Young adult author Shelley Coriell is a six-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She lives in Arizona with her family and the world’s neediest rescue Weimaraner. You can find her online at www.shelleycoriell.com.Have you ever based a character on someone you know?
Chloe, the main character in my YA debut, is based on my little brother and youngest daughter. Chloe is a classic "baby" of the family. She has this big, bold personality, loves people and performing, hates conflict, and wears her heart on her sleeve.
What genre are most of your stories?
Currently I’m writing “smart, funny” young adult fiction, which is a BIG change for me as I started out writing dark, edgy romantic thrillers with serial killers and bodies buried alive. A few years ago when the stock market crashed and people started losing jobs and houses, I needed light. I needed stories with a heaping dose of hope and love and a little laughter. Enter Chloe, my YA heroine and her closet full of great vintage shoes and big radio dreams.
What do the people in your “real life” think of your writing?
I’m blessed with a great “tribe” who gets me and realizes that when I’m staring at a blank wall for an hour, I’m actually working. My husband is my biggest cheerleader, and he’s convinced CHLOE is going to make a huge splash in the YA book world. He designed CHLOE postcards to send to bookstores and libraries. Note that he is an electrical engineer, not a designer. At a recent book festival he walked through the crowd handing out CHLOE bookmarks. And he keeps bugging me to put a car wrap of the CHLOE cover on my car. Um…no. But still…what a guy.What was the most challenging book you’ve written?
The one I’ve been working on for two years, a YA novel about Venice and dark arts and fire and star-crossed lovers. It’s bloody brutal. But I’m still battling.What do you do in your spare time? 
Bake. I’m a former food retailing magazine editor and restaurant reviewer, and I love everything about food, especially desserts. My YA debut, WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE, even features a recipe for Tamales de Dulce (sweet tamales with cinnamon, walnuts and raisins). My fave dessert: Buttermilk-Crusted Blackberry Cobbler.
What books do you have coming soon?
My debut novel, WELCOME CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE, will be released May 1, 2012 by Amulet Books/Abrams.
Now, a question for you readers. I'd love to know about your favorite sweet treat?
Thanks for visiting me here. Hugs and happy reading!
8 comments:
Hi Shelley, Thanks so much for guesting with us at Romancing The Genres! My favorite sweet treat? I'm not a cake person so I have birthday pie. A restaurant on the Oregonn Coast "The Spouting Horn" in Depoe Bay has the Best Chocolat Peanut Butter pie. Betty, the owner and pie baker, has a wonderful flaky crust recipe that never fails and her pudding based (made from scratch) filling is perfect. They also make a wonderful huckleberry cobbler (in season) but the chocolate peanut butter pie is year round.
Looking forward to seeing you in less than three weeks - and if you need me for another volunteer slot, just let me know.
Hi Shelley! Your dog and my dog (a rescue German shorthair) may be distantly related. :)
Your book has me hooked already. I recognize the title, so you must be doing something right in way of promotion. :)
Congratulations on your coming debut! Gotta order Chloe for my granddaughter (but 'll read it first!)
My current favorite sweet dessert is coconut macaroon cookies from the bakery at Whole Foods Market. They're made from scratch with fresh coconut and coconut milk. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Thanks for having me, Judith! Looking forward to Desert Dreams and meeting you in person. I've never had choc PB pie, but they are two of my favorite flavors. I'm envisioning a giant, decadent peanut butter cup! Must try.
Sarah...huge coconut fan here -- especially given all the health talk as of late about coconut milk and oil. The great thing about coconut is it's so robust that often times you can have just one or two nibbles. Hope you and your granddaughter enjoy CHLOE, she's a real firecracker and very different than much YA on the shelves today. :-)
Hugs!
Shelley
I'm looking forward to reading Chloe. As for deserts - my favorite is just about anything except chocolate. Don't ask me why, but I never liked the stuff.
Great post! Chloe sounds like a great character. My favorite desert would have to be Pecan Pie, love it, love it, don't get enough of it!
Happy Spring!
What a delightful interview! My favorite sweet treat is Chocolate Chip Cookies, using Rice Chex instead of oatmeal, a recipe I found in Joanne Fluke's book "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder." :-)
Thank you for guesting at Romancing the genres. Your book sounds like a lot of fun.
As for favorite sweet- Dove chocolate.
No chocolate, Barbara?? I can't imagine life without it. Okay...yes I can. Thin thighs.
Diana, love pecan pie, too, except the time I had it with a graham cracker crust. Way too sweet. I think pecan pie "works" because of its complexities, most notably the combination of crunchy/soft and nutty/ultra sweet.
Judy, don't you love novels or memoirs with recipes? Lets the story linger a bit longer. :-)
Paty, glad to be here! One of my favorite lines in CHLOE is, "The world needs more fun...if you can't find it, make it." May your week be filled with all things fun. Hugs to all!
Shelley
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