Category Archives: Blog Hop

What is my earliest memory? and pics of a baby me~ #CalisaRhose #MFRWauthor #52weekchallenge2

Jan 12

Posted by

Osiyo~

Marketing For Romance Writers (whom is not actually only for romance writers, but ALL writers) started a 52 week blog challenge last year. Cool, huh? So, you’ll be seeing a lot more posts from me this year with this challenge and, hopefully, in my writing as well.

I don’t know how I missed this challenge last year, or maybe I was aware and I just don’t remember it. Which, ironically, goes with this second week’s preset topic; My earliest memory. Considering here lately I don’t seem to have any memory whatsoever, or at least no short term memory, now I have to sink back 45+ years to an early one! Well, here I go…

This is me. Cute little bugger, huh? I was about 4-6 months old, I believe. No, I don’t remember this particular moment, or where it was taken. I’m guessing Alva, OK. where I was born, since we supposedly moved to California when I was about 6 months old (and that’s not our California house or dogs behind me).

I remember, once in California, living on the farm owned by Daddy’s Greek boss in Lancaster until I was just over six years old when, we moved to Texas (where I had to repeat kindergarten because of the age/date of birth thing).

I think I was three in the color pic (that’s me on Momma’s right, my older sister on her left, and our older brother behind sis. It seemed my parents took quite a few pics in those fields surrounding our house because there are a butt load of them. 😆 

I admit, the country around Lancaster was beautiful, so I can’t really blame them.

But I digress. So, what is my earliest memory?

Before she was school age my sister and I were wild little hellions, running all over the Mojave desert (within range of Momma’s voice, of course). My birthday is late December, and hers late November- and two years older than me- so she didn’t start school until I was almost four. Which meant, I was alone, a lot, in the two years after she started school.

See what I mean? Those fields were the backdrop of many memories. This is my adorable parents.

One day when I was probably five, and this might not even be my earliest memory–those years were about childhood and it was all one big fantasy time for me of interchangeable memories–I had my bff with me, aka sister’s walking doll she told me not to play with. (I have a pic of the doll somewhere.) I was playing in the barn, talking to the boss’s many horses in their stalls. My favorite horse was a deep red three year old sorrel named V-O. He was off limits to us kids because, being a stallion, he was quite mean, or so we were warned. I loved him anyway and spent many hours sitting on his gate petting and talking to him, while my older sibs were in school. Of course, the grown-ups didn’t know what I was doing!

That day I heard the stock trailer rumble into the barnyard and I got very excited at the sound. The trailer always meant NEW HORSES!

I remember running with that doll, who could not keep up and  I don’t remember whatever happened to the doll after that. lol I got to the trailer just as the 2000 pound cargo unloaded. To this day, I can remember my breath escaping as I got my first look at the black-as-pitch massive horse with long, flowing mane and a thick tail that dragged in the dirt when he moved. All I do remember is how the sun gleamed off the slick fall coat of the huge beast.

It was the first time I’d ever seen a Frisian, though I didn’t know what he was at the time. I can still remember the giddy feeling as Gus Elliopus swung me up onto a back wide enough to play on! I grabbed a handful of that silky, wavy mane, and held on for dear life because it seemed like I was a hundred feet off the ground! And I rode him as Gus lead us across the barnyard and inside the barn.

That memory stops there. I don’t remember getting off the horse and I don’t recall ever seeing him again. It’s like a mystical dream of a five year old little girl. It is also one of my more vivid memories.

Here’s a horse that looks exactly like my memory, http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-breeds/profiles/friesian-horse-horse-breed.aspx

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed my little trip into the way back recesses of my mind. 😆 Join me and visit other authors earliest memories by clicking their links below.

Dodadagohvi~

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Posted in Blog Hop, family, Goals, inspirations, Life As We Know It, Marketing, MFRW 52 week blog challenge, my writing, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion

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THE WINNER IS……. The Nay-Sayer #pnshortstory #SnarkologyHalloweenbloghop2015 #mfrwauthor

Oct 25

Posted by

Osiyo~

AND THE WINNER IS……… SANDY BRUNY! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Send me a message and I’ll get your prize to you Wednesday. 🙂

I super appreciate everyone who joined in the Blog Hop fun this year!

Welcome to this years’ spook-a-licious Snarkology Halloween blog hop running from October 26-31 with lots of prizes to be won from participating authors! Just click to follow this Linky to find all the participating blogs and fun. Be sure to join our Grand Prize Drawing for a chance to win one of FOUR grand prizes! Read to the bottom for my special giveaway right here on the Ranch. 😀

SnarkologyHalloweenBlogHop2015

blackswirlydivider

The Non-Believer

Dust covered everything and her nose itched with the musty scent of age. Silence, eerie, but for the creaking shift of the wood and foundation. Winter-bare branches of the oak trees scratched against grimy windows from somewhere outside, echoing through the abandoned mansion. Elise Crane’s underactive imagination went into sudden overdrive and envisioned a witch’s needle sharp claws screeching against the cold glass. Coming for her. The intruder.

This was a stupid idea. She knew haunted houses were a figment of imagination derived from situations just like this. Spooky house. According to stories she’d heard during interviews with townsfolk before she got to the house, no one entered Bramm House uninvited. Apparently, no one lived to share their story if they did. Not even other Bramms. Look what happened to the latest Bramm to perish. So young, so dead, while walking around in this very house two years ago.

Elise craned her neck, swiveled and double-stepped to regain lost balance the awkward spin caused, then aimed her light to gawk at the upper level. It was open from the ground floor view with nothing but spindly rails as protection to anyone on the other side. What had the news story said? He’d fallen, Brandon Bramm had…from up there…

One rumor suggested he might have been pushed to his death. Had he? By whom? Everyone thought the house was haunted by the many Bramms who’d died there. Others believed those restless spirits resented the living and forced all away who dared enter.

“Well, I don’t even believe in you—ghosts. I’m not afraid.” Creeped out a little, maybe. Okay, a lot. She added an audible “hrumph” as punctuation to the bravely murmured declaration. “The only reason I’m here is because my twittle-brained boss is hell bent on a “real” ghost story to publish for Halloween.” Air quotes emphasized her non-belief of apparitions, paranormal, supernatural, or any other name slapped on them. She guessed that was why Rick had chosen her for this assignment. Insurance of a story with a no nonsense approach to add credibility. And possibly for Elise’s degree in psychological disorders, also deemed by her boss as devious mind digging. He probably expected her to do a session on one of the ghosts reportedly living here. Her lungs resisted the hard dusty breath, she coughed and sighed. She desperately needed a new job.

A cold breeze crept over her left arm—only—as if in challenge, and she flicked the tiny flashlight around. Nothing. Of course. Just the stale, chill air of the mausoleum-like building that she’d disturbed.

A sharp crack sounded from behind her. In the next instant she felt her blood cease to flow, or maybe her brain was just stalling in her fear. Whirling around the opposite direction, the light wobbling in her shaky hand, she fought for breath. It was more difficult to explain the tall door swinging open stiffly across the foyer. An invitation to enter? Or some…one—thing—coming out?

A dark leg stepped through the opening, and a masculine hand wrapped on the jamb. Elise backed a step and screamed…before all went dark.

image courtesy of Pixabay.com

image courtesy of Pixabay.com

*

Mason Deen scrubbed his hand through already unruly hair and stared at the young woman he’d laid on the dusty-sheet covered sofa. Who was she? More importantly, what was the tiny blonde doing inside Bramm House? She was brave going in alone, if rumors were true, and she was alone. A quick search of the area had assured him of that, no footprints beside hers and his on the dusty floor.

Rome wouldn’t be happy when he learned the location had been contaminated. Damn it.

A soft moan carried in the still room, lit only by the halogen lamps he’d set up in the library, which would be base during PRU’s investigation during the next forty-eight hours. According to Paul Bramm, current and sole owner, it was the only room that had very little, if any, activity.

Go figure. Even ghosts didn’t want to hang out in a dreary book room. Mason returned to the couch to check on the new complication lying in the sepia shadows behind the lights. What was he supposed to do about her?

Mason was still unsure why Paul had allowed the team go into his family home at last. He’d said he wanted to sell the old place to the city to turn into a museum and be done with it. But just when they’d almost given up gaining entry, he’d said yes. Rome had been trying for a year to get inside, with no luck. Until now, on the verge of its eminent sale to a city who’d already said there would be no “ghost hunts” once it sold. Their fear being that it would make a mockery of their town’s history, instead of embracing the paranormal explosion most towns would jump at.

Pulling the covered wing-back chair near the sofa, Mason sat, elbows propped on knees and studied the woman. He chuckled softly. She’d fainted. He must have really scared her to pass out like that. Served her right for illegally trespassing. Ah well, he supposed he should try to wake her and get her out of location ASAP, then see what damage she might have done before Rome and the team arrived in, he flicked a glance at his watch, an hour. Damn it all, he hadn’t even gotten things set up yet and time was running low.

He touched her shoulder. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wakey-wakey.” Nothing but a shrug from her. “Come on, now, it’s time to get up and out of here.”

A small hand flung to her head and she groaned. He knew she hadn’t hit hard since he’d leaped the distance between them and caught her just as she slumped to the wood floor. The hand dragged restlessly over her face as her eyes opened and met his. Coal black. Her eyes looked black as a demon’s in the dim room, relieved only by the whites as her gaze grew huge. Then she was sitting up. Not really sitting, he corrected, but on all fours scooching along the couch seat like a crayfish.

“Wh-what are you?”

What was—? “What do you think I am? I’m Mason Deen, equipment technician for PRU. Who are you?” He bit his cheek until he tasted blood, his belly ached with barely contained laughter.

“What are you doing here? I was told nobody is allowed here.” Her accusatory tone raised his hackles.

“Exactly, so how did you get in?” Tit for tat.

“I…well, I—”

Ah. He stood to go open the door and glanced around the exterior wall with a flashlight and nodded in understanding before taking his seat once more. “You found the broken window and snuck in. Now I know the how, why don’t you tell me the who?”

*

Elise nibbled her lip until it hurt. He had already revealed himself, turnabout was only fair. “Elise Crane, journalist for Unnatural E’zine. I’m here for a story. What is RUP?” She crawled forward, still at a safe distance, and faced Mason.

“P.R.U, Paranormal Research Unit. We have permission to be here. Do you?”

His tone said he knew she didn’t, so no sense lying when she was no good at it anyway. “Not so much, um… No.”

“Right.” He’d heard of journalists who did whatever it took to get their story. Sorry, sister, not this time. “You have to go before Rome gets here or he’ll toss you out on that cute ass.”

He considered her butt cute? Well, well. She could use that little crumb. “I’m not leaving. I can’t or…I’ll lose my job.” Not that she wanted it, but she did need it, no matter how crummy Rick treated her.

“You can’t stay. This is an investigation site for the next two days. But, after we’re done you can come back and—”

Two days? “I have to be home in two days with a story for the ’zine, or I’m out of a job.” Then his previous words struck her. “Wait…you’re part of a paranormal group. Maybe we can help each other. Look, you investigate, what, ghosts? I need a “real” ghost story for our Halloween issue to make my boss happy. What if you do your thing, I’ll stay out of your way and get my story?”

Her train of thought shifted fast enough to cause whiplash, but Mason seemed to go on high alert just as quickly. “I don’t think so. Rome doesn’t allow any interference on his sites, and you are definitely a distraction.” One Mason clearly didn’t want either.

“‘Unnatural’ has a mega-reach with thousands of readers. I’ll spotlight your team in my story, you get widespread publicity and I get to keep my job at the end of the day.”

He dragged air into his lungs and puffed out his already-impressive chest and began to shake his head slowly.

“It’s a win-win. You can’t say no.” Or she hoped he couldn’t.

With a final shake, he stood and turned as if to leave but, instead, tugged a cell phone from a noticeably tight back pocket and punched buttons. He walked across the room to speak softly for several minutes, then his taut shoulders visibly gave, as if he’d lost a battle. Mason disconnected the call and returned stare at her.

“Rome’ll speak to you when he gets here. No promises, other than he’ll tell Paul you’re with us if he asks so you don’t get in trouble for trespassing. That does not mean you get to stay. Only that he’ll talk to you.” Mason swung away and began unpacking electronics as she watched from a distance, itching to ask questions.

*

Two hours into the investigation, in which very little had happened, her obvious curiosity finally won out. Elise peered over Mason’s shoulder as he studied the monitors in front of him and Kevin, the secondary tech and team historian.

“So…do you really believe in ghosts? Spirits? Apparitions, whatever you call them?”

Her body heat warmed his shoulder and her sweet scent surrounded him. He stiffened his resolve, then shot a glance at her and shrugged. “If you’ve seen the things I have, you learn to have an open mind about a lot of things.”

“What, you’ve seen ghosts? Really?”

“Really.” Not necessarily since he’d joined PRU, but definitely when he was younger. Yes, he’d seen things. Those combined experiences were the reason he was here now. “Hear that, Kev?” Mason leaned close and stared into the screen then lifted a walkie-talkie to his face. “Rome, I’m hearing sounds near you.”

“What sounds?”

The voice crackled back and Elise sat beside Mason to listen and take notes in a small pad she seemed to carry everywhere. She studied the images on the screen and no doubt heard what sounded like someone approaching the area where his boss stood.

“Someone else is there. Maybe they heard the noise,” Elise whispered, pressing closer against his arm.

“Footsteps. Is Jule there? Maybe she heard it.”

The image in the monitor walked to the doorway. “I’m alone.”

“I just heard what sounded like someone walking close to your room.” He glanced at Elise and Kevin, both nodded. “Elise and Kev heard it too.”

“Ohmygurdohmygurd— Oh. My. Gurdle!”

When Elise whispered the phrase in an odd voice Mason jerked his gaze to her. She pointed above the monitors at the closed door directly in front of them. “Wha-what is that? Is that some kind of trick?”

Mason followed the direction she was pointing. Just that quick the air he breathed became paste. The room grew narrow and out of proportion, and very cold. A light mist grew before their eyes, quickly gaining opacity and form.

His feet wouldn’t obey the command to get out, or to go anywhere. Something he couldn’t begin to name creeped up his spine and he had a sudden mental image of a hundred tiny teeth about to snack on his back bone. Too many damn alien movies as a kid. His eyes ached and he struggled to breathe, as if the air in the room had thickened to sludge. He couldn’t speak.

But he had to.

He huffed air in and keyed the walkie, then spoke slow and low for all to hear. “Lady and gents, we have one…in here…with us.”

At that precise moment all electronics lost power.

Elise screamed.

Total darkness and silence ensued…

    Chances Are– You’re never alone…

What are the chances of finding love on another plane? Go on a spirit walk with Romeo and Juliet.

It’s not your mother’s ghost story.

blackswirlydivider

And remember to hop in for more fun at www.thesnarkology.com/snarkology-halloween-hop-oct-26-31st/ and enter: http://goo.gl/forms/e1BlpY69bj for a chance to win:

(1) $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

Winners to be drawn Nov. 1.

Risk Factors400x600Now for the EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR MY VISITORS:

Did you enjoy this sneak peek into the prequel for my Chances Are duet (in progress)? Let me know in comments! I’m gifting a $5 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter, to be chosen and contacted** November 1. Since I’ll be traveling the 3-4th I’ll announce/award the winner on the 5th. All you have to do to enter is, sometime during the hop (Oct. 26-31), tell me what you think happens next to sassy nay-sayer, Elise Crane. Do you think she will become a believer, or will her logical mind win?

And for fun; do you think Elise and Mason would make a good couple, or should each get their own story (btw- Mason is a sexy Irishman!)?

Be sure to leave your email in a comment so I can contact the winner, or check back** to see if you’ve won.

Also available from:

Kensington-Lyrical Press

Risk Factors-

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…whom 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?

Happy Halloween! Thank you for stopping by to read my contribution in the Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop 2015! Many thanks to Melissa Snark for putting this Hop together. Remember to leave your email and a comment for a chance to win this week!

Dodadagohvi~

** Winner will have 48 hrs to claim your prize- CHECK BACK HERE if you don’t leave an email for me to contact you, or RESPOND BACK to my prize alert email when I contact you. After 48 hrs I’ll draw a new winner with RANDOM.org.

Posted in Blog Hop, Contests, holiday, Pen of the Dreamer

58 Comments

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And the winner is… Happy Holidays Blog Hop #CalisaRhose #winner

Jan 3

Posted by

Osiyo~

I’m so SQUEE-CITED to announce my Happy Holidays Blog Hop Winner!

Drum roll please–

Congratulations Marnie (barniebad)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Random.org chose #12 and that’s YOU!!!!!!!

I’ve sent you an email so if you don’t get it, check your spam folder or contact me calisa(dot)rhose(at)gmail(dot)com with your format preference: Mobi, Epub or PDF, and an email to send to.

Unfortunately we didn’t get enough to gift two copies, but if you still want to read Risk Factors here’s where you can pick up a copy for under three dollars.

Kobo

iTunes

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kensington-Lyrical Press

I want to thank everyone who played and I hope you’ll return to visit often now that we’ve met. 😀

Happening now: I’m kicking off my “Comment to Win” contest so I hope you’ll join in with that. Details can be found on my January 1 post here:

https://calisarhose.com/2015/01/01/2014-blog-year-in-review-and-calisa-rhoses-2nd-annual-comment-to-win-contest-mfrwauthor-contest-justcomment/

Don’t miss Monday when I host another treasure trove of awesome covers for your viewing pleasure by what may turn out to be more new or new-to-you authors. You can find those right here on UnCover Monday for January on the 5th.

And just a side note- this exact post is my 400th for Pen of the Dreamer!!!!

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, holiday, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion

Comments Off on And the winner is… Happy Holidays Blog Hop #CalisaRhose #winner

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Calisa Rhose ~ Happy Holidays Blog Hop! #update #MFRWAuthor #HHBH

Dec 21

Posted by

Osiyo~

And the winner is…

https://calisarhose.com/2015/01/03/and-the-winner-is-happy-holidays-blog-hop-calisarhose-winner/

Hop on over to see who Random.org selected to receive a copy of Risk Factors!

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I was invited by the lovely Terri Rochenski to participate in what is, technically, my second ever blog hop! Do I know what I’m doing? Let’s pretend I do. 😆 While we’re at it, let’s have some fun!

Up for grabs is a copy of my contemporary romance ebook Risk Factors!

Title: Risk Factors

Publisher: Kensington-Lyrical Press

Editor: Piper Denna

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: Steamy sensual

Pages: 149

Publication: Re-released March 2014

Cover artist: Valerie Tibbs

Blurb:

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?

So what do you have to do? It’s simple. Join in the Holiday fun! Leave a comment here, don’t forget your email so I can contact you if you aren’t a regular poster on the Ranch, so I can get your book to you if you win! Then click these links to the other participating bloggers for chances to win more prizes!

Go here to meet Terri Rochenski, host of this Happy Holidays Blog Hop

Not only will I gift one commentor with my ebook, I’ll throw in a second copy if individual commentors reach over twenty! 🙂 Winners to be determined by Random.org

From The Ranch here on Pen of the Dreamer to all of you, GOOD LUCK and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY! Dodadagohvi~  

Posted in Blog Hop, Blogs, Contests, holiday, Pen of the Dreamer

34 Comments

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We’re All Ears: June Inspiration #Lisa’sPieces #jewelry

Jun 20

Posted by

Osiyo~

For my regular fans and friends, you know me for my writing. I’m currently on a sort of forced/self-induced hiatus from writing while I deal with some personal issues. But you don’t know I also create jewelry with beads, wire and polymer clay. Since I don’t want you to think I’ve disappeared I thought I’d share this other aspect of me. 🙂

It’s my other passion and I’m going to be showcasing some items I make for Lisa’s Pieces (my jewelry designer name) here until I get my jewelry blog set up. Today is the first time I decided to join with a site called Earrings Everyday for their We’re All Ears blog hop challenge. The host loves earrings, handmade jewelry and each month she posts a photo for inspiration and invites others to use that inspiration to create gorgeous, unusual and original earrings. This is something that appealed to me.

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

The instant I looked at the June image, which you can see on her site here, I knew what I wanted to make. The swirls drew me in, but it was the top skylight that I focused on with my Cherokee heritage in mind. It looks like a dream catcher to me, and I love dream catchers! So, I decided to keep the swirly aspect and add a dream catcher to my earrings.

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERAI’ve had the pair of silver feathers forever and didn’t know how I wanted to use them until this project. They are perfect, don’t you think? Then I added the mother of pearl birds to the top because my husband thought they needed a little something extra. I agree. 🙂

I used 20 gauge wire and formed a swirl, then tweaked it to the size I wanted and added size .08 Toho beads in black and clear. Since I used black beads and black string to make the dream catcher you can’t see the string in a picture unless I put a piece of paper behind it. It might have been better to use white string. I didn’t, but as you can see with the paper in there… I was able to sew in tiny dream catchers into the bottom of the pieces to attach the feathers to.

I call these “Spiraling Dream”.

It’s been fun participating in this adventure! You can see what others have created using the same inspiring image by scrolling to the bottom of the host post here: http://earrings-everyday.blogspot.com/2014/06/were-all-ears-june-reveal.html

I hope you’ll join me for some of my creations and as soon as I have the jewelry site set up I’ll add a link here to get to it.

Until then,

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, Branding, inspirations, Jewelry

11 Comments

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Calisa Rhose presents ~ The Wolf and The Highlander by Jessi Gage #MFRWorg #highlander

May 6

Posted by

Osiyo!

I’m so excited to have my friend, a sister Lyrical Press writer, with me today! She’s got a new self-published highlander book available now. And for the record- I love Riggs! >grin<

To tell us about Highlander Wishes, Bk 2: The Wolf and the Highlander, please show a big Ranch welcome to Jessi Gage.

Thanks for having me again, Calisa! So far 2014 has been a crazy rollercoaster of editing, formatting, self-publishing, and promoting. I seriously could not be having more fun. I wasn’t sure I would enjoy all the stuff that goes along with self-publishing, but I DO! It’s so much fun!

This month, I’m celebrating the release of second book in my Highland Wishes series, THE WOLF AND THE HIGHLANDER, which features a bearded virgin who lives in a secluded cabin and never goes anywhere without his trusty axe. Did I mention I got his name from a popular action movie? Despite Mel Gibson kind of going off his rocker in recent years, you’ve got to admit he makes one heck of an action flick. So I named my hero after his character in Lethal Weapon: Riggs.

To send this one off with a bang, I’m holding a giveaway that will run for the entire month. Up for grabs are several e-copies of the book and some Amazon gift cards. Click GIVEAWAY to enter!

JessiGage_TheWolfAndTheHighlanderHere’s the blurb:

Anya’s been a bad girl. A vindictive plot against one of her clansmen backfired, resulting in her grave injury. Now scarred and crippled, her selfish ambition has turned into bitter self-loathing. She finds nothing lovely about herself, and doesn’t expect anyone else to either. But when a magical wishing box sends her to another dimension, she becomes the most valuable prize imaginable.

While hunting a rare marbled boar, Riggs, a trapper in Marann’s western forest, hears a strange cry. Distracted from the hunt, he loses the sow but finds instead something more valuable than a whole cart packed with marbled boar skins. A woman. She is delicate, her teeth are small and flat, and her skin is curiously hairless. She is not wolfkind. Maybe she is the miracle his people have been hoping for.

Riggs must bring Anya to King Magnus, because breeding rights belong first and foremost to His Majesty, who needs an heir. But the female calls to a primal part of him. He longs to keep her in secret and take her as his mate. But if he gives in to the temptation, he could single handedly bring about the end of civilization.

Buy links

Amazon | All Romance Ebooks | Goodreads

More retailers coming soon!

Website | Blog | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter Sign-up

JessiGageJessi lives with her husband and children in the Seattle area. She’s a passionate reader of all genres of romance, especially anything involving the paranormal. Ghosts, demons, vampires, witches, weres, faeries…you name it, she’ll read it. As for writing, she’s sticking to Highlanders and contemporaries with a paranormal twist (for now). The last time she imagined a world without romance novels, her husband found her crouched in the corner, rocking.

What a great sounding book, Jessi. I think you have a little something for commenters, don’t you?

Yes. If you had to name a romance hero after a movie character, which character would you choose? Leave a comment to earn an extra point in the giveaway mentioned above!

Thanks again for having me, Calisa!

Thank you for bringing The Wolf and the Highlander to share with us!

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, Contests, Pen of the Dreamer, Tuesday Round Up, Welcome

4 Comments

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Calisa Rhose’s Writing Process #bloghop #amwriting

Mar 17

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Osiyo~

I was tagged by the wonderful Mae Clair to share my writing process with you today. You can see hers here –> Mae Clair’s Blog, as well as the other two lucky writers she chose to share besides me today.

So I’m supposed to answer the following questions and then choose three other writers you can check out on March 24th. How fun is that? Here we go!

1) What am I working on? 

Right now I’m working on three manuscripts. One is a short story for a contest, and I’m semi-plotting (yes, I said the ‘P’ word) another story as part of a new series with one of my publishers. The third project is the first of a four-book series set in a small fictional town in rural Texas. The Dew Drop Diaries follows four high school friends and how their lives turned out into adulthood. I’m writing Sassy’s story in the first book. Here’s a brief blurb:

Dew Drop Diaries, Book 1- Redesigning Sassy

Sassy Prentiss married her high school sweetheart as a drunken joke. When he’s seen leaving her rival’s house at an early hour a few days later she leaves town. Five years later she returns to Dew Drop to get the divorce she thought they’d already gotten, but somehow hadn’t.

She’s a city girl these days, but Xander LaCroix’s not ready to let her go again. He’s determined to prove to her, and himself, that she’s still the small town girl he loved and married—and that they are still perfect for each other. He sets out to redesign her way of thinking, back to the person she used to be.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I write it. I bring my own special voice and brand of style to stories that will make you smile, laugh and hopefully even cry with the main characters. I write romance set in small towns usually because that’s where I grew up and live today. It’s what I know.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I love that feel of first meets, falling in love and happy ever-afters that are so rare in the real world. If I can create that world for my characters and live vicariously through them it makes me very happy. That’s why I write; for me. But it’s nice to be able to share that with you.

4) How does my writing process work?

I’m a pantser and my books are character-driven. That is to say I write what my characters tell me to write and the story unfolds around them. I don’t plot, even though I do occasionally write a short plan to guide me, much like a simple synopsis. That’s important with a series like Dew Drop Diaries because details will carry from one book to the others and back again. I plot lightly (as mentioned in the first question) when writing for a multi-author series such as I’m getting into soon with The Wild Rose Press. But for the most part, I get an idea and just start writing and go where my characters take me. It’s fun, but sometimes I feel a little lost when they seem to know more than I do about where my books are headed. LOL Then again, I love the surprise of where they take me at those times!

b-w-profile-picCalisa’s Bio:

Small-town country girl Calisa Rhose is the author of a vintage historical novella, her first sale, and typically writes heartwarming romance in a few genres; steamy contemporary and light paranormal being her favorites—so far.

She’s been writing romance since she was a teen growing up in central Oklahoma, and reading romance books even longer. It wasn’t until 2005 that she decided if “they” can do it, there was no reason why she couldn’t write and get published, too. That realization began her journey into the world of publishing. Calisa dove into writing seriously and hasn’t looked back.

Since that day she’s become more determined than ever to see her name on bookshelves. As a member of the online group Marketing For Romance Writers and several other help groups, she loves to nurture other writers however she can. She continues to grow as an author since her first sale in April 2011.

After raising three lovely daughters, Calisa now enjoys relaxing with her husband of more than thirty years. They have a small plot of dirt for their menagerie of animals that include a Guiney pig, a cat, a goat, four small dogs and two horses. She loves spending time with her five granddaughters and crafting when she’s not reading or writing.

She’d love to hear from her readers at calisa.rhose@gmail.com and you can visit Calisa at www.calisarhose.com Find out about her first books on the Bookshelf page.

Also find her on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest and Amazon

***

I want to thank Mae for talking me into doing this. Here’s a little about her.

Mae ClairMae Clair:

Mae opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back.  Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, mystery and elements of romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at www.MaeClair.net

***

Please be sure to check out these three authors I talked into playing next week to learn how they write.

TeraShanleyTera Shanley:

Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love! A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library.

She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book. Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, friend hugging, and the great outdoors. For more information about Tera and her work, visit www.terashanley.com .

My blog www.terashanley.blogspot.com.

BeckyClark*****

Rebecca J. Clark’s Author Bio:

A former Golden Heart finalist, Rebecca J. Clark writes steamy and sweet contemporary romances for The Wild Rose Press and Bookstrand, and is also proudly self published.

When she’s not writing, you can find her at her local gym where she trains clients & teaches kickboxing, yoga & Pilates. All this exercise allows her to eat her favorite comfort food—Cheetos—guilt free. Speaking of Cheetos and why you shouldn’t eat them too often, she also just released her first diet book, The Checklist Diet—basic, no-nonsense information like she’s been teaching her clients for the past 10+ years.

Becky lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband of 27 years and two almost adult kids (okay, so they’re both over 18 and technically adults, but they still live at home, so…), a German Shepherd beast who lives to chase her two cats who plot to kill the dog. Don’t get her started on the number of dust bunnies…

Blog link: http://rebeccajclark.blogspot.com

*****

AmyBurgessAmy Burgess’s Author Bio:

Amy Lee Burgess lives and writes in Houston, Texas but her heart belongs to New England – especially in the autumn. Ruled by two dachshunds and addicted to Irish breakfast tea and the Walking Dead, she loves to write about vampires, wolf shifters, gargoyles and other assorted paranormal creatures. Amy loves to travel to places like London England, Edinburgh, Scotland, Paris France and Providence, Rhode Island where she stalks the coziest Irish pubs she can find. She writes to trance and house music by candlelight and welcomes email from her readers – especially if they want to talk about the supernatural.

My blog:  http://amyleeburgess.blogspot.com

Thanks for dropping by and sharing the fun!

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, Pen of the Dreamer

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Romancing your E-reader blog hop!

Dec 26

Posted by

Osiyo~

What would you say to 27 books by 22 fabulous authors? 

I’m offering Home by The Wild Rose Press so here’s a bit about it.

HOME_w6568_300TAGLINE:

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

BLURB:

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?

Some of these can be yours FREE!

Check these out…Book Bash button12.27-29.12

THAT DATING THING by Mackenzie Crowne ~ mackenziecrowne.com 

HOME  by Calisa Rhose ~ calisarhose.wordpress.com

MONA LISA’S ROOM by Vonnie Davis (plus a little sweet) ~ vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

STEPPING OUT OF LINE by Linda Carroll Bradd ~ blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com

DECEPTIONS OF THE HEART by Denise Moncrief ~ ~ denisemoncrief.blogspot.com

BE STILL MY LOVER’S HEART  by Lisa Hannah Wells ~ memorymakerscreator.blogspot.com

MURDER IN THE BUFF by Maggie Toussaint ~ mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com 
THE TREASURE OF COMO BLUFF by Alison Henderson ~ AliceHenderson.com
SHANGHAI CONNECTION by Carol Henry ~ macsmadmania.blogspot.com
SOMEWHERE MY LOVE (A ghostly time travel romance) by Beth Trissell ~  bethtrissel.wordpress.com
FAERIE FOOL by Silver James ~ Silverjames.com
CLEAR AS DAY by Babette James ~ babettejames.com
AN UNEXPECTED GIFT by Katherine Grey ~ katherinegrey.blogspot.com
TAKE ME HOME, COWBOY by Krista Ames (Plus 4 Anthology titles below) ~ apassionforromance.blogspot.com
THE DOLLHOUSE (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Dani-Lyn Alexander~  danilynalexander.com
STUDIO RELATIONS by Georgie Lee ~ georgielee.blogspot.com
A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER by Joanne Stewart ~ jm-stewart.blogspot.com
MAGIC OF THE LOCH by Karen Michelle Nutt ~ kmnbooks.blogspot.com
THE BETTER MAN by Ceri Hebert ~ cerihebert.wordpress.com
THREAT TO OUR FOREVER by Em Epe ~ emeperomances.blogspot.com
CONNECT THE DOTS (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Jennifer Eaton ~ jennifermeaton.com
FADEOUT by Rolynn Anderson ~ blog.rolynnanderson.com
Plus four anthologies, courtesy of Krista Ames.
BELIEVE CHRISTMAS ~ BE MINE, VALENTINE ~ ALL BETS ARE ON ~ SUMMER SHORTS
How can you get some you ask? It takes a comment with your email and that’s all! Yep. Leave a comment with your email and visit the other links above for more chances to be one of two grand prize winners. We’ll draw names on Saturday and announce the winners on Sunday, Dec. 30th.
Buy the Book presents ~ The Gaze by Javier A Robayo
Don’t win? You can still get Home by Moi, FREE– Friday through Sunday here: http://is.gd/GEhNVW and that’s not all! Home is also discounted at .99 cents on Amazon, B&N, All Romance and Bookstrand from today and for the next TWO WEEKS!!!!!
Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, Contests, Pen of the Dreamer

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Christmas comes to The Next Big Thing ~ Calisa Rhose

Osiyo~

I’ve been tagged in the Next Big Thing blog hop. If you’ve wanted to get involved in blog hops but are a little scared to jump in, or aren’t sure how to get into one, here’s a great way for newbie blog hoppers!

I did this blog game a long while back so when the lovely and talented Mae Clair went looking for people to tag I decided promo for my new wip would be a fun idea, and maybe will push me to get it finished this year.

What is the working title of your book? Christmas Comes But Once a Year

Where did the idea of the book come from? I had just finished writing and submitting a book specifically for Mills & Boon Medical for their fast track initiative. It was just before Christmas 2010, literally– Dec 21st–and the editor had briefly mentioned having something else to submit later now that this one was completed and while I waited for word, so I jumped into the season and came up with this story idea about a doctor who is running from his past and hates Christmas and anything about the holiday due to  the timing of a tragedy in his life. Fate lands him in the town of North Pole, Idaho where he meets a widow hiding from life and the season she once lived to celebrate before her husband died.

What genre does your book fall under? Sappy romance. With a touch of fantasy and miracles. Does anyone really know where Santa goes at the end of the day?

Who is Sapphire James?

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in movie renditions? I’m just horrible at this so I don’t know. A younger Debra Messing for Sapphire James, maybe…maybe not, though, the red hair would fit… I think I can envision Noah Wiley as Jace Ryder.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? After the murder of his unborn child during the merry season, Jace Ryder runs from Christmas and all it stands for, only to land smack dab in the center of The North Pole…with a not-so-Christmassy Ms. Claus included.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? That depends on if subbing it nets a contract I suppose, though I wouldn’t mind self-pubbing this one next year, and very well may go that route with it.

How long did it take you to finish the first draft of your project? I assume this means the first draft I’ve been writing since Christmas 2010? I plan to complete it this year so…two years. Have you ever tried to write an intensely-Christmassy story in any temperature less than 30 degrees? 😆

What other books would you compare this story to in your genre? Stories? None. Maybe a Hallmark Christmas movie would compare. 

Just add trees

Who or what inspired you to write this story? The setting was originally inspired by a movie I watched about a man who sold everything he had and moved to a little forest town that embraces Christmas all year, with a secret warehouse that has ‘little’ people working at it. His daughter, who doesn’t believe in Christmas, takes her son to ‘check’ on her dad and becomes a believer. Finding love is a bonus. So the setting inspired me to write one similar to it, but not the plot. The plot came from my own deep love and awe of the season.

What else about your book may pique readers’ interest? Take a little forest town set high in Idaho’s mountains and a belief in all the wonder and mystery of Christmas. This is a story about a woman grieving the loss of her own Mr. Claus and a man running from pain of the loss of his child, who find each other and healing through the magic of the season. Both must overcome guilt and let go of things they can’t change and embrace those they can.

Path

Though not intended as an inspirational story, this prayer suits the story: 

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

That’s all for Christmas Comes But Once a Year until I finish it. Thanks for checking it out!

So now I’m supposed to tag five people to join the NBT and the ones I found to play are:

Loretta Wheeler

Dodadagohvi~

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Spook or Treat Answers to Truth of Fiction! ~ Calisa Rhose

Oct 31

Posted by

Osiyo~

I promised to reveal the truth behind my Haunted Garden Blog Hop post stories so without dragging out the suspense, here they are!

Answers to this post:

  1. Does tossing a coin in the sea while speaking a chant break a curse?

            According to my aunt who fell ill many years ago- She told me she visited her Faith Healer and this was the remedy offered to her and which she followed to a T.

            Another witch’s curse… I asked about that, but she just responded with this strange, almost secretive laugh.

This is a TRUE story.

  1. Will an egg under bed cure fever?

My aunt claims to have personal knowledge this works, having used the method on her own children over the years.

I’ve never tried it. If you do, come back and share how it turns out!

TRUE only because I have just her word for it. LOL

  1. Does having your photos taken steal your soul?

            I personally don’t believe this one. If it is true, I don’t expect to have a lot of soul left by the time I die. I’ll say this is FICTION.

  1. Did the man suffer beatings while locked up ‘safe’ in a jail cell?

            Auntie won’t say she was responsible, but she doesn’t deny it either. I have asked her outright several times if she did it and all she says is, “Someone put a bad curse on him.”

TRUE- it happened. Even my mother who saw him, heard his story too, couldn’t explain it.

But then ~

  1. It was also my mother who also told me about her sister the first time I heard that chilling story- but she’s not the only one who told a version of my aunt’s death. This is a story with many more layers and elements to it. As creepy as it may seem, as incredulous as it sounds, I grew up hearing this story from various family members and, though each story differs slightly on a detail here or there- each version of the base facts have remained constant over the years.

Men, people, really are this evil. My cousin (that aunt’s only daughter) and I have tried to research it, at her request, and as seems to happen often in small town rural Midwest America, the records that could clear this up (or add more questions) was conveniently flooded in the 70s–and the sheriff is long-dead–effectively destroying all paper trails and evidence.

What I’ve told you is completely TRUE. (and if certain family members read this I’ll probably get some serious flack for sharing a family skeleton. Lol)

So there you have it. The answers to my spook stories. Yes, my life is one thrill after another! 😆

Have a Happy and Spooky Halloween!

**I hope you’ll come back tomorrow when Nano 2012 begins. Are you participating in this furious and crazy contest? Is it your first time, your fiftieth? Come share your National Novel Writing Month experiences!

I’ll also have a surprise for visitors on the Ranch Monday. Shhh- It’s a secret you’ll have to come back then to find out what it is!

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Hop, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion

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