Heroes of Both Sexes

Several years ago I made the astonishing discovery that I liked putting my book’s heroes in the hospital… well maybe not liked, but I did it anyway. I even wrote a blog about it. Lately I have been giving my inclination to make my heroes suffer some more introspection.

While I admit I like to see all of my characters with a little touch of vulnerability (males and females) I have discovered what I enjoy more is the opportunity for one, or more, of my characters to step up, step forward, and shoulder some of the strength that is needed for everyone to pull through okay. 

Coming from a family filled with first-responders and military personnel, it is not strange at all for me to see courage, compassion and outright heroics from both the men and women that surround me. My close friends and family have displayed pure compassion, generosity, nurturing, encouragement and unbelievable skills in the face of any crisis, in response to any person (or animal’s) needs, and true caring (both emotional and physical) when someone needs the kindness.

I have tried to show both my heroes and heroines with strength and courage when their own partners need them or as an invincible team. The blurb for my book Annie’s Karma reads, “Annie Furman moves on from her past and into her future with Undersheriff Dave Turner. Her gifts – or are they her curse? – grow stronger, and she finds out that she is not alone in the realm of astral travel. Dave saved her life, now she has to fight another ‘traveler’ to save Dave… if she survives.” This is the story of a strong man AND a strong woman.

I have several stories where the WOMAN steps up to save the day and her big, strong hunk can rely on her strength. In Within the Law, when Tom is accused of murder, the important lady in his life, who just happens to be a lawyer, defends him even risking her own professional reputation. In A Chaunce of Riches Ben finds out just how far Samantha was and is willing to go to save his life and protect him. Then there is Courage of the Heart where Davie’s love, trust and commitment to Adam saves him and gives him the ability to save them both.

I could tell you more but I think you get the point — I like strong men AND strong women. I like it when the ‘hero’ in HEROine does describe her. It’s okay to throw in a touch of damsel in distress, but it is also pretty wonderful when it is her man in distress and she is there to save the day. It is really great when two people are there for each other, it’s just that simple. Be a hero with your love, your attentiveness, your commitment and your courage. Be a hero for the people who depend on you most.

Please share some of the heroes in your life.

#DailyPrompt ~ SAVAGE ~ #MondayBlogs

I found a terrific writing site (thanks to my friend Sugana) — The Daily Post: Daily Prompts provides a NEW daily prompt every day to give every writer a way to put a spark in her/his creativity. I decided to join this group every so often...

Today's Prompt is SAVAGE

Definition of SAVAGE[Adjective] (of an animal or force of nature) fierce, violent, and uncontrolled.[noun] (chiefly in historical or literary contexts) a member of a people regarded as primitive and uncivilized.[verb] (especially of a dog or wild animal) attack ferociously and maul.

How many are aware that this word, “SAVAGE”, appears in one of the most defining and important documents of the free world? Well buckle up and come along for a little history lesson:

Here in the U.S.A. we just celebrated July 4^th, our country’s “birthday”. For many Americans this means parties, barbecues and fireworks. For some Americans there is both a bittersweet commemoration of a momentous event that took place on July 4^th, 1776, and bitterness that’s been swallowed and yet keeps bubbling to the surface.

Every year, somewhere, it is traditional to find the American Declaration of Independence being read in its entirety. On July 4^th, 1776, in Congress, the signed Declaration of the thirteen United States of America was adopted and officially gave birth to a nation. The 56 (male) signers were from the 13 states that made up our young country: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.

While the Declaration was officially adopted on July 4^th it took until November of that year for all of the representatives to sign it. The very first signature in the Declaration, signed on July 4^th, belonged to John Hancock who was the President of the Continental Congress. The 56^th and final signature belonged to Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire. The oldest man to sign was 70-year old Benjamin Franklin. John Hancock’s signature is the most prominent one on the page.

One of the most famous lines in this very famous document says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

The document then continues with a long litany of examples about how the King of Great Britain violated the rights and rules of the people in the 13 colonies. 

One example included later in the document is “He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.”

The indigenous people living in this land BEFORE Christopher Columbus mistakenly labeled them “Indians” thinking that he had arrived in India were referred to as Indians and Savages. Also, wasn’t it kind of nervy to refer to these people as “the inhabitants of our frontiers”? They were here FIRST!

Ironically while many the people living in the 13 colonies came to this land to escape tyranny and oppression, the freedoms that the Declaration of Independence spoke of were not automatically bestowed on all the people living in our land — groups such as Women, Blacks, and Native Americans were denied the right of voting for many years.

Married women were also not allowed to own property or keep any money they earned. The 19th Amendment in 1919 granted women the right to vote, but it took more than half a decade, until 1984, for all of the states to ratify the agreement. In 1870 the 15^th Amendment granted Black men the right to vote, although there are many recorded cases where exercising that right was consistently challenged. 

Even though the 15^th Amendment granted voting rights to ALL male citizens of the United States, the Native Americans were denied citizenship (and therefore could not vote) until the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. There were many instances of harassment and discrimination until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law.

Our country’s history is not without blemish, but at least today every citizen, regardless of age*(18+), gender or race, has the right to vote and hopefully will always be able to.

“And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I'd gladly stand up... next to you and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.”

("Proud To Be An American" Lee Greenwood)

Do Overs ~ #MondayBlogs

How often have we all thought if we could only do something over would we have done things differently? I am thrilled with the life I have and I know that the things I did and decided have led me to where I am today. Once in a while though I do wonder what if… what if I hadn’t gone to the college I did, what if I had gotten a job with the NYPD, what if I had continued pursuing a theatrical career. When a movie gets remade, we still have the option of watching the original version again —

Ghostbusters 1986-style is a part of my (younger) life and it was funny and I enjoyed it. I laughed at the lines and facial expressions made by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, and Ernie Hudson. I don’t know if I want to see someone else fighting the ghostly invasion of NYC. Will the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man make an appearance again?

But I am sort of interested in the new release, I really like the actresses now playing the parts, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon, and I am super excited to learn that both Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver will make appearances. I guess it never phased me about an all-male team versus the all-female ghost fighters but that seems to be a big publicity item about this new version. I wonder how else the movie format will change. The original movie was filmed in areas of NYC while the new version, even though the plot is centered in Manhattan, actually features scenes from Boston.

There have been several other movie remakes. In some cases the new technology available has made scenes more fantastic and memorable; sometimes the actors cast in one of the versions is better than the other. Have you seen (original and remake): War of the Worlds; The Thing; The Manchurian Candidate; The Parent Trap; King Kong; The Fly; Hairspray; or True Grit? Were you disappointed in the remakes? Be honest, how many of these remakes made you rush right back to the original version?

Maybe it’s a good thing we really don’t get to do our lives over, we might not like the new version as much as the original. Unlike the movies we wouldn’t have Netflix to find the original preferred version again. How many things might be different in your life? How much of that might you miss the second time around?

Who ya' gonna call if you had to do your life over again?

Enjoy an Evening of Books at Palaia ~ #MondayBlogs

Dynamic VHP Authors
Chelle Cordero and Charmaine Gordon

Will Be At Palaia Vineyards on
Friday, July 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Multi-published Vanilla Heart Publishing Authors Chelle Cordero and Charmaine Gordon will be at Palaia Vineyards on Friday night, July 31, 2015, 6:00PM to 8:00PM to read from their books, host an interactive discussion of the stories and the writing process, and sign book copies. Copies will be available for purchase. There is no cover fee; participants must be at least 21-years old.

Chelle Cordero is an award-winning author who writes stories of Passion and Suspense; VHP has published ten Cordero novels including Final Sin, a murder mystery based in the Hudson Valley. You can find more information about Chelle Cordero at her website http://ChelleCordero.com.

Charmaine Gordon is a former actress who writes books about women who Survive and Thrive; Charmaine's first novel with VHP, To Be Continued, has been optioned for a television movie. More information about Charmaine Gordon is available at https://AuthorCharmaineGordon.wordpress.com/.

Kimberlee Williams, Managing Editor at Vanilla Heart Publishing, said “Our VHP Dynamic Duo certainly promises to be entertaining and make for a fun-filled evening at Palaia Vineyards.” Vanilla Heart Publishing is an independent publisher based in Washington State.

Palaia Vineyards is named for the winemaker's grandfather, Angelo Palaia, who emigrated here from Italy and passed his winemaking skills on to his son and grandson. Over ten acres of vineyards are situated on a 200-year old Hudson Valley former dairy farm. The old barn has been restored and is now a beautiful, clean winery on the lower level, with storage and a tasting room above preserving the look and feel of the historical building.

Palaia Vineyards is located at 10 Sweet Clover Road in Highland Mills, Orange County, New York; it’s easy to get to by car, the vineyard is five miles north of the Woodbury Commons Outlet Stores on Route 32. The phone number is (845) 928-5384. (directions)

Please say you'll come
join us on our FaceBook Event Page
(click above)

Feeling Invisible ~ #MondayBlogs

Most writers by nature are an insecure lot. We're emotional and we go through highs and lows "faster than a speeding locomotive". We need constant reassurance. Yes, I've said it, writers are NEEDY.

Does anyone read my words? Does anyone know I exist?

Do we write for recognition? LOL, well it's certainly not for money!

If you think I'm exaggerating, speak to any writer and you'll find that we hang on every word once someone starts off with the sentence, "I just finished reading your (insert book title here) and need to know when you are writing the next one?"  When this is said to me I want to do a happy dance, Yay, I have a fan!!!

We spend hours promoting our books... I've offered free books in exchange for reviews, asked folks to join my Street Team or to follow my blog and sometimes it seems that I am invisible, or atleast I feel that way. I want to walk through my local supermarket and have people stop me to autograph a book (preferably one that I wrote!), I want them to be all bubbly because they recognize a famous author. 

Yet in reality whenever a mutual friend introduces me to a stranger and they ask what I do and I say "I'm a writer" I often receive a blank stare and then maybe, just maybe, they'll say "oh, what do you write?" Then I've had folks think I am joking when I say I'm an author of published novels (ten actually). I want parades down Main Street, newspaper articles, reporters ringing my phone...

Several years ago I accompanied my husband on a business trip to Rhode Island and I spent a day just writing in our hotel room while he went off for a meeting. The maid had to clean the room and before she left I offered her a copy of my first book explaining that I was THE author. She smiled and nodded and politely thanked me for the book as she simply placed in on her cleaning cart. Moments later I heard her screech in the hallway and I went to the door to see what was going on — "Oh my Gawd! You really did write this book!" as she frantically pointed to my author picture on the back cover.

My neighbor's daughter is a fairly well recognized actress (love the girl, really) and I've stood with other residents of the street we live on to hear them say, "Oh it's so thrilling to actually know someone who's famous, she's made a name for herself!" And while I kvell for this young lady, I nod and smile and feel just a tiny bit deflated that no one seems to acknowledge my name in print.

I want to be FAMOUS!

I want people to see ME

So, just like I said... insecure.

sigh

Ok, rant is OVER...

Back to work

Memories ~ #MondayBlogs

Memories are forever yours and yet there are times when the memories should be stored so that you never do forget.

Life changes, sometimes sad and more times happy, are good reasons to preserve those memories. In the fun movie 50 First Dates reminders of the past allowed the main character to move on with her life. Most of us thank goodness enjoy the ability to remember...

Baby albums which follow a child through grade school are precious memory keepers. Souvenirs from family trips help keep the fun in mind. Video-tapes, CDs and DVRs along with the older 8mm home films help to keep the images alive.

One of life's changes involves moving on such as leaving a family home for new adventures. Preparing to leave a home where children grew up, where rooms were witness to first steps, where couples grew old together can bring joyful tears and a need to hold on.

I'm making a "Memory Album" filled with my childrens' third grade paintings, greeting cards that were given to me through the years for various occasions, photographs of various keepsakes that would never survive packing and moving. Maybe paper waste to some, these memories will help to augment the ones I carry in my mind and heart.

In days to come I will be able to sit with my treasures and enjoy the past even when the past is no longer within my reach. I'm overly sentimental, I know. I look forward to my tomorrows. Everything that has happened to me has led me to where I am going and the future holds such promise.

The story behind Final Sin ~ #MondayBlogs

EMS STRONG

#EMSWeek2015 ~ May 17-23

In early 1985 a young man was brutally murdered at a location fairly near my home, it left our local townspeople shaken to the core. Newspaper article after newspaper article exposed sordid fact after sordid fact' the murder was written about in books, I even knew the first police officer to arrive on the scene. It was uncomfortably local..

Back in those years I spent the summers working as a day camp health supervisor utilizing my EMT certification and taking extra training to satisfy the local Board of Health/ During the summers I drove past this unassuming crime scene every day - the location of the building where the body was found was well off of the road but the numbered mailbox was prominent... and I actually shuddered when I passed it knowing the horror that had taken place.

While the opening scene in Final Sin has no connection to this nightmarish event,  I did picture this section off the winding road as "the scene of the crime" and in my imagination I was able to see the dark and foreboding smokehouse and fill it with terror once again as a fictional (this time) crime scene.Authors and artists often "steal" things they've seen and manipulate scenes into stories; it makes it very real to us and hopefully to our readers as well.

By the time I sat down to write my first EMS Suspense Thriller I had been riding as a NYS EMT (volunteer) for many years, my husband and both kids also rode. Many of our friends were First Responders, EMTs, Paramedics, CFRs, FD, PD and more. There was never a shortage of stories and certainly never a shortage of radios going off in an emergency.

Final Sin is fiction, so is the spin-off sequel Hyphema... but you just might feel as if it's real because most fiction, somewhere and somehow, IS based in reality. I hope that when you read these books you might just feel a little bit uneasy because then I've done my job and made it as real to you as it was to me... (insert evil laugh here)

Deputy Sheriff Commander Jake Carson has his hands full with the investigation of a brutal multiple homicide, a troubled son and a vindictive ex-wife when he meets young, free-spirited paramedic Julie Jennings. He is immediately drawn to her and finds himself unexpectedly falling in love. Julie finds herself just as drawn to him. When Julie becomes the subject of an obsession, it puts both of their lives in extreme danger… Romance…danger…adventure…suspense…another great Chelle Cordero novel sure to grab readers from many genre!

To purchase:

Amazon.com (print)

Amazon.com (Kindle)

.pdf E-Book (Payloadz)

multiple ebook formats (Smashwords)

Kobo

Apple iTunes

Follow me on Twitter @ChelleCordero for lost of chances to win FREE books this week

#MondayBlogs ~ Peter Pan and the Circle of Life

With Mother’s Day just behind us (although moms will always be MOM), I find myself reflecting on my childhood and thinking about my mom and dad, both long gone, my Grandma, my aunts and uncles (most also gone) and even a few cousins, all younger than me. So many losses and I miss them all, but so many wonderful memories for me to hold on to.

When I was just five years old my paternal grandfather passed away. I remember being horrified at my dad’s tears and pain and I told my father that I never wanted to grow up. He asked me why and I told him, in my child’s frame of mind, that growing up meant that you lose people you love. I remember how he chuckled and hugged me; he told me that it could happen that way and that some order of loss was natural such as a child burying a parent.

He admitted that he was sad, but that growing up for him had meant finding his love, my mom, and having my sister and me. Daddy told me how happy he was with his life even though he had tears along the way. Although I was still frightened, my dad’s words helped me cope with the loss of my grandfather. Eighteen years later I sat at my father’s funeral and heard his words in my mind; once again he helped me cope. That year started a whirlwind of loss, eighteen days later my father-in-law passed away — in less than five years we buried both fathers and both mothers. Despite my father’s wise words, I wanted to go back to playing Peter Pan who never wanted to grow up.

Today, while I admit to thoughts about people I’ve loved and lost, I enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day. Because my loving husband is “under the weather” with a bad head cold we decided to have a family brunch right here. Our two children and their respective spouses (or as I prefer to say, my FOUR kids), my husband and I sat at the dining room table and enjoyed a simple but indulgent feast. While filling our plates and stuffing our mouths, there was laughter and joy. There were flowers and cards and smiles and warmth. My heart was so full with all of the riches of my life. The pangs of loss never go away, it never really gets better, but my dad was right. I grew up and have had so many wonderful things come in to my life.

My husband and I are married forty years this coming December; our daughter and her husband just celebrated their eighth anniversary; and our son and his bride just tied the knot last December after a lengthy courtship. I wish our parents were here to see their grandchildren and the wonderful people that they are, but I am sure they are looking in from heaven. My daughter is named for my mother and my son for my dad and mother-in-law and so often they remind me how appropriate the namesakes are. In the meanwhile I am celebrating my life and the memories we are making together, memories that will live on for generation, memories that will one day be the .stories told by my children and G-d willing my grandchildren… and maybe even beyond.

Life is good.

Many of my stories center around family dynamics, good and bad. Sometimes that's a challenge for me since many of my memories are on the positive side, but I do love writing about a "good" villain, lol.

Summertime reading is just around the corner, please check out my books, I am sure you can even find a few you can relate to... 

 http://chellecordero.com/

Playing my song ~ #MondayBlogs

Music has always played an important role in my life, it's been a boost to my ego and a respite during troubled times. The words of a song have often helped me find clarity. And in recent years, songs have proven to be a trigger for unleashing creativity. Key scenes of more than a few of my novels have been written while specific songs have blasted over and over... and over again.

As for me, I sing without shame in the privacy of my shower or in the confines of my car (always alone) and I am always woefully off-key.

I dated a young man whose dream was to become a famous singer and entertainer and at 14 (me) and 15 (him) he would play his guitar and sing to me. We belonged to the local community center and there was a teen cafe where he often headlined the evening's entertainment - one night he dedicated a song to me, in front of everyone, and it was one of the most romantic things to ever happen to me. The song "Wild Thing" has never sounded the same ever again.

Since then there have been other songs sung to me or dedicated on the local radio station - Do You Love Me, The Worst That Could Happen, Lady in Red, Close to You, Through the Years, Have I Told You Lately... The day I was married our first dance was to We've Only Just Begun. Each time I hear one of these songs, or a few others I equate with significant events of my life, I feel flooded with nostalgia, happiness and a little bit of a return to my yesterdays.

When I wrote His Lucky Charm (originally titled Forgotten) I played Kenny Chesney's Because of Your Love on a continuous loop; for Courage of the Heart it was Once in a Lifetime by Keith Urban; currently I'm playing Kenny Chesney's (again) I Lost It for my present WIP (a sequel to Karma Visited). Music seems to reach right down, grabbing my emotions and shaking them up so that I can pour words onto paper and hopefully connect with my readers' emotional intellect.

What about you? Are there any songs which have special meaning?

#TBT re-posting from Long and Short Reviews, July 31, 2011

Working Characters

by Chelle Cordero

Many of my characters have successful careers and work they like, sometimes love. I’ve had characters who have saved lives, written about it, drawn pictures, investigated bad guys, defended the rights of the accused, and created hype. Some of the jobs were easier to write than others because of my own familiarity with the profession or thanks to the help of someone who actually walked in those shoes.

Lon Bartlett in Bartlett’s Rule was a successful columnist. “He is a pompous ass!”, that’s how Paige Andrews describes him. Lon brags about his exploits with the fairer sex and he’s built a reputation as a “real man”. Paige is wary of falling under Lon’s spell, she questions his attitudes, she condemns his sexploits. But, they have to work together.

Paige works in the public relations department of a well-known magazine. She understands how publicity works and how images are created. Still, she sees Lon and knows that is the kind of man she wants nothing to do with.

As a writer myself, Lon’s work appealed to me and of course I understood a bit of what it takes to be a writer. During my college years I did a short stint working temporary positions – it gave me several great resume starters and a good look at the business world. One really enjoyable assignment was in the publicity department at McCall’s – I used my own experience working at McCall’s as the basis for By-Lines Publishing, the company depicted in the book.

It was really fun to relive those years…

from the introduction of Bartlett’s Rule:

“He is a pompous ass!”

When Paige Andrews is given the assignment of courting a famous writer for the publishing company she works for, she meets and entices the sexy, charming and thoroughly dangerous womanizer, Lon Bartlett.

Lon immediately takes a not-so-professional, personal interest in the young woman and pursues her. Lon is thrilled when Paige finally succumbs to his charms only to find that her haunting past sets off a terrifying reaction. Lon learns a heartbreaking reality – Paige is a rape survivor.

Will Lon be able to change his womanizing ways? Will he want to? Will Paige ever learn to trust again? Can they learn to love and live, together?

You can download a FREE sampler of

Living, Breathing, Writing: A Lesson A Day by Chelle Cordero

at http://bit.ly/qMTvLU
(includes sample chapters & writing exercises)
based on the acclaimed Living, Breathing, Writing Amazon Kindle Blog

Thanks Long and Short Reviews for allowing me to be here today!

~Chelle

A Chaunce of Riches is now available as an Audio-book

)

http://www.amazon.com/A-Chaunce-of-Riches/dp/B00IXWZIDQ

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 5 hours and 16 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing
• Audible.com Release Date: March 11, 2014
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00IXWZIDQ

from a review:
"Personal conflict kicks off at the very start of Ms. Cordero's A Chaunce of Riches, as widower Samantha Chaunce comes face to face with a man from her past - Ben Johnson. She told him she loved him oh-so-long ago, and then she departed in the arms of another..."

Gotta' Love the Business

Like many authors, I have “another job” – however my other job is also as a writer going by the name of Chelle Cordero. I’m a freelance journalist and I have a few regular clients. Aside from having more income opportunities in a career I love, working on a variety of projects in any given week is also a terrific way to beat writer’s block; when I am stuck on what word to write next I merely switch projects and the creative juices start flowing freely again. Such is the writer’s life.

As a novelist I write romantic suspense, a few novels centered around EMS mystery and most recently paranormal suspense. As a journalist I write about little black dresses, home furnishings and repairs, gardening, auto dealerships and finances – and a few more topics. I also write a monthly column about New York State Emergency Medical Services issues for a trade paper. These are my fairly regular gigs. On occasion when I get lucky I manage to get an assignment for a random publication as well. All these topics can get pretty confusing when I jump between topics, but it also presents lots of strange events which get written into my fiction.

I won’t deny that I love seeing my byline, it’s an ego thing. I also love to see my name on the spine of a book or at least listed next to a title at an online book retailer. Every so often I get a random phone call from a distant friend or an email from a reader asking if it’s the same Chelle Cordero that writes spicy novels and articles about senior dating and green living; I write for a syndicated service that provides special supplements to newspapers throughout North America so I never know where my articles will pop up.

In addition to the myriad of topics that I enjoy researching, I have the privilege to work with some pretty great editors and the chance to hone my style for each publication. By now I am sure you have heard the heaps of praise I have for my managing editor at Vanilla Heart Publishing where most of my fiction comes from; I also have huge respect for the other editors I’ve been lucky enough to work with. It’s no wonder I love my career.

I would love to hear from you whenever you read something I’ve written - like I said, it’s an ego thing. For a complete list of my books, take a look here, for a complete list of my writing credits go here. And to see samples of my books or some samples of my articles. 

(P.S.: I sure won’t mind if you let my editors know how terrific a writer you think I am...) 

Sounding Real from the LBW blog

The following article was previously
published on my
Amazon Kindle blog
Living, Breathing, Writing [Kindle Edition]
on March 16, 2012...

If you are writing dialogue into your story, it should sound like real people actually talking to one another. Say the words aloud – if it feels awkward to say, it probably is.

Your character’s way of speaking should sound like a person of their class, background, ethnicity and style. That doesn’t mean that every word (or even every sentence) needs to be personalized to the point that the words become unreadable, but insert a word, phrase or accent every so often that is unique to that character

Think of a popular TV show or movie and the catch phrases that were always associated with a particular individual, like Joey Tribbiani in Friends and “How’re you doing?”, or Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy and “Lucy, I’m home.” Let your readers identify the person speaking by their style and not just “so and so said”.

If the character is uneducated, or crude, or drunk then they should sound different from the person who is well educated, prim and proper, and possibly snobbish. If they have an accent remember that it would probably be too confusing for your readers to decipher every word, but throwing in the occasional “accented” word will get the point across.

You can even use an occasional foreign word, but try to keep it simple so that your readers are not confused.

“Si senor, I do know that yoo can not see…”or “Sir, I can tell that it is not in your view…”or “Hey dude, ya ain’t seeing it…”

The same sentiment, but as you read those three lines, didn’t you get a vision of a different person each time?

Your narrative should be short and simple as well. Don’t use a thesaurus to write just so you can use multiple words to say the same thing. If it doesn’t sound natural, it will likely distract your reader.

You can add expression to your words by using descriptions rather than excess adjectives or needless exclamation points.

“Are you in here?” He whispered through the open door. or “Are you in here?” He yelled as he kicked the door open. or “Are you in here?” He spoke haltingly as he looked around the room.

Writing exercise: Write a few paragraphs about any subject. Now see if you can re-write each paragraph with no more than one to two sentences (not endless run-on sentences, please). Include all of the pertinent information by cutting out unnecessary descriptive terms and redundancy. Although your final words may sound dry because you are so limited, it is a good way to learn to tighten your thoughts.

Writing prompt: Describe the room you are in and your actions from your point of view (first person: I see, I hear…); then describe the room from the viewpoint of someone standing in the doorway and watching YOU (third person: She sat rocking in the chair…) Remember that in third-person the person describing the room cannot be in YOUR head, they cannot know HOW you feel.

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

All my books are available through Smashwords

Sample my novels for FREE - Click here to download

Hyphema
56270 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero and
published byVanilla Heart Publishing on April 18, 2011
Hyphema: Bleeding in the eye caused by trauma…
Matt Garratti, a paramedic from New York, moves his wife
and son to North Carolina to work at his dream job as a
flight medic. Pakistani born Sudah, his wife, receives frosty
stares and insensitive comments from their new neighbors...
Matt wonders if he is pursuing his dream or bringing his
family into a nightmare from which they may never wake.

Living, Breathing, Writing:
A Lesson A Day
22710 words. Non-Fiction by Chelle Cordero and
published by Vanilla Heart Publishing on October 28, 2010
A complete month of lessons about the craft of writing
and being a writer, from time management to social
networking, organizing queries to publication, and more.
In the Bonus Section of this book you’ll find more than
50 brain-starting exercises to help you get those
words on paper.

His Lucky Charm
74520 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero and
published byVanilla Heart Publishing on March 20, 2010
What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas...
this time it follows Brandon and Caitlyn across the country
and into a world of espionage and danger. The one thing
that Brandon knows for sure is that he can't afford to lose
his lucky charm, Caitlyn.

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts
71170 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero and
published byVanilla Heart Publishing on December 16, 2009
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. When Layne’s
abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart
by danger, kidnapping and lies.

A Chaunce of Riches
59430 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero and
published byVanilla Heart Publishing on October 31, 2009
Ben Johnson was hired as a bodyguard for a
rich widow and her kid, but he never expected
to be working for the woman who had abandoned
him just when he had needed her the most. Damn
it all, he still wanted her. Samantha Chaunce never
thought she would have to explain why she married
the rich man instead of Ben. Or that her husband
had been murdered...and Ben was the prime suspect.

Hostage Heart
72450 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero
and published byVanilla Heart Publishing on July 20, 2009
Life was hard after the hurricanes swept through,
destroying her parents' home and livelihood...
An errand for her boss - a chance encounter with a
crew of bank robbers - a kind man who tried to help
her ... a man who isn't all he seems...
no, he is so much more

Final Sin
84500 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero
and published byVanilla Heart Publishing on June 13, 2009
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...

Courage of the Heart
79380 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero
and published byVanilla Heart Publishing on April 12, 2009
COURAGE OF THE HEART shows us that
sometimes love is the only cure for the very
deepest of emotional wounds. The story of
the two lovers takes a series of unexpected
and fast paced turns where lives, sanity and
love are put in jeopardy. Their commitment
to one another results in a spirit that binds
them together and helps them to overcome
physical and emotional dangers.

Within the Law
73480 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero
and published byVanilla Heart Publishing on April 12, 2009
Tom gave up on ever falling in love again
the day that he buried his high school
sweetheart and fiancé. He started a career
in law enforcement just so that he could find
her murderer and rapist. Just when he is
about to see justice done, he meets Alli Davis
-the defense attorney for the murdering rapist
who took his love from him.

Bartlett's Rule
55810 words. Fiction by Chelle Cordero
and published byVanilla Heart Publishing on April 12, 2009
Bartlett's Rule shares the story of Lon and
Paige's love affair; a romance filled with
hardship, emotion, danger and triumph. Falling
in love was never the challenge; being there
for each other, knowing just what to say and
making it work is the real test. Paige and Lon
are real; they are human, they cry and they laugh.
Paige has to learn to trust. Lon has to learn to be patient.

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