A revival (& a short story)

Sometime in the 1980's I wrote a manuscript I called More Than a Friend - it was about a female NYC police officer, the (gender) prejudice she encountered on the job and two men, the one she married and the one who loved her. It had suspense, mystery, passion and, of course, a happy ever after.

I made the rounds of big-name print publishers and and a few agents; while I received some compliments, some constructive criticism, and many form letter rejections, no one wanted to take a risk on a relatively new writer. Although I had started writing professionally, it was mostly as a stringer for a local weekly paper.

The manuscript was put away in a drawer. A few years later my sister and I attacked it with a fresh re-write. Long story short, it went back in a drawer again. I never thought to send it to small press or e-publishers.

As any writer knows, our characters are our pseudo children and we yearn to bring them to life. Unfortunately Jerry and Janis, my main characters in More Than a Friend, had resided silently in drawer space for decades.

BUT I FINALLY DID IT!

Thanks to Vanilla Heart Publishing and managing editor Kimberlee Williams, Jerry and Janis are alive and well and living in a short story called More Than a Friend in The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero: Short Story Collection, Vol 1

I am so excited to see my characters given a chance at life.

from the intro:

As a youngster I was always fascinated by Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” and the concept that every decision we make can have life altering effects.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

I have never regretted the roads I chose to lead me to where my life is now, but I certainly had no idea when I was a teen of the things I would get to see and do in my lifetime...

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero Short Story Collection Volume 1

including:

Nine short stories and a special bonus section, featuring:
Introduction
Pussycat Tails
Holiday 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

Available on Smashwords http://bit.ly/13sN86Q
and on Amazon Kindle :http://amzn.to/13sMXZt

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero - YouTube video

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero Short Story Collection Volume 1

including:

Nine short stories and a special bonus section, featuring:
Introduction
Pussycat Tails
Holiday 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

Available on Smashwords http://bit.ly/13sN86Q
and on Amazon Kindle :http://amzn.to/13sMXZt

from Vanilla Heart Publishing 

June is AudioBooks Month

...and I am celebrating!

Now in Audio! 

Final Sin was an Honorable Mention in the Fiction Category
of the 2010 NY Book Festival 

http://amzn.to/14jLlC7

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 listeners from many genre!

• Final Sin by Chelle Cordero ~Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 6 hours and 43 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook (Unabridged)
• Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing
• Audible.com Release Date: June 6, 2013
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00D8HA2KK

Can you hear me?

Coming soon from VHP...

   

HOSTAGE HEART & FINAL SIN

will soon be available for your listening pleasure!

Hostage Heart  by Chelle Cordero
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 by Chelle Cordero
Deputy Sheriff 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...

Vanilla Heart Publishing is pleased to announce that in the coming weeks and months, a long list of selected VHP works will be available IN AUDIO. All audiobooks will be available on 

Amazon.com, Audible.com, and iTunes!

Coming Soon!

              

              

             

              

              

              

Do You Watch "Days of Our Lives"

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

But, I digress...

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

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

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

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

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

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

...and now, back to my soap.

Courage of the Heart

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

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

I miss my youth - win a FREE ebook!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VHP Hot Summer Contest 2013

NEW AUTHOR CONTEST SUMMER 2013

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

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

CONTEST RULES

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

 ContestSummer2013@
VanillaHeartBooksAndAuthors.com

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

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


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

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

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