Betrayal - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 02/01/15

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 Every week writers post 8 sentences on their blogs from a published or unpublished book.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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

Jerry knew something was wrong when he heard how upset Janis sounded and he came over right away. I hadn't planned to continue with this story this week, but several of you said you were curious about what would happen, so ...the 8 sentences:

She told him about Loretta’s tirade and how it led to the conversation with Mandy; she asked him if it was true, did he love her?

It took a moment for Jerry to overcome his embarrassment, “Janice, I loved you since the day I first met you, the first day we spent in the squad car together.”

“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“You were new to the force and I knew you felt like you had to prove yourself.” He paused, “Would it have made a difference?”

“Billy said that you had a girlfriend and that was why you asked him to take me home after Mandy and Brian’s wedding.”

“He told me that you wanted to leave early and had asked him to drive you.”

Billy had betrayed both of them.

Yes, it may look like Janis and Jerry are going to get together, but there are a lot more obstacles they are going to have to overcome. I hope you've enjoyed this little preview.
Next week I am moving on to another story.

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

It's Super Bowl XLIX

While avid sports fans will be watching the game today, there are those who are in it just for the snackage and drinks, and even more who will be glued to TV sets all over just for the commercials - "A 30-second advertisement during this year's game costs a cool $4.5 million. That's an average of $150,000 per second." Oh my!

This year running right alongside well-trained horses and lost puppies, attractively scented men, cell-phones, and frugal hotel accommodations,  will be a very important PSA (public service announcement) that will hopefully get people thinking and talking. 

brought to you by NoMore.org you can read
more about the message here I've written about relationships and sometimes my stories talk about abusive relationships, but this video about a real life 911 call truly chills me. It's a subject we need to talk about - get involved. ~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, this is a shoutout to the brave (& probably slightly off-their-rockers!) folks who will be running into the ice-cold and frigid waters of the Hudson River in Stony Point NY today to help raise funds for local children with high medical bills; in 2013 they raised funds to help families devastated by SuperStorm Sandy. This yearly event hosts hundreds of "swimmers" and thousands of watchers and has raised  thousands of dollars for its beneficiaries. If you'd like to help a worthy cause please click HERE my daughter participates every year (oy!); in this video from  2013 she is one of the two gals wearing Viking helmets!

He loves her, he loves her not... ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 01/25/15

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

Last week Mandy told Janis that she knew who Billy was and left Janis questioning Billy's motives for marrying her. What was worse was wondering if she had lost her chance to be happy with Jerry forever. This week is the last snippet from More Than a Friend, but for now ...the 8 sentences:

Would she have married Billy if she had known how Jerry felt?

The phone rang and startled her; caller ID said it was Jerry’s cell phone.

“Hello.”

“Hi, I took a chance that you’d be home early,” his voice sounded warm and rich, “Are you doing anything tomorrow?”

“Jerry,” her voice caught.

“Hey, are you okay?” he sounded concerned.

“I, I’m fine,” her voice was shaky.

“Janis, you don’t sound fine, I’ll be right over.”

Yes, it may look like Janis and Jerry are going to get together, but there are a lot more obstacles they are going to have to overcome. I hope you've enjoyed this little preview.

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

Well it is snowing out there tonight and

I am so glad to know that all my brood are safe

in warm homes for a change - With 3 of my 4 kids

working in EMS being out on the roads in

the most horrendous weather when everyone else

has been told to stay home is really the norm (Is it

any wonder I'm beginning to see grey strands lately?). 

Hope y'all are safely tucked away from any foul weather.

Mandy knows ~ Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 01/18/15

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

Everyone was left upset by Loretta's angry outburst. Mandy was so distraught she locked herself in the bathroom; Janis convinces her to let her in and the two women have a private but emotional chat. Next week I'll skip ahead a little in the story, but for now ...the 8 sentences:

“I am so sorry for what my mom said,” Mandy reached for Janis’ hand when she tried to shrug it off. “No, you’ve had to put up with entirely too much crap, I love my brother and I miss him so much… but Janis, I know who he was.”

“Of course you miss him, he was your brother.”

“No Janis. I know about the… argument, Billy called me that night. He had a while to sober up and he felt terrible, he was worried that you would never forgive him.”

She was breathless. “What did Billy tell you?” She felt her throat tightening and fought to hold back tears.

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

The Results of the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll are in!

and I feel like bragging, so please forgive my lack of modesty

Non-fiction Article ~ Can We Talk?
…an article inspired by the late Joan Rivers

Promotional Site ~ The Potpourri Parlor…featuring book promos, interviews, profiles & more

Writers’ Workshop ~ Living, Breathing, Writing…an Amazon Kindle blog all about writing & being a writer

And I am especially proud to be a part of Team VHP!so many nominations for 
Vanilla Heart Publishing
Authors, Books & Publisher,ALL had impressive results!

The argument - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 01/11/15

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

Newly widowed and numb, Janice went back to work and is trying to move on with her life when she is summoned to her mother-in-law's place for dinner. Emotions went awry and the scene got ugly. Despite Loretta's animosity to her, Janice understands that Loretta is in deep mourning for her son ...the 8 sentences:

Janis stood to try to comfort her, but her mother-in-law’s cold stare literally stopped her. “Billy told me that you and he had an argument the night before he was killed and you threw him out.”

“Billy walked out, he said he needed space.” Janis remembered the door slamming behind him as she sat on the floor crying.

“You never tried to stop him,” Loretta screeched at Janis.

“Momma, please calm down,” Mandy seemed at a loss of what to say.

Loretta looked at Mandy and cried even harder, “They argued about her damn friendship with Jerry — Jerry this and Jerry that. I wish that boy had never come into our lives.” 

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

Remembering the victims of
the Charlie Hebdo massacre

Frédéric Boisseau, 42

Franck Brinsolaro, 49

Cabu (Jean Cabut), 76

Elsa Cayat, 54

Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), 47

Philippe Honoré, 74

Bernard Maris, 68

Ahmed Merabet, 42

Moustapha Ourrad

Michel Renaud, 69

Tignous (Bernard Verlhac), 57

Georges Wolinski, 80

We can never be sure that the opinion
we are endeavoring to stifle
 is a false opinion; and if we were sure,
stifling it would be an evil still. 

  ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

Loretta disapproves - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 01/04/15

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

Happy New Year! I hope all of your celebrations were great.

I’m skipping ahead since last week’s snippet. Janice has returned to work. We found out that she met her husband through Jerry and that he was upset he never made it clear how he felt about her. They’ve spent time together as friends. Janis was summoned to her mother-in-law’s (Loretta, Jerry’s aunt) for dinner and we learn that Loretta has never liked Jerry. Janice’s sister-in-law, Mandy, is also present for dinner. And now the 8 sentences:

Dinner was strained. If it hadn’t been for Mandy’s effervescence it probably would have been silent except for Loretta’s crying spells. Janis really did feel for Loretta and never faulted her emotions, but her anger over Janis’ return to work and her continued friendship with Jerry was inexcusable.

“You are a widow and you should act like one. You shouldn’t be so self-centered, everything doesn’t revolve around you.”

“Mom,” even Mandy was taken aback by Loretta’s hostility, “Billy would never have wanted Janis to stop living.”

“How do you know what Billy would have wanted? He’s… he’s dead.” 

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

This year's Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll is open until January 14, 2015.

I have a few entries in the poll and if your wouldn't mind, I would love your support.

You can vote one time in each category.

And Good Luck to everyone else who is entered!

Romance Short Stories ~ Holiday Happiness

Writer’s Workshop ~ Living, Breathing, Writing Promotional Sites ~ The Potpourri Parlor

Anthology ~ Your Game Plan for Seamless Holiday Decorating

...and here's a list of other Vanilla Heart Author entries

Jerry is also in mourning - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 12/28/14

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

I'm continuing immediately after last week. NYPD Officer Janis Phelan in mourning the loss of her police officer husband - her best friend and PO partner Jerry Stein just brought her home.

“I… I think I need to be alone,” she noticed the hurt look that he tried to hide. “Jerry I’m sorry. Thank you so much for being here for me, I would never have survived the last few days without you. I haven’t been fair to you.”

“No, I-“

“Ssh,” she put her fingertips on his lips. “You lost him too, he was your cousin.” She continued speaking through her tears, “all you’ve done is take care of me since it happened.”

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.

I am in a VERY ROMANTIC and nostalgic mood today - 39 years ago I married my best friend and lover, Mark. While Mark and I had attended the same high school it wasn't until a few years later that we actually connected - we were both NYC Auxiliary Police Officers and patrol partners when we finally gave in to our attraction and went out on our first date. We were engaged two weeks later; the engagement lasted a year and a half. We were married on December 28, 1975.

Introducing More Than a Friend - Weekend Writing Warriors / #8sunday / 12/21/14

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

I'm introducing snippets from More Than a Friend, a part of The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero, a short-story collection which exemplifies (I hope) the diversity of my writing.

More Than a Friend is a short story based on a manuscript of the same name (which has never been published) This manuscript was co-authored by my sister, Barbara Cordero Du-Bois, and me. I re-wrote it as a short story because I wanted my characters to LIVE.

The following is from the opening scene:

“Are you doing okay?”

Janis couldn’t answer through the lump in her throat. She looked up at Jerry and nodded hesitantly.

He stifled a frustrated sigh, frustrated because he wanted to do something, anything, to take her pain away. It tore him open inside to see her tears and that angered him. Jerry felt guilty for the jealousy he felt knowing that she was crying over her loss of another man.

Janis stood in the center of her living room and remembered the last time she had been in that room with her husband… and wishing she could forget. There would never be another chance to make things right. 

 For more WeWriWa snippets, go to www.wewriwa.com

More Than a Friend

Can best friends become lovers
and share a lifetime together?

 AUDIO 

PRINT 

Kindle 

 AllRomance Ebooks 

 iBooks 

 Smashwords 

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero is a single author collection of short stories 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 and a special bonus section.


My apologies for not getting to many of your snippets last week. My son's wedding was magnificent and exhausting (in a good way). I posted a video of photos from the ceremony that a friend put together. theirs is a true love story of which I am certainly a fan.


Tonight (Sunday) is the 6th night of Hanukkah and just a few days before Christmas. It's a joyous time celebrating commitment, victory and faith. Just in time for the holidays is a Kindle book ~

Holiday Happiness: A Short Story

download from Amazon

I hope y'all are having a wonderful time and have completed your shopping without the maniac fervor that that always seems to be highly publicized this time of year. Enjoy your family get-together's and the neighbors' contagious happy spirits.

...and now I am going to get myself a Latka (potato pancake) - my husband makes the most delicious pancakes!