A to Z '14 - Appreciation

Happy April 1st, gang!

Once again, I am doing the A to Z challenge. This year I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


So let's get going.

A is for Appreciation.

Appreciation takes on a few forms here.

My grandfather had a great appreciation for the arts. He sang. He actually performed in many vaudeville competitions. We are all proud to say, "he never got the hook!" Have you ever seen the movies or cartoons where a big hook came out and pulled the bad performer off the stage? That's actually rooted in truth! The performers whose acts were...weak...would get pulled off stage. Thankfully, my grandfather never got the hook! :)



His love and appreciation of the arts still runs deeply in our family. My mother sings and plays the organ. My brother is an actor (who can also sing and dance well, he just doesn't admit it! LOL). I sing, I used to dance, and I write. My grandfather appreciated all of our various talents.


But I also have appreciation. I appreciate who he was and what he did. I appreciate his singing and love of the arts. I appreciate all of the support he ever gave me. I appreciate him and the life he gave us.


Appreciation in life is incredibly important. It gives us the ability to broaden our horizons, and it gives us gratitude for our own talents and those of the people around us.


A is for appreciation.

A to Z Theme

Well happy Friday, evening, gang!

I just heard that today is official A to Z Theme Announcement day!

So better late than never, here is my theme...

My theme is my Grandfather. As some of you may recall, he passed away on April 3 last year. Working the A to Z challenge was difficult in more than one way.

To honor his memory and all the ways he blessed and enriched my life, my A to Z Theme will be "Popoo."


Popoo means grandfather in Greek. I'm sure we're misspelling it, but that was what we always called him. :)

So starting April 1, we will go through an emotional and alphabetical adventure together! :)

Brynn's Page 69 Trial

It's Thursday...AGAIN!




Today's gift is the Page 69 trial for Brynn.




So, without further ado, here is a little teaser for ya! ;)



“No place is safe anymore.” Her mother said quietly.
“I know it. So, I got a name. And then today, I got an address for him! I’m gonna get Donna in on this and we’re gonna take him down together.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“It is. But we’re probably going to have SWAT and a ton of back up with us, so everything should be okay.”
“Should be.”
“I know you worry, Mom. But you know I’m not careless. I’m not going into anything unarmed or alone or anything. We’re going to get this guy and bring him to justice for shooting John.”
“You sound so much like your father.” Julia said.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing!” Brynn teased.
“You know I worry about you. You’re my youngest child. And your sister is sick. I don’t want anything to happen to you too.”
“I know, Mom. Don’t worry. We’re going to be careful; we’re going to outnumber him. We’re going to make sure this ends well for John, for Donna…for Doylestown! If we can get a scumbag like that off our streets, that would be wonderful!”
“Yes, it would.” Julia acquiesced. “Just be careful.”
“I will, Mom.”


Happy reading! ;)

And our next contestant is...

Happy Thursday, y'all!





It is with tremendous excitement that I announce the next story in the Loving Her series!



Soon to be available is....








The Shelter Director, Jen's story.


She’s one of those people. Shy, quiet, humble. The kind of person that would give you the shirt off her back and then ask you what else you need. Jen is incredibly generous and compassionate. She may not be a movie star, but she’ll treat you like one. She works diligently to help save cats. She sacrifices her life and stability to accommodate her partner. She gives until it hurts, and her reward is a devastating diagnosis. What will her life become? She is one of the most beautiful souls you’ll ever meet; Jen’s story is the sixth amazing tale in the Loving Her series.


Stay tuned, kids! I'll let you know when you get your hands on this awesome story! ;)

Happy reading!

I'm in the Spotlight!

Yet another Thursday is upon is, folks! :)

Today, I want to share something with you. I am currently in an author spotlight, so I figured I'd share my interview and video with you! :)




What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

It’s not so much inspiration as much as it is the three dogs waking me up as they claim they are starving to death at 6 a.m. LOL.



What do you do to unwind and relax?

I do some woodworking, wood furniture refinishing and such. It can be hard work at times, but it brings about a zen-like state for me, and I feel almost as emotionally satisfied working on a wood piece as I do finishing a story.



Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

In this current age of publishing, the industry is overflowing with books and authors. It can be very difficult to sell yourself as an author when you are one small fish in a very large and very crowded ocean. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I am unlike any other author you’ve read before. My stories are character driven. What you will experience is an intimate, emotional experience that stays with you. You’re not going to get a lot of flash. No car explosions, no gratuitous sex. What you get are genuine, personal, touching, heart felt, emotional, cerebral stories.




Loving Her, The Series, Volume 1


In this series of stories, we meet a group of loving friends and couples. Each member of this group is diverse in personalities and abilities, but they are tied together by the common denominator – love. from Chelle Cordero, Combining Passion & Suspense


The Model


She’s exotic. She’s beautiful. She’s talented. She’s unique. She’s Stephania. A young successful model who started from nothing, she has experienced all the ups and downs of life. Never one to be kept down, she persists through life’s trials and reaches for the fairytale ending she has always hoped for. Stephania’s emotional journey is the fourth story in the Loving Her series.


The Mechanic


Linda – her name means beautiful… After facing rejection from her parents because she is a lesbian, Linda didn’t feel beautiful… she felt lost and alone. As a skilled mechanic, Linda built her business… Her love life was a different matter. Until Katie… Together they survived, and together they would face their future, finding hope and joy neither ever expected.


The Cop


Donna White is one tough cop. Behind the badge, though, is a very sweet, sad, sensitive soul. Truly a woman alone, Donna is simply trying to navigate her way through life. Who is Donna? She is dedicated, determined, distinctive and deep. Donna’s rich and touching story is second in the Loving Her series.


The Ballerina


A southern, redheaded, pickup driving lesbian ballerina? You bet! Meet Liz: a southern belle with flair. Vivacious, eclectic and graceful, she is unique to say the least. The first in the series of Loving Her stories, Liz’s story is the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.


Imperfect


Carol Mathers, in her mid-thirties, a highly sought-after IT guru in St. Louis. She has built a great life for herself with her partner, Alexandria, even though the two face prejudice as lesbians, and as an interracial couple -fighting tragedy and sometimes, triumphing amidst the chaos…


Impeccable


Carol — abandoned – waiting… for what, she couldn’t know. She couldn’t see that there was more life waiting for her. Carol is forced to face the demons of her past as well as begin to face life without Alex. Struggling to make sense of it all, Carol experiences her new life and all of the highs and lows that come with that life.


Unbreakable Hostage


Lareina Oliveira; she wants to share her passion for math. So it is back to school for Lareina… a tough Ph.D. program. A classmate is captivated by Lareina’s beauty and intelligence, and despite her repeated refusals to his attentions, he kidnaps her! Only her determination and wits can save her…


Amnesie, a short story


What happens to love when life changes? Two women in love, one debilitating change…


Trajectory, a short story

Joe Davis has spent the last four years of his life behind a scope as a sniper for the Detroit PD’s SWAT Team. A fateful call sends Joe and his team deep into the Detroit Ghetto; and reminds him that there is more to life than what’s on the other end of his gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9cI_eH2WtM&feature=youtu.be