Barbara Venkataraman's Blog: A Trip on the Mobius Strip, page 6
February 27, 2021
Florida Bar Journal! :-D
Check out the fantastic review in the Florida Bar Journal for our book, Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four. :-)
https://www.floridabar.org/the-florid...
https://www.floridabar.org/the-florid...
February 26, 2021
Humble Pie :-)
I was taking a Masterclass on writing and one of the exercises was to write about a time you were embarrassed or frightened. It's an excellent exercise and one I recommend to improve your writing, with a little bit of therapy thrown in. :-D
Recalling one of my more embarrassing days I wrote this:
HUMBLE PIE
Being catty makes my throat tickle like I have a giant hairball but I must confess I used to be quite snarky--until the day it backfired. My public humiliation was served with cake, my cake of shame, and I'm embarrassed to say I ate it anyway…
Louis was a challenging client. His custody case didn't warrant his endless phone calls and questions but since he had some issues I tried to be patient. At some point, Louis discovered I was Jewish and imagined we had a kinship that wasn't there.
The week of Passover I had a day off but stopped by the office for my paycheck. As I chatted with a co-worker the receptionist buzzed on the intercom to ask if I wanted to speak with Louis. Since he was one of the reasons I needed a day off I couldn't believe she was asking.
"Of course I don't want to speak with Louis," I said, exasperated. "He's the last person I want to speak with!"
"Well, he's standing here with a gift for you," she replied coolly. "And you're on speaker phone."
It was like a bad dream, but worse than dreaming you forgot your clothes or that you missed a final exam. I was too horrified to face him. After minutes that seemed like hours I worked up the nerve to go see him. He was despondent as he handed me a Passover cake purchased from a Jewish bakery. For once, he was silent.
I tried to apologize for my rudeness, explaining that it was my day off and that I was annoyed with the receptionist. He said he understood but left quickly, head down, convinced he would always be annoying and that all the baked goods in the world couldn't fix it.
What did I learn? That being mean leaves a bad taste in your mouth that won't go away. Even after you eat an entire cake in one sitting.
Recalling one of my more embarrassing days I wrote this:
HUMBLE PIE
Being catty makes my throat tickle like I have a giant hairball but I must confess I used to be quite snarky--until the day it backfired. My public humiliation was served with cake, my cake of shame, and I'm embarrassed to say I ate it anyway…
Louis was a challenging client. His custody case didn't warrant his endless phone calls and questions but since he had some issues I tried to be patient. At some point, Louis discovered I was Jewish and imagined we had a kinship that wasn't there.
The week of Passover I had a day off but stopped by the office for my paycheck. As I chatted with a co-worker the receptionist buzzed on the intercom to ask if I wanted to speak with Louis. Since he was one of the reasons I needed a day off I couldn't believe she was asking.
"Of course I don't want to speak with Louis," I said, exasperated. "He's the last person I want to speak with!"
"Well, he's standing here with a gift for you," she replied coolly. "And you're on speaker phone."
It was like a bad dream, but worse than dreaming you forgot your clothes or that you missed a final exam. I was too horrified to face him. After minutes that seemed like hours I worked up the nerve to go see him. He was despondent as he handed me a Passover cake purchased from a Jewish bakery. For once, he was silent.
I tried to apologize for my rudeness, explaining that it was my day off and that I was annoyed with the receptionist. He said he understood but left quickly, head down, convinced he would always be annoying and that all the baked goods in the world couldn't fix it.
What did I learn? That being mean leaves a bad taste in your mouth that won't go away. Even after you eat an entire cake in one sitting.
February 10, 2021
New book on free promo thru 2/14 :-D
Just in time for Valentine's Day, our fun new book of Valentine Flash Fiction is free on Kindle through 2/14. Check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
February 3, 2021
A Book for Black History Month
Are you searching for books to read for Black History Month? Check out our memoir, Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four, available in e-book, paperback and audio-book. This inspirational, uplifting story explores a young man's four-year journey to right a terrible wrong and bring peace to four families. The Groveland Four were falsely accused of a heinous crime in the Jim Crow South and their families would spend the next seventy years trying to clear their names.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Description:
This book will take you through my incredible four-year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: 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 to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Description:
This book will take you through my incredible four-year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: 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 to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
January 29, 2021
Fantastic review & giveaway! :-D
A million thanks to Kathleen at KRL News & Reviews for the spotlight and fabulous review of my latest Jamie Quinn Mystery "Malice in Miami".
Check it out at the link below and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the e-book.
https://www.krlnews.com/2021/01/malic...
Check it out at the link below and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the e-book.
https://www.krlnews.com/2021/01/malic...
December 8, 2020
New Holiday Shorts Free on Kindle thru 12/12 :-D
I have a new little book of Holiday flash fiction that's free on Kindle today through 12/12. :-D
Blurb:
Holiday Flash Fiction, what could be more fun? Capture a mood, a memory, a wonderful experience, using exactly 100 words. Stories like Secret Santa, Brag and Gag, In the Nick of Time, The Roar of the Crowd, and Opposites Attract will give you a chuckle. Other stories like Everyone's a Critic, Spread Joy and Holiday Magic will make your holidays even more enjoyable.
Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Shorts...
Happy holidays!
Blurb:
Holiday Flash Fiction, what could be more fun? Capture a mood, a memory, a wonderful experience, using exactly 100 words. Stories like Secret Santa, Brag and Gag, In the Nick of Time, The Roar of the Crowd, and Opposites Attract will give you a chuckle. Other stories like Everyone's a Critic, Spread Joy and Holiday Magic will make your holidays even more enjoyable.
Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Shorts...
Happy holidays!
November 23, 2020
New Jamie Quinn Mystery is out now! :-D It's free thru 11/28
I'm thrilled to announce that my new Jamie Quinn Mystery, Malice in Miami, is finally out. It's on free promo 11/24-11/28. Happy Thanksgiving!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P27FRL6/...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P27FRL6/...
November 20, 2020
Spotlight & Giveaway! :-)
A million thanks to Kim at "Read Your Writes Book Reviews" for the fabulous spotlight on her blog! She not only featured my Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Collection, she also published my guest post and an excerpt from the book. Best of all, she is hosting a giveaway for the collection. Check out her wonderful blog!
Spread the word!
https://readyourwrites.blogspot.com/2...
Spread the word!
https://readyourwrites.blogspot.com/2...
October 29, 2020
Free Promo 10/29-11/2! New Halloween Flash Fiction :-D
Happy Halloween! To celebrate, I just released a new book: Scary Shorts: Halloween Flash Fiction. It's free from 10/29-11/2.
Description: 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.
Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Shorts-H...
Sample:
CANDY CORN
"Yuck!" Sarah spit out her Halloween candy.
"I don't like candy corn either. Just toss it, honey."
"Can I make stuff with it, Mom?" she asked.
"Sure!"
She made art, jewelry, and a game.
"Can we plant it?" she asked.
"It's not real corn," I said.
"We can pretend."
So we did. A week later, Sarah said "It's growing, Mom!"
The rains had washed away the dirt, exposing the tips. I said "They look like fingernails!"
When I turned around Sarah was gone and a hand was pulling me under. It's impossible to scream with a mouth full of dirt…
Description: 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.
Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Shorts-H...
Sample:
CANDY CORN
"Yuck!" Sarah spit out her Halloween candy.
"I don't like candy corn either. Just toss it, honey."
"Can I make stuff with it, Mom?" she asked.
"Sure!"
She made art, jewelry, and a game.
"Can we plant it?" she asked.
"It's not real corn," I said.
"We can pretend."
So we did. A week later, Sarah said "It's growing, Mom!"
The rains had washed away the dirt, exposing the tips. I said "They look like fingernails!"
When I turned around Sarah was gone and a hand was pulling me under. It's impossible to scream with a mouth full of dirt…
October 14, 2020
Free book on Kindle 10/14-10/18 :-D
Great news! Our award-winning book "Accidental Activist: Justice for The Groveland Four" is free on Kindle 10/14-18. Check it out!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
This book shines a light on a small, important piece of history illuminating both the wrongs that happened and what it took to finally arrive at justice for those falsely charged and convicted seventy years ago. Never doubt that one person can't make a difference.
Description:
This book will take you through my incredible four year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: 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 to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
This book shines a light on a small, important piece of history illuminating both the wrongs that happened and what it took to finally arrive at justice for those falsely charged and convicted seventy years ago. Never doubt that one person can't make a difference.
Description:
This book will take you through my incredible four year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: 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 to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.
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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