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Ellen LaCorte

Goodreads Author

Born

in Philadelphia , The United States

Website

https://ellenlacorte.com

Genre

Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal

Member Since

December 2018

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It’s funny how life redirects your plans. Like many young women in the 1970’s, I pursued a teaching degree. With a major in English, I did what I would do with every minute of my life if given the chance—read great literature and lots of it.

As it would happen, I completed my teaching practicum in my senior year and only discovered then that I really didn’t want to teach at the high school level. Not that the kids weren’t precocious and fun, it was the idea of presenting the same curriculum year after year. Faces would change but the information wouldn’t. Like many others in my graduating class, I was jettisoned from college into the great unemployed.

So I moved to Arizona. It was just as easy to be jobless in Arizona as in New Jersey but wit It’s funny how life redirects your plans. Like many young women in the 1970’s, I pursued a teaching degree. With a major in English, I did what I would do with every minute of my life if given the chance—read great literature and lots of it.

As it would happen, I completed my teaching practicum in my senior year and only discovered then that I really didn’t want to teach at the high school level. Not that the kids weren’t precocious and fun, it was the idea of presenting the same curriculum year after year. Faces would change but the information wouldn’t. Like many others in my graduating class, I was jettisoned from college into the great unemployed.

So I moved to Arizona. It was just as easy to be jobless in Arizona as in New Jersey but with the benefit of Michael, future husband-to-be, already there. I searched for a job as my savings dwindled. With $21 dollars left in my account I became employed as a window salesperson. I’m embarrassed to report that I didn’t quit this job but let’s just say the terms of employment—a very hand-sy boss—were not to my liking. At that point, ignoring all parental advice, I decided to get a job I thought would be fun. I answered an ad for a human resources position.

And a career was born. So much to learn and the faces changed all the time as did the challenges. No day was ever the same. For a very long time, this was my passion and led to wonderful positions as chief HR officer for prestigious universities and also a doctorate in Higher Education Administration.

But, after thirty-five years in the field, it was time to try something new.

I can’t tell you when I started to realize my heart was leaning elsewhere. Maybe it was when I started in community theater, dancing and singing my way through musical productions, sometimes three in a year. I wanted to improve my craft so I took singing and dancing lessons. There were some painting classes and the occasional writing seminar. And I kept ignoring the signs: that I was never happier than when I was singing or dancing or writing or painting. After three years, when I had started to write on a very part time basis, I finally decided it was time to make the leap full time into where my heart had already placed itself. It was frightening but wonderful to start over, with so much new to discover.

THE PERFECT FRAUD is my debut novel. A native New Jerseyite, my family and I lived in Arizona for twenty-five years. Now I write from New Jersey, blocks away from where Washington crossed the Delaware. My husband, Mike, and I have two grown sons, Chris and Nick, and Emma, a cat who is definitely a reincarnated dog
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Ellen LaCorte One of the best things I did when I was writing The Perfect Fraud was join a writer's group. For those of you around Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Wr…moreOne of the best things I did when I was writing The Perfect Fraud was join a writer's group. For those of you around Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Writers Group has been around for a long time and is an excellent source for honest (and kind) feedback.

I submitted the first chapter and received wonderful input and after that meeting, I asked if anyone would be interested in being a beta reader for the book. Five volunteered and this group was with me throughout the 18 months it took to finish the book.

I looked at writing as homework, that there were five readers waiting for the next chapters. I'd write three at a time, submit them electronically, and while waiting for their feedback, would work on the next three. It was a great motivator and their contributions were critical to the final product.

Getting feedback on your writing can be frightening but it's better to know now rather than face your 467th rejection from an agent and still not know the reason why.

Some things you might hear from a writing group:

your basic writing skills (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation) need work

your story lacks continuity; pieces are not hanging together cohesively

your characters are cardboard figures needing humanizing

your story does not keep the reader's interest

Yes, these are negatives but it's valuable to know and correct before you submit to an agent.

And, you will probably also hear:

I loved your story. It made me cry and laugh, sometimes in the same sentence.

You brilliantly captured the dialogue between your main characters. I could actually imagine this scene in detail.

I was completely drawn into the action and can't wait to read the next chapter.

And...wouldn't that all be encouraging to hear?

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Ellen LaCorte I had a very interesting visit with a psychic about seven years ago. After a somewhat mediocre reading, she turned to me and said, "I can tell by your…moreI had a very interesting visit with a psychic about seven years ago. After a somewhat mediocre reading, she turned to me and said, "I can tell by your cards and this reading that you're not giving enough to your marriage." Seeing the distress on my face, she added, "But, don't worry, for $450, I can be your soul sister and can not only help you with your marriage but guide you to a higher spiritual plane."

Fortunately, I left and my husband, Mike, had to spend some time convincing me that I was giving enough to our marriage. But I thought, wow, what better way for someone to get to a woman's heart (and to her wallet) than by telling her she's not giving enough.

This interaction let me to develop the character of Claire Hathaway in The Perfect Fraud. She's a psychic faking her way through readings in Sedona, AZ, basically telling clients what she thinks they want to hear. But then she meets Rena, a mom from NJ with a critically ill daughter. Their lives collide and they have to discover truths about themselves and each other but it's a little girl's fate that hangs in the balance. (less)

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Average rating: 3.45 · 824 ratings · 193 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Perfect Fraud 3.45 avg rating — 824 ratings — published 2019 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	El fraude perfecto by Ellen LaCorte (Goodreads Author), Carlos Ramos Malave (Translator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars