Barbara Venkataraman's Blog: A Trip on the Mobius Strip - Posts Tagged "death-by-didgeridoo"
How I Did It--The Confession of a Mystery Writer
What inspired you to write “Death by Didgeridoo”?
A reluctant lawyer myself, I was trying to teach myself to play the didgeridoo to help me sleep better, which sounds odd, I know, but I was desperate. A didgeridoo is a large, primitive wind instrument invented by Australian Aborigines and it’s tricky to play. It sounds awful if you do it wrong and only a little less awful if you do it right.
One day, I dropped it on a table and broke the glass which led me to think about it as a possible dangerous weapon. The story came to me over time and, luckily, I didn’t have to master the didgeridoo to write it!
How is writing in the mystery genre different from other genres?
“Death by Didgeridoo” is my first mystery, but not my first work of fiction. Writing a mystery is like figuring out a puzzle while watching characters performing in a play--in your head! I started writing this book with one character in mind as the killer. To my surprise, the story changed direction as I got to know my characters and it turned out to be someone else.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Write every day for a set amount of time. Don’t let your self-doubt overwhelm you.
Don’t judge what you write, just keep going.
Write because you love to write. If you get stuck, start asking questions about your story that still need to be answered. As you ask them, you will start to think of the answers. Another trick when you get stuck is to write down all the possible ways your story could go and follow each one to its conclusion in a sentence or two.
Take your favorite books by your favorite authors and try to imitate their styles for practice. That way, you can analyze how they do what they do. Also, read some terrible books and analyze what went wrong.
What inspired you to write “A Trip to the Hardware Store & Other Calamities”?
I wanted to make people smile and even-dare I hope?–laugh, as they read my book. We are all so busy with our lives and our laundry and our to-do lists that we forget to have fun. If you watch kids playing, they laugh and smile non-stop, but us, not so much.
So, either sign up for laugh yoga or read my books, people. Or be grouchy, it’s your choice…
How is writing in the humor genre different from other genres?
I try to keep my writing light and full of surprises, even for myself. If I’m not surprised and delighted as I write, you won’t be either, is my thinking. I try to write about topics that everyone can relate to, including funny issues that come up with family, friendships, and marriage. One of my essays deals with planning a dinner party for a group of friends and trying to please everyone, with disastrous results! It was an imaginary dinner party with my very real friends and they all enjoyed being included, even though they didn’t actually get a meal out of it….
A reluctant lawyer myself, I was trying to teach myself to play the didgeridoo to help me sleep better, which sounds odd, I know, but I was desperate. A didgeridoo is a large, primitive wind instrument invented by Australian Aborigines and it’s tricky to play. It sounds awful if you do it wrong and only a little less awful if you do it right.
One day, I dropped it on a table and broke the glass which led me to think about it as a possible dangerous weapon. The story came to me over time and, luckily, I didn’t have to master the didgeridoo to write it!
How is writing in the mystery genre different from other genres?
“Death by Didgeridoo” is my first mystery, but not my first work of fiction. Writing a mystery is like figuring out a puzzle while watching characters performing in a play--in your head! I started writing this book with one character in mind as the killer. To my surprise, the story changed direction as I got to know my characters and it turned out to be someone else.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Write every day for a set amount of time. Don’t let your self-doubt overwhelm you.
Don’t judge what you write, just keep going.
Write because you love to write. If you get stuck, start asking questions about your story that still need to be answered. As you ask them, you will start to think of the answers. Another trick when you get stuck is to write down all the possible ways your story could go and follow each one to its conclusion in a sentence or two.
Take your favorite books by your favorite authors and try to imitate their styles for practice. That way, you can analyze how they do what they do. Also, read some terrible books and analyze what went wrong.
What inspired you to write “A Trip to the Hardware Store & Other Calamities”?
I wanted to make people smile and even-dare I hope?–laugh, as they read my book. We are all so busy with our lives and our laundry and our to-do lists that we forget to have fun. If you watch kids playing, they laugh and smile non-stop, but us, not so much.
So, either sign up for laugh yoga or read my books, people. Or be grouchy, it’s your choice…
How is writing in the humor genre different from other genres?
I try to keep my writing light and full of surprises, even for myself. If I’m not surprised and delighted as I write, you won’t be either, is my thinking. I try to write about topics that everyone can relate to, including funny issues that come up with family, friendships, and marriage. One of my essays deals with planning a dinner party for a group of friends and trying to please everyone, with disastrous results! It was an imaginary dinner party with my very real friends and they all enjoyed being included, even though they didn’t actually get a meal out of it….
I have free audiobooks! "Death by Didgeridoo" is now available!
I'm excited that my first Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Death by Didgeridoo," is now an audiobook, narrated by the talented voiceover actress, Carrie Lee Martz.
It's available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes, but I have some free ones to give away!
Message me if you'd like one, either for you or a friend.
It's available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes, but I have some free ones to give away!
Message me if you'd like one, either for you or a friend.
Check out my guest blog post!
Check out my guest blog post on Lattè Da! Café and Coffee Bar, But, be sure and grab yourself a hot cup of java first. Thanks, Betsy Bean~!
http://www.latteda.com/me-myself-and-...
http://www.latteda.com/me-myself-and-...
Check out this great review of my audiobooks by Mason Canyon!
What a beautiful blog! Check it out:
Thoughts in Progress-A place for my mind to gather its images
http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/2014/...
Thoughts in Progress-A place for my mind to gather its images
http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/2014/...
"Death by Didgeridoo" is free until 12/16!
"Death by Didgeridoo" is free until 12/16! Spread the word! :-D
Book and audiobook giveaway!
Thanks, Tina at "A Cozy Girl Reads" for the great review of "Death by Didgeridoo"! And thanks for hosting a giveaway of 3 e-books and 3 audiobooks. Giveaway ends Friday, February 27th at midnight. Good luck!
http://acozygirlreads.blogspot.ca/201...
http://acozygirlreads.blogspot.ca/201...
Audiobook giveaway! :-)
Thanks to Kym at "Tea and a Book" blog for the great review of "Death by Didgeridoo"! Check it out and enter to win a free audiobook. :-)
http://teaandabook.com/books/deathbyd...
http://teaandabook.com/books/deathbyd...
Free Audiobook Giveaway!
Check out this free Audiobook giveaway. Three people will win an audiobook download for one of my books. Caption the photo for a chance to win! All audiobooks are narrated by the talented Carrie Lee Martz.
While you're at it, check out the wonderful blog where the giveaway is taking place: "Bookbug's World", thanks Emilia!
https://bookbug2012.wordpress.com/201...
While you're at it, check out the wonderful blog where the giveaway is taking place: "Bookbug's World", thanks Emilia!
https://bookbug2012.wordpress.com/201...
Free book promotion 4/27-5/1, check it out!
Free book promotion through May 1st, check it out!
My Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 is free on Amazon through May 1st! :-)
Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series, including:
"Death by Didgeridoo"-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.
"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. 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. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Engaged in Danger," can be found at the end of the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Quinn-Mys...
My Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 is free on Amazon through May 1st! :-)
Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series, including:
"Death by Didgeridoo"-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.
"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. 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. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Engaged in Danger," can be found at the end of the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Quinn-Mys...
Free E-book on Amazon thru 2/17 only!
If you haven't met Jamie Quinn yet, now's your chance! The first book of my Jamie Quinn cozy mystery series, "Death by Didgeridoo", is on free promo on Amazon Kindle through 2/17. Check it out! :-)
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Didgerido...
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Didgerido...
A Trip on the Mobius Strip
Whenever I see something funny or weird that you can relate to, I will share it. Anything that will make you smile, or shake your head, or wiggle your ears. I'd like to see that, by the way...
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