Barbara Venkataraman's Blog: A Trip on the Mobius Strip, page 25

Free Audiobook Giveaway through April 5th!

Check out this free Audiobook giveaway through April 5th. Five people will win an audiobook download for "The Case of the Killer Divorce", the second book in my Jamie Quinn mystery series, narrated by the talented Carrie Lee Martz.

While you're at it, check out the wonderful blog where the giveaway is taking place: Beck Valley Books, thanks Sharon!

http://beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com/2...

Check out free book promo thru March 11th! :-)

Check out my free book promo on Amazon today thru March 11th. "I'm Not Talking About You, Of Course", Winner of the "Indie Book of the Day" award for June 7, 2014.

At 7,600 words, this work is a collection of humorous insights into important topics ranging from annoying pet people (“I’m Not Talking About You, Of Course”), to analyzing your inner child (“Irrational Fears”), to living like the Amish in the aftermath of a hurricane (“A Jolt of Electricity”). Other essays examine just how much damage can be caused by a sneeze (“It All Started with a Loud Sneeze”), why it is so complicated to buy a tube of toothpaste (“Ask Me No Questions”), how not to prepare dinner ("Martha, I Let You Down"), making new friends ("Friends in Low Places"), how a parent’s obsessive hobbies can become an inescapable vortex (“Crazy Hobbies”), and why spending the night in a sleep clinic is like being abducted by probing aliens (“Nightmare at the Sleep Clinic”).
If you don’t see yourself in each of these entertaining essays, then I’m not talking about you, of course.

http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Course-...

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...

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...

Free book promotion through February 18th!

Check out my free book promotion on Amazon: "Quirky Essays for Quirky People: The Complete Collection"! :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Essays-P...

For the first time, all in one place, the award-winning books, "A Trip to the Hardware Store & Other Calamities," and "I'm Not Talking About You, Of Course," PLUS seven bonus essays. What a collection! If this doesn't make you smile, then you're not even trying.

"A Trip to the Hardware Store"

These humorous essays explore such quirky topics as: disastrous home repairs, ("A Trip to the Hardware Store"), an unfortunate dinner party ("Dinner is Served"), the truth about lazy people ("Lazy Bones"), the weird life of a debt collector ("Your Account is Past Due") and obsessions with gadgets ("Gadget Girl"). Other essays examine how surreal the aging process is ("Where Did the Time Go?"), why you shouldn't judge a person by their job ("Beyond Belief"), and how to complicate simple transactions ("High Finance").

"I'm Not Talking About You, Of Course"

A collection of humorous insights into important topics ranging from annoying pet people ("I'm Not Talking About You, Of Course"), to analyzing your inner child ("Irrational Fears"), to living like the Amish in the aftermath of a hurricane ("A Jolt of Electricity"). Other essays examine just how much damage can be caused by a sneeze ("It All Started with a Loud Sneeze"), why it is so complicated to buy a tube of toothpaste ("Ask Me No Questions"), how a parent's obsessive hobbies can become an inescapable vortex ("Crazy Hobbies"), and why spending the night in a sleep clinic is like being abducted by probing aliens ("Nightmare at the Sleep Clinic").

If you don't see yourself in each of these entertaining essays, then I'm not talking about you, of course.

Free Book Promotion Through February 8th!

My short story, "If You'd Just Listened to Me in the First Place..." is free on Amazon now through February 8th if you want to scoop it up.

http://www.amazon.com/Youd-Just-Liste...

And check out the Audio version that just came out this month, it's priceless! Well, actually it's $3.46, but it's a bargain at twice the price. :-D

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/If-...

Three New Audiobooks Out!

The talented Carrie Lee Martz has been working hard in her recording studio and we now have three more audiobooks to show for it! "I'm Not Talking About You, Of Course," my award-winning book of humorous essays; "Quirky Essays for Quirky People: The Complete Collection", and a short story set in Louisiana, "If You'd Just Listened to Me in the First Place". All three are available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes. Listen to a sample, I'm betting you'll like them!

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.

"Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person"-on Kindle now!

Now available on Kindle, dear ones, your favorite grammarian, Mrs. Grammar Person, imparting her humor and wisdom for only 99 cents!

http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar...

MRS. GRAMMAR PERSON TELLS A STORY

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person knows you've been working hard and is sure that you deserve a break. To that end, she has invited you to join her for tea and, while you rest up, she will tell you a story. Mrs. G.P. reminds us that all writing should tell a story and have a proper beginning, middle, and end. But, what is the glue that holds it all together? Mrs. G. P. is glad you asked that--you talented grammarians! She will explain everything by and by, but, for now, she asks that you sit back, sip your Darjeeling and relax. Chocolate biscuit, anyone?

What kind of story would you like to hear? Our favorite grammarian has a wonderful idea, one that includes audience participation--a "build-your-own-story", if you like. Once she begins her tale, please pay attention and, whenever she pauses, you may fill in the blank from the choices she provides. Are you ready?

Once upon a time, there was a lonely monkey/orphan/misshapen potato making his way through the world as best he could. If anyone asked him, he would say that all he ever wanted in life was the chance to marry a stockbroker/judge a beauty contest/compete on Jeopardy, but he knew that this dream was out of reach, so he looked for a job instead. Nobody would to give him a chance; they all said he was too cantankerous/sleep-deprived/mountaineering. Frustrated, our hero turned to a life of crime and stole the king's favorite grilled cheese sandwich/talking parrot/thesaurus.

After that fateful day, our hero had to live on the run, or risk prison. In the beginning, he believed he needed only three things to survive. First, he needed his wits; second, his nerve; and finally, his silly string/pet ocelot/castanets. Also, he could have used a friend. In addition, finding a hot meal seemed fairly urgent. To be sure, he wasn't used to such a hard life. If only he could find his favorite food: figgy pudding/milk moustache/fried grasshoppers, he knew he would feel better. Equally important was a place to rest his head, preferably somewhere without bedbugs/fleas/a mint on the pillow. Finally, after searching everywhere, our hero found the perfect job, one that provided food and shelter, friendship and camaraderie. Above all, it gave him a reason to get up in the morning. In short, it was the best job ever, notwithstanding the fact that he was covered with dirt and mud all the time. In sum, he was deliriously happy working as a golf ball retriever/gopher tracker/dumpster diver and was quite good at it. As a result, he eventually earned the king's pardon. It also helped that he returned the king's grilled cheese sandwich/talking parrot/thesaurus. At last, our tale is done.

More tea, anyone? Now that you have enjoyed our little story, it's time to talk about that glue, the handy words and phrases that connect our disparate thoughts and make them flow like a gentle brook through a verdant meadow, like caramel syrup over creamy custard, like--well, you get the picture. What are these useful links called? Anyone? Yes! They are transition words and are in bold above. While all of them are connectors, they serve different functions.

Some transitional words are used to indicate similarity. A few examples are: in addition, likewise, furthermore, in the same way, and as well as.

Contrastingly, some transitional words are used to indicate dissimilarity or contradiction. A few examples are: in contrast, on the other hand, although, and yet, and however.

Other transitional words are used for emphasis. A few examples are: in fact, indeed, of course, truly, and even.

And some transitional words are used for place or position. A few examples are: above, adjacent to, beyond, below, and in front.

Yet other transitional words are used to indicate consequence. A few examples are: as a result, consequently, accordingly, thus, and therefore.

Still other transitional words are used to indicate sequence. A few examples are: after, during, earlier, to begin with, and next.

Other transitional words are used to indicate exemplifying. A few examples are: specifically, such as, namely, to illustrate, and for example.

In this next group, transitional words are used to show the priority of the writer's thoughts. A few examples are: above all, in the first place, of less/greater importance, moreover, and for one reason.

In the following group, transitional words are used to provide additional support or evidence. A few examples are: additionally, equally important, furthermore, in addition, and moreover.

In our final group, transitional words are used to show conclusion or summary, usually of an essay. A few examples are: in conclusion, in short, in summary, to conclude, and thus.

Congratulations! You have mastered the concept of transitions--and without even trying. Look at Mrs. Grammar Person beaming with pride. But, don't go yet, please have another biscuit as Mrs. G.P. has one more thing to tell you, and it is this: no matter what you write, be it a novel, a treatise, an essay, or a poem, you always have the same three goals: present the problem, work through the problem, resolve the problem. Once you've learned how to write a beginning, a middle and an end, you'll be able to tell your own stories. And what could be better than that? Nothing--except for tea with Mrs. Grammar Person, of course.