In September 2010, I took Eliza Knight's "Edit Your Book in a Month”, an online course I highly recommend, btw. Little did I know that I would come away from the class with more than editing skills, but a great group of friends who are there for each other during the highs and lows of not just our writing careers, but our lives. We call ourselves the WritingDiva's.
So I am tickled pink to be celebrating the success of one very special WritingDiva, Calisa Rhose, on her debut release HOME. I finished reading HOME last night, read it in two sittings and love this story. The characters practically walk off the page. Great job, Calisa.
Here is a little about Calisa: She is a small-town country girl who lives in a semi-remote area of Oklahoma with her husband, five dogs, one cat and one horse. All of her three daughters and their families live within throwing distance. She’s a member of RWA and the local chapter OKRWA. She intends to nurture and continue to grow as an author with the help of her family and supporters.
Welcome, Calisa. I'm happy dancing around the room in your honor.
Thanks for having me here, Tina! I’m so excited about this interview.
To give everyone a glimpse into who you, I've got just a few quarky questions. What does your husband think of your writing career? Does he read your stories?
Mitch is very supportive. He told me this summer after I sold my first book that he wants me to stay home and write so he can retire! He hasn’t read my books but he helps me brainstorm on occasion. He has a very creative imagination.
I’m working on a contemporary cowboy short story that I hope The Wild Rose Press will pick up. I’m also working on a fireman story and a paranormal series.
Sounds like you’re keeping busy. I’m a sucker for cowboys, myself, so I would love to hear more on the cowboy short story. Now for some non-writing related questions. What is the top item on your bucket list? And why?
It used to be sell a book but now that I’ve done that...to take hubby on a real vacation. A cruise or something.
I know you love horses and since I do as well, tell us about your horse.
A topic so dear to my heart! My daughter bought Sonny for me when I returned to Oklahoma five years ago. She knew how much I miss my other horse I’d raised and had to sell a few years before the move. Sonny is 20 this year. He’s a 15.3 hands sorrel quarter horse and spoiled rotten. He’s so tame and easy going that my now six yo granddaughter learned to ride on him when she was just three. My niece used him to teach two young girls to ride and they rode him in NEOSHA horse shows taking 2nd-5th placements two years in a row.
That is great, Calisa. Sonny sounds like a special part of the family.
If you could be a cartoon character, which one would you be and why?
Hm- I’m gonna say Olive Oil because though I’m not tall, I am thin and I think I’m intelligent. :)
LOL. I would never have thought of Olive Oil, only because it has been so long since I've heard anyone mention her. Good choice.
If you were to write a book about yourself, what would the title be?
Never Marry a Mail-Order Preacher
Okay, I should have added a why? I’ve gotta ask, but I’ll do that in the comments section.
Man Fan Favorites:
Chest: Hair or no hair? No hair, though a little teaser trail is nice.
Face: hair or no hair? Typically no, but if worn right I like it.
Boxers or briefs? Boxer briefs. I love how they cuddle and conceal!
Jeans or Suits? Absolutely jeans!
Dark or Blonde? Dark.
Bad boy or Good boy? I like a good bad boy. *grin* Or a bad good boy maybe.
Rough or gentle? GentleHOME Blurb:
What could a gypsy and a Vietnam veteran have in common?
Silvertown’s outcast, Poppy Tippen, has loved football hero Sam “The Force” Callahan forever. But he never seemed to know she was alive. Now he’s home from the war and she suddenly finds herself comforting him from the demons of “that damn war.” Is his attention merely an escape from the haunting nightmares? Or does she hold the interest of the only man she’s ever truly loved?
Sam Callahan’s only solace from the war nightmares wrecking his life comes in the unlikely form of a gypsy girl with stigmas of her own. He’s known Poppy his entire life, but there’s something different about her now. Something special he desperately wants to hold on to. Can he convince her she’s the only thing he needs to put the past behind him?
Get your copy of HOME at The Wild Rose Press and on Amazon.
Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com/
On twitter @Calisa_Rhose and Facebook @Calisa Rhose
She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at calisa.rhose@gmail.com
Calisa will be giving away an ebook copy of HOME to one lucky commenter. So please leave emails in your comment to make it easier to contact the winner. If I can’t find the winner, then I’ll choose another.
33 comments:
Hi and welcome! I'm going to jump in here first and ask Calisa another question because I'm dying to know the story behind the title of the book you would write about yourself.
I also want to mention that Calisa is going to be running a little late this morning, but please leave comments and she will reply. Besides, it's the only way you'll have a chance at winning a copy of HOME.
Calisa hello!
What a wonderful interview, and you book sounds outstanding. What inspired you to write about a Vietnam vet?
Hi Christina...great interview!
Calisa...you are awesome as alwasy sista!
Congrats on such a fun interview and for your awesome book HOME! xoxox
Hi, Calisa! Great interview! I love the idea behind your story. Did you have to do research to understand those nightmares service men have when they come back home?
I have a couple of minutes to say hi before I walk out the door. Thanks for the great intro Tina and for having my on your lovely blog!
LOL When I was eighteen I met a guy who looked identical to Bo Duke (John Schneider) and whom I also had a huge crush on. Tony was sweet and funny. Then one night he announced that he'd gotten a mail order preacher's license. I laughed until I found out through a good friend that he'd been planning... our wedding. Without my knowledge he was looking for MY wedding dress and his tux. He wanted to surprise me. OK I love surprises as much as he next girl... but not a wedding! Oh- and he was going to perform the wedding himself!
I ran. It was two years later that I met my husband who was NOT a mail order anything and married him after two months and a divorce. (No I did not break up a marriage! That's another fun story though) But I have never forgotten Tony's secret plan to have me for himself...while sleeping with my married friend who told me about it! Talk about book fodder!
Hi Calisa!
Your books sounds amazing. Congratulations on your release!
Jennifer- This story just spoke to me at a time when I needed something special. I write contemporary and began with intentions of writing a cowboy for yellow rose (wrp) for this series. Then before I could think of a story these two spoke up and demanded their story be told instead. The urge to write a cowboy was so strong that I'd intended writing both this one and a cowboy for the series. Who knows? I may still do that cowboy for it.
Thanks for asking and visiting!
Christine- Love ya as always Sista!
Tonya- Yes I did do some research. But because I've always been drawn to this era I've watched a lot of movies like 4th of July, Hamburger hill (which actually might have been about the previous war but I love that movie). I studied the reactions of the 'men' in those wars and then researched actual veterans from Vietnam to make sure I had this accurate. Thanks for coming by!
Lorie- Thank you! I hope so.
Been reading your interviews -- we've come a long way since Eliza's class. Congratulations on your new book and I, too, want to read "The Mail Order Preacher." It sounds like a fun story, so I hope you find time to write it with all your other projects.
Great interview. Thanks Christine for putting me onto another author. Gotta love those on-line classes - they can be great.
Nice to meet you Calisa, and good luck in your writing career.
Madison
Who knows... I may just write that one, Sandy. Love being a Diva with you! Thanks!
I'm trying to fit in a few responses before I have to really leave for a few hours. So I am leaving...just not this instant. :)
I loved this interview, Calisa! Great job Christina. So personable...
Anyway, I really enjoyed hearing about your horse. Yours looks a lot like my sorrel Quarter/Walker I used to have. His name was Winchester and he, too, was a big gentle giant. I rode on him up until I was 9 months pregnant and even rode him with my daughter when she was 6 months old. He was so kind and gentle and I miss him dearly.
Your book HOME sounds amazing. I wish you the best of luck in your career. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Hi Madison. It's nice to meet you, too! I'll actually be at Eliza's blog on the 20th so I hope to see some of you there.
Love meeting new friends. Thanks for coming by!
Thank you Renee! I've had the granddaughters on Sonny since they were born mostly. He loves kids. I'm sorry you miss yours. I miss the one I had to sell even after nine years.
Thanks for the nice words and it's great meeting you, too. I think we're Twitter friends!
fun interview, ladies! Calisa that cover gets me every time!!
Great interview, ladies! Calisa, I definitely want to read the mail order preacher book when you write it!
Calisa, I loved the interview:)We got to see another glimpse of you, one we hadn't seen! Olive Oil...who'd a thunk??!!
I love that your hubby is supportive, and sighed when he does all the right things, encouraging you etc., but doesn't read your work. My hubby doesn't read mine either...the only piece he read (and I saw his eyes light up) was Dark Pleasures. It's more of a suspense/thriller. The guy just can't run with the paranormal stuff in the other pieces...nuther sigh. He will read the sexual parts though (go figure;).
Your piece, Home, sounds like such a good read...wishing you great success with it Calisa:)
Writing Diva, Lo:)
Hi Calisa! What a fantastic and funny story about your guy with the mail order preacher license. I'm glad you were wise, even then, to wait for your true hero.
I always enjoy learning more about you. Fingers crossed you'll get to take your hubby somewhere special real soon!
Congrats on your new release! What a wonderful moment to see your first book out!
I know, Kristi. I could just sit and stare at it! Oh- wait... I do! lol
That may be a possibility, Ally!
Ah, Lo. At least yours has read some of your writing. Mine isn't a big reader of anything though, so I know it's not just my books he won't read. Love sharing me with you! Ask me anything. I'm an open book. :)
I'm glad too, Lynne. Could you imagine if I'd stayed clueless? Oy! But I want to take Mitch away just because he does so much for me with no incentive other than he loves me. *sigh*
Thank you for stopping in.
Thanks Michele! Nice to have you here!
Hi, Christina and Calisa! Enjoyed the interview. Calisa's book sounds wonderful!
Just jumping in to thank everyone for stopping in today. Looks like we've given Calisa a new project to work on - The Mail Order Preacher.
And thank you, Calisa for spending the day with us. Congrats and cheers to your success.
Thanks Maria! Glad you stopped by.
Thanks again Christina! It's been a great day meeting your peeps and seeing some of my own. :)
Love the interview, Calisa! Your story in the comments about Tony made me gasp...literally! Good thing you got out of that one!
Thanks for visiting Suzanne Lilly! I love your name btw. :) Yep Tony was NOT a keeper. lol
Lorie Langdon! You won a copy of HOME!!! Email me and I'll send you a PDF copy! calisa(dot)rhose@gmail(dot)com
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