Chondra Echert

Echert.

**Chondra Marie Echert Sanchez** (born April 22, 1983) is an American writer, best known as co-writer of the comic book series *Key of Z*, *Kill Audio* and *Translucid*. She has also contributed to the comic book series and novels for *The Amory Wars* by her husband, Claudio Sanchez. She is the Creative Director at Evil Ink.

## Writing Career

She graduated from Eckerd College with a BS in Psychology and then relocated to New York, where she began work as an advertising copywriter. Shortly after, Echert pursued a career in comics, after a portion of her first story, *Kill Audio* (created by and co-written with Sanchez), was accepted into Image Comics' Harvey Award-Nominated anthology, *Popgun 2*. Originally previewed in *Popgun 2*, the story was illustrated by Sheldon Vella and published as a mini-series through BOOM! Studios and is now available as a trade hardcover. A sequel to the series, *Kill Audio 2*, is currently in the early stages of production.

In April 2011, Echert began work on *Key of Z*, a contemporary zombie story set in New York City. This four-part miniseries was her second collaboration with Sanchez. Originally titled *Subway Seriez*, the first issue was released through BOOM! Studios in October 2011, featuring artwork from Aaron Kuder and cover art by Nathan Fox. *Key of Z* debuted at New York Comic Con 2011 with an incentive baseball cover from original Walking Dead artist Tony Moore. It was collected as a trade paper back in February 2012. The Daily Blam called the book, "a refreshing new addition to the genre and well deserving of all five stars," while Guerrilla Geek said "...this book works on a subtle level of genius."

Echert is currently Creative Co-Director of the independent comic publishing company Evil Ink Comics, helping with development of the ongoing, New York Times Bestselling science fiction comic series, *The Amory Wars*. She is also co-owner and editor of *The Road Tested*, a product review site with a secondary focus in events and travel.

### *The Amory Wars*

Echert began writing for *The Amory Wars* with the *The Afterman* installment which was released in 2012. She was terrified to take it on at first, knowing how special it was to everyone, especially her husband. Jokingly she recounted that he was very hopeful and encouraging, simply telling her if it didn't work out, "Then you're fired!" It ended up working really well for both of them since Sanchez would often have an idea at four in the morning and couldn't really call up the other cowriters he'd work with as that would've been inappropriate, but with Echert, she was basically already doing that. She said that, generally speaking, "Claudio is more of a broad stoke guy—I have this alien race I want to include... make it work," while she's more detail-oriented. She felt like she was the voice or narrator of Sanchez's story; she takes his story beats and fleshes them out. She said that they may evolve a little, but the bones are all still there.

## Music

Echert sings backing vocals on Coheed and Cambria's "Gravemakers & Gunslingers" track from the band's album *Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV - Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow*. She also sings backing vocals on the track "Mothers of Men" and voices the character All Mother throughout the double album, *The Afterman*.

A limited edition promotional vinyl record given as a bonus for purchasing a subscription to the *Kill Audio* series featured two tracks from Sanchez's The Prize Fighter Inferno side project. Track 1, titled, "Erizo Schultz" was co-written and performed by Echert, with Sanchez. She also sang backing vocals for The Prize Fighter Inferno's title track of the EP *Half Measures*.

### Chonny & Clyde

In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, where some of Sanchez's relatives are from. Echert and Sanchez decided to release an three track EP to inspire people to donate to organizations helping those effected. The EP, *Celesti* helped to raise over $12,000 and was released under the name "Chonny & Clyde" with Chonny referring to Echert, and Clyde referring to Sanchez. (The name is also a reference to *Bonnie & Clyde*.) It was released through Evil Ink, Sanchez's personal publishing company, and distributed through BandCamp. On the publisher's description page, it is implied more music will come from this project.

## Other Projects

On June 14th, 2022, Echert announced a podcast she would be starting with her friend, Misha Lazzara, called "Band Wives" that will focus on aspects of being married to a partner that is frequently on the road. "Band Wives Podcast highlights the perks, unmasks the lows, and embraces the unconventional schedules of band-wife life." Though no official release date was then announced.

## Trivia

* Echert has said she always liked writing but didn't think it was a successful kind of career path. She mentioned she once got out of a grounding by writing an essay to her mom about how grounding didn't really work.
	+ Similarly she said much of what she's written she's wanted to just burn saying, "It's all trash."
* Echert appears in Coheed and Cambria's "A Favor House Atlantic" music video as the main love interest, and in the Sanchez-directed video for the song "The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut" from the album *Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV - Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness*.
* When asked what were some of her favorite comics, Echert has included works by Canadian comic artist and writer Jeff Lemire, and the graphic novel *Patience* by Daniel Clowes. She also mentioned that she grew up on comics like *Betty and Veronica* and was hesitant to enter that field at first.
* Her favorite color is pink. Or gold.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.loriotoole.com/rock-star-wedding/
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/claudiopsanchez/status/475783130469920768?lang=en
3. ↑ http://www.bryanreesman.com/blog/2011/04/07/claudio-sanchez-talks-subway-seriez-kill-audio-ii-and-possible-amory-wars-spin-offs/
4. ↑ http://www.cbr.com/sanchez-plays-in-the-key-of-z/#storyContinued
5. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/videos/interview/701749/nycc-2011-claudio-sanchez-on-key-of-z.jhtml#id=1672581
6. ↑ http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Key-Of-Z-TPB-Vol.-01\_\_\_399912
7. ↑ http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2011/11/15/cassie%E2%80%99s-boom-studios-comic-review-key-of-z-2
8. ↑ http://www.guerrillageek.com/2011/12/review-key-of-z-1/
9. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-06-17/hardcover-graphic-books/list.html
10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111210080323/http://www.rjandc.com/2011/02/road-to-beauty-aint-always-pretty.html
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lamar, Bear. “Café Chonnye.” 26 October 2021. S.S. Neverender I, Norwegian Gem Atrium, Deck 7.
12. ↑ https://evilink.com/chonnyandclyde
13. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CeyrWXlu2hG/?hl=en
14. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/4tz8yj/we\_are\_claudio\_sanchez\_and\_chondra\_echertsanchez/d5lj2v1/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
15. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/4tz8yj/we\_are\_claudio\_sanchez\_and\_chondra\_echertsanchez/d5lihce/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3