Merch store! :-D

Happy almost 4th of July! I wanted tell you that my wonderful publisher, Next Chapter, now has a merch store with lots of cool stuff.

Have you ever pined for playing cards, plush blankets, or 1,000-piece puzzles adorned with my book covers?

Have you ever thirsted for shot glasses, coffee mugs, wine glasses, sports bottles, frosted pint glasses or tumblers splashed with images of my book covers?

Have you ever tried on a t-shirt and thought: "If only this shirt had a picture of my favorite Jamie Quinn Mystery?"

Then, good news! You can now satisfy all of those whims by visiting: https://www.litmatter.com/collections/barbara-venkataraman?page=1

Check it out. :-D

Dog Days of Summer :-D

When the temperature rises and the sweat begins to pool, it's that time of year, the “Dog Days” of summer, July 3rd through August 11. But why Dog Days and not, say, Camel Days? The reference is to Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest star in the sky. During the “Dog Days” the sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.

Because Sirius is so bright, the ancient Romans believed it radiated heat, adding to the Sun’s warmth and causing the sultry weather. They referred to this time as diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days.”

How can we beat the heat? By staying inside and reading a book, of course! Have I got a book for you: Dog Days of Summer: Flash Fiction. Stories of exactly 100 words that evoke childhood memories and make you forget the heat, leaving you with a smile on your face.

All for 99 cents! Such a deal! Sample story below.

Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Days-Summer-Fiction-Shorts-ebook/dp/B095J998Q9?ref_=ast_author_dp

CHANGE OF SEASONS By Amy Reade

It was the first day of first grade. The teacher asked Gordie and his classmates to go to the front of the classroom one by one and share one thing they had done over summer vacation. When it was Gordie’s turn, he stood up and told his classmates his dad had taken him fishing at the lake in August. He concluded his presentation by saying “But I hate summer.”

That afternoon as the students waited to be picked up from school, a pretty young woman walked up to Mrs. Haines and introduced herself.

“Hi, I’m Gordie’s stepmother. My name is Summer.”
 

National Grammar Day! Free book :-D

My dear friend Mrs. Grammar Person is feeling as out of sorts as a misplaced modifier or a dangling participle because she let National Grammar Day slip by without so much as an admiring salute. To remedy this egregious oversight she is thrilled to offer you, her dear readers, a free copy of her definitive guide: "Teatime With Mrs Grammar Person". Ebooks & audiobook codes available. Message me if interested.

https://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1QJPHU6L3IVT0&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1682262748&sprefix=%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-9

Check Out My Fun Interview on YouTube. 😃

Check out my fun interview on YouTube. 😃  

I was the guest today on "Book Chat with Victoria Young Bennison". We discussed flash fiction and cozy mysteries and whether a didgeridoo is a lethal weapon, lol!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOq_xVUOo4g

New Book is out! :-D Free review copies

I'm excited that my new book, Five Fortunes, is out on Amazon today! Message me if you'd like a free ebook. 😃 I'd love to collect some reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTP3BY4P/ref=sr_1_24?crid=5IY822FE357Y&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1675346795&sprefix=%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-24

Blurb:
When five fourteen-year-old girls get their fortunes from an arcade machine just for kicks, it turns their world upside-down and their close-knit group of friends starts to fall apart.
Misunderstandings abound as allegiances shift and outsiders start to come between them. The fortunes seem to be self-fulfilling prophecies - whether the girls believe in them or not.
Do our beliefs color our perception of the world? Do we ever see ourselves the way others see us, and why is change so hard?
Budding romance, angry bees, teenage fashion influencers, and parents who just don't get it make Barbara Venkataraman's 'Five Fortunes' a fun story you won't soon forget.

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
*********************************************************************
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