Going HOME with Calisa

Thank you so much for being here today Calisa.

If you could go anywhere in the world on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?

I think it would be romantic to sail to Ireland and tour the entire island coast to coast. Of course, I’d have my loving husband with me.

Share your first sale story.

I submitted a short story to The Wild Rose Press on May 3rd this year. I was thrilled when, on May 11^th, they wanted to buy it. I think the sale email went something like “So it looks like I can send you the contract as soon as (the higher ups) approve my request to buy HOME.” I stared at the email wondering just what my lovely editor was saying. As more of a literal type at times, I’m not very good at reading between the lines. I asked my hubby, my cps and other writer friends what they thought she was saying. Finally, when I could breathe again, I emailed her back with, “So... are you saying you want to BUY my book? Shouldn’t there be a process, revisions, something between submitting and selling?” I can still hear Nan laughing at my naiveté. She said that~ I’m so damn awesome and got it right the first time!~

Actually- what she said was that I’d soon find out how picky she could be once I returned the contract. By that time I couldn’t have cared less. I SOLD! I’m still waiting for a release date but it’s getting close now so watch my blog for a contest.

The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Chocolate. And I read. I limit my reading while writing or revising because it’s all I’d do if I allow myself to. I find a book that is eating at me to read it more than any other, and I force myself to save it as my reward after a finished project. In down time, after a day’s goal has been met, at break times I love to watch or play with my granddaughters. They grow up so fast.

What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

This sounds so cliché but WRITE. Keep writing even when you may begin to wonder why you’re bothering. Get  a critique partner, or a group of them. I’d been writing seriously for five years and getting rejections all along. In January ’10 I found a wonderful group of eight unpublished writers and we started Chapter By Chapter. In July ‘10 our first member sale came in. Just this week our fifth member sold her first book. I don’t think I’ve even heard of another critique group making first sales so fast, but without them I know my writing wouldn’t be where it is now.

How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?Why do you write what you do?

That’s hard because it’s easy for me to let the muse have her way. But sometimes when I feel the need to write and don’t have the inspiration I usually open something else to work on. I have several stories sitting on the back burner that never leave my mind. I love my paranormal wolf shapeshifter series, so I open one of them first. If that doesn’t do the trick I might just play around with a new idea until I get the muse in the mood to get down to business again. But I try to write- something, anything- I might go days without working if I don’t. 

Why do you write what you do?

I guess I just enjoy seeing two people overcome any obstacle to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Their Happy Ever After. I could also say I enjoy torturing the hero and heroine to make that HEA sweeter. ;) I love putting words together and creating a love that will last forever. Mostly- like most writers- I just have to. I can’t NOT write and I need the satisfaction of a happy, love-filled ending.

Thank you for having me here Lynn. It’s been a fun interview! If any readers want to know what I have cooking in the author fire, feel free to visit me at my website http://calisarhose.wordpress.com and check out my blog while you’re  browsing. Or follow me on Twitter/Calisa_Rhose. I’m also on Facebook/Calisa Rhose.