And then came Annie's Karma

The Karma Stories

Writing a sequel wasn't the easiest thing I've done. I had written series books before: Bartlett's Rule & Courage of the Heart (Survivor Series); His Lucky Charm & Within the Law (Cousins Series); Final Sin & Hyphema (EMS Series) — but this was the first time I wrote an actual sequel.

What's the difference? In two of my series I did have recurring characters, but it was always another couple who was the main focus of the book. I created Annie and Dave in Karma Visited and the story could have ended there, but it couldn't. You see both books do have the traditional HEA (Happy Ever After) implications, but somehow my fictional characters wanted more and they talked me into it.

So I wrote a continuing story of a couple — a Colorado Sheriff and a woman with an unusual and really unexpected talent. Annie is able to "travel" while she is sleeping and when Dave first met her he really only met her "essence", it took him a while to accept that she was a real person and he wasn't just going a bit bonkers.

Annie's Karma opens approximately one year after "The End" of Karma Visited. Sure I had already created these "people" and now I was writing about those same characters, I did know them pretty well. Except... there was a year of growth between them. Dave had a year to accept Annie's unusual talent. And Annie had a year to be out of an abusive marriage and learn what it was liked to be loved by a kind and generous man. They couldn't be portrayed the same way they were in the first book and that was the challenge; keep their basic traits but add new experiences.

I hope you'll give me a chance and read both books and then tell me if you think I achieved that growth.

Oh, one more big change in the two books — Mauszer, Dave's cat, had a much bigger role in Annie's Karma.

Annie's Karma
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Art Imitating Life? …or Vice-Versa?

Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

by Chelle Cordero

Layne Gillette’s world is turned upside down when a man she has never met shows up to lay claim as the father of her 6-year old son.

Justin, the victim of a fraternity prank, and Layne, the subject of a forced insemination, have produced a beautiful child that they are both willing to protect… at all costs.

The two parents realize they can love each other, but when Layne’s abusive “ex-husband” shows up, they are torn apart by danger, kidnapping and lies. Justin won’t give up until Layne is returned to him. Layne uses her newfound strength, courage and knowledge to defy Charlie’s ugliest demands.

~ ~ ~

Often I find that my writing touches on very hot topics for today’s world — honest, I’m not doing it on purpose, or maybe I am?

I like to write Contemporary Romantic Suspense, I guess I find it easier to relate to since it is here and now (although I often enjoy reading historical romances and other genres). But sometimes when I write these stories the topic, while still quite relevant, isn’t always as hot as it could be and then there are the times when I am shocked by how close my FICTIONAL story and real life collide.

[When I wrote my novel Hyphema, a thriller involving a Pakistani immigrant and prejudice, I wrote a scene where the immigrant was pretty much accused of hiding Bin Laden in Pakistan. During the week between the e-book release and the print release Bin Laden was actually found and killed in Pakistan! I was very surprised. That book was the most CURRENT EVENT I ever wrote, so far.]

There are book club discussion packets for almost all of my books, this is one of the “questions” from the Common Bond, Tangled Hearts discussion packet:

Each state has laws regarding the minimum age for a woman or man in order to marry by their own consent. Several states also have individual laws whereby a parent or legal guardian can consent for an underage minor to be permitted to marry. What is the minimum age to marry in your state? Do you think there are inherent problems when one or both members of a couple are very young? What do you think is a healthy age for marriage? If you are married, how old were you when you said “I do”?

I am sure that you’ve been following some of the arguments regarding “child brides”. Just this week there was an article about one state’s Senate bill moving through legislation while there were those trying to block it. Within the state, all over the media and across the Twitter-verse, there were heated words and lots of name calling. This is a situation in more than just this state – how old does a girl have to be before being married (often) to a much older man? Many of these children have been “given” in marriage with parental consent and sometimes by mothers who themselves were child brides.

Maybe the story in Common Bond, Tangled Hearts will get people thinking? I guess this is just one of the stories (unintentionally) ripped from the headlines, it sure does seem to be a story about the times we live in.

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Introducing Annie's Karma by Chelle Cordero

After Karma Visited...

Annie's Karma by Chelle Cordero

Annie's Karma is the sequel to Karma Visited

Do You Believe in Karma?
Annie Furman has a gift that allows her, while she sleeps, to visit people in their time of need - but who will be there for her when she needs help?
Undersheriff Dave Turner is investigating a series of home invasions and homicides. He has no idea that solving this case will lead him to the woman of his dreams.

Excerpt from Annie's Karma:

“We just got into town. I haven’t had a chance to make any connections yet. I’m trying to get a job and I have to open a bank account. I just enrolled my son in the school.” Donna took the handwritten receipt from Annie’s hand. “Thank you. This apartment will be perfect. I’m grateful that you’re renting it to us.”

Donna explained to Annie that she and her four-year-old son were slowly meandering their way across the country, but she realized that the child needed a stable place to live instead of being on the move constantly. She was driving through and liked the small town atmosphere she noticed in Catawai. Donna told Annie that she was a recent widow and that her husband died of cancer, it was already very advanced when they discovered it. Neither she nor her late husband had any family. She wanted to move away and get a fresh start where there weren’t so many memories. She wanted someplace where her little boy could grow up without the constant reminders of a dad who was no longer there for him.

“There wasn’t much that Gene left us, but he had taken a small term life insurance policy, so at least I have cash in my pocket to pay our way for a bit without worrying too much.” Donna shrugged. “Hopefully I’ll get that job I interviewed for…”

Annie listened sympathetically and tried not to ask too many questions, but she noticed a look in Donna’s eyes that she thought she could understand even without knowing why. She couldn’t say for sure, but she knew that Donna wasn’t being entirely truthful. Annie suddenly realized why she felt connected with the woman. She wondered if she had ever had that same look during the years she needed to escape from Scott. Annie decided not to question Donna’s story, at least not for the time being. Maybe she could even find some way to help the other woman.

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