C. I. Jerez

C. I. Jerez, who has a blend of Irish, Puerto Rican, and Cuban parentage, grew up near El Paso’s Mexican border experiencing a true cultural amalgamation. After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she commissioned as a signal officer in the US Army and rose to the rank of major before transitioning out of the military. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a doctorate in international business from Liberty University. When not writing, she serves as cofounder and vice president for Ashire Technologies & Services Inc., a cybersecurity firm specializing in securing federal information systems. She lives in central Florida.

Jerez's new novel is At the Island's Edge.

My Q&A with the author:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

The title of the book makes it clear that an island will be central to the story’s premise. The cover art further supports the island we are referring to. However, what I loved about the title was the implication of being at the island’s edge. This can be taken literally, but when I first heard the proposed title by an editor at the publishing house, I immediately thought of the figurative illustration and how the protagonist in the story is at the edge of her emotional limits following her return from the war. It also implies that it’s the island she returns to while reaching her own personal limit. That’s accurate. It’s when I knew we had the right title.

Up until then I was using the working title, Isla Magic. I still really love that title, but I agreed with the editors that it could be misleading, lending itself to magical realism or even fantasy. I didn’t want any potential reader to be confused by the “magic” elements of the story. This is a story about a raw and powerful young woman battling the impact of her life experiences by returning home. The title captures all of that perfectly.

What's in a name?

Lina LaSalle Rivera is a very special name. My great grandparents immigrated from the western region of Puerto Rico to New York City in the mid 1930’s and this was my great grandmother’s name. What makes this so special is that while I was familiar with the legacy of the name LaSalle and wanted to include it in my novel, I didn’t know my great grandmother was also named Lina. My mother was shocked when she began to read the early drafts of the manuscript and realized I’d inadvertently named my protagonist after her Puerto Rican maternal grandmother.

How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your new novel?

I think my teenage self would be thrilled that I’d written a story about a tough young woman serving in the military. I remember taking the ASVAB (military entrance/aptitude exam) in high school as part of a class assignment and scoring the highest in my entire class. It was the first time my dream of growing up to be a Top Gun pilot seemed plausible. The recruiters showed up shortly after receiving my exam results with all kinds of promises about flying airplanes right after high school. That didn’t quite pan out, as I’m sure one can imagine, but I didn’t know better. I did not have any exposure to the military environment growing up. I had no idea how to chart a course into military service, but the idea of wearing a uniform, living abroad and being part of such an important mission always appealed to me. I’m thankful I finally found my way into the U.S. Army and even more proud of this book.

Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?

I can hear my agent’s beautiful laughter in my head at this question, because I’m certain she and I would agree—beginnings. Although for this book we changed both the beginning and the ending from the original submission she took on.

I knew I’d begin the book with Lina on the battlefield in Iraq. That idea never changed. I wanted to take the reader directly into the war zone and into the mind of a woman and a mother faced with life and death—her own—and, as an army medic, the lives of the men and women on the convoy with her.

It’s an intense scene and I had to honor the thousands of American troops in similar circumstances, leaving no room for error. After countless revisions, and endless soul searching, I’m very proud of every word.

Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?

I think their best qualities are the qualities I admire in humanity. Eli Montgomery, my southern gentlemen from South Carolina has a wonderfully optimistic view of the world. He doesn’t let things bother him, even though he feels deeply responsible for the people he cares about. Teó loves to learn. Dolores is bold and unapologetic. Lina feels very deeply about things, adores her son with her entire heart, and takes responsibility very seriously. Each of these things are characteristics I highly admire.

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

Movies like Top Gun with the emotional resonance combined with action definitely influenced this book. I remember how much I loved the little boy’s character in the movie Jerry Macquire. I wanted readers to love Teó that same way.

Local songs that were popular when I lived in Puerto Rico were essential during my long spells of writing. I wanted my nostalgia for the island to come through on the page and nothing draws nostalgia out, for me anyway, like music, especially the local Spanish hits I listened to when I lived in Puerto Rico. It took me back to some special moments on the island, but it also reminded me of the pride the people have for their beautiful island and it shaped the words on the page.

Visit C.I. Jerez's website.

My Book, The Movie: At the Island's Edge.

The Page 69 Test: At the Island's Edge.

--Marshal Zeringue