AUTHOR INTERVIEW: CHELLE CORDERO

Welcome to the third in the Vanilla Heart Publishing author interview series. This week we're chatting with Chelle Cordero.

Anne: Welcome to my blog, Chelle. What is the title of your most recent release?
Chelle: Common Bond, Tangled Hearts

Anne: Who publishes your books?

Chelle: Vanilla Heart Publishing, run by a terrific managing editor, Kimberlee Williams.

Anne: I second that! Kimberlee is amazing. Now, back to you. Do you have a specific writing space? If so, what ONE word best describes it?

Chelle: I have a 10x10 room at home that is my office with a great corner desk, my desktop, file cabinet and somewhere under the mess, a futon. One word to describe it - MINE.

Anne: Do you belong to any writer's organizations? Which ones and why?

Chelle: Presently, no I don't.

Anne: Do you belong to a critique group, have a critique partner or depend on beta reader(s)?

Chelle: I don't belong to any formal critique groups, however I do have a few very close friends that I "bounce ideas off of".

Anne: How long did it take from the moment you decided to write to when you sold your first book?

Chelle: Actually, I've been writing for a lot longer than I've been writing fiction. I freelance for several magazines and newspapers. I decided to pursue my dream of writing a novel first in the mid 1980's and then put it aside. I went back to novel writing somewhere around the year 2000; my first novel with Vanilla Heart came out in 2008.

Anne: How many rejections did you acquire along the way?

Chelle: I did try to submit my 1980's novel and that was rejected a number of times, about a dozen or so, I really didn't pursue that as fervently as I should have. When I started writing fiction again, I was very fortunate and I received only four rejection letters before querying Vanilla Heart.

Anne: What kept you going?

Chelle: Since I was writing and seeing my byline for so many years (regularly since 1981) I had already built my confidence and a following. I also had the opportunity to meet many other writers and heard many industry stories about success and failure, so I think I had a fairly realistic view of the industry and the need to pursue my goals. Then, as an added benefit, I have a very supportive group around me - a husband who supported the family and allowed me to take the time to pursue my writing, my sister who allows me to brainstorm and offers helpful ideas, my best friend who NEVER rolled her eyes at my dreams, my kids who tease me constantly, and yet always let me know they are proud.

Anne: Describe your current work-in-progress.

Chelle: I am actually reviving a character from one of my earlier works, Matt from Final Sin is the star of this latest novel (tentatively titled Hyphema). Matt was a supporting character in Final Sin and best friend to the heroine. Like Final Sin, Hyphema is a murder-mystery. Also like Final Sin, Hyphema takes place in the world of Emergency Medical Services.

Anne: What is your writing schedule like?

Chelle: Usually very hectic, lol. I flit between writing projects as I usually work on several assignment (newspaper and magazine) at once with varying deadlines. I am also very involved in my community as a volunteer with my ambulance corps and that takes up what might otherwise be free time.

Anne: What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Chelle: Time. Except for my writing/work, I am usually a very unorganized person. When it comes to my writing I keep and meet strict deadlines, but I NEVER have my house ready for company no matter how much time I have to prepare! So, I really have to discipline myself not to let my writing suffer in order to meet my non-work obligations (like housework, yuck.)

Anne: Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?

Chelle: Definitely, a glass half-full - I believe in all the clichés that life is what you make of it, and your reaction to a situation is more important than the actual event. Instead of losing sleep for what could have been, I prefer to enjoy what I have and look forward to tomorrow.

Anne: Please complete this sentence. "I'm happiest when…."

Chelle: This is difficult! There are so many things in my life that bring me happiness. Okay, I will limit this to just being a writer - "I am happiest when" I re-read a finished manuscript for the first time.

Anne: Your website or blog info, please.

Chelle: My author website is http://ChelleCordero.com and my author blog is http://ChelleCordero.blogspot.com

Anne: Thanks so very much, Chelle!