Interview: Chelle Cordero, Author of Hyphema

Joining us today is Chelle Cordero.  She is the author of Bartlett's Rule, Forgotten, His Lucky Charm, and other books. Her latest release is Hyphema.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Chelle. Let's start by talking about where you grew up.

I like to tell folks that I grew up in the only NYC borough that begins with a “D” – da Bronx. We lived in a nice 3rd floor walk-up facing a city park. It was a great place to stare out of the window and daydream.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

I had a very happy childhood with a lot of fond memories. But one memory does stick out… my dad was really just a big kid, when my sister and I used to watch TV with him, we all dressed up like the characters from the show. LOL, cowboy hats for Gunsmoke, army helmets for Combat, and police badges for the cop shows – this was terrific for my already overactive imagination.

When did you begin writing?

As a kid, I was always writing stories – tried to write a TV script starring an actor I had a crush on! In high school I took a creative writing class with instructor and poet Daisy Aldan. She was wonderfully encouraging. In college I wrote for my school’s newspaper and helped write news stories for the college radio station. I had my first professionally published piece, a newspaper article, in a local weekly paper when I was 19. After that it was really just a hobby until I was pregnant with my daughter (1981) when I decided to work at creating a home business. But it wasn’t until the mid 90’s when I pursued my dream of fiction writing. I am pleased to say I finally “grew up to be a novelist”!

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

While I try to write my fiction whenever I can find a chance, I am most productive during the late night hours when the rest of the world sleeps. As a full time freelance writer, I do spend much of my day writing to meet newspaper deadlines.

What is this book about?

Matt Garratti was a NYS paramedic (readers first met him in my novel Final Sin). He is married now with a son and has moved to North Carolina to work at his dream job as a flight medic. His wife, Sudah was born in Pakistan, is a practicing Muslim, and is not yet an American citizen (although she is working towards becoming one). As a family they meet up with prejudice and suspicion and when apparent threats are made against his family, the local police are quick to write things off as local reaction to a Pakistani Muslim in the area – maybe they are a little too quick?

What inspired you to write it?

Matt did, the character from Final Sin. Matt developed quite a personality of his own in Final Sin. He became a character that needed his own story. Since Matt is a bit of an “adrenaline junkie” (responds to 911 medical/trauma emergencies), he definitely lives in the field of EMS (emergency medical services). He’s a family man who wants better for his family than he had with a father who abandoned them. He’s also a romantic who is willing to work through cultural differences and social snubs because he truly loves the woman he married.

Who is your biggest supporter?

I am fortunate to have a few very supportive folks in my corner. I think the biggest would have to be my publisher Kimberlee Williams. She is extremely encouraging and knows just when I need some ego bolstering.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

When it comes to my fiction, I think I would have surrounded myself with other writers long ago. Writers have a unique way of understanding other writers.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

While the book will be available in print (probably July), it is available as an e-book for now: you can purchase it for the Kindle from Amazon (http://amzn.to/fEYUR7) or through Smashwords for multiple e-book formats (http://bit.ly/epqtjy)

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

Both! My website is http://chellecordero.com/ and my blog is http://chellecordero.blogspot.com/.  Also, please feel free to visit my “media room” on my website to find out more about me, my latest release Hyphema, and even download free .pdf e-books.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

Yes I do, you can go to http://youtu.be/8IcK1NN7P2E to see it.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Never give up, never stop writing.

What is up next for you?

I have this idea rolling around in my head for a paranormal romantic suspense but, please, don’t say anything to my publisher yet, I want to see how this idea works out first…

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much for allowing me this opportunity to chat here today.

Thanks for spending time with us today, Chelle. We wish you the best.