Monday’s Friend: Calisa Rhose

Today I’m interviewing romance writer Calisa Rhose on my blog. Welcome, Calisa.

Hi! I’m Calisa Rhose. What a thrill to be here today. Thank you for inviting me to your lovely blog, Sara Jayne.

SJT: When did you first know you were destined to be a writer?

CR:  I’ve been writing since I was around twelve years old. I started with poems and by the time I was fifteen I had begun writing love stories. I’ve dreamed of getting published since I was twelve or so and discovered my gramma’s Harlequin medicals.

 SJT:  Who would you cite as your influences?

CR:  Hm That’s a hard question because I don’t think I really have any influences as far as writing goes. But I took a lot of years off writing to raise my girls and when I came back I discovered authors like Nora Roberts and some lesser known romance authors at the time, Bronwyn Jameson and Emily Rose to name a couple, who gave me the courage to finally jump in with both feet and submit my first book in 2005.

 SJT:  What advice would you pass on to beginner writers that you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out?

CR:  It’s a long hard road but if you keep writing, reading and most of, for me, learning the craft it helps get over those rough spots. One thing I can say (slipping on my editor’s hat here) is if a writer–no matter where you are in your journey–will work hard to really edit and polish a manuscript (bleed all over it if necessary) BEFORE you submit, the less you’ll find in edits when you do send your baby in.

 SJT:  Are you at meticulous planner or a seat-of-the-pantser?

CR:  I’m a pantser for the most part, though there are times when planning out helps too. I rarely plot and when I do, I rarely follow the plan–but there are those times when it does help. J

SJT:  What is it about romance that draws you to write it?

CR:  Love, romance, the happy ever after. We know in real life a HEA is not always the case, but in my books I KNOW it will come. The journey is the best part. The trials, learning curves and growth of my characters is something I enjoy crafting and watching develop.

 SJT:  What was the inspiration behind your forthcoming release RISK FACTOR?

CR:  Haha That’s a funny story. My critique partner, Melinda Pierce challenged the whole group to write something, anything, for HQN/M&B’s Medical Fast Track Initiative in 2010. I don’t write medical but decided to accept her challenge, sure they would reject me on chapter one. I made it through to requested revisions, 8 months of them, before I decided in August 2011 that maybe M&B wasn’t the place for this particular story, and I should submit it somewhere else. That new place was Lyrical Press in Feb. 2012 when Editor In Chief Piper Denna did a blog pitch. She requested the full and then offered a contract in June that same year.

 SJT:  Are you ever inspired to put people you know in real life in your books?

CR:  There is this one pediatric orthopedic specialist who treated my granddaughter, Andee’s arm when she broke it last year whom I would love to put in a book. I might change his profession, but his name and looks are what romance heroes are made of; Austin Taylor–I even warned him it could happen. LOL Other than that, I haven’t been tempted to put real people in my books as such. All people I meet inspire every character in some way though.

 SJT:  What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

CR:  I have an old horse and we’ll go riding in warmer weather. Year round I love to spend time with family. I also read when I can. I like to sew and craft too.

Thanks again for having me, Sara Jayne!

I’d like to ask your readers what they would like to see in a book? Who knows, if someone gives me a great and unusual idea it might turn up in a plotline sometime soon. 🙂

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. She plans to have some paranormal stories on the way to publication soon, as well (under a pen name tba).

Find out more about Calisa at her website, and you can also find her on Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and on Twitter (@CalisaRhose)

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