Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Author Spotlight: Calisa Rhose



Hi Melissa! It’s great to be here today. Thank you for reading Risk Factors and I (really!) hope you loved it as much as I do. I’m ready when you are. <grin>

Calisa, No worries! As always, your stories are wonderful. I loved Risk Factors! Everyone be sure to stop back by on Thursday for my review. 

Calisa, please tell us about yourself and your writing.

I write romance because that’s what I love. I read other genres, but my writing is strictly romance at the moment.

What does your writing space look like?

I used to have a lovely cluttered room with pictures and trinkets and books all over. Since moving to the new house and having my FIL to care for, I hang out on the sofa to write. That’s where I am now.
How long have you been writing?

I began writing when I was about fifteen and decided to get serious in 2005. I wrote my first full length cowboy story with intent to publish between June of that year and June 2006 and sent it to Harlequin on July 3rd. It hasn’t been published yet.

Do you have a process for coming up with character names and book titles?

I’d love to be able to say I have this whole ‘thing’ I do to title my books or name my characters, but-- Nope. The title will come to me once I begin writing usually and all my characters pick their own names, even the secondary characters.

How do you come up with your book titles?

They usually come to me on their own once I get into the story good. Except for Risk Factors. This book title got a change request by my editor. Originally it was Perfect Dr. Viv. And though Home is the title of my first book- it’s mostly because that was the only title I could come up with while writing and it just fit. Thankfully my editor agreed.

How do you name your characters?

I don’t name my characters. They tell me who they are when they are ready to. I actually had one hero I identified as XX through half the book until he finally decided I needed to know his name. Talk about awkward.

Do you write with music going in the background? What are some of your favorite types/bands?

I do. Put on good country and I can write for hours to it. When I wrote Home for The Wild Rose Press I lived in 1960s music to keep me in the era because writing those characters in Vintage America didn’t come natural to me.

What is your favorite book genre? Who are your favorite authors?

It depends on the book and my mood but I love contemporary first responder stories and paranormal wolf shifters. I can’t name my favorite authors because there are too many, but I read Amazing Gracie and that introduced me to Sherryl Woods- beautiful story if you haven’t read it, anything by Vonnie Davis, (some) Nora Roberts, and every Brenda Novak book I’ve read so far, oh, and Sarah Grimm and AJ Nuest-- everything from these two! There are too many more to name, but pretty much any WRP or LPI author grabs my attention.

Is there anything else you'd really like our readers to know?

I’m also an editor and avid reader when time allows, but I’m a writer first and always. I’m huge on family and love animals.

Quick quiz:
Favorite food? Mexican
Favorite color? Dk green
Favorite animal? Horse
Biggest pet peeve? People who don’t try before asking for help
Dream car? 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS

Love, like life, is not without risk.

Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for. Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again. Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

Excerpt:
 Viv’s smile and throaty laughter burrowed deeper by the second, mutating into hot want that seemed to draw him to her at every opportunity. But her invitation shook him back to level ground. Dinner. With her. Vivian Dane, the woman who seemed to freely access his dreams lately, was asking him out.

Her voice fell to a low smoky grade that slid like satin over him, tightening around his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He wanted to kiss her.
Period.
There was something about her in the lab coat he couldn’t put his finger on. She appeared
so fragile and delicate in pink that matched her lips…china doll perfect. Kissable.
He opened his mouth to refuse. He couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, wouldn’t risk Janna. He knew his daughter already liked the vet, had said so. If he got involved and it all nosedived south, he couldn’t stand to have Janna hurt. Even if she didn’t know it, Viv was their veterinarian now and he’d have to see her, Jelly Bean would notice the tension--
“Connor?”
“I’d like that.”

Buy Links:

Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed.

Author Bio: 
Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. 

When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers. She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen.


Find Calisa Rhose at: 
Website/blog  
Twitter



Thanks again for having me here, Melissa. I had a fun time.

Calisa, thank you for being my guest today. It was a blast! 

17 comments:

  1. Great interview girls ~ The book looks wonderful! Congratulations and best of luck to you!

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  2. Thanks for having me, Melissa. I'll be dropping in as often as I can today so let's have fun!

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    1. Calisa,
      You're welcome and thank you for being my guest today. :)

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  3. Thanks, Lisa! I'm glad you stopped by.

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  4. How fun to get to know you better, Calisa. I had no idea you are an editor along with your writing career. I do find myself on the sofa, too. It is under the ceiling fans for the summer and by the woodstove during the winter. As long as those words get on the computer, I don't think it hurts to move to where you are comfortable and able to write your stories.

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    1. I'm not so sure about the comfort issue, Pailsey. I'd rather be closeted away in my office. lol Yeah, I'm an editor for a few years now. I love it, but it cuts deep into writing time sometimes. :) Thanks for coming over!

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  5. OMG! I had a Chevelle just like the one in the picture, only in blue. My husband (ex, now) was in the Navy at the time. My baby girl and I sped around Norfolk, Virginia, in style. LOL I had my hair long and wore hip huggers...'course everything I wear now hugs my ample hips, but we don't need to go there now, do we?

    Great interview, ladies. Calisa, thanks for mentioning me as one of your favorite readers. What an awesome compliment. Sigh...just sigh...sniffle...

    Ladies, if you haven't read RISK FACTORS, please don't deny yourselves. I loved it!

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    1. When I get mine I want to paint it black with blue racing stripes, V. Yours sounds awesome! LOL on the hip huggers. Me too. Of course I named you as a fave author! Thanks for the RF kudos. I'm so glad you liked it!

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  6. Great job, Calisa. You are always so interesting and fun! Of course, I am extra fortunate to know you are even more delightful in person. Best of luck with Risk Factors. I LOVE your cover.

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    1. :) Thank you, Anna! I'm so privileged to know you too. Hope to see you Saturday!

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  7. Love that you write to music. I'm more of an ambient/new age listener when I'm writing, because there are no words to distract me. I also have to have a scented candle and lots of tasty beverages (coffee, tea, soda and occasionally wine). Setting the mood is important. That's funny that you had a character named XX halfway through a book. Read Risk Factors and loved it. Well done.

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    1. Oh, after a while I tune out everything and the words just blend into music. :) But it was funny. When I was writing Risk Factors, Viv (the heroine) talked me into buying and listening to...opera! Yep, I saw a cd of this really awesome young opera star and I listened to her during the rewrites of RF, before it was re-titled RF (originally titled, Perfect Dr. Viv). I still put that cd on once in a while just for the different sound. :) I also have coffee, tea, Dr. Pepper, and the occasional Screwdriver or wine. Before FIL lived with us I would put on my sexy lingerie to write love scenes. Someone said it worked for them, and I like to try new things. lol

      So glad you loved RF! Thanks, Gemma! And I'm so happy you stopped by.

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  8. I'll be checking back this week so if you drop in after today, talk to me! :) Come by tomorrow to check out Melissa's review of Risk Factors too, please!

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  9. Oh, Calisa - I think we'd get along just famously if we ever met face-to-face. I totally agree with you on books, favourite animal, colour and listening to music to write. Hmmmm..... might have to try the sexy lingerie one for love scenes, but I'd be worried my hubby would think it was a subtle invitation and I wouldn't get much writing done!
    Great interview and review of Risk Factors, Melissa!

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    1. LaVerne, I'm sure we'll get along! As for the lingerie and hubby--I waited for him to go to bed usually since he's not a night owl and goes to bed between 8-9 pm. LOL Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Calisa, Your book sounds wonderful, and I love the cover. My characters tell me their names, too. How do you find time to write and edit for others? All I can manage is a critique group twice a month... love to learn how others make the best use of their time and are still able to write 'the end' on a manuscript. Best of luck with sales!

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    1. Nice to 'meet' you, Gemma. Gotta love those stubborn characters, right? :) As for the writing and editing, finding my way to 'the end' comes a lot slower that's for sure. When I'm on deadline with others' edits my writing suffers the most, but I usually can find an hour here and there if I really try. Then again, I'm not in an actual crit group right now, either so I don't have that added pressure at the moment. I hope to change that again very soon. I miss my girls. :) I'm glad you like my cover and I wish you the best with your writing. Thanks for stopping by.

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