Chelle Cordero
When a reader delves into one of my books I want her (or him) to feel like they are really in the middle of the action. I want the smells and sounds to transport the reader to another place. I don’t want to just describe the sights, I want my reader to see them. Authenticity.
As a journalist, my “other” writing persona, I am used to doing research – I even enjoy it. I’ve had several opportunities to research story lines for my books. When I wrote His Lucky Charm (previously Forgotten), I researched locations, including one I never visited personally – I had one reader tell me she remembered the hotel I described!. After Katrina I listened to stories from rescue workers and created my character, Deanna, a girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana for my novel Hostage Heart. I had an advantage when I wrote Within the Law since most of the action takes place in a town I’ve vacationed in a few times, but I researched more so I could sound like a native.
When I wrote Final Sin, I used extensive inside knowledge of the workings of ambulance response and the EMS system. Since I’m a NYS EMT and have an EMS family, coming up with medical cases, terminology and realism wasn’t hard. I’ve had friends in law enforcement so I really only brushed up on some of the finer points. Fortunately I admit that I don’t think like a serial killer, so I had to research that psychology. Some of the things I read about actually scared me.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far in researching material for my novels was for Hyphema. Matt Garratti, a character first born in Final Sin, becomes a flight medic and moves his family to North Carolina. A flight medic is an extension of EMS and I was able to speak to friends who have done it. I’ve spent time in North Carolina so that only took a quick review to refresh my memories.
Matt’s wife Sudah is a Pakistani born Muslim woman. I write contemporary stories so of course I included the prejudice, emotions and complications of a post-9/11 world. I needed to research “a peoplein order to portray someone without preconceived notions. I actually read excerpts of the Quran, I read news reports and descriptions of Pakistan. I spoke with a friend whose family comes from Pakistan and practices the Muslim faith.
It isn’t the finite details that make something real, it’s the hint, the “seasoning” – some research, throw in a few dishes, a few words. It’s sleight of hand… and it’s now real.
Chelle Cordero
Bio
Chelle has come a long way since first joining the Vanilla Heart Publishing queue of authors nearly two years ago with her first novel, Bartlett’s Rule. Now with nine novels on the market, she has solidified her standing as a Romantic Suspense author (7 romantic suspense & 2 mysteries.) She also has short stories in the VHP anthology With Arms Wide Open, Mandimam’s Press anthology Forever Friends, the VHP anthology Nature’s Gifts, VHP anthology Passionate Hearts and Mandimam Press anthology Forever Travels.
Bartlett’s Rule was named one of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Top Ten Reads for 2009; Final Sin was a 2009 Pushcart Nominee; and Hostage Heart, Final Sin and A Chaunce of Riches were nominated in the 2009 Preditors’ and Readers’ poll and had top-ten finishes. Chelle Cordero was recently featured as one of the authors in “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” published by The Author’s Show in 2010.
June 19th, 2011 at 9:49 am
[...] What are your goals for scene setting as an author? [...]
June 19th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Angela, thanks for having Chelle to visit today! Chelle, your realism has always been such a blessing to us when we read your manuscripts. While the fiction is fabulous, those details add such a fine dimension!
Kimberlee
June 19th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Chelle, thank you for stopping by Romancing the Pen! I agree with you when it comes to research and adding in the small pieces that make the MS come alive. My goal is to pull the reader in, completely. Make them forget they’re reading.
June 19th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
K’lee, of course I had to invite Chelle to RtP! Everyone from my new VHP family is welcomed.
June 19th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Angela, your site is fantastic – and glad to be family.
When my family is all sitting together to watch a movie or TV show, it can be all good and then suddenly something happens that is just too unrealistic. That’s when one or more of us starts picking the show apart and “amazingly” we find all kinds of mistakes from that point forward. It keeps us from being truly involved. I try not to let that wall come down with my writing.
Once again, thanks so much for hosting me here today.
~Chelle
June 19th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
[...] far as research for a fiction writer, visit Romancing the Pen today for my take on the necessity of research, accuracy and [...]
June 19th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
You’re NOT a serial killer? Hmm. Write what you know, people advise. Chelle, your books have authenticity. You invite the reader into the story. I’ve learned so much from you.And thanks to Angela, for hosting RtheP, a terrific blog site.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Chelle, my friends and I do the same thing. Dialogue and costumes throw us out of the movie every time.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Thanks Charmaine! And you’re welcomed to come back any day.
June 19th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
I love how you get under the skin of your characters, Chelle. It’s a gift! Kudos to you, and Angela for a great interview.
June 19th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Anne, thanks for dropping by, and congratulations on the honors from Virginia Romance Writers!
June 19th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
LOL, I think I scared myslef with some of the evil I wrote on behalf of the bad guys! In this instance I think I will stick with doing extensive research instead of what I know, I am too flaky to be a good villain.
Thanks so much Anne, Charmaine and K’lee for stopping by.
June 20th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Chelle, You’re right about research being important. Problem I sometimes find is drifting off from what I need for the story into all those interesting byways. Keep up the good work.