Welcome Author Calisa Rhose

Hiya, readers! I'm really excited today because I get to put my writing buddy and friend Calisa Rhose in the hotseat! Calisa is a very talented writer (and general miscreant, as we all are) with a new book out next week! Risk Factors is a contemporary romance with a hawt hero and a heroine you want to be friends with...Calisa, on with the interview!

Hi Kristi! It’s so exciting to be on my crit partner’s beautiful blog with this particular book!

Kristina: What do you wear when you're writing?

Calisa: As little as possible? Heheh. Usually sweats and t-shirts in winter (with the occasional sweater) and leggings or shorts and t-shirts in warmer months. Often PJs in any season.

Kristina: bahaha - I'm a casual girl, too. Much to my husband's dismay. He still expects me to break out a feather boa now and then... When was the last time you argued with one of your characters? And were you caught by a real person?

Calisa: Oy- yesterday? LOL I don’t think granddaughter heard me though so I don’t look any crazier to her than usual.
 
Kristina: I've been doing a little arguing myself...and bebe catches me arguing with characters all the time. Don't worry, they get used to our brand of crazy! How do you keep gremlins – like your family – out of your office/writing habitat?

Calisa: Uh- my “office” at the moment is a corner of the couch so it’s really hard to keep anyone away. My best defense is to ignore them and hope they leave. Sometimes it works, others not so much.

Kristina: I'll have to work on the ignore-and-they'll-leave thing. Have you ever taken your frustrations with the Real World out on your characters?

Calisa: Oddly- no. If I’m having a really bad day full of frustrations or upsets I cannot write. At. All. Which is probably a good thing because I’m afraid I’d kill every character good or bad! LOL Have I mentioned I’m Cherokee with an Irish temper? I KNOW the real meaning of “warpath!”
 
Kristina: Now that is a genetic combination that could spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E...good thing you're in control! If you could be one character from this book, who would it be? And why?

Calisa: From Risk Factors, I’d be Viv. She is a true lover-not-fighter kind of girl, but strong in her beliefs. Well, she is by the end. Her parents have the key to all her buttons. I’m like that most of the time; easy-going unless someone really pisses me off, then look out (see above reference to warpath).

Here’s a sample of how fun Viv was to write:

TAG: 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, and 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?

CONTENT WARNING: Happy-ever-after mixed with four-legged friends.

A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance

EXCERPT:
It was close to five o’clock and Viv wanted to go home. Winter hadn’t reached the Midwest yet, but from September through October the temperatures often dipped and dove sporadically, before diving for the long winter ahead. There’d been a slight chill in the air that morning and she hoped for a few more weeks of warmth before harsh weather moved in.
She looked forward to a hot soak in the bathtub, but Skittles was due for pick-up first. Connor had assured her he’d pick her up, or have his father get her before five. She glanced at her watch again. Four-fifty-six. She didn’t mind staying late if she needed to; it would be a shame to leave the nervous animal alone another night.
She opened the small closet to put the dust mop away.
“Hello.”
With a start, she spun and her hand caught the broom handle on her way around. Gasping, she grabbed uselessly, horrified as the cleaning tool flew sideways from the closet. In slow motion she saw it shoot out against Connor’s shoulder and fall with a sharp snap onto the tile floor.
“Oh! I’m so--so sorry! Are you hurt?” Instant heat rushed up her neck and she bent to reclaim the errant broom to shove into the closet. She slammed the door and leaned against it on a sharp breath.
“I’m fine. You worried your killer broom might attack again? You might consider putting a lock on the door,” he said with a crooked smile.
Puzzled, Viv looked around and realized with total humiliation how it appeared she’d trapped the broom inside the closet--when in actuality, she wanted to climb through the door beside the instrument and hide.
“Of course not. That would be silly. I didn’t expect you right now.”
“It’s two minutes of five. I told you I’d be here for Skittles. Is it too late?”
Right. The skunk. “No. I’m sure she’s more than ready to go home. Do you have the pet carrier to put her in?” She probably didn’t need to ask when Connor stood empty-handed before her.
He lowered his head and she knew he’d forgotten it, fought back a smile at his forgetfulness. “Sorry. I drove straight from work and didn’t think about it.”
“No worry. I have one you can borrow.” Which meant he’d have to see her again. She’d definitely need to see him again.
“Thank you. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.”
“Oh, there’s no rush. I keep a few on hand for emergencies.” She led him back to the cage where the skunk still huddled, and got a carrier while he opened the cage to retrieve his daughter’s pet. As he lifted the black fur ball out, Viv set a pink case next to him.
He hissed under his breath and almost let the animal loose. Viv opened the cage and held it upright for him to lower the skunk down inside and shut the door. Once he stood with the pet taxi, she detected a smear of red on one finger.
“She bit you?” Skunk bite, rabies, germs…
“It’s fine. When she’s scared she tends to nip a warning like a cat.” Connor’s lack of care concerned Viv, however.
“I should clean it with antiseptic before you go.”
“I’ll tend it when I get home.”
“But, it may have germs…get infected.”
“It’s not the first time, and her rabies vaccination is current. Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”
Viv stopped by a cabinet on the way to the front reception area to grab ointment and a Band-Aid.

Kristina here, thanks for sharing the excerpt - I love Viv!!

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 with a few surprises thrown in to keep it all interesting.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com
Feel free to Friend, Like, Follow or Add Calisa on Twitter@CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads, Amazon and G+

Note from Calisa: I’d like to invite everyone to join my party to a few blogs and help me celebrate Risk Factors’ release. Here’s the link to follow my tour and the more you comment, the better chance you’ll have to win either a GC or a rose rock from me and a PDF copy of RF and maybe even some swag. I’ll select a winner at the end of the tour, so be sure to leave an email address for me to contact you!Thank you for having me, Kristi!

I’d like to ask your guests- What kind of heroine do you like to read about?