A writer just might write about you ~ #MondayBlogs

 We have all, at some point, felt sucker punched when someone we THOUGHT we knew and trusted so well figuratively stabs us in the back. With head hung low, sometimes all you have to do is look back realistically and honestly to see all the tell-tale signs we should have been aware of all through our friendship/relationship. Many times we will see them, after the fact of course, and with a self-deprecating head-slap we finally knock ourselves into acceptance that maybe we are just better off breaking all ties.

I know that it sounds bitter, but I feel it is more like acceptance and maturity; every moment I waste on worrying about the loss of this so-called “friend” is a moment of my life I will never get back. I’ve had, luckily just a few, unpleasant surprises like this, but each time I can recall warnings — some just signs and actions I let slide and then a few from other people who warned me and I just chose to ignore out of misguided loyalty — and I can only shake my head.

Don’t think I regret the blind friendship, I don’t. For the years I shared this relationship I had laughter and adventures, we shared victories and life. Maybe it just took a while before she showed her “true colors”, or maybe she was a different person when we first bonded and we simply grew apart… whatever it is over now. Ironically while I admit to having a WTF moment, I have moved on and she has not. Whether it was jealousy (?) or some twisted image in her head, she is still “talking” about me and yes, spreading lies, to justify her behavior; when I do hear of her latest antics I shake my head and give her no more than a few moments thought (except of course for the fodder that becomes a blog post).  

Do I miss the friendship? Only what I THOUGHT it was, certainly not the real version my eyes were finally opened to. It is much better to have fewer TRUE friends than many false ones and I consider myself blessed in that area. I leave you with a meme that been spread across Facebook and the Internet: "For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness."

Confessions - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 11/29/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior and Snippet Sunday round. Every week writers post 8-to-10 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book.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

For the next few weeks I'll be sharing snippets from my 2015 holiday-themed short story     Believing in Santa 

True confession time. Over coffee Dini tells Seth about her humiliation at being left at the altar. Then she asks him about his community service...

This is the LAST week I am posting from this short story ~ read below to see how you can get a copy for yourself FOR FREE.

  (the following may have been creatively edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine:

“I got drunk one night, got into a fight, and tore up the bar a bit. I don’t have a drinking problem.”

She stared at him for a split second, “I didn’t ask.”

“I just wanted you to know. I recently returned from Iraq, I spent six years in the service and just got discharged… honorably.”

Dini wasn’t sure what to say, “Welcome home, thank you for your service.”

Seth swallowed a laugh. “Sure didn’t feel like a welcome home. Everything was different.”

~~~~~

For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 

www.wewriwa.com

Dini didn’t want to think about her past. And, Seth wasn’t thinking about anything but his past. Thrown together as Santa and his Number One Elf at the homeless shelter, Dini and Seth seem to be on opposite sides... of everything. Her past is catching up to her, and Seth may risk his future to protect her. 

Believing in Santa

available on Amazon

~~~~~

Believing in Santa is FREE for Kindle download
 this weekend (through Sunday)

You can download the 

FREE Kindle Reading App from http://amzn.to/1Hw8x3I
for your tablet, smart phone, or computer. 

(Would you please #Review my story?)

#FREEBook - Black Friday Weekend Special

Believing in Santa
a Holiday Short Story 
by Chelle Cordero 

Believing in Santa is FREE for Kindle download
 this weekend (Fri, Sat & Sun)

Giving a Kindle as a gift this holiday season? Load it up with #FREE books from Amazon.

And you can download the
FREE Kindle Reading App from http://amzn.to/1Hw8x3I
for your tablet, smart phone, or computer. 

(Please #Review)

What is religion? ~ #MondayBlogs

Religion is a belief system, a road map of sorts, something to give us all guidance through life. Yes, many of these belief systems have a Deity (mono or poly theistic) that we direct our prayers and hopes to, but ultimately the rules that are dictated by a particular belief system are designed to help us function and thrive in this world among our fellow humans.

Religion should not be used as a mask, a false front or an excuse for intolerance or cruelty. There are extremists in every religion who use interpretations of commandments to their own self-serving benefit. Unfortunately when these extremists represent themselves as spokespersons of the faith, there are others who let their resentments rule. Religious precepts are misunderstood and prejudice begins.

Some religions are philosophies, a way of living life using positivity, compassion, and cooperation. There are people who believe in a higher-power, but not a god – nature, the earth’s elements, their fellow man/woman, and their own inner strength. Atheism, mistakenly cited as a belief that there is NO god is really a lack of belief that there is a god — it’s a minor difference but not as negative as some claim. Agnostics neither claim that there is a god, nor do they claim there isn’t; in many ways agnostics are relatively open-minded to possibilities.

“The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions (i.e., "faiths") and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels.” [Wikipedia] An open dialogue between people of different faiths is not an attempt to merge or dissolve religious beliefs; rather it is a way to work together with mutual respect. Learning about other faiths should never be seen as an affront to one’s own religion or belief system. Education is, in Judaism, a mitzvah, a commandment and something we should all be doing; other faiths have similar edicts.

It shouldn’t matter if you read the King James Bible, the Hebrew Tanakh, the Hindi Sanskrit, the Buddhist Tipitaka, or the Muslim Quran… it shouldn’t matter if you study the sky and the stars, or let the soil run through your fingers, or if you are Wiccan, Atheist, Jehovah's Witness, or celebrate Kwanzaa… we are ALL quite literally in this thing TOGETHER. All religions and belief systems share commandments and principles that encourage the love of family, respect for life (human and animal), and provide guidance to help us share this great planet.

I am pleased to say that my family is interfaith. While we each remain true to our individual upbringing, it is a joy to share our unique cultures with each other. It is a blessing to observe the Ruach (Hebrew word meaning energy and spirit) in our rituals. Ultimately our family thrives on LOVE.

So be who you are and practice your faith. And if you find it hard to be compatible with others, don’t meet it with anger and hostility — use it as an opportunity to LEARN about your own and other religions. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many similarities there really are. 

Faith should never be divisive; we are all one people in the long run. 

Jilted ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 11/22/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior and Snippet Sunday round. Every week writers post 8-to-10 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
or Weekend Writing Warriors on Facebook

& check out the

Facebook Snippet Sunday group

For the next few weeks I'll be sharing snippets from my 2015 holiday-themed short story     Believing in Santa 

Seth tries to ask Dini out (a date?) when she surprises him by running away. Worried that she is scared of him, he follows her out.

  (the following may have been creatively edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:

“Hey, hey, stop,” he called after her.

Dini froze in place, “crap,” she spoke to the space in front of her.

“Dini, I’m not going to hurt you,” his voiced was laced with concern. “It was a drunk and disorderly, I can explain. I would never hurt you.”

 “It has nothing to do with you.”

“Then why did you run?”

“This is not a good day for me and when you said you wanted to ask me out… it was too much.”

“I don’t understand.”

She sighed, “today was supposed to be my first wedding anniversary.”

~~~~~

For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 

www.wewriwa.com

Dini didn’t want to think about her past. And, Seth wasn’t thinking about anything but his past. Thrown together as Santa and his Number One Elf at the homeless shelter, Dini and Seth seem to be on opposite sides... of everything. Her past is catching up to her, and Seth may risk his future to protect her. 

Believing in Santa

available on Amazon

~~~~~

I cannot believe that it is the holiday season ALREADY! Everything seems to go by much too fast these days. One of the houses near where I live puts up their Halloween decorations before Labor Day and replaces them with Christmas decorations on November 1... rushing it just a bit? (Chanukah does start on December 6 this year and I haven't even started my shopping, HELP!) Meanwhile  for those in the USA, have a very happy Thanksgiving! And for EVERYONE, I hope you have a week of joy, peace, family and love.

This week began with my computer out of commission and it was pretty frustrating trying to keep up with deadlines. Folks, if your local library has Internet access and computers for use, it is a BLESSING. Thanks for my smart phone (which I admit I fought against getting) I was able to get my email and check a few things, but...  The research and articles I had to do were too complicated for me to handle on that tiny 4-inch screen. Since I am used to working out of my home office and keeping my own schedule it was indeed a challenge to fit as much work as possible into the library's schedule. Years ago I did programming at a local library and encouraged people to make use of the resources, I could have been a walking advertisement for libraries this week.

My apologies to the many people I never got to visit on WeWriWa and SnippetSunday this past week, I was definitely being challenged.

Don’ t do the work ~ #MondayBlogs

Terrorists and bullies use fear, intimidation, random violence and chaos to control and push self-serving agendas. Unfortunately when these acts SEEM to  involve specific ethic groups, this fear promotes bigotry.

 

In recent times we’ve had terror attacks under the names of Al Qaida and ISIS promoting Islamic radicalism and Jihad. After attacks such as this weekend’s Paris horror there have been fears of retribution and escalated violence. The violence and hatred multiplies, resentments grow, tolerance diminishes, trust disappears, and suspicion rules. Too often an entire ethnic group, race, color or religion Is labeled by the actions of a mere minority.

 

When people live with all of these negative influences, you begin to look at your neighbors, people that might even have been friends, differently. Communities are divided – people are divided. People react with the most extreme forms of racial profiling sometimes to the point of unwarranted violence and always with derision, verbal abuse, unfairness and animosity,

 

People who tell their children not to trust Americans, Israelis, Frenchmen, the British, Christians, Jews, or any group capitalize on the negativity displayed from these targets. Children are not born knowing hatred, but they can learn it. Throw in some resentment and it doesn’t take much convincing when hate spewed message is repeatedly broadcast. When we react with undue suspicion, nastiness and anger we reinforce the lessons of hatred.

 

Unfortunately we live in  world where vigilance is a necessity, there are times when we need to be suspicious and maybe even react to defend ourselves. We need to find a reasonable balance of common sense and caution. The day we let fear rule our lives, the day we reinforce the hatred, we are helping the terrorists achieve their goals.

 

Let there be peace on earth… for once and always.

A little flirtation ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 11/15/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior and Snippet Sunday round. Every week writers post 8-to-10 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

For the next few weeks I'll be sharing snippets from my 2015 holiday-themed short story     Believing in Santa 

Things went smoothly as they handed the presents out to the children at the homeless shelter; she admired how warm he was with all of the kids. Afterwards Dini regrets being so cold to Seth.

  (the following may have been creatively edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine ten:

“It’s Dini, my name is Dini and I owe you an apology for my behavior earlier; I thought you were flirting with me and…”

“I was.”

That stopped her, “oh.”

“You look like a deer caught in the headlights. I get it, you probably didn’t want to be here before, I know I didn’t.”

 “I volunteered for this; of course I wanted to be here. If you didn’t want to be here why did you volunteer?”

He looked embarrassed, “sorry, I didn’t realize that you volunteered.”

“Didn’t you?”

“Nope,” he looked resigned, “I’m here because it was court ordered community service.”

~~~~~

For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 

www.wewriwa.com

Dini didn’t want to think about her past. And, Seth wasn’t thinking about anything but his past. Thrown together as Santa and his Number One Elf at the homeless shelter, Dini and Seth seem to be on opposite sides... of everything. Her past is catching up to her, and Seth may risk his future to protect her. 

Believing in Santa

available on Amazon

~~~~~

As I am writing this post (of course last minute) my mind is replaying all of the news reports about the terrorist attacks in Paris... I hope that all of you and your loved ones are safe. As far as I know, all of my friends and family are physically no where near this horror; not so for an acquaintance who has been hoping to get word about a loved one for hours ~ I am praying for her and her daughter.

Writers by habit allow our minds to wander and place ourselves in situations, so it is not a surprise that many of us are holding the shock inside of us where it is sitting and eating away. I saw a meme on Facebook tonight, ironically from someone who hasn't been heard from YET, that is it scary that "anytime" could be the last time, and it made me shiver.

Back in September 2011 my husband and daughter took a trip to Paris (a late Father's Day gift and early birthday present) and they were present for the 9/11 commemoration ceremony held there while the Parisians honored all of the lives lost on American soil 10 years earlier. 9/11 was much closer, I personally knew families who lost loved ones, my husband responded on an ambulance into the city and we attended multiple memorial services - today the horror was an ocean away and still it has squeezed my heart.
***Saturday morning addendum - the acquaintance's daughter has been located & she is SAFE.

Hug all of your loved ones and pray for Paris and peace and people all over. And may you always enjoy the warmth of your loved ones' arms.

#TBT A Look Back at My All-Time Most Popular Blog Posts

The Countdown

(drum roll please...)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Half year anniversary for my Kindle Blog Writing Workshop

Today marks my half year anniversary for my Kindle Weekly Writing Workshop

Every week since May 29, 2009 I have posted lessons that discuss and teach about being a writer including hints and tips about the industry.  (read more)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2009

A Four Cup review of A Chaunce of Riches

A Chaunce of Riches was reviewed on Coffee Time Romance
"...it was not long before I found myself wrapped up in the exchange of emotions and sensual pull between Ben and Sam. When the suspense continued to build to an almost breaking point, it made this good story that much better."  (read more)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

and this is a theme that is built into the story of
Common Bond, Tangled Hearts   (read more)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009

Honoring The National Domestic Violence Hotline

Vanilla Heart Publishing and Chelle Cordero will donate $1 per copy of Bartlett’s Rule sold from midnight October 18, 2009 through midnight October 31, 2009 to The National Domestic Violence Hotline   (read more)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009

I'm a guest at Authors Promoting Authors today!

Hi all, please check out Authors Promoting Authors today and read all about my newest release, Courage of the Heart - there's even an enticing excerpt from the book.   (read more)

& My Most Recent Posts

• • A mother’s wish ~ #MondayBlogs
  • Dini pulls away - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sun...
  • The Major Arcana in Life ~ #MondayBlogs

• • Introduction to BELIEVING IN SANTA ~ Weekend Writi...
  • Everybody’s Talking ~ #MondayBlogs
  • Charlie issues his demands ~ Weekend Writing Warri...
  • Have a good life ~ #MondayBlogs
  • Justin needs a plan - Weekend Writing Warriors / #...
  • Bloodthirsty Revenge ~ #MondayBlogs

Please Join Me Online:

• Welcome to Chelle's World
• Author Chelle Cordero on Facebook
• Chelle Cordero, VHP Author
• Chelle's Potpourri & Promo Site
• @ChelleCordero
• Chelle on Pinterest
• Chelle Cordero, Freelance Writer
• Chelle Cordero on LinkedIn

Happy Veterans Day to all who have protected our shores

THE MEETING
(from The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero short story collection)

is a fictionalized account of the true story of my parents' romance. 

They met during WW2 and were married 32 yrs before 'til death do us part'. 

Daddy was in the US Army and served
in multiple campaigns in Europe and Africa.

excerpt:

The Meeting

Charleston, South Carolina

1942

“Make sure you send me a letter as soon as you get there.” Jeannette stopped to dry her eyes. “You just know how I am going to miss you.”

“Oh honey, I‘ll write to you every day.” Melanie hugged the best friend she always shared everything with. Their mommas had taken them for walks in their baby carriages together. They were there for each other‘s first dates, they consoled each other when Melanie‘s big brother left to go fight the big war, and they stayed up late reading letters from Melanie‘s ill mother. “Oh I wish I didn‘t have to leave you.”

“You tell your momma to get well so you can bring her home again.”

“Last call for Greensboro.” The train engineer poked his head out to remind passengers to get their luggage loaded.

“Oh, I have to make sure my suitcase is on board.” Melanie gave Jeannette‘s hand a squeeze and then stepped towards the train.

“Make sure you wave to me before you leave.”

In another car an M.P. checked the cuffs of the prisoner he was transporting from Georgia.

“I‘m going to step off and have a smoke.” He was satisfied the prisoner wasn't going anywhere, especially since he was cuffed to the seat. The M.P. motioned to one of the other military personnel on board the car that he would be back in a few minutes.

It felt good to stretch his legs as he stepped down from the train onto the platform. He watched as two women tearfully hugged each other and found himself unable to stop staring at the woman left on the platform. She was beautiful. ...

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero

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A mother’s wish ~ #MondayBlogs

Siblings are often the first childhood playmates and friends; in some families depending on proximity and emotional closeness, cousins are the next best thing especially for an only child. Every mother and father can relate to the dull ache inside that is caused when these childhood buddies fight and hurt each other (emotionally) — if the fighting and hurt progresses to physical damages, the pain and fear becomes sharp and unbearable.

As our children grow into adulthood and parents, aunts and uncles get older, we worry that our dear, sweet children might not stay close and be there for each other during the good as well as bad times.

It’s a reality that not every sibling shares common interests with the other and perhaps, except for their mutual parentage, they might not otherwise be friends. Just like any longtime friendship life does change, love interests and spouses take priority, perhaps their own children enter the picture, and siblings become part of the extended family that time must be made for. When and if our children marry, or take lifelong partners, we do breathe sighs of relief that they will always have someone to stand by them, but we still hope that their siblings will also be there to love and support when we can no longer be there for them. The household (occupants), work, location, and other obligations can often put a major dent into the time each has for their brother(s) or sister(s).

When there are more than two siblings or there are several years of age difference, the dynamics can be very different. Two may be closer to each other than three or more. There may be an unequal distribution of common interests. Eventually mates might be friendlier with one of their in-laws and encourage that closeness between the siblings. Even couples who each have siblings they grew up with can cause a shift in family dynamics when my side/your side becomes an issue. And it can certainly cause undue strain when opposing siblings actually do oppose each other.

Maturity and life can also make siblings realize how much they like having a brother or a sister. On their own or in a relationship, grown siblings have their own “space” to retreat to which reduces the childhood arguments about possessions. Once teasing words lose their sting just a bit as the adults hear more than insults, or they learn to pick their battles and hopefully overcome the childhood arguments and hurts. Aging parents can bring siblings closer as they fear the inevitable loss and they cease their jealous vying for parents’ attention. Employment and recognition at different workplaces helps to feed egos and lets each feel as if they have escaped “the shadow” and constant comparisons. It is often easier for the adult sibling to become a friend to the other.

We moms and dads want to know that our children are set for life even when we are no longer present to help them, love them and try to soothe them when they hurt. There comes a time when parents can only hope that family love, years of growing up together and a common history will be enough to glue their children together for life.

Dini pulls away - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 11/08/15

Hi! Welcome to another Weekend Writing Warrior and Snippet Sunday round. Every week writers post 8-to-10 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

For the next few weeks I'll be sharing snippets from my 2015 holiday-themed short story     Believing in Santa 

Dini becomes more distant when Seth seems to get flirtatious. Saved by Santa's sleigh being loaded and ready to go, Dini manages to brush him off... for now. 

  (the following may have been creatively edited to fit)  ...and now the eight nine:

“By the way, my name isn’t really Santa.”

Dini feigned surprise, “I’m shocked!”

“It looks like we have to get on our way,” without waiting, she headed for the door.

He made sure to take the seat next to her in the van; Dini buckled herself in and quietly stared out the window, looking away from him.

“My name is Seth.”

She turned and nodded and then went back to staring out the window.

“May I ask your name?”

After a moment she turned back to him with a sweet smile that never reached her eyes, “they call me Elf Number One.”

She really didn’t want to make any new friends and especially not with a guy who seemed interested in her.

~~~~~

For more WeWriWa Snippets, go to: 

www.wewriwa.com

Dini didn’t want to think about her past. And, Seth wasn’t thinking about anything but his past. Thrown together as Santa and his Number One Elf at the homeless shelter, Dini and Seth seem to be on opposite sides... of everything. Her past is catching up to her, and Seth may risk his future to protect her. 

Believing in Santa

available on Amazon

~~~~~

Sincere thank you to all of our Veterans

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 is Veterans Day in the United States

It's a time to honor the service our brave military has given us.

In my story, Believing in Santa, Seth is an Iraq/Afghanistan vet

and so I dedicate this week's snippet to all of the brave men and women

who have protected our shores. 

"a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be
thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."
(1938 Congressional Act)