Monday, September 28, 2015

The Way We Grieve ~ #MondayBlogs

September is an emotional month for many, there are the memories of 9/11 and all the lives lost and so many of us, even those fortunate not to be personally touched, still tear up and mourn the loss of lives and innocence. This year the Jewish Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur happened in September; on Yom Kippur we (Jews) say a memorial prayer for the departed and remember our loved ones who are no longer with us on this earth. There are also other times throughout the year for us to remember and pay homage to those who have left their earthly presence.

Why do we keep reminding ourselves of these losses? It is important to remember our loved ones and even the ancestors we never met except for the stories we were told. We hold onto our memories, but we are not supposed to drown ourselves in sorrow. We are not supposed to stop living. In the memorial prayer we say on Yom Kippur we pledge charity in the name(s) of our departed loved ones to bring some good into the world. Life goes on.

There are natural stages of grief and most of us really have to take the journey, it's just being human:
1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Some casual family friends recently suffered an unexpected loss. Their large extended family and good friends immediately encircled the grieving family being there to show their love, lend shoulders, carry tissues, cook and care for the mourners. Their pain over their loss was there, but the feeling of being left alone in the world wasn't. Like a child who fears losing his or her parents, those left behind wonder who will be there to take care of us, to comfort us, to guide us and it doesn't matter what age you are or how independent you've lived your life.


People who come to pay their respects don't always know what to say to someone who is mourning. Talk about the person, share your memories (memories to mentally hold onto are the most precious gift). Don't ignore the painful truth, that a loved one has died, but don't make that the sole focus of your conversation. Avoid minimizing their feelings or trying to make them see how much worse things could be. Even a few attempts at mild, polite humor are not out of line.

If you are planning to offer comfort to a grieving family, it may be a good idea to know the mourning and funeral customs if they are people of faith. Each religion has specific traditions they follow. If you would like to learn more about these different customs, check out  Funeral Traditions Of Different Religions (http://bit.ly/1MA1kRY)


May you all enjoy long happy lives surrounded by loved ones


“Because I can count on my fingers the number of sunsets I have left,
and I don't want to miss any of them.” 

― Suzanne CollinsCatching Fire

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Too late? ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 09/27/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior round. Every week writers post 8 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book. Then we "hop" around and leave comments on each other's snippets. Whether our work is already published or in progress, the helpful comments help us become stronger writers on our next WIP. We welcome EVERYONE's comments.

See more at the
WeWriWa blog

& check out the
Facebook Snippet Sunday group


My entry this week is from Common Bond, Tangled Hearts. Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son. 

After a passionate night (and morning) Justin gets dressed to leave, as promised, before Dennis is brought home.

  (the following has been edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:

"I'll be back in a few hours and I'll drive Dennis to school," he carefully donned his clothing. He kissed her and then was out the door, Layne stretched languidly and went back to sleep.

He was thinking how great it had been to wake up next to her as he trotted down the stairs and out the building exit onto the still dark morning street; the blow came from behind and knocked him to the ground.

Dazed, Justin tried to get up when he was kicked in the side; the sharp, stabbing pain knocked the breath out of him. Trying to block the blows, he realized there was more than one and he couldn't fend off all the punches and kicks, he fought a valiant fight, but there were three of them. He was struggling not to lose consciousness, a tight band was being wound on his arm. Through a swollen eye he saw the needle and felt the pinch as a hot fluid was squeezed into his vein.

"Keep your hands off what doesn't belong to you."

He heard those words through the fog that began to form in his head, they ran towards the street. Justin used the last of his strength to try to stand, he needed to get to Layne, he knew they were going after her; he fell and didn't get up again.




For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 


About Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.
Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect… at all costs.
The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.




    ~~~~~~~~



Monday, September 21, 2015

The American Predilection to Prejudice ~ #MondayBlogs

I recently watched the movie "Black or White" starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer; it's a movie about a recently widowed white grandfather who is drawn into a custody dispute over his biracial granddaughter who he has raised all of her life. Overall the movie was, in my opinion, terrific. Admittedly the story does include some stereotyping: a wealthy white grandfather with a drinking problem, a crack addicted and absent black father, and a loving black grandmother who lives with her large extended family in an unsavory part of town. Personally I think those stereotypes were used to emphasize that no side is perfect or better than the other

During one of several poignant courtroom scenes where the father's family lawyer Jeremiah (played by Anthony Mackie) tries to make Elliot (played by Costner) out to be a bigot, Elliot makes a very dramatic and thought-provoking argument:

Jeremiah: Do you have a problem with racial prejudice?
Elliot: Is that what you want to make this about, Jeremiah? Really? Well then let's do it them. You've wanted to ever since Rowena first dragged you into this. So yes, we're different, you and I. You want to submit that? Submit it. We have different skin color. Is that the first thing I notice when I see a black man, the color of his skin? Yes. Submit Away. Because I can go ahead and submit that it's the first thing you see when you see a white guy. Now I don't know why that is any more than I know why when I see a good-looking woman, the first thing I notice are her breasts, because I do. But if I move on to my next thought quick enough, I'm not a pervert... I'm not a bad guy. I'm just mildly flawed. It's the same thing with race. It's not my first thought that counts, it's my second, third and fourth thought. And each and every case I'm in it comes down to the same thing, the action and the interaction with the person I'm interacting with. 
Noticing a person's physical description whether they are black or white, male or female, fat or thin, tall or short doesn't make a person a bigot. The meaning of PREJUDICE according to Google is a "preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience". Prejudice is when we allow that first look, that first impression, to make a difference in how we view an individual. We teach our children to notice the things around them, we ask our police officers to note a person's description, we hope drivers are observant about the people and places they pass. If you look with your eyes open you will see differences in our appearances. I am a short olive-toned, plumper than should be female and if you notice any of that you are simply looking AT me... BUT if you allow any of that to think that I am less or more worthy of fair treatment than any one else simply based on my appearance, then that is prejudice.

We are all raised with some preconceived notions... a white picket fence around a suburban house means a happy family... an eccentrically dressed older woman sitting on a park bench is crazy... a well dressed white man driving an expensive car is highly respected... a young black child with a torn and dirty shirt has an irresponsible single mother. We've been exposed to many of these stereotypes in our childhood homes, on TV, through single incidents. As "Elliot" said though, move on to your next thought; think of the possibilities, learn more.

As a society we've become lazy. Too many people don't want to take the time to learn about a person and about their character. Meet me, talk with me; read my resume if I am looking for a job instead of tossing it onto the rejection pile when you see the Spanish surname. Don't assume when you see the Star of David I sometimes wear that I fit every negative ethnic joke you ever heard about Jews. And if you decide I have the qualifications for the job don't pay me less than you would a man working the same position.

Yes, we have differences. Even people of the same ethnic group, gender, age range, religion have differences. And yet we are all alike, we all feel pain and joy, we all enjoy being loved, we all need sustenance, and we all need air to breathe. Even identical twins can have very different personalities, skills and desires. 

Prejudice is stopping at that first look or that first impression. Prejudice is not thinking past stereotypes. Prejudice is allowing bias to dictate how you treat someone simply because you can't or won't take the time to move on to your second, third and fourth thoughts.

Respect people for WHO they are and not for WHAT they appear to be.
Make time to learn their traditions, cultures and language.
Give meaning to the words Brotherhood and Humanity.


Saturday, September 19, 2015

She's worried ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 09/20/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior round. Every week writers post 8 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book. Then we "hop" around and leave comments on each other's snippets. Whether our work is already published or in progress, the helpful comments help us become stronger writers on our next WIP. We welcome EVERYONE's comments.

See more at the
WeWriWa blog

& check out the
Facebook Snippet Sunday group


My entry this week is from Common Bond, Tangled Hearts. Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son. 

Happy to see each other and taking advantage of being alone, they make love and then get comfortable in each other's arms. But Layne can't stop worrying and she's not used to asking for help.

  (the following has been edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:



She was resting her head on his shoulder, "Justin, I need to ask a favor."

"Whatever you want," he kissed the top of her head.

"I don't have the money for a lawyer, I need to have papers drawn up so if anything happens to me, you have custody of Dennis. I know that you are biologically his father, but I don't know how that would hold up in a court and I just don't want him being made a ward of the state or worse, having Charlie get a hold of him."

"Is there a problem?"

She hesitated, but had to make sure that her son was protected, "could you hire a lawyer to have those papers done up? I wouldn't ask, but I can't afford it and..."

"Ssh, of course, don't worry. I'll call my lawyer tomorrow morning and get things started."

"Thank you," she felt better knowing that Justin was there.




For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 


About Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.
Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect… at all costs.
The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.




    ~~~~~~~~

The period between Rosh Hashanah (this past Sunday night through Tuesday sundown) and Yom Kippur (next Tuesday night through Wednesday sundown), more commonly known as the Jewish New Year observance, is a time for personal reflection and introspection. We learn to evaluate all that we've done in the past year and ask for forgiveness for wrongs and hurts we've inflicted, whether intentional or not; and of course we must try to do better in the coming year so that our apologies are truly more than mere lip service. More importantly we need to forgive others; sometimes forgiveness is not so easy, or maybe our memories are just too keen. 

With some of the dastardly deeds "bad guys" have done to my heroes and heroines in my books, I often wonder how much can really be forgiven. Although I know as a writer that no real person is all good or all bad, I sometimes marvel at the resilience of some of my characters and the inherent need to be kind. Am I holding my characters to higher standard than I live my own life? Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part that I might one day be that able to, as a very dear friend always says, just keep putting one foot in front of another no matter what the odds. I think I personally struggle against the sting left by past hurts and yet the characters I create make it look so easy to move on.






Monday, September 14, 2015

Why should you vote for the lesser of the evils? ~ #MondayBlogs

Like many, I haven't felt in recent years that there was a single candidate for President (or any political office for that matter) where I agreed 100% with his/her philosophies - but I did feel that there were some decidedly better than others.

I wouldn't expect any one candidate to make all of the decisions I would want, how could he? It would have to be ME making those decisions and hoping that I got it all right. So each year I go to the polls and vote for the candidate that I least disagree with... you may call it the lesser of the evils, I call it the best choice of what is available.

So far in my years of voting I haven't yet regretted the vote I cast and there have even been a few rare times where I begrudgingly have felt "hey this one isn't AS BAD as I thought he would be."

Every politician is a con-artist, he or she has to be to convince others to do his bidding; every politician is in it for the glory, why else would someone subject themselves to that punishment?; every politician (in America at least) is a puppet because no office truly gives full, unequivocable power to the person sitting there; and most importantly every politician is a human being and more than capable of screwing things up.

But if I don't cast a vote for the candidate I think would do the least damage then I am handing over my destiny to others who, just like a politician, don't necessarily think the way that I do — it would be simply handing over my life without a fight.

I know which candidate I will probably vote for in the next presidential election, from track records and speeches I know which candidate comes CLOSEST to who I want in office. Even with our confusing electoral college elections, I still believe that majority votes will more likely get us the candidate MOST of us want IF WE GET OUT AND VOTE.

Please don't sit back and let a few make this decision; if you don't trust or like any of the candidates at least cast your vote for the one you LEAST DISLIKE... someone is going to get in, give yourself a say in the decision.

The United States presidential election of 2016 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
(2015 elections will be held November 3, 2015)

for information on registering to vote
visit www.vote411.org/

Saturday, September 12, 2015

One more night not to worry ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 09/13/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior round. Every week writers post 8 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book. Then we "hop" around and leave comments on each other's snippets. Whether our work is already published or in progress, the helpful comments help us become stronger writers on our next WIP. We welcome EVERYONE's comments.

See more at the
WeWriWa blog

& check out the
Facebook Snippet Sunday group


My entry this week is from Common Bond, Tangled Hearts. Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son. 

Layne assured her friend Rita that she didn't kidnap her own son and asked Rita to let Dennis spend the night at her house. She wished Justin was there, but she knew she had to handle things on her own, at least for now Dennis would be safe. Layne's alone in the apartment and nervous. Justin comes back to town earlier than expected and knocks on Layne's door.

  (the following has been edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:



There was a knock at the door and Layne was sure she didn't want to open it.

Justin's muffled voice came through the door, "Layne?"

"Justin," Layne threw open the door and flung herself into his arms, "you're back early."

"If I had realized this was the kind of greeting I would get, I would have done my best to get back even sooner." He looked towards the bedroom door, "uh, where's Dennis?"

"He's staying at a friend's place tonight, I'm sorry, I didn't expect you back until tomorrow."

"When will he be back?"

"Tomorrow morning, before school."

Justin smiled, "if I promise to be out of here before he arrives, can I spend the night with you?"


"I was hoping you might," Layne decided to enjoy the night; she'd tell him about her strange visit tomorrow.


For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 


About Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.
Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect… at all costs.
The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.




    ~~~~~~~~

I probably won't get to many snippets before Wednesday night due to the
Jewish holiday of Rosh 
Hashanah (starts Sunday at sundown).
Click
HERE if you are interested in the Meaning of the High Holy Days.
Ketivah v’chatima tovah”(כתיבה וחתימה טובה)
“A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life].

From our home to yours, I wish ALL of you
a wondrous year ahead filled with happiness and joys abundant.
May you always be blessed with health and prosperity.
(& lots of book sales!)
by the way, Mon, 14 September 2015 = 1st of Tishrei, 5776

Happy New Year!




Friday, September 11, 2015

And we shall tell our children ~ #NeverForget


September 11, 2001


And we shall tell our children
That on this day there was
A callous disregard for human life
All ages, genders, religions, ethnicities,
Political persuasions and nationalities were touched.

And we shall tell our children
How strangers helped strangers
How heroes rose from the dust
The selfless courage of many stood out
People thought of loved ones in final moments.

And we shall tell our children
There was a coward who failed to break us
Grieving widows and widowers raised their children
Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers and siblings
Have honored their loved ones by living.

And we shall tell our children
Years later with resilience and resolve
A skyscraper rose, a building was repaired
and monuments are standing
We will remember and never forget
Keeping our loved ones alive in hearts and dreams.

There will be no second death.


(poem by Chelle Cordero, copyright 2015)

Thursday, September 10, 2015

A Look Back #TBT ~ September 10 and September 11, 2001


Fourteen years ago today, September 10, 2001, my husband was doing an AV gig (Audio Visual) for a trade show at the Marriot WTC (3 World Trade Center). The show was scheduled to be a two-day event, but due to the presenter's prior commitment it was scheduled for the 10th and 12th of September.

My husband was home, by my side, when we heard about the planes crashing into the towers on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Our son, in high school, knew where his dad had worked the day before but didn't realize there was a one-day gap in the presentation. Due to the chaos at his school when the word of the attack spread, he pulled his cell-phone (which was taboo during school hours) from his backpack and ducked into an alcove to call home. There was panic in his voice when he asked "Where's Dad?"

A little while later our daughter, away at an upstate college, also called home to make sure everyone in our family was all right. She headed home and arrived the following day.

I had been horrified watching the television and seeing the tragedy unfolding in lower Manhattan, but it wasn't until I heard my son's panic that it really hit me. My family was blessed that day and spared the direct loss that so many others suffered.

We responded to our local ambulance corps later that day on the 11th to offer whatever help we could. Local residents were walking in, dazed and scared. Our county's EMS system was activated hoping for more survivors and preparing to transport and hospitalize those who could travel so as not to overwhelm the city's hospitals; unfortunately that need never materialized.

Our corps, like so many others, put together a crew to head down to the city. My husband and three other corps members were on that crew. Our youth corps members, my son included, helped to stock the ambulance for the task ahead. The crew consisted of Mark and three members all with the first name of Tom (I understand they later joked that they wanted to trade Mark for another "Tom" from one of the other ambulances!) Like several other ambulances that responded, they waited in the designated staging area in hopes of having patients to transport - most returned home empty.

All four of us, including our two offspring, assisted at the ambulance corps for the next several days. One of our corps members lost a relative in the towers. A local police officer's brother in the FDNY was one of the 343 firefighters who died. In total our county lost more than 80 residents on 9/11.

Through the years since 2001 there have been many deaths associated with Ground Zero dust. Once again I realize how blessed my family has been - the staging area was set up a safe distance from the site (as is EMS response protocol).  [ http://fw.to/K75pQPY FDNY adds names of those who died related to rescue and recovery work]

My heart still weeps for the losses suffered that day at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight #93 in Pennsylvania. I am proud to have seen the rising and eventual opening of the Freedom Tower (1 World Trade Center) and the 911 Memorial Museum. Lives were forever changed and many of the families who suffered losses that day have worked towards remembrances including scholarships, memorials and support groups. And for a brief time, the city came together in a show of tremendous support and compassion.


9/11 is a day which will live in our hearts and souls forever.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Are you taking advantage? Read a FREE story, Pussy Cat Tales



Throughout the month of September, I'm posting my short story Pussy Cat Tales in serialized version. Pussy Cat Tales (an amusing look at a lifetime with cats) is one of the short stories in The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero 


Come to my Facebook Author page every other day for another installment. The next installment is due Thursday, September 10.


Catch up with previous installments:
part 1: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero/posts/941510175892493
part 2: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero/posts/941510729225771
part 3: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero/posts/941511319225712
part 4: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero/posts/941511789225665



THE MANY FACES OF CHELLE CORDERO

Buy Links







Monday, September 7, 2015

What is religious freedom? ~ #MondayBlogs


The subject has been all over the news – a government official refuses to issue marriage licenses for gay couples; a flight attendant won’t serve alcoholic beverages to passengers; a hobby store refuses to carry any merchandise from all but the owner’s chosen faith; there are stores that won’t open on the Sabbath; holiday displays on public property are considered taboo; one person wants school prayer and another one doesn’t; religious head coverings are questioned; and so many more topics such as is it insulting to some to have the words “in God we trust” on our paper money?

At what point does it become enough? What does it mean to have religious freedom? And is it always persecution if someone loses a job if that religious belief isn’t allowed to be practiced? It seems it’s become too easy to yell religious discrimination when someone doesn’t get their way. There are many factors to consider.

First of all, let me be clear, this is an OPINION piece, MY opinion – there will be people who will disagree and I respect your right to another opinion; however I expect my right to be respected for my beliefs, so please read on…

If you are doing a job with specific responsibilities and tasks and you fail to abide by those rules, is it religious persecution to fire you? I believe that if you took the job with a clear understanding of expectations or if you took a vow to uphold things like, well, like the United States Constitution, then I feel it is not persecution to expect you to do your job. A refusal to do your job should be cause for dismissal or impeachment. Obviously if your boss makes a new rule after you’ve signed on and it would cause you to violate sincere and sacred beliefs, I do think he or she (the boss) needs to make accommodations. By the way, an oath to uphold the constitution is the same even if a new amendment is added. If you are still vehemently opposed to the assigned tasks then it is up to you to give notice and find another job.

In the case of the flight attendant refusing to serve alcoholic drinks, conversion to her faith was made by her choice after already being employed in that position. Although I think it is an unfair burden to ask other attendants to do that part of your job, I do think the individual should sit down with both management and then co-workers to see if there is a solution that would work for all; however, like I said, it does place an unfair burden on other attendants and they should not be penalized if they refuse. The best solution might be to sit with management and find out if there are any positions in the company where this responsibility is not required. Once again since the choices that were made that changed the circumstances belonged to the flight attendant, the ultimate responsibility to correct the situation should be on the shoulders of the attendant.

Head coverings are a different situation. Is there a dress code or uniform it violates? Does the head covering change your physical appearance significantly as in a photo ID? Or is your boss simply concerned that your head covering might offend customers or co-workers? Deciding on whether a head covering is permitted should be considered by individual cases and circumstances. If you’ve been wearing this garment since you took the job and the boss has a sudden change of heart, then this can indeed be discriminatory if you are fired (or in many cases not hired). In the case of official uniforms (it varies between a store clerk uniform or a military officer for example), if the head covering drastically alters the uniform and the uniformity is necessary (such as military) then it might be refused and may be perfectly legal and non-discriminatory.

If you observe the Sabbath and have made it clear during the hiring process that you cannot work that day, if the employer still hires you it would seem to be an understanding that you will not be held responsible; however when a busy holiday season arrives and the boss now demands you put in that specific extra day, if you refuse and you are fired, that sounds to me like discrimination. Many schools allow their students to take off, or might even close for the day, if there is an observance of a religious holiday. If the school is not closed, important and mandatory tests shouldn’t be scheduled on days where observant students would be forced to choose between failing the test or violating their religion. Federal laws require schools to make reasonable accommodation to the religious needs of students and employees in observance of holy days.

According to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America “Federal law requires an employer to "reasonably accommodate" an employee's religious observances, practices and beliefs unless the employer can show that accommodation would cause an "undue hardship" to the employer's business. What constitutes "reasonable accommodation" and "undue hardship" depends on the facts unique to a particular situation. Essentially, an employer must attempt to create a structure permitting employees to practice their religious beliefs while still maintaining their jobs. In some cases, accommodation may not be possible.” Reasonable accommodations and undue hardships may be interpreted differently between individual, but I think the key phrase maintaining their jobs is important.

I really like the way this Reverend explains the meaning of religious freedom: "Religious liberty is guaranteed in this country. But that does not mean that every job needs to bend to your particular interpretation of your faith," United Church of Christ's Rev. Emily C. Heath writes. "If you really believe doing your job is violating your faith, then stepping aside would be a small price to pay for the love of the Gospel."


In the meanwhile, let’s try respecting one another and value both our differences and our commonalities.


Saturday, September 5, 2015

Stranger danger ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 09/06/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior round. Every week writers post 8 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book. Then we "hop" around and leave comments on each other's snippets. Whether our work is already published or in progress, the helpful comments help us become stronger writers on our next WIP. We welcome EVERYONE's comments.

See more at the
WeWriWa blog

& check out the
Facebook Snippet Sunday group


My entry this week is from Common Bond, Tangled Hearts. Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son. 

Just before Justin is called back to work to meet with an important supplier, he tells Layne he'd like to move her and Dennis to an apartment near him so he can keep them safe and take care of them; Layne feels he's moving too fast. He promises to return in a few days. The next day Layne gets Dennis to school and goes to work. (Layne is a receptionist at a realty office; her friend Rita is the office manager)

  (the following has been edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:


When Layne got to work she was feeling very unsettled, a situation she blamed Justin for. Her boss went to a seminar in a nearby town and the office was short-staffed. A strange man came into the office, loud and demanding to see her boss; an agent offered to help and the irate man complained about "Miss Gillette".

Rita came in during the fracas and managed to calm the agitated man down; he wouldn't leave his name or any message when he left.

Layne suddenly got up and looked back over her desk, "is there any place here that says my name?"

"You're wearing a name tag."

"My name tag only has my first name, how did he know my last name?" She looked troubled, "Rita, I'm not an unwed mother, I think my husband may be looking for Dennis."

"You're married?"

"Can Dennis stay with you tonight?"



For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 


About Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.
Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect… at all costs.
The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.




    ~~~~~~~~

All through the month of September, I will be posting my short story Pussy Cat Tales in serialized version on my Facebook page. Come back every other day for another installment. Just visit Author Chelle Cordero​ to follow along. (Catch up with installment #1 and installment #2)

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero

Nine short stories and a special bonus section: 
Introduction; Pussycat TailsHoliday Happiness; Not Alone; I Swear That Raccoon Just Knocked on the Door; Stormy Weather; A Mother’s Love; More Than a Friend; The Meeting; & The Vacation.
Something for everyone humor, drama, passion, suspense, and more!

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