September 16, 2013 by Kylie Wolfe

Meet Calisa Rhose, Author of Risk Factors

One of the things I enjoy most about having a blog is being able to interview a fellow author. It is a great way to get to know them a little better and hear about their newest release. Today I have the awesome Calisa Rhose in the house.

Kylie: Welcome Calisa! Thank you for visiting and being brave enough to answer my questions.

Calisa: I’m thrilled to be here, Kylie! We are gonna have fun!

Kylie: You say that now, but you haven’t been grilled – ahem- interviewed yet. 🙂 Let’s start out with your newest release. I’d love to hear about it.

Calisa: It’s titled Risk Factors, released by Lyrical Press, Inc.

– available March 4, 2013

Love, like life, is not without risk.

Risk Factors

BLURB- 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?

Kylie: Ooh, this sounds good! Who doesn’t love an EMT or a man who is raising his daughter? Connor can rescue me any time – just saying. Okay, moving on…who is your favorite character? I’d love to see an excerpt that showcases why you like this character.

Calisa: I adore Viv’s tenacity to get her man, no matter what it takes. Here’s a sample:

“Jelly Bean? What people?” Was he deliberately trying to confuse her? If so, he was wasting his time, because she spent half her time in that state…without help.

Connor laughed. The slow, husky sound curled Viv’s toes several times, like one of those party favors that rolled tight, and then straightened with each breath. His eyes darkened slightly.

Viv knew she was staring. Didn’t seem able to look away.

“Janna calls her pets ‘people.’ And some are territorial, while others think they can move where and whenever they choose. Giggles is a mover.” He still smiled.

Viv forced a swallow down her dry throat and broke her gaze from his. “I see. Jelly Bean…Janna, calls her animals people, and you call your daughter food. Got it.”

Boy did she. Bad at that moment.

His laugh ratcheted up a decibel, increasing her level of oh, my God, where have you been all my life? I think I lust you! craving. Not the it he was talking about, but definitely the it that made her walk from the room, before she said or did something stupid. His smile prompted uncontrolled idiocy in her for some awful reason she couldn’t figure out.

“Where do you want this?”

She turned at the surgical station to find him standing a foot behind her, holding up the carrier once again. The light gray polo shirt he wore stretched tight over his chest, outlining hidden muscles. He lifted the carrier, standing so close she could smell his light aftershave and soap.

Viv knew before she spoke that it was about to happen. She was helpless to prevent it as her mouth opened. “Do you want to have dinner?”

Kylie: I love the line “I think I lust you!” 🙂 I’m curious…have you been writing long? How did you get started?

Calisa: I’ve been writing since I was a teen, but didn’t get serious about getting published until 2005 when I wrote a manuscript with the express purpose of submitting it. It’s sitting on my hard drive still.

Kylie: I think most of us have a manuscript or two either hidden on our hard drive or gathering dust under the bed. I dig mine out every once in a while just to remind myself how far I have come since those early days. Which brings me to my next question – How do you deal with rejection letters?

Calisa: With a grain of salt. Rejections just mean that one (or two or ten) publisher didn’t want my story, not that all publishers don’t. I’m a firm believer that if I do my job right and good there is a home somewhere for every story.

Kylie: I couldn’t agree more. Do you have a critique partner or a beta reader to help you polish your stories before you send them out?

Calisa: Both! I am in a critique group and have several friends who are usually happy to Beta read my completed work and offer last minute suggestions. To me cps and Betas are invaluable. Every writer needs at least three. 🙂

Kylie: What drew you to the type of book you write?

Calisa: Mostly my love of romance and contemporary settings, modern cowboys and first responders.

Kylie: Do you spend much time on research for your story? If so, what do you like most about it?

Calisa: It depends on the story content. If it’s a cowboy or small town story there’s not a lot of research necessary since I’m a good ol’ girl from the ranch and know most of what I write, unless I write about a specialty like a veterinarian as I did in RF. But for my first book, Home, I had to spend hours learning about the Vietnam war. I love learning about things I don’t know so research is fun usually.

Kylie: What other titles do you have available? How about its tag line?

Calisa: Home, with The Wild Rose Press

What could a gypsy and a Vietnam veteran have in common?

Kylie: What a great tag line! I certainly want to know the answer. Do you have a favorite book?

Calisa: I don’t think I have one. I enjoy so many authors and so, so many books I can’t think of one I like above all others.

Kylie: Are you a plotter or a pantser? Tell me about a perfect writing day for you.

Calisa: I am a pantser! I’ve tried to plot but so far it hasn’t worked well for me. Lol A perfect writing day…well, I get up at 6, get the granddaughter off to school at 7 and go home and check a few emails. I’m also an editor so I have ‘work’ to do and this often means edits for my authors before I can settle down to write. I try to get to my work in the evening when I have other edits to work on, but we’ll say I don’t for this interview. I’d open my word doc around nine or ten, after checking four email accounts, and then write as much as I can (hopefully without interruptions from FIL whom I care for in my house too) until hubby and granddaughter gets home around three. Then it’s family ‘stuff’ until about seven when I’m free to check blogs, emails or ‘play’ on social media, then get in a few more words before bed.

Kylie: That’s quite a schedule even on a perfect writing day – wow. Do you ever struggle with writer’s block? If so, how do you work your way through it?

Calisa: Yes. I’ve actually been struggling with it off and on since moving FIL in with us two years ago. It’s hard for me to ignore surroundings to write so I struggle with blocking others out even when they aren’t in the room.

Kylie: Okay, one last question. Do you use a pen name? How did you decide on the name?

Calisa: I do, sort of. Calisa is my real name. Rhose is after my mom who loved roses; flowers, color, perfume—everything rose. I added the ‘h’ in my name because there are already several authors with the common spelling and I like to stand out. <grin> I chose a pen name to protect my family, but thanks to FB I think most everyone already knows my real last name too. Lol

Kylie: Thank you for taking the time to visit and being such a good sport answering my questions. It has been a lot of fun 🙂

Calisa: Thanks for inviting me on your awesome blog, Kylie! It’s been fun talking to you.

I’d like to ask readers what you like to read about. If you could name a heroine, in one of my contemporary books, what would you name her? I have trouble coming up with jobs for my heroines. What should her job/career be?

Kylie: Do you want to know where you can get Calisa’s book? Links are listed below.

LPI- http://lyricalpress.com/risk-factors/

Amazon- http://is.gd/OOGR4t

B&N- http://is.gd/PfGvg9

iTunes- http://is.gd/J2aelz

Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed. http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/CalisaRhose

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, as well as, the occasional ‘other’ heroes – and their sexy female counterparts, those sassy, stubborn heroines.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

Twitter@CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads, Amazon and Pinterest

August 3, 2013 by Kylie Wolfe

Kylie Wolfe Interviews Chandra Ryan, Author of Ulterior Motives

I am thrilled to have Chandra Ryan as a guest on my blog today. Her new release, Ulterior Motives, is right up my alley – a SciFi romance.

Kylie: Hi Chandra and welcome. I want to start out and say I love the cover of your book! Why don’t you tell us a little about your new release?

Chandra: Ulterior Motives is a sexy, sexy story about eminent domain. What? Eminent domain isn’t sexy, you say? Well it is when you have the devastatingly handsome lawyer, Jasper Lee, fly across the galaxy to champion the cause and help you save your land.

Kylie: You had me at “devastatingly handsome lawyer” :-). I am also curious about your heroine. Here’s a challenge for you…describe your heroine in one sentence.

Chandra: Kat is a tough but lonely rancher who loves her land and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it out of the hands of the government cronies trying to steal it away from her. Whew! That might be the longest sentence I’ve ever typed.

Kylie: What drew you to the type of book you write?

Chandra: The characters. For me, it’s always about the characters. It starts with, “What if…” and then I have to create people who could, and realistically would, make that story come to life. Somewhere along the way, they become real. And that’s not just in my stories. I can’t count the number of times I’ve started bawling in public because I’m reading a good book. But for the book to be good, to really make people care, the characters have to shine.

Kylie: Okay, curious minds want to know – are you a plotter or pantser?

Chandra: I’m kind of a hybrid. I have a general idea what needs to happen when I start a book and then I just write until I find my way to happily-ever-after.

Kylie: What would be a perfect writing day for you?

Chandra: A perfect writing day….Hmmm….. I’m not sure I’ve ever had one. I think if I did coffee would definitely be involved. And an empty house. Yeah. That would be really nice.

Kylie: Rejection letters are a part of every writer’s journey. How do you deal with them?

Chandra: Ice cream and good friends. You’d be surprised at the number of crises that combination will get you through, though. You need a really good brand of full-fat, extra rich ice cream and a couple of people who never mind being cried on to live life to its fullest.

Kylie: I like the way you deal with a crisis! Now I am craving ice cream….must resist! Let’s switch gears a bit here; what was the biggest challenge you faced in writing your book?

Chandra: The biggest challenge I have is overcoming that little voice of doubt that’s always saying the story isn’t good, or that I’m never going to finish it, or that nobody’s going to want to read it when it is done. I think I read a meme once (and we all know that those things only tell the truth) that doubt kills more dreams that failure ever will. It really resonated with me.

Kylie: You hear that horrid little voice, too? Good thing you didn’t listen! So, what do you do when you are not writing? Any hobbies?

Chandra: My biggest hobby is reading. Big shock there, I know. I sometimes tease that I write so I have the money to buy books. But I also love hiking and swimming. It’s kind of a life of both extremes. I either want to be inside buried in a good book or outside in the sun sweating.

Kylie: Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

Chandra: I’m an introvert all the way. And I know my friends are probably laughing at that one because I’m pretty good at hiding it. But the thing is, I’m always saying the most ridiculous things. Or zoning out in the middle of conversations. It’s really embarrassing. I know I’m socially awkward and that only makes me more awkward. I ordered ribs on my first date with my husband. Who does that? (He found it charming btw, which is why we’re still together fifteen years later.)

Kylie: As a fellow introvert I totally understand! Your husband sounds like a smart man 🙂 I want to thank you for stopping in and sharing a little about yourself. Here’s wishing you many, many sales.

Blurb:

Universal Defiance, Book One

On a rural settler planet, Kat must resort to putting out an ad to find a husband. She doesn’t expect to find love—that’s a dream in these parts—just a partner to help work her ranch. Then the devastatingly handsome Jasper answers her ad and turns her on in ways she never dreamed possible. Too bad he’s not who he says he is.

Jasper doesn’t know what he’s getting into when he ventures undercover to investigate a legal claim against Kat’s ranch. But after a toe-curling night under her roof and in her bed, he’s willing to do anything to stay there. He can’t say no to the tough-as-nails businesswoman who makes his body come alive.

When people start getting hurt, though, both Kat and Jasper have to decide how valuable one piece of land is. And the ranch that brought them together might be the very thing standing between them.

A Romantica® sci fi erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt:

Kat stared at the man on the platform. With thick dark-brown hair and a muscular body that filled his clothes out nicely, he was handsome enough. Not that his looks mattered. Not really. She needed a husband to be a partner. She wasn’t some young, naive thing with silly notions of lust and love. Practical and pragmatic were a much better fit for her life. Still, a pragmatic woman could admit that having a man about the house who was easy on the eyes wouldn’t be a hardship.

She chuckled under her breath as she made her way over to him. She doubted she would fare as well if he were hoping for a piece of eye candy for his wife. Oh she could be pretty when she needed to be. But coming all the way to town to collect a man didn’t merit the fuss. She worked long days on the ranch and this excursion had already caused enough of a delay. If she got all gussied up, she’d not only lose that time but also the time it took her to get back into her work clothes when they returned to the ranch. Time was her most valuable commodity right now. She couldn’t afford to squander it.

“Excuse me, sir.” Her calm words broke through the chaos of the port station and gained his undivided attention. This close to him, staring into his rich, brown eyes, her stomach began to churn with nerves. She quickly pushed through the sensation though. She didn’t have the time for silliness. And it was the height of absurdity for her to be uncomfortable around her soon-to-be husband. “I’m Katarina Maxim. My friends call me Kat.”

She held her hand out to him in casual greeting as she tried not to fidget. She’d debated how to greet him as she’d driven to the station. A kiss seemed rather forward. But she did want him to feel welcomed. A handshake seemed like the best idea at the time. Now, as she waited for him to take her hand, she started second-guessing herself.

“Katarina, that’s a lovely name.”

She noted that he’d called her Katarina but tried not to let that color her first impression of him. She didn’t hate the name nor did she hate being called by it. It just didn’t fit her. Not anymore. Katarina sounded soft, delicate—refined even. As she’d been before her family had moved here. She could only hope that he didn’t see her as any of those things. If he did, he would be sorely disappointed when he got to know her better. “Kat. Only my mother called me by my full name,” she pressed.

“Kat it is.” His smile seemed genuine but his palm was as soft as new leather when he finally took hers. If he stayed, that would change. This planet demanded calluses and blisters. Her hands were proof of that. “Jasper Lee, ma’am. I’m honored to meet you. Out of the thousands of applications you must have received, I am grateful you selected mine.”

Apparently his tongue was as smooth as his hands. That didn’t bode well for their future. Smooth men didn’t do well when faced with the harsh realities of settler planets. “I’m not a politician nor am I a starlet, Mr. Lee. Out here we speak our minds and we keep our words straightforward. My ranch is a great opportunity, especially if you’re looking for a fresh start. But I think we both know there aren’t thousands of men out there looking for backbreaking work on a world so uncivilized that its brothel is its only restaurant.” She took a moment to look him over carefully. He wasn’t a dandy. His stance spoke of power and awareness. She couldn’t very well start patting him down like a horse at auction, but as far as she could tell, her first impression had been spot-on. The man looked to be in shape. “But if you’re willing to put in the time and the work, I’ve a feeling you could make it here.”

Social Links:

Webpage: www.chandraryan.com

Twitter: @ChandraRyan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandra.ryan

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ulterior-Motives-Universal-Defiance-ebook/dp/B00DSOY4SO/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373510747&sr=1-2

Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/ulterior-motives.html

June 2, 2013 by Kylie Wolfe

Left Brain…Right Brain….

“So what? All writers are lunatics!”
― Cornelia Funke, Inkspell

Rayven’s Keep officially launches today.

Did you notice how calmly I said that? I was so impressed I stopped for a moment to read it again. Yep, a nice rational sentence. Even better, If you could see me right now you would notice I am going about my day appearing as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. I am sure you are amazed and a little impressed by my self-restraint, right? Me, too!

So, why do you keep glancing at the quote at the top of the page? Admit it, I know you are curious. Okay, fine…I’ll tell you. Have you ever seen the test with the dancing woman? (http://tinyurl.com/n4p9z8) The one where if you see her turning clock-wise you are using your right brain – the creative side, and if you see her turning counter-clockwise you are more analytical? Don’t tell anyone, but I can make her dance either way. How cool is that!

Still don’t understand? All right, I’ll tell you more. If you could look inside my head right now – ignore the clutter, please – you would notice right away that the left side of my brain is going about its day like it is any other day. But, the right side has been taken over by a 5 year old jumping up and down, doing cartwheels and a crazy child version of an end-zone dance. She is squealing with delight and, well, running amok. Lefty is trying to rise above the noise and be professional, but 5-year old is having none of it. It’s war in there people!

Crap! My right eye just started to twitch. Never mind, I will manage. Is that a goofy smile on my face? Say it ain’t so! I can do this, really – I can do this….

Who am I kidding? Rayven’s Keep officially launches today!!!!!! Squeee!