Calisa Rhose
HOME by Calisa Rhose
I'm so thrilled to welcome my talented friend and Sister Outlaw for my very first guest blog. Please say hello to Calisa or ask her questions in the comments. I've always known that Calisa was nice and fun to talk with, but it wasn't until I read and reviewed HOME that I discovered how amazingly talented she is. I'm a bit starstruck to tell the truth. I devoured the book in one sitting and gave it five stars. I got so involved with the characters Sam and Poppy that I had a few questions for Calisa:
How did you come up with the very realistic incident in the Vietnamese cave that resulted in Sam's post traumatic stress?
Calisa: The cave incident was totally made up. I gathered emotional and possible ideas from MASH episodes I watched growing up and other war shows. I took what I saw and fit it into what I needed for my book.
Why hasn't Poppy moved from Silverton, Oklahoma, a town that has never treated her with the respect she deserves?
Calisa: Poppy's mother lives there. This was during a time when young ladies didn't just pick up and leave when things got tough. They stayed with family and worked to live with it. Plus- Sam lived there and when he left, she had to be there when/if he returned.
How did you learn how to translate "American doctor" into Vietnamese?
Calisa: American Doctor- I was reading a lot of sites during the writing of HOME. One was a doctor in the Vietnam war who told of his time there and that was how they said American doctors in Vietnamese.
Here is more about Calisa Rhose's amazing book:
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?
Excerpt:
“I’ll always want you, Poppy.”
Her head shook in automatic denial. “You’ll want a girl who fits your life. Not some gypsy with no family lineage to brag about. Your momma won’t accept that, either. She’ll make you choose someone like Connie, someone who fits into your world. Not the girl everyone avoids and whispers about behind her back. You’re gonna be the town’s doctor. You need an uppity wife who will make you proud.”
When Sam laughed, his chest shuddered against her back. Deep, husky, real. He turned her in his arms and looked down at her, smiling. “Poppy, do you honestly think I give a damn what people think? Look at me! I’m the town outcast, the survivor who should have died saving the others, not be here planning a future that includes a wife, a medical practice. “I shimmy under park benches, run from my mother’s lipstick, for God’s sake. I wake up screaming and crying over nothing in the middle of the night, crawl under my bed and hide, shaking, until morning. Hell, I can’t even be a doctor because I haven’t finished school yet.”
“I didn’t know. It must be awful for you.” No matter how it hurt Poppy to know he used her, it felt much worse to know how he hurt alone. “The only time it isn’t awful is when I’m with you. When I think of you.”
Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com
On twitter @Calisa_Rhose and Facebook @Calisa Rhose
Small-town country girl Calisa Rhose lives in a semi-remote area of Oklahoma with her husband, five dogs, one cat and one horse. All of her three daughters and their families live within throwing distance. She’s a member of RWA and the local chapter OKRWA. She intends to nurture and continue to grow as an author with the help of her family and supporters.
I enjoyed the interview, ladies! I love Calisa's book, Home, as well, and agree that the 'cave scene' is very powerful. It actually made me cry. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, fast paced story told by believable, relateable characters.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It felt so real that I was certain that she knew someone who had experienced that. I read lots of psych reports and it sounded like to actually happened. Fantastic writing!
DeleteI'm excited about Calisa's visit today!
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ReplyDeleteHi Anna! Thank you. I longed for the day I'd hear a reader say my book made them cry! You're too good to me. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me be your first blogger guest, Brenda! What an honor and I'll try to do you proud, Outlaw sis!
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome, Calisa. It's an honor! I had such a wonderful time at your ranch.
DeleteNice interview....great questions. I always love the fact that each time I visit a blog and Calisa is there, I learn something new about her and her book!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. After I read HOME, I was still so concerned for the "people" involved that I felt compelled to ask Calisa those burning questions.
DeleteChristine, You're the BEST! Ask anything you want to know. I love having you visit.
DeleteLovely interview. I remember MASH they had some really poignant moments on the show and even as a kid I was moved by them. I haven't read home yet and can't wait until I can sit down and read it in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteI sure wasn't planning on reading HOME in one sitting. I watched MASH, too, and I'm impressed with how Calisa managed to create that powerful cave incident.
DeleteOne of my fave episodes was when Hawkeye and Hot Lips were trapped by shell fire in that Vietnamese shack and they bonded. Thanks for visiting, Lynn.
DeleteThanks again, Brenda!
That is a cool scene. Now I need to watch MASH and see that one again. It's fun having you over as my guest, Calisa. :)
DeleteGreat interview ladies! Calisa, with all the wonderful things I keep hearing/reading about HOME, I look forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a moving story.
DeleteI hope you enjoy it, Sarah when you do finally read it. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteI loved the interview and the excerpt from Home. I can feel their emotions and loved to be pulled into a story that way. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteLynda
I was captivated from beginning to end.
DeleteThanks you so much for the kind words and coming by, Lynda!
DeleteWhen I read the park bench scene and I, too, wondered how you'd found the translation for American Doctor. Haven't got to the cave, yet. Loving the story, Calisa.
ReplyDeleteThat park bench scene was difficult to write. I wasn't sure it wasn't too deep or over exaggerated. It took a few rewrites and opinions from others who might know before I was able to call it good and done. You'll have to let me know what you think of the book, Joelene! You know I value your opinion!
DeleteOne of Calisa's fans waving here! (you--hoooo!, over here!!) I, too, loved HOME. I was a teenager and young adult during that era, so it was literally like going home for me. Wishing you great luck, Calisa.
ReplyDeleteVONNIE!!! I see ya hon! I love ya! Your review of HOME still makes me tear up. (I read it almost every day. :) Thanks again!
DeleteBrenda, your continuing comments make me blush. :) Thanks sweetie! I'm loving it here today!
ReplyDeleteMy comments are all heart felt. I'm so glad you're enjoying your stay and am loving having you over.
DeleteI was immediately hooked when I read Home. Calisa, honey, you rocked it! I wasn't surprised a bit when you announced you'd received a contract. You're also an auto-buy author for me...not just because you're a friend and fellow OKRWA sistah, but because you are so very talented.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Chelle. I'll be buying all her books!
DeleteI love ya sistah honey! Thank you so much, Chelle! Ditto you, you know! I'm dying to read your brother trilogy you pitched last year!
DeleteThank you for the support lady and know when you plan your first blog tour I want in on it! You can blog with me at the ranch any time though, before after midway between sales... Come on over and hang out when you want to.