Héctor Varela is a Puerto Rican author. His main work, the novel ''Affinity for Trouble: A Puerto Rican Story'' (2006) tells the story of a boy growing up in Santurce, a central neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Life
Varela was born and raised in
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Santurce (, meaning Saint George from Basque language, Basque ''Santurtzi'') is the largest and most populated Barrios of San Juan, Puerto Rico, barrio of the Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, the cap ...
, a neighborhood in
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan ( , ; Spanish for "Saint John the Baptist, John") is the capital city and most populous Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the ...
until he was almost 11 years old, when he moved with his family to Fort Bliss, Texas.
[Midwest Latino]
"Interview with Héctor Varela"
Retrieved on November 20, 2008. Upon arrival in the U.S., he did not speak English. After his father's infantry duty tour in Korea, Héctor became an Army brat on Army tours throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Varela served honorably in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
for eight years, then returned to Puerto Rico and became Deputy Assistant Labor Relations Director for Fluor/Daniel Caribbean during the industrial pharmaceutical boom of the 1970s. In 1980 he returned to the U.S., where he served as a Police Officer at the
Miami-Dade Police Department
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), formerly known as the Dade County Sheriff's Office (1836–1957), Dade County Public Safety Department (1957–1981), Metro-Dade Police Department (1981–1997),
and Miami-Dade Police Department (1997� ...
, an Investigative Agency Manager, and an elected councilman in
West Kendall, Florida
West Kendall is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The boundaries of West Kendall are imprecise, but locals commonly include the CDPs of Country Walk, Three Lakes, The Hammocks, The Crossings, Kendale Lakes, and Kend ...
. He lives with his wife, Carmen Lourdes, in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Works
*''Affinity for Trouble: A Puerto Rican Story'' (2006)
See also
*
List of Puerto Rican writers
This is a list of Puerto Rican literary figures, including poets, novelists, short story authors, and playwrights. It includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of Puerto Rican ancestry, and long-term residents or immigrants w ...
*
List of Puerto Ricans
This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...
*
Puerto Rican literature
Puerto Rican literature is the body of literature produced by writers of Puerto Rican descent. It evolved from the art of Oral literature, oral storytelling. Written works by the indigenous inhabitants of Puerto Rico were originally prohibited ...
References
External links
Héctor Varela Home PageInterview with Héctor Varela
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varela, Hector
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
People from Santurce, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican law enforcement personnel
Puerto Rican United States Navy personnel
Puerto Rican male novelists
21st-century Puerto Rican novelists
United States Navy sailors
20th-century Puerto Rican male writers
21st-century Puerto Rican male writers