My very first guest -Calisa Rhose

Hi everybody.
I'd love you to give a big welcome to my very first ever guest, Calisa Rhose, who has brought something of herself to share with us. 'The pen of the dreamer', her blog name, is a vibrant and busy lady who squeezes in time for all sorts of things in her working day. Get comfy, settle down and let's get to know her a bit better. Huge thanks go to Calisa from me for being here today!

Hi Nancy! Whew! That was a super busy weekend. Family yardsale (I think I made about $3 lol), and a productive day of writing amid the fun. It's great to kick back with you and gab for a change. Thank you for inviting me to be your VERY first guest to your swank blogdom! I'll have that mocha with lots of whipped cream and chocolate syrup if you please.

I put some questions to Calisa-here are her answers.

1. Before you start a writing session do you do anything in particular to get focused?

I have to have my coffee before I even look at the computer. Other than that I think about the last scene or new pages to gear up again. Mostly I'm a pantser, so BICHOK is usually all I need to get going.

2. What did your most recent book idea develop from?

Oh, this is my first published book. It's a novella by pre-design for a series my local RWA chapter came up with last year. It came from a series of brainstorming sessions that spurred a few of us to submit to TWRP in particular.

3. How do you plan your writing day? Do you set aside time for blogging and email responses and a separate time for writing your WIP?

I don't plan. I write when it's quiet, when nobody is demanding my attention and any time between. I usually begin with checking email, blogging, checking other's blogs...you know, anything to procrastinate as long as possible. Lol Then I dig in after a couple of cups of coffee.

4. How do you manage to keep your other commitments (family, work etc) from interrupting your flow of writing?

There's such a thing!? Lol I weave family throughout my writing day. I'm the type of writer that I can stop in the middle of a sentence to get someone a snack and get right back into the story again. So interruptions don't bother me-unless it's an intense scene. Then I make them wait if it's not critical.

5. What do you find helps you best to get through a good writing day (ie. loads of new pages added to WIP)?

I never thought about that but I guess it's liking the story I'm writing. If I connect with the characters it flows and I get excited and write more, faster. Cheers from my peers is also important to me. Having friends like you whom I can cheer on and get support from helps.

6. When you read for pleasure-what's your favorite genre?

Romance. Whether it's contemporary or paranormal (my two fave genres to write also) or the occasional historical, I can get lost in a good, well written book. Right now I'm reading a contemporary titled Jezebel's Wish by the fabulous AJ Nuest. *waves to AJ* Last week I read a super vamp book by Laura Kaye, Forever Freed. Who knows what next week might bring to the table? Maybe your own Monogamy Twist?

7. Does personal experience of travel, or memorable events, sneak into your writing?

I think it does for most writers in some small way, doesn't it? I mean, our own life experiences, or that of someone we know is what we know. We're told to write what we know and life is it for me. My first ms was about a horse rancher and a construction contractor. I'm a horse person and my hubby is a contractor, so that one was modeled after what I know most about. The characters were nothing like hubby or I, but I know those occupations/hobbies.

8. What are you working on currently and where can you be found?

I'm waiting for the release date for my debut short story, by WRP Vintage historical, HOME. I just started a new contemporary WIP (work in progress) last week about a fireman who has lost faith in himself as a human, and a widowed book store owner who is more comfortable hiding from life behind her preteen daughter.
I also have a paranormal series in the works about Native American wolf shapeshifters.

You can reach me through my website and blog: http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

Facebook/Calisa Rhose and on Twitter/Calisa_Rhose

Thanks again Nancy. I had a great time here today!

a huge thanks again to Calisa from me and thanks to all our friends who have joined us today!

ps I'm also curently reading Jezebels's Wish!!!