Previously Posted: An Interview With Tigger

I came across this post from January 31, 2010. It appeared on Pets and Their Authors: Get the lowdown on your favorite authors... straight from their pets' mouths! and hosted by Mayra Calvani. ...found this just as Tigger started nudging me for dinner, lol.

(BTW, I am putting a cat into my current WIP)

Interview with Tigger, proud owner of
Chelle Cordero

My guest today is a kitty
named Tigger. He shares
his home with romance
and suspense author
Chelle Cordero. Also with
two other cats (see below right).
Tigger is here today to spill the beans on Chelle...

Tell us, Tigger. How did you come to live with Chelle?

My mom, Chelle arrived at the Animal Shelter in Pomona, NY one
day in September 2008 where I had just been dropped off a few
days earlier. She had some 2-legged family members with her and
they were quite noisy coming into the room where I was sleeping –
actually I was imprisoned behind bars!
I heard them come in and began waving frantically for rescue.
Chelle heard me and saw my paw signaling to her. I heard her talk
with Mark (my dad) about my age, I was three years old then, and
they said I needed “saving”.

I was really thankful and made sure
to cozy up to them in the 
“acquaintance room”. They started
the paperwork to adopt me… but
before I could get them to make our
great escape, they picked out two
kittens to come home with us as well.
(Actually I’ve grown pretty close to
my new brothers.)

Why did she name you Tigger? Is she a Winnie de Pooh fan?

Tigger was the name on the cage where they found me – the people I
lived with before had called me that. I was told they had to give me up
because of allergies, it was a bummer. But good things came out of it
and I am very happy being here.

What's it like living with Chelle?

I think it’s pretty great living here. Chelle is “My person” and I’ve made 
that pretty clear to my brothers, Mario and Luigi, and the other two-
legged residents here.

Mom and Dad have always had feline family members and I’ve seen
lots of pictures of my past brothers and sisters – the house is fairly well
broken in for comfort. We get served our meals twice a day but there’s
always water and crunchies if we feel like snacking ‘round the clock. And
we have our own bathroom downstairs with two litter boxes so we never
have to wait. They also buy us toys and play with us a lot.

I hear she writes books...
Tell us about them.

She writes a lot! Sometimes she gets
so busy and I try to help her, but I get
a lot of typos on the keyboard. I do
send a lot of her emails though, that’s
easy, I just hit the mouse on her desk
for her – unfortunately I don’t always
wait for her to finish typing her email.

She writes mostly romantic suspense –
quite steamy! (I’m neutered so I don’t  really understand about all that)
I’ve heard that the love stories are very deep and a lot of people enjoy
reading them. Let me see if I can remember all of the titles –
Bartlett’s Rule, Forgotten, Within the Law, Courage of the Heart,
Final Sin, Hostage Heart and her most recent A Chaunce of Riches. Final Sin is a murder mystery.

Of all her books, which one is your favorite? Why?

I would feel better about her books if she had a nice cat or two in them…

I’ve changed my favorites a few times with some of her newer books.
Right now I think I am partial to Hostage Heart. The hero, Ryan, is not
the man that the heroine, Deanna, thinks he is, and that really makes
the story interesting. Also Hostage Heart is post Katrina and Ike and
Chelle did a lot of research into that since much of the action takes place
down south. Just reading it really makes me want to meow with a
southern drawl. Just recently author and editor Carolyn Howard-Johnson
named Bartlett’s Rule by Chelle to her Top Ten Reads list of 2009! It’s a
really good book with a story that is well worth telling.

Authors are pretty busy... does she have time for you?

She always manages to make time although sometimes I want more.
I think Chelle originated the attack-hug and she even purrs at me.
I like it when she scratches my ears.

Since she has a home office, I try to “go to work” with her every day.
Sometimes it’s a very long day and we are both so tired at the end
of the day. I love the commute though!

Are you allowed to sit on her lap while she writes?

I let her type at my desk. Actually it started out as hers but I sort of
took it over. I have this one favorite spot to curl up right under her
desk lamp so I feel all warm and relaxed. Chelle keeps a small bowl
on the desk and a bottle of water so when I get thirsty I can have a
drink of water – it helps me think when we are trying to work out a
story plot.

Does she have a website and blog?

Yes, yes and yes. Chelle has a very nice website at http://ChelleCordero.com and she has an author blog at http://ChelleCordero.blogspot.com. Everyone can read
about her books and all of the other websites she is involved with.
They also can see how to connect with her on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Chelle also offers a weekly online writing course available with a Kindle
subscription called Living, Breathing, Writing (http://bit.ly/Wmg8W).
She gets down to the nitty-gritty of writing and being a professional writing.
Her weekly articles are full of great tips and she always offers writing prompts and exercises – I love it when she lets me try out a writing prompt or two.

Thanks so much for letting me talk about my mom, author Chelle Cordero. I think she’s kind of purr-fect.

Thank you for spilling the beans, Tigger!

How to Spot a Victim of Domestic Violence

October is known for scary Halloween festivities - but what is really scary are the countless stories of Domestic Violence in our country and the world. While Domestic Violence can happen to anyone, any gender or age, it is most often considered a crime against women because of the statistics.

Domestic Violence is a subject I touch on in my book Bartlett's Rule. Bartlett's Rule is a work of fiction, the problem is not. October 2012 is NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

Please read the following article by Linda O’Dochartaigh and help spread the word.

How to Spot a Victim of Domestic Violence

Health-Care Pro Discusses the Many Warning Signs

In the United States, women are assaulted or beaten once every nine seconds; worldwide, one in three women have been battered, raped or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to women’s advocacy organizations.

“That means most of us – while grocery shopping, at work or at home – come across several women a day who have either been abused, or are currently enduring abuse,” says Linda O’Dochartaigh, a health professional and author of Peregrine (www.lavanderkatbooks.com). “It’s a terrible fact of life for too many women, but if there is something we can do about it and we care about fellow human beings, then we must try.”

There are several abuse resources available to women who are being abused, or friends of women who need advice, including:

• TheHotline.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)

• HelpGuide.org, provides unbiased, advertising-free mental health information to give people the self-help options to help people understand, prevent, and resolve life’s challenges

• VineLink.com, allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender is released, transferred, or escapes

• DAHMW.org, 1-888-7HELPLINE, offers crisis intervention and support services for victims of intimate partner violence and their families

Perhaps the best thing friends and family can do for a woman enduring domestic abuse is to be there for her – not only as a sympathetic ear, but also as a source of common sense that encourages her to take protective measures, O’Dochartaigh says. Before that, however, loved ones need to recognize that help is needed.

O’Dochartaigh reviews some of the warning signs:

• Clothing – Take notice of a change in clothing style or unusual fashion choices that would allow marks or bruises to be easily hidden. For instance, someone who wears long sleeves even in the dog days of summer may be trying to hide signs of abuse.

• Constant phone calls – Many abusers are very controlling and suspicious, so they will call their victims multiple times each day to “check in.” This is a subtle way of manipulating their victims, to make them fearful of uttering a stray word that might alert someone that something is wrong. Many abusers are also jealous, and suspect their partner is cheating on them, and the constant calls are a way of making sure they aren’t with anyone they aren’t supposed to be around.

• Unaccountable injuries – Sometimes, obvious injuries such as arm bruises or black eyes are a way to show outward domination over the victim. Other times, abusers harm areas of the body that won’t be seen by family, friends and coworkers.

• Frequent absences – Often missing work or school and other last-minute plan changes may be a woman hiding abuse, especially if she is otherwise reliable.

• Excessive guilt & culpability – Taking the blame for things that go wrong, even though she was clearly not the person responsible – or she is overly-emotional for her involvement – is a red flag.

• Fear of conflict – Being brow-beaten or physically beaten takes a heavy psychological toll, and anxiety bleeds into other relationships.

• Chronic uncertainty – Abusers often dominate every phase of a victim’s life, including what she thinks she likes, so making basic decisions can prove challenging.

About Linda O’Dochartaigh

Linda O’Dochartaigh has worked in health care is an advocate for victims of child abuse and domestic violence. She wants survivors to know that an enriched, stable and happy life is available to them. O’Dochartaigh is the mother of three grown children and is raising four adopted grandchildren.

I’ll be at the Piermont Library Book Fair on Oct 21, 1-3pm

2nd annual

LOCAL HARVEST BOOK FAIR

GREAT PICKS FROM NOTED

LOCAL AUTHORS!

HISTORY…MYSTERY…ROMANCE…FANTASY

POETRY…PLAYS…GODDESSES…GARDENS…

BIRDS…BIOGRAPHY…BUSINESS…GHOSTS

PIERMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sunday, October 21, 1-3 p.m.

Angelo Parra…Catherine Whitney…

Chelle Cordero…Charmaine Gordon…

Cristina Biaggi…Firth Fabend…

Gay Partingon Terry…Greta Nettleton…

Janet Lane Walters…Shari Maurer…

John Dullaghan…Joan Gussow…

Karen Steinmetz…Linda Zimmerman…

Marty Schupak…Marian Armstrong…

Mary Cardenas…Paul Braus…

Peter deLisser…Robert Samuels…

Stephen Roberts…François Vuilleumier…

Dr. Michael Nevins…Lennon Nersesian

take home SIGNED copies for your OWN FEAST –

and MORE for holiday giving!

all are welcome to attend FREE

refreshments will be served.

PIERMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY,

25 FLYWHEEL PARK WEST, PIERMONT NY

845-359-4595

Nostalgia

Funny... the things that can trigger a memory.

I had a mouse in the house yesterday. It was a little field mouse. I think he might have come in through the garage, we see them outside all of the time.

He ran across the living room and then doubled back to sit in front of the TV set. Foolish little fellow considering that I have three cats in the house.

My cats did NOTHING – the three of them, they just watched! I really don't think that they know they are cats.

I went and got a big-mouthed glass and a hard piece of thin cardboard and caught the little critter. He was actually cute. Then I walked him outside and let him go near a storm drain where he could find shelter. I certainly hope he had a safe night.

When I came back into the house I suddenly thought about my childhood friend Donna. When we were kids in grade school our science teacher encouraged us to raise and observe pet mice as a science project. Donna, another mutual friend and I bought three white mice at a pet store. Donna’s mom was cool about it and let us keep the cage with our mice at their house. (The other two moms were not so thrilled about having mice in the house.)

The mice were fun to watch and play with and the three of us took serious notes on the behavior for class. They became more pets than just a school project. Several weeks into the project the mice got out of the cage (I think one of D’s brothers left the cage door open). We never saw the mice again… I hope they made a break for the outside and got away, we never could get a straight answer from the little brothers.

I thought of Donna, she died a few years ago in a car accident. I miss her. Funny that a little field mouse would make me think of her. I miss her, but I didn’t feel like crying. I thought of the fun times we had and I chuckled at some of the mischief we got into. This little mouse actually made me happy.

The unexpected trip down memory lane made me think of how I have used memory flashbacks in my writing.

I thought of Tom Hughes, the hero of Within the Law. Tom has many poignant moments when he remembers the past - like the time he found his cousin after she ran away from home, the last time he saw his high school sweetheart before she died, or his memories of a brief love affair with the woman who taught him to love again. What triggered his memories? How did those memories affect the man he had become?

I’ve used flashbacks in other stories too, such as with Samantha Chaunce in A Chaunce of Riches. She had memories of Ben, a man she thought she would never have to see again after she left him in his hour of need. Sam had tried to suppress those memories along with the love she still had for him. Seeing him again and hearing his voice haunted her with those agonizing memories and all that she had given up.

Many things can trigger a memory and our minds wander. Sometimes the nostalgia brings us laughter and sometimes it brings us tears. A favorite cooking aroma, a perfume, a photo, a song we once danced to - they all seem to have the power to reach back into our subconscience and bring the memory to the forefront.

But a mouse on my living room carpet, that’s a first.

Without a Voice

After catching a bad upper respiratory infection (aka the common cold) I developed a severe case of laryngitis. This is not the scratchy throat and sound like a frog kind of affliction, this is total loss of voice – I cannot even grunt! I’ve been like this since last Sunday and while my husband is pretty much overjoyed, my doctor says I need to rest my larynx. Believe it or not even whispering puts a strain on the voicebox I have been unable to speak for the better part of a week and it’s been very frustrating.


An almost full week of silence got me thinking of women who are denied the opportunity to voice themselves. Some of the female characters I’ve included in my books have been denied the right to speak for themselves for one reason or another. In Bartlett’s Rule Paige was denied the right to say “No” when an ex-boyfriend viciously attacked her; In A Chaunce of Riches Samantha was blackmailed into silence about who she really loved; and in Hyphema Seudah was raised a Muslim Pakistani woman in a place where some women are still forced to hide behind veils and are not allowed to talk for fear of offending the men.


Although the things I’ve been able to do have been seriously curtailed without having a voice, I’ve been lucky to have friends and family who have been patient and willing to interpret hand signals, read hastily scribbled notes and crane to listen to a few whispered words. My silence has lasted a week and I have reasonable expectation of once again being able to talk for myself, hopefully soon. But what of those women who live lifetimes without the ability to say what is on their minds, to voice their feelings, to be heard and be allowed to matter.


This past week has given me a mere glimpse into their frustration. It is difficult to tell folks your needs when you can’t speak. In the United States the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was signed, recognizing women's right to vote on August 26, 1920. There has been progress worldwide over the right of women to have voices about family, religion, politics and health. But there are still lands and social situations where women are not afforded the right to have a say. This is a subject that should concerns us all; when human rights are denied to any person(s) it is an affront to us all.


Read up on women’s issues at these sites:

http://www.now.org/ National Organization for Women (NOW)

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ Womenwatch: A United Nations project

http://www.wedo.org/ Women's Environment and Development Organization

http://www.hrw.org/home Human Rights Watch

Uh, what year is this?

Perhaps reading recent posts from fellow Vanilla Heart Authors Malcolm Campbell  and Joice Overton  about the research they put into their stories for authenticity influenced my subconscious... boy did I ever wake from a confusing dream this morning!

Basically the dream involved two brothers and their dad. There was mention of mom but she never appeared in the dream. The setting, clothing wise and scenery seemed to be in the middle ages (like the "Robin Hood" era), but here comes the confusion.

The younger boy was headed off to some fair or such, he was rolling a zippered suitcase. The boys wanted their dad to come with them, but dad was having trouble getting a message to his wife because she apparently “never got off of her cell phone”. At the fair the boys ordered lunch and sat in a booth in a 50’s style diner complete with car hops on skates. Confused? Definitely.

Please don’t analyze my dream, lol – I swear, it was just because I was thinking about research and period authenticity.

How many times have you succumbed to a movie or book plot just to be jolted awake by a glaring addition of something so very out of place like a wrong year car driving over a bridge that collapsed years before the manufactured year? Or maybe it’s a pineapple tree growing (naturally) on the streets of New York City? The last time I was bumped out of the fantasy, it had to do with a police uniform and the color of a shirt. Not everyone will realize or catch mistakes, but why ruin it for anyone? Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean it shouldn’t seem real.

I write mostly contemporary fiction so, hopefully, I don’t have too much of a problem with the proper accessories of the time. But research is still crucial. Take the weather for instance, in Hostage Heart I used actual hurricane devastation to build my character’s story. Sometimes the tourist industry is important, in His Lucky Charm and Within the Law  I used well known landmarks to paint the picture. And in Hyphema  I used ethnicity and cultural insensitivity to build my plot.

Some research may come along easily especially if we write about areas, customs and time periods we are most familiar with. If I wrote about my community, my experiences, my lifestyle and my life in every book, I doubt readers would be fascinated (at least not beyond one story). I have to learn as much as possible about other occupations, religions, areas, cultures and more in order to make my stories real and believable.

How do writers do their research? Most of us delve deeply into the learning process using encyclopedias, the internet (and we know that EVERYTHING we find there is true, lol), read books, and even find tour guides for foreign locations.

When I am researching culture, religion or occupations, I stop random people in my daily activities and ask questions – I’m sure one of these days I’ll probably be arrested for harassment or such. I sometimes even go to experts for answers although I guess I wasn’t thinking too clearly the time I asked a real medical examiner if a particular poison could be detected in an autopsy…

We have muses, we have voices in our heads, and we live in fantasy worlds - but we do try to stay grounded in reality.

Please visit my website for more info about my books http://ChelleCordero.com/

And click here for more terrific VHP authors

167 posts

I just entered my 167th post on my Amazon Kindle blog Living, Breathing, Writing; that represents 3.21 years of weekly writing lessons - nearly 39 months - 167 weeks

Wow!

When I first started this Kindle blog, I wondered, could I actually "teach" folks how to write and make it in the writing world? I had after all been conducting in-person writing workshops for a while.

What I found I've done is share the lessons I've learned through the years (journalist since 1981, novelist since 2001) - my blog touches on topics like How to hook your reader, Getting press coverage for you and your book, Fitting writing into your life, Writing about heroes and villains, Getting emotional in your writing, Setting the scene, and more.

 This blog is available for Kindle users by subscription through Amazon at   http://bit.ly/Wmg8W

...and if you don't own a Kindle, well my fantastic publisher had the foresight to make Living, Breathing, Writing: A Lesson A Day Volume 1  and Living, Breathing, Writing: A Lesson A Day, Volume 2 available for download in multiple e-book formats from Smashwords - each book contains a month's worth of writing lessons based on my Amazon Kindle blog complete with writing exercises and prompts for practice.

When I started out in the writing world, I appreciated the words
of wisdom shared by my fellow writers who had more
experience and I hope to be helpful to other writers

Have you had your Expresso today?

Such exciting news!

Folks can walk into any location with the fun to watch EBM, call up a favorite title, and walk out five minutes later with their very own copy - it's instant gratification!

What's an EBM?   Expresso Book Machine

"The patented Espresso Book Machine® (EBM) makes a paperback book in minutes, at point of need. Through its EspressNet® digital catalog of content, books can be ordered online or onsite at bookstores, libraries, and non-bookstore retailers. Over seven million in-copyright and public-domain titles are available on the network. The technology is also ideal for self and custom publishing."

Now what this means for you, dear readers, is that you can walk into a location and walk out that same day with a fully printed book in hand!   Not ordered and wait - but you can start reading immediately.  Formerly this instant gratification was only available at a very few select mortar and brick stores - or for ebook purchasers... and there are still some purests out there who enjoy the feeling of a book in their hands.


And there are NO shipping charges - how much better can this get?   Even overseas readers can enjoy print copies of books WITHOUT those exorbitant shipping charges.


There are dozens of these machines already out there ALL OVER THE WORLD - and they are expecting that amount to more than double by the end of 2012.

Right now you can find EBMs in the following countries:

United States of America

Santo Domingo

Canada

England

Netherlands

Egypt

United Arab Emirates

China

Japan

Philippines

Australia

... and there are MORE coming!  For a complete listing of locations AND books available go here  http://bit.ly/JtiIpm 

http://ChelleCordero.com

Read the brochure here   http://bit.ly/NQOikO

From 6 to 51...

As an author I’ve often used sudden life changes as plot thickeners, playing with people’s lives by throwing in tragic and unexpected twists. These calamities make my characters seem more real, more vulnerable, and they help to keep my readers turning pages.


But Friday morning’s deaths in Aurora, Colorado didn’t need an author’s imagination to make the victims any more human or any more vulnerable. Twelve innocent people died – real people as young as six years old, not characters a writer can play with. Fifty-nine more people were vulnerable and now have to recover from the injuries received during this horrible act of violence. Hundreds more in the Aurora community and friends and families of the victims will forever be traumatized… for real, And their nightmare will not end because some author types the words “The End”.


It’s the real life horror story that make an author question the glee she normally feels as she manipulates her pretend people. Life imitates art, then why can’t everyone have a Happy Ever After?


My heart and prayers go out to the survivors, my tears are spent for the victims. And even this author’s fertile imagination can’t answer the question “Why?”, nor can I say how to prevent such carnage from ever happening again.


Proponents of stricter gun laws will point to the fact that the killer used rifles and handguns purchased within the state – opponents will argue that someone who plans such an attack for so long would have found a way around gun laws. We’ve already had an out-of-state politico blaming the moral fiber of our nation. And proponents for tougher penalties have been countered by those who say mental illness usually doesn’t allow for concern over potential punishment. Finally, we’ve heard how the violence of the movie confused the victims into thinking the initial outburst was simply part of the show – so much for hyper- vigilance.


It would be so nice to be able to re-write the scenario, it is so frustrating not to have control over these lives…


Take the time to let your loved ones know how you feel every day, dance like no one is watching, and live each day as if it’s your last...


Tomorrow is an unknown.

An interview Of Chelle by Morgan Bailey

This interview previously appeared on 

Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog

Author Spotlight no.53 – Chelle Cordero 28 Jan 2012

Chelle has come a long way since first joining the Vanilla Heart Publishing queue of authors nearly two years ago with her first novel, Bartlett’s Rule. Now with nine novels on the market, she has solidified her standing as a Romantic Suspense author (7 romantic suspense & 2 mysteries). She also has short stories in the VHP anthology With Arms Wide Open, Mandimam’s Press anthology Forever Friends, the VHP anthology Nature’s Gifts, VHP anthology Passionate Hearts and Mandimam Press anthology Forever Travels.

Bartlett’s Rule was named one of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Top Ten Reads for 2009; Final Sin was a 2009 Pushcart Nominee; and Hostage Heart, Final Sin and A Chaunce of Riches were nominated in the 2009 Preditors’ and Readers’ poll and had top-ten finishes. Chelle Cordero was recently featured as one of the authors in “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” published by The Author’s Show in 2010.

And now from the author herself:
As a child I kept notebook after notebook of writing attempts. In one case I created an entire TV series written specifically for my then-favourite actor; the series he was in was cancelled and after all, wouldn’t his agent be thrilled that someone cared enough to come up with a new script for him? The agent was unimpressed.

I did a favour for a community organizer when I was 18 and wrote a brief article for the local weekly paper. It was published and while I didn’t receive any monetary payment, seeing my name in the by-line was a “pure adrenaline” rush. For years I went back to writing my TV series, (hey even though the agent didn’t like it, I did) and short pieces of prose.

Finally, pregnant with our daughter, I decided to work from home and write full-time. I lucked into an underpaid, monthly column in the cable guide pretty much right away. Other non-fiction spots followed, luckily most had better pay rates. I felt like literally stumbled into writing as a profession.

That was the first time I announced (sort of proudly) that I was a writer. I had gotten paid for my writing and except for that one ungrateful actor’s agent, I had never known rejection. My ego was definitely inflated.

However most of the people who took my pronouncement seriously asked if I had written any books. I had to be honest, while I enjoyed writing ANYthing, I really wanted to create stories, fiction, romantic stories of suspense, mysteries…
So while working freelance as a journalist, raising two precocious kids, keeping a home and volunteering in my community, I found the time to start writing stories. Despite the long list of published credits I had, agents told me I was too new to take a chance on and I finally knew what it felt like to receive a rejection.

My ego was still so super-inflated that each time I received a rejection, I became more determined to get a novel published – I used to tell everyone that I wanted to grow up to be a novelist. I kept writing and finally in late 2007 I submitted a manuscript called Bartlett’s Rule to Vanilla Heart Publishing; it was accepted (there went that ego again!). I finally felt grown up.

I am still a freelance journalist and I enjoy my work. But I LOVE letting my imagination run away and create characters and stories. I still get that pure adrenaline rush each time I see my name on the spine of a book. I enjoy taking different experiences of my life and fashioning it into a novel. It’s amazing to see how something as simple as a grocery store encounter can turn into the beginnings of a mystery.

Nine novels later, short stories in five anthologies, two writing guides and scores more newspaper articles, I absolutely love my life.
I will send anyone who sends an email to ChelleCordero@gmail.com with “Sampler” in the subject a FREE .pdf sampler of all my novels and writing guides.


For more information about Chelle, visit her website at http://ChelleCordero.com or her blog at http://ChelleCordero.blogspot.com. All of Chelle’s novels are available in print or e-book through online retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble and various e-book formats like Smashwords.

Happy Mother's Day

Reva      &      Paula

What is a Mom? The title means much more than simply giving birth to a child, it's the love and support and nurturing given to that child. A Mom can give something up without sacrificing because that child is her priority. A Mom's love is never-ending and always a constant filling her child(ren) with confidence and security. Being a Mom means leaving your child(ren) with memories and a warm hug even long after she is gone.

My Mommy (Reva) and my Mom (Paula) [mother-in-law] earned their monikers and they left behind offspring who remember the lessons, the love, the warmth and the sometimes "crazy" ways they acted for their kids. I miss them both.

I had a lot of fun when I developed one of my characters, Sylvia Hughes, "aunt" and adopted-mother to Caitlyn in His Lucky Charm and mother to Tom in Within the Law. Sylvia was a doting mom who always wanted only the best for her kids, sometimes even resorting to well-meaning nagging and craziness...

(an excerpt from His Lucky Charm)

Dinner was chaotic. Sylvia cooked up a hearty beef stew because it was one of Tom’s favorites. Everyone sat at the round kitchen table for dinner, there was no order to their arrangement. Brandon was seated between Sylvia and Walter. Tom sat next to Walter and Caitlyn sat on Sylvia’s other side. Brandon was amazed that no matter how many different conversations were going on at the table, Sylvia managed to hear each one. And she made sure she added her opinions to each one, no matter what the topic was.

When Caitlyn asked Tom, again, if he was going to bring a date to the wedding, Sylvia added her comments. “Joyce would not have wanted you to live like this. You really should find yourself a wife.”

That was the first time that Tom hadn’t smiled for his mother’s benefit. “Ma, this subject is off limits.”

“Tommy, you are a young man.” Sylvia continued. “You should not live alone.”

“Ma... please.” Tom laid his fork down next to his plate.

“You’re a good looking man.” She turned to Caitlyn. “Isn’t he good looking?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Brandon, you’re getting married. Isn’t it a nice feeling to be settling down?”

“Ma! Stop it.” Tom stood up from the table. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He left in a hurry. The back door slammed shut behind him.

Sylvia looked at the rest of the family at the table. “What did I say?” She looked at each of their faces. Caitlyn was studying her plate. “What did I say?”

Walter shook his head and kept eating. “Sylvie, you never learn. Leave the boy alone.”

“What? I’m not allowed to care about my kids?”

Caitlyn put her fork down on the table and leaned over to hug Sylvia. “Aunt Syl, we love you. Tommy just needs to set his own pace. It will happen. Don’t worry.”

Sylvia took Caitlyn’s face in her hands and looked at her eyes. “I just want you two to be happy. That’s all I want.”

Caitlyn smiled. “I know.”

“You hear that Brandon?” Sylvia’s voice cracked. “You better keep my baby happy.”

“Yes ma’am.” Brandon looked at Caitlyn and saw her smile at him. “I plan to work at that for the rest of my life.”

“Good. Very good.” Sylvia nodded and went back to eating.

The back door opened and Tom came back in. “Sorry everyone. I just needed some air.” He went to Sylvia and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you ma.” Before he walked around the table, Brandon saw Tom squeeze Caitlyn’s shoulder.

Walter stopped eating long enough to ask Tom how he was feeling.

“Good dad, good.” Tom sat back down in his chair and went back to eating.

And just like that, the conversations started again. And everyone ate. And Brandon learned just what family was all about.

Everyone should have a good person to love.

May 9, 2012
Thank you Mr. President!

(excerpt from Final Sin)

            "Tell me more about you.  I want to know you."  She spread her hand against his chest.  "Tell me what you were like as a child.  What's your family like?"

            He shrugged slightly.  "I was just an ordinary boy, nothing special."

            "I don't believe that.  There is certainly nothing ordinary about you now."

            "Nobody expected anything great out of me.  At least I didn't let them down."

            "I think you are underestimating yourself.  I think you are kind of great."

            He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.  "My parents weren't thrilled when I got together with Helen.  They thought I was, well, thinking with the wrong brain."  Jake sighed.  "I think they were surprised when I decided to work towards my degree anyway."

            Julie yawned.  "Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude."

            "You need your sleep."

            "No, I want to hear about you."  She was fighting to stay awake.  "How did they feel when you got divorced?  Did your folks like her?"

            "I don't really know how my dad felt, he never really said.  Maybe he was just too busy letting my mom do the talking… I embarrassed her, I was the first to get divorced in the family.  I don't think my mother liked her, she just felt that once I was married, I should have stayed that way."

            "Is your sister married?"

            "Well… that was another reason for my mom to complain.  My sister has a partner, a same sex partner."  His mother's lament was having a son who couldn't keep a wife and a daughter who didn't choose a man.  "My sister and her partner came out, they're lesbians."  Jake wondered if he was just trying to see how Julie would react to that.  She didn't flinch.

            She looked up at him in the darkened shadows.  "And your parents didn't approve?  How about you?"

            "I guess I was a little uncomfortable at first, I had never known anyone, really known that is, who was… homosexual."  He shifted a bit.  "But then I went out to visit them, they live in California, and they are really happy together.  Maggie makes my sister really happy and that's important to me."

            "That's good."  She sounded like she was beginning to drift off.  "Everyone should have a good person to love."

###

Final Sin    by Chelle Cordero
84500 words. Published by Vanilla Heart Publishing on June 13, 2009. Fiction. 
Deputy Sherriff Commander Jake Carson has his hands full... investigation of a brutal multiple homicide, a troubled son and a vindictive ex-wife. He meets young, free-spirited paramedic Julie Jennings. When Julie becomes the subject of an obsession, it puts both of them in danger...

Today’s Author Radio Show – May 21

Please mark your calendars…

I’ll be on Today’s Author radio program on Monday, May 21 at 7AM EST

Just tune in to http://www.bookradiostation.com to listen

We’ll be talking about my EMS based murder mystery novelHyphema

Hyphema is a thriller involving murder, suspense, prejudice, love, and emergency medical services. Former New York Paramedic Matt Garratti trains as a flight medic, but when the economy forces a career relocation he moves his immigrant Pakistani-Muslim wife and infant son to North Carolina.

The area of northeast North Carolina the Garratti family moves to is scenic and known for “southern hospitality”, but there are huge pockets of town folk who have never met a Muslim believer and only know of “them” from news reports after 9/11.

Matt’s wife Sudah is looked at with disdain by some of their neighbors. When strange things happen that threaten the small family’s well-being, there are those, including the local police, who erroneously believe that it is reaction to Sudah’s ethnicity – and while no one thinks it is right, they also seem to think it is not all that serious.

*****

Matt Garratti is a character created in my murder-mystery-suspense Final Sin and Hyphema is a continuation of his story (including his marriage to Sudah). By the beginning of Hyphema, Matt has moved his family and is ready to begin his new job.

I used my own background as a NYS EMT (26 yrs) as well as the experiences of other EMS personnel I know to build Matt’s medical background.

Sept 11, 2001 changed our world and it put a new emphasis on prejudice. In Hyphema, Sudah Garratti is being held accountable for others’ actions. There are those who have problems with the “mixed marriage” and those who cannot understand that all people have good and bad.

Hyphema is a study of culture, clashes of personalities, blame, and suspense. 

It’s a Brave New World

…and I applaud the writers of Harry’s Law for challenging the assumptions of RAPE in tonight’s episode (And the Band Played On). Among the finer points (and I apologize if this is a little too brutal), it was stated CLEARLY that rape is not always a stranger holding a woman down at knifepoint  - it CAN be date rape, a man can be victimized, and at times the victim can even climax and it doesn’t mean they enjoyed it. The show’s characters even had some debates amongst themselves. It was a very interesting episode.

Bartlett’s Rule is a love story. When I wrote it my intention was to challenge the assumptions made about rape. Paige was raped by someone she knew and trusted and even the hero of the story, Lon, has to “wrap his head” around the concept. It all comes down to CONSENT.

In the real world many good and caring people have had to rethink their attitudes. As we wind down to the end of April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) I encourage everyone to continue healthy discussions about respect, sexuality and consent. Talk to each other. Talk to your kids.

For resources to help guide you, please refer to the Sexual Assault Awareness Month website. Click around for fact sheets and discussion starters. A bit of knowledge goes a long way.

Bartlett's Rule by Chelle Cordero
Buy Links

Amazon (print)

Amazon (Kindle)

BarnesandNoble (print)

BarnesandNoble (NOOK)

multiple ebook formats (Smashwords)

Your Next Book Club Discussion - Bartlett's Rule

Free Discussion Packet

Bartlett’s Rule
(pdf file)

(excerpt)

     She nodded. Memories flitted through her mind as if the event had just occurred. She swore she could feel the shock and disbelief... and the pain. “Hal was distraught. He begged me to take him back... again. But I couldn’t. He kept calling me but I kept saying no.” She paused unsure whether she could continue, but when she looked at Lon and saw his compassion staring back, she felt stronger. “He was waiting in the apartment one day when I got home from work. I hadn’t thought to change the lock. I didn’t realize he still had a key. He was crying and he begged me to talk, just talk. So I said okay.”

     Lon saw Paige glance at the clock over the stove. Her courage seemed to falter. “Take your time. There’s no hurry.”

     “We argued again. I asked him to leave. He refused. So I said I was going out for a while and would he please be gone by the time I got back.” She felt the sob build inside her. “I finally went to walk out, he grabbed me just inside the door of the apartment, pushed me to the floor, held me down covering my mouth, pulled my clothes off and entered me. Hal said he was showing me he loved me. It was painful. I must have formed a mental block because although I remember being scared about pregnancy, I honestly couldn't remember or figure out if he used a condom or came in me.”

     He suppressed the ripple of anger he felt. “You were in shock.”

     “I never thought he would really hurt me and believe it or not, I was afraid in the beginning of the attack to fight back and hurt him. So in some ways, I almost feel as if I let him do what he did because by the time I did start to fully fight, he had me pinned down. I couldn’t get him off of me.”

     He waited. She was quiet and just stared at the table top. “What happened next?”

     “I... I got up and got dressed and I left. I went to a friend’s house. I thought she was a friend. I was crying so hard. I remember her saying to me ‘Well what did you expect, you never said no to him before.’ The guilt really set in after that and I blamed myself.”

     Sighing, Lon realized how Paige had been betrayed twice, once by Hal and once by that so-called friend. “So you didn’t think you had the right to report it as a crime.”

     She cried. “She convinced me it was my fault. And I knew I hadn’t fought the way I should have. I waited a while and then I called my apartment to make sure he had gone. I went home and showered. I douched. I tried to wash it away. I even threw out the clothes he had torn off of me.”

     Lon stood and started to go to her. Then he thought to ask first. “May I hold you?”

     Paige choked back her tears and nodded. “I’d like that.” She stood and went into his arms. It felt good to be comforted.

     “Ssh.” He held her and soothed her hair away from her face. “None of it was your fault. Hal had no right to do what he did to you.”

     “But I didn’t fight him.”

     “You trusted him. He betrayed that trust.”

     “I... I thought he loved me. He was the first man I had ever been with. We had been sleeping together from before we got engaged. My friend was right, I never told him no.”

     “Your so-called friend wasn’t much of a friend. You didn’t do anything wrong, Paige.”

     She cried into his shoulder and Lon just held her.

Bartlett's Rule by Chelle Cordero

AMAZON   B&N   OMNILIT PDF

KINDLE   SMASHWORDS MULTIFORMAT