Valentine's Day Reading & Merch! :-)

It's almost Valentine's Day and what better way to get ready than to read sweet little Valentine's stories? For just 99 cents you can enjoy a variety of authors and their take on Valentine's Day with VALENTINE SHORTS: FLASH FICTION.

Blurb:
Valentine Flash Fiction, what could be more fun? The challenge: capture a mood, a memory, a romantic encounter, using exactly 100 words. Stories like Unmasked and Never Stop Asking will touch your heart while others like Glory Days, Puppy Love and Swipe Right will make you smile. Enjoy stories by: James J. Cudney, Jeff Homberger, Julie Morrall, Didi Oviatt, Kaitlyn Sutey and Barbara Venkataraman. This short book will lift your spirits and brighten your day, any day of the year.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Valentine-Shorts-Flash-Fiction-ebook/dp/B08W9WDR3R/ref=sr_1_21?crid=1YUYOJUTKUMHB&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1675272221&sprefix=%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-21
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My wonderful publisher, Next Chapter, is now selling book-related merchandise and it's all so fun! There are posters, coffee mugs, playing cards, t-shirts, jigsaw puzzles, tote bags, and stickers.

Check it out here: https://www.litmatter.com/search?q=barbara+venkataraman&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

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