Do You Watch "Days of Our Lives"

Oh yes, I'm a sucker for a soap opera - I used to watch "Days of Our Lives" with my disabled mom when I came home from junior high school; since we didn't have VCRs and DVRs back then, I couldn't watch once I went to high school or college. I feel like I've grown up with many of the characters (although certainly not at the same rate, lol)

But, I digress...

I am sitting here watching a Days of Our Lives episode (hope I don't throw any other fans any spoilers here) and Nick is finally confessing to Gabi what happened to him in prison. I sure hope that she accepts him.

I thought of my novel Courage of the Heart and the scene where Adam Sherman tells Davie Prescott what happened to him...

Wow! The stories are so incredibly close. Unfortunately prison rape is frequently a very real and tragic occurrence...

I have to say that Blake Berris (actor, Nick Fallon) has done a wonderful acting job. Kudos to him.

I recently created a NEW Book Club Discussion Packet for Courage of the Heart (you can download it here)

This book makes a terrific addition to any book club repertoire. I hope you enjoy it -

...and now, back to my soap.

Courage of the Heart

Adam is attracted to Davie, but he shies away from her innocence because he feels his shameful past is too harsh for her existence. Adam finally shares his darkest secret with Davie and is amazed to find that she doesn´t turn away from him.

But when Adam’s past catches up to him, he soon learns that there´s a lot more at stake than just his nightmares. Adam is prepared to give Davie up if need be in order to protect her until he learns that she´s got a secret of her own. With Davie´s help, Adam learns a courage that is born of love, courage of the heart.

I miss my youth - win a FREE ebook!

I miss the days when I felt confident enough to lead with my heart and not my head - when common sense didn't stop me from having fun - when I had the desire and the impetus to experience adventures - when I felt invincible and couldn't comprehend my parents' worries.

Today as a woman with several decades behind me and offspring of my own, my perspective is quite different. Today I (try to) think before I act, weigh the possible results of every decision, and say thanks everyday that I survived my youth and still manage to make it through my present. I don't lead a boring life by any means, but I do lead a more cautious one.

My two grown children have followed their hearts to travel the world, jump from airplanes, run obstacle races, play extreme sports, explore caves, hike mountains, respond to danger as first responders, learn and use new skills, take gambles, and always push themselves a few steps further. It would be sooo easy to live vicariously through them. And now I truly emphathize with my parents' angst...

My characters are not boring people either. When I write I include some of my past experiences, borrow some of my children's lives, and certainly toss in my dreams, to create people who live life to the fullest.

Have you read any of my books? Would you like to take a guess and try to win a FREE ebook of one of my novels?

Listed below are 3 columns - a character, a profession, a book title.  See how many you can match up. The first 4 people to play this game and get AT LEAST 1 complete answer right will win a FREE ebook. (hint: for easy clues, go to  http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/chellecordero) Submit your answer in the comments below

1:  Adam Sherman	A: artist	r:: Final Sin
2: Tom Hughes	B: state trooper	s:: Common Bond, Tangled Hearts
3: Julie Jennings	C: FBI agent	t: Bartlett’s Rule
4: Caitlyn Price	D: pr exec	u: Courage of the Heart
5: Matt Garratti	E:  business owner	v: Hyphema
6: Paige Andrews	F: bodyguard	w: Within the Law
7: Ryan Hunter	G: programmer	x: His Lucky Charm
8: Justin Ross	H: flight medic	y: A Chaunce of Riches
9: Ben Johnson	I:  paramedic	z: Hostage Heart

VHP Hot Summer Contest 2013

NEW AUTHOR CONTEST SUMMER 2013

Vanilla Heart Publishing is looking for a few more great authors, and we’re sponsoring a contest to find them.

We’re looking for novels in each of the following genres: mystery, suspense, and historical. Full manuscripts will be requested from the authors of the top three contest submissions in each genre. The winning manuscript in each genre as decided by our panel of three judges will be awarded a standard VHP contract.

CONTEST RULES

Contest opens to submissions 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2013, and will remain open until 12:00 p.m. September 15, 2013. Submissions received before or after these dates will not be considered.

Contest is open to both published and unpublished writers, however, the manuscript submitted must not have been previously published in any format, including self-publishing venues and blogs.

Novels must be complete, and be between 45,000–95,000 words. Submissions short or longer than this will not be considered.

Submission must include only the first three chapters and the final chapter of your manuscript.

Submissions must be in 12-point Times New Roman or Courier Font only .


Submission must also include cover sheet with the following and only the following information: 

• Your name
• Your pen name, if you have one
• Genre of your submission/manuscript: mystery, suspense, or historical only. Other genres will not be considered.
• Working title of your manuscript
• Total word count of your full manuscript
• Total word count of your submission
• Your e-mail address
• Where we can find you on the Web (Website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) with URLs or other direct links.

Submissions will be accepted via email only. Email submissions to:

 ContestSummer2013@
VanillaHeartBooksAndAuthors.com

We will select three full manuscripts from each genre by October 25, 2013. If your submission is not selected, you will be notified by this date.

Do not submit full manuscript unless requested to do so. Submitting full manuscript if not requested will automatically disqualify entry from contest.


Winning authors and book titles will be announced on the Vanilla Heart Publishing Website on November 25, 2013, after winning authors are notified and under contract, with publications dates and author pages on the VHP Website are completed.

We reserve the right not to declare a winner in one or more genres if none of the submitted manuscripts meet our publishing standards.

The decision of the judges is final. Do not email us questioning why your submission was not selected; such emails will not be answered.

Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Just wanted to wish y'all a
Happy Mother's Day

There are always mixed feeling to such an observance for those of us who are blessed to be moms and for those of us who remember the gentle nurturing of our own mothers. 

So I say thank you to my mom who passed away in 1979, the lessons she taught have carried me through life and I only hope that I have been able to emulate some of her mommy-ness for my own offspring. ~  I also remember my husband's mom and want to say thank you to her for raising such a fine son. I am blessed with wonderful memories of strong and capable women who knew how to let their children know they were loved.

And speaking of blessings, I have the most beautiful of all - my daughter and my son and their chosen mates. I thrill each time one of them calls me Mom. And I marvel at the two babies I coddled and how they have grown to be absolutely fantastic adults. I love them for being my "babies" and I admire them for their accomplishments and talents.

But enough about my boasting...

This weekend also makes me think
"What is a mom?"

It isn't necessarily genetics or even gender anymore. A MOM is someone who nurtures and loves, a MOM is selfless and devoted, a MOM can give magical kisses and at least for a while is thought to know all the answers. Most of all, a MOM doesn't lose herself and yet her kids become her world. Being a mom is a great state of being.

So for all the nurturers, all the caregivers, all the huggers and all the confidants, I hope you enjoy your day with your little ones, with your fur-babies, and with the partner who helped make you a mom. (And if you are lucky enough to have your mom around, enjoy.)

Being a mom is one of the best feelings
in the world!

A re-post from Let's Talk Romance...

This post appeared on the Let's Talk Romance blog in January 2010

An Interview With Chelle Cordero

How did you get started writing?

In high school I took a creative writing class under the tutelage of the late poet Daisy Aldan, she helped my organize my earlier scribbles into cohesive thoughts. Later, while I was in college, I volunteered with the NYC Auxiliary Police and wound up working with the community relations officer of our precinct. Henry (Hank) Spallone taught me to write press releases and deal with the media – when a 16-year old boy was killed when he came to the aid of a mugging victim, Hank asked me to write an article for the local newspaper, the piece was published. That was the start of my professional writing career.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love knowing that my words have an effect on people – they can share emotions with my characters in my novels and hopefully they will “think” about the situations. Since I am also a freelance reporter for several publications, I also like providing valuable information to my readers and hopefully help them make sound decisions about their health, home and lives

Is there anything you would like to share about yourself or your work?

My work is an extension of me so I feel I do share myself with every story – while my characters may not resemble me in who they are, they do share many of my ideals. I believe that I have done many interesting things in my lifetime and I like adding some of those adventures and mis-adventures into the subplots.

How would you describe your love scenes?

HOT, but always appropriate My sex scenes tend to be explicit but I don’t believe in violence or force – just two people wanting to show each other great tenderness and pleasure.

How would describe your voice?

My “voice” comes through my characters – they write their own stories. I build a character by giving each a history and they react to the situations I throw at them based on past experiences and attitudes.

Where can fans follow you?

My personal web-site is http://chellecordero.com and my author blog is http://chellecordero.blogspot.com

Any professional advice for other authors?

Keep at it. Don’t let rejections deter you. Hone your craft, keep your writing tighter and keep writing and submitting. Read A LOT and don’t limit yourself to only one or two favorite genres – open your mind and absorb those words.

What is your favorite television show?

I enjoy shows such as Ghost Whisperer and Medium because I like the idea of exploring things we can’t see and may not believe in (btw, I DO believe in ghosts and ESP) – this gives our minds a chance to stretch beyond our known comfort levels.

What kind of music do you like?

I like most music but have a fondness for country songs and ballads that tell a story. I often work with music playing and enjoy allowing the music to “grab me”.

What is the most memorable book you’ve read?

The Bible. I took a theology class in college and the textbook was the King James version of the Old and New Testaments. I am Jewish and I enjoyed seeing the common origins between Judaism and Christianity. I also enjoyed the morals and lessons throughout this great book.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, aside from my hubby and kids (lol), I currently reside with three rambunctious cats – Tigger, Mario and Luigi. We’ve had cats all of our married life (34 years) and I feel a great love and have terrific memories of each cat that has since passed on.

Thank you for visiting A History.

—

April Dawn

May is National Pet Month

National Pet Month is a celebration of the benefits that pets bring to people's lives - and vice versa. It is observed annually in the United States in May... (from Wikipedia)

I love cats - I have three of them. Each pussycat has a unique and distinct personality. Often I swear they talk back, sure, it may sound like a "meow", but it certainly means more than that.

Mario  ~  Luigi  ~  Tigger

(please don't be insulted dog lovers, I like pups too,
but I am highly allergic to them)

Some time ago a reader asked me about writing pets into my novels and I was ashamed to admit I had only done it once, in Courage of the Heart my heroine Davey had a dog named Gizzy that lived in her childhood home with her dad.

So feeling a little bit guilty and noticing the three felines pictured here staring at me as I work on my latest WIP, I've written a cat into it. My hero owns a cat, or rather, resides with one. The feline is named Mauszer, he gets underfoot quite a bit and hisses at the heroine a lot... but that is really expected for such an intuitive animal.

My current work is a paranormal named KARMA VISITED

Somehow I picture Mauszer as an older, possibly overweight, grey tabby. The hero inherited him from a previous tenant. I think he's an indoor cat (as mine are)

So how about you? Have you read (or written) about any memorable pets in your favorite stories? Please, tell me about it.