669041726&s=audible&sprefix=%2Caudible%2C198&sr=1-16 

 

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62003462-duck-for-cover-other-tales

Halloween and Book of the Month. :-D

Happy October!

If you have 30 seconds today or tomorrow, please vote for my new book as Book of the Month on Long and Short Reviews. :-D Thx! Here's the link:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/uncategorized/september-book-of-the-month-poll-which-book-do-you-think-is-best-based-on-the-review-4/

It wouldn't be Halloween without spooky videos and books. Check out THE JOKER JOURNAL, a great video based on Heath Ledger preparing to portray The Joker:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3saW2-1F7gs&t=505s

Also, if you'd like a review copy of SCARY SHORTS, my flash fiction collaboration, just send me a message.

BLURB:
Halloween Flash Fiction, what could be more fun? Capture a mood, a phobia, a scary experience, using exactly 100 words. Stories like A Drive in the Country, Halloween Stew, Skeleton Crew, Something About Her Shadow, and Candy Corn will give you the creeps, keep you up at night as you stare at the ceiling. Other stories like Careful What You Wish For and Paying the Piper will make you think twice about your bad decisions.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Shorts-Halloween-Flash-Fiction-ebook/dp/B08M2MFYY7/ref=sr_1_35?crid=2GV3QSKONV79H&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1664652363&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjM4IiwicXNhIjoiMi40OCIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-35

New book is out! Review copies available :-)

My new book of short stories is finally out! Duck for Cover & Other Tales: A Collection of Short Stories is a fun one and I have review copies I'd love to give out. :-D Message me if you'd like a .mobi, PDF, or ePub for review. Thanks!

Here's the blurb:

Fourteen short stories with a twist, Duck for Cover & Other Tales is filled with surprises.

The Yes Man is about a woman who looks after her elderly father with dementia, only to discover he still has life lessons to teach her. Living My Best Life tells the story of an aging rock star who finds his legacy lives on in a way he hadn't imagined. Thicker Than Blood is about the dilemmas caused by modern technology when a trio of siblings is asked to make the hardest decision of their lives. The Devil's Workshop is the story of a young man being scared straight from a life of delinquency by a clever probation officer and an ex-con.

Topical, relatable and just plain fun, these and many other stories in this collection deal with friendship, kinship and the complexities of the modern world, and are sure to leave you with a smile.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9WWTL8N/ref=sr_1_18?crid=HSXKI02HKRS0&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1660739532&sprefix=barbara+ven%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-18