Hi AJ! I’m excited to join you
here once again, with my first Lyrical Press release, Risk Factors.
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| Click the banner to view Calisa's tour dates! |
I debated what
to write about today and decided to talk about the writing process. More
specifically, how I wrote this particular story.
For starters
this book came about as a challenge from a critique partner who asked our whole
group if we wanted to try to write for a one month thing Mills and Boon did. It
was a guarantee to get your writing in front of one of their editors, no doubt
and no slush pile. I accepted her challenge and began.
First off, I
want to say that was not the best idea to write a book. It was not in my
comfortable genre so I chased insecurities all the way through writing it. I
knew it wouldn’t be good enough, though in the end it was—to my surprise.
I don’t
recommend anyone write something they aren’t familiar with in three months. I’m
a champion of writing outside your comfort box, just not on a whim and in so
little of time. But that’s what I did with Risk Factors. It turned out good in
the end, but not with the publisher it was written for.
I’m thrilled to
have found a home for this story with Lyrical Press. I’m equally excited to be
a member of their author family since submitting this book to Piper Denna just
over a year ago in a blog pitch.
But it was a
rocky road there for a while.
I began the
story from scratch in August with one chapter. In September and early October I
wrote two more chapters at the request of the editor who pulled my submission.
Through the rest of October and all of November I wrote the remaining nine
chapters, and finished the first complete draft on Nov. 30, at one minute to
midnight.
You need to
know that I’d promised myself to finish before Dec. first so I’d be able to get
it critiqued before a pre-Christmas submission to the editor at Mills and Boon.
I did a rough edit and sent it
to my cps group on Dec tenth and told them I needed a rush job on it. I’d
promised the editor in October I’d have it to her before Christmas! Okay- I
don’t suggest anyone tell an editor they’ll write, edit and submit a book in
less than two months…
Stress? Oy,
yes. I had stress to spare! I’m proud I made my deadline, but I will NEVER do
that again!
I got the WIP
back from the wonderful CP group around Dec 15th and on Dec. 18th
I hit the send button. I had made it ahead of schedule. Then I spend the next
six weeks double-guessing my wisdom and talent.
I have never
tried to do this since, and I doubt I’ll ever do it again. It was a whirlwind
book that, thankfully, has a happy ending.
Here’s what the
fuss is all about:
Love, like life, is not without risk.
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?
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.
Here's where you can find Risk Factors on the web:
Lyrical Press,
Amazon,
B&N and
iTunes.
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.
So here I am. Gnawing what
little nails I have left, kicking off another tour for a book I have so much
hope and faith in. At the end of this tour I’ll be picking one winner to gift
either a signature rose rock for a USA winner or a $10 GC of choice (Kindle or Nook) for one overseas or
in Canada. Either winner will also get a PDF copy of Risk Factors!
The more you stalk me and
comment, the greater your chance to win on April 8th. I’ll announce
the winner on the 10th. Thank you for joining me on this fun
journey’s end and good luck to all!
As a special bonus, I’ll be
pooling all my blog hosts and the one with the most comments on their blog for
my post will also win one of the same prizes as the winners! They need your
help to win! Please note, this also includes my two hosts before today, so I’d
appreciate if you check my
official
blog tour schedule and give them a chance to win by going to their blogs
too.
A lot can happen in two weeks. Parents
can die and be buried, promises made and broken. Hearts can be shattered, lives
destroyed. A young man can suffer the iniquities of an entire civilization and
be resurrected. Grace can be restored. 
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