10 Questions for Rhea Rhoden

The Olypmics may have had a closing ceremony, but we're still talking about it, or at least we are on my blog. Up next for Musaling Monday is Rhea Rhoden. Rhea resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota and has been telling herself stories since long before she could write. She attended the University of Minnesota with a focus on Journalism, then Brown Institute for Broadcast Journalism. After many adventures, misadventures, and a couple of short marriages, she found the love of her life in Regensburg, Germany, and has been living happily ever after since.

1.      First the easy one. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Actually, this is a difficult question for me. I think of blogging as a social interaction, and I'm an introvert--although a friendly one. In a social situations, I can (and do) talk to almost anyone about almost anything. Then I rush back to my cave and rest with my wonderful husband and Keeper, our (huge) malamute puppy. I'm probably the least Zen-like person you'll ever meet. Instead of living in the moment, I spend an inordinate amount of time telling myself stories, many of which work their way into my writing--especially the characters.

2.      If you could compete in any Olympic sport, what would it be?
Rhythmic gymnastics. Since I can't do it (by any stretch of even my vivid imagination), I had to make it happen through the heroine in Finding Grace (my slightly-paranormal contemporary romance available from Musa Publishing). She does a routine that includes it as part of her workout regimen. She has cooler music than most of I've heard at the Olympics, though.

3.      What sport would you add to the Olympics (need not be a real sport)?
Malamute-walking in a Minnesota winter. It not only tests upper body strength, but balance, reaction time (can you say "squirrel"?), flat-boot skating skills, and lung capacity (insert expletive of your choice). Oh, and there should be a doubles event, as well (try walking two at once, I dare you).

4.      If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things (other than books) would you take with you?
My husband, my dog, my iPad (that's kind of cheating, because of the book-thing), my knitting, and dark chocolate (the last two insure the first two remain living).

5.      What about books? If you could only have one book on that island, what would it be?
Really mean question. The only book I've read three times is Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" (twice in English--first time when I was fifteen--and once in the original German), so that probably qualifies as a DIK. If I start in on romances, or sci-fi, or any of that, I could never pick.

6.      We all know the Olympic theme music. What would be your book’s theme song?
Although Grace Thorne has an incredibly eclectic taste in music, I'd have to say that the Stone's classic, "Gimme Shelter" would be the theme song she'd pick for both herself and Dagger. She does one of her rhythmic gymnastic-type workouts to it in the book.

7.      Can you caption this photo?

Once I get this spell right, it's gonna bye-bye Bowser, hello Minnie Mouse.

8.      What was the first story you remember writing?
I distinctly remember creating a long-running Black Beauty-type fan fic series before I learned how to read, although I do remember vague stuff from even earlier. I think it helped that I grew up with a ghost of a young girl in the house to amuse, in hopes that she would remain out of sight (think Scheherazade-ish thoughts). Anyway, the first couple of stories that weren't class assignments were written just a few years ago. They're good enough that they deserve better writing skills than I had at the time, so once I've submitted my current WIP, I'm going to dust them off and edit them.

9.      Give a gold medal to someone special. Other than your own efforts, to whom do you attribute your success as a writer?
Without question, my husband. He's read every word I've ever written for a story, argued plot points, bullied and cajoled me into writing the next scene so he could read it, lived on far too many frozen dinners, chased food down when the freezer was empty, and, well, you get it.

10.   You know what time it is: Rejection haiku time. No one gets on the blog without a rejection haiku.

My stuff not her taste
So I'm free for your fine house
That's so much better.

Where can we stalk you--I mean find you-- around the internet?

My website  http://www.rhearhodan.com/
Join me on Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/rhearhodan
and/or Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6152084.Rhea_Rhodan

Okay, and before I let you go, just a bit more about Finding Grace:

Kidnapped by human monsters, Grace Thorne was ripped from her quiet intellectual life and left deeply scarred. She’s hidden herself for five years, but there’s no escape from the nightmares of the past, or visions of the future. When one foretells tragedy, she gambles her fragile defenses on a haunted man to prevent it—only to discover love is the biggest risk of all.

Jack Daggery doesn’t need a mirror to know why people avoid him, but he doesn’t really care. After years working deep undercover, immersed in betrayal and death, all he wants is some peace and the quiet security company he co-owns.

Dagger has no idea why the foul-mouthed little server of questionable gender bothers him. But he does know that living with the ghosts of his past was hard enough without being tormented by the mysterious thorn in his side—or finding how much he needs her.


Available in many formats for your e-reader from Musa Publishing. http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=299 Also at Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Grace-ebook/dp/B0089Y2ZQG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340222886&sr=1-3&keywords=finding+grace Barnes & Noble, All Romance e-books, and other fine e-tailers.

And now you can go.

Go on.

Why are you still here?

It's the cover, isn't it? The hot hero with the tatts?

M'kay, stay here and stare if you must but the blog post is done.

No, seriously. Leave a comment and go home.

10 Questions with Cordelia Dinsmore

Cordelia Dinsmore has been writing since she was four years old and her brother taught her to write her name. She immediately began practicing her autograph. In anticipation of the days when she would be a famous author, Cordelia began signing everything in reach, including the garage door. She was already composing fiction in her head, however, and blamed the boy next door. That worked well, until her mother discovered her name written across her stomach in magic marker. By that time, Cordelia had perfected her signature and moved on to bigger projects. By second grade she had written a new ending for the Three Billy Goats Gruff, and made a lifelong enemy of Stephen Schultz, who ran screaming from the room when he discovered his character had been sacrificed in an act of poetic license. By high school, Cordelia had put new twists on several well-loved tales, but kept her skills within the confines of her alma mater. Today, she is finally coming out of her shell and sharing her stories with the world.

:

1.      First the easy one.Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m really old, but I love to act like a kid. What’s the point of living a long life if you can’t embarrass your children occasionally? I write under several different genres, from rhyming picture books to young adult. When I’m not writing, I love to play with my kids and granddaughter, work in the yard, trainmy dog, groom my horse, and dig for fossils.


2.      If you could compete in any Olympic sport, what would it be?

Oh, it would definitely be gymnastics. I love the balance beam. Don’t you? It would be so amazing to twist my body into contortions and flip upside down with nohands and not even hit my head on the floor, or dangerous objects like a narrow wooden board. And those parallel bars! I tried them once. I was able to hold myself suspended for several seconds, but could never find the strength to pull myself up in order to actually somersault over the top.

Unfortunately,all of my weight and strength is confined to the lower half of my body, so in reality, I would be much more suited to something like Indian Leg Wrestling, but I don’t think they’ve made that an official sport yet. At least, not in the Olympics. (sigh) I will wait.

 
3.      What sport would you add to the Olympics?

Indian Leg Wrestling, of course. I was the champion of that in high school gym class. I could even throw Denise Trotman (fictitious name, of course) halfway across the gym on a good day, and she was built like Mrs. Trunchbull from Matilda. I think that was her name, wasn’t it? Love that woman. She’s so maternal.


4.      If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things (other than books) would you take with you?

A toothbrush would be the most important item. I can’t abide grungy teeth, and if I had to resort to eating raw insects or sea creatures, I’d want to get all the little chunks out from between my teeth. The second item would be clean underwear. My mother always cautioned me to have clean underwear just in case of an accident, and you never know when that might happen. If a huge cruise ship hit the island and I got in its path, I’d definitely want clean underwear. Next I would want my pillow. I take it with me whenever I travel, because it’s used to my head, and those hotel pillows give me a headache like you wouldn’tbelieve.  I would absolutely want ashovel, because I would want to dig for fossils while I was waiting to be rescued. You never know what you might find once you start digging. I’ve found prehistoric shark teeth in the middle of Kansas! Just imagine what I might find on an island. Last of all, I would have to bring my teapot. My grandmother left it to me, and it’s beautiful. If a cruise ship DID crash into my island, Iwould want to share a cup of tea with the survivors and learn all about their favorite books.


5.      What about books? If you could only have one book on that island, what would it be?

Hmm.I think there might be an Idiot’s Guide to Island Stranding Survival, but I could be mistaken. If not, then I would want my Bible. There are many, many stories of survival in there, and it’s nice and thick, so I would have plenty to read while waiting for rescue.


6.      We all know the Olympic theme music. What would be your book’s theme song?

It may seem a bit odd, because the lyrics can be interpreted differently foreveryone, but it would have to be In My Life by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That is one of my favorite songs. In my book there is a lot of silliness, but there is also an underlying theme of love, and I believe this song addresses that.


7.      Can you caption this photo?

Sure. I know that look well from my own childhood when my mother was curled up in her rocking chair with a gothic romance.

“I don’t smell smoke, so if someone isn’t bleeding or already dead, go away.”

8.      What was the first story you remember writing?

I don’t actually remember writing it, but my mother kept everything we made when we were young, so I guess it would be a poem titled, “The Tree In My Backyard.” My older brother dug up a tiny maple tree that came up from one of the seeds that fell from our larger trees. He let me observe as he transplanted it to the middle of our backyard. It grew beautifully, and is still there, although my parents sold the house many years ago. I have photos of my brother’s oldest son, my sister’s oldest daughter, and my oldest daughter, all sitting in the branches of that tree. The photos were taken several years apart, but are all quite similar.



9.      Give a gold medal to someone special. Other than your own efforts, to whom do you attribute your success as a writer?

My mother deserves all the gold. She was always reading and writing, and encouraging me to do the same. She praised everything I ever created, and told me countless times to write everything down and keep it safe. Of course, I didn’t heed her advice for many years, so all of those pieces are gone. I used to dream in rhyme, and I finally began writing them down when they’d wake me up in the middle of the night. That’s what finally got me in the habit of actually writing rather than creating in my head and leaving it there.


10.   You know what time it is: Rejection haiku time. No one gets on the blog without a rejection haiku.

Winter in my heart.
Another ‘no’ feeds the flames.
Rejections burn well.



Fortunately, life hasn't been all rejection slips for Cordelia! You can buy her novel Micheala's Gift from the Musa store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

10 Questions for Emma J. Lane

So, it's August and the world has gone Olympics mad. Me too. I love, love me some Olympics. I'll watch anything if it's an Olympic sport. Rowing? Bring it on. Diving? I'm there. Equestrian? Sign me up. How better to celebrate the London games than featuring a Regency author for this Musaling Monday.

Emma Lane lives in Western New York near Lake Erie on a few picturesque acres with her ever patient husband. They own and operate a small herbtique which keeps their days busy and interesting during the summer months. They have two brilliant grown-up children and a wonderful pair of grandchildren. In one way or another, the entire family contributes to her stories. They are her biggest fans and she is ever thankful for it.

And what would we do without fans?

1.      First the easy one. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a native of South Georgia but have lived in Western NY for many years. Hubby and I have two brilliant children and two very handsome grandchildren. Although we traveled quite a bit in the past, I'm sort of a stay-at-home author now. We go south for a few weeks to catch up with relatives in the winter. I think they call us 'snow birds.' Oh, yeah and I'm an avid birder. I like hot fudge sundaes. 

2.      If you could compete in any Olympic sport, what would it be?

Olympic sport? Well, I used to play a very lot of tennis so if they still have tennis teams I'd sign up for that. Otherwise, swimming.

3.      What sport would you add to the Olympics?

Since it’s the summer Olympics, how about corn shucking?

4.      If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things (other than books) would you take with you?

Desert Island, huh? I'd take my husband, my two children and my two grandchildren. Nothing is more important than my family.

5.      What about books? If you could only have one book on that island, what would it be?

Choosing one book is painful, but it would probably be the Bible with Shakespeare a second.

*Interviewer note* Ooh, now the  geek in me wants to know which version of each. Revised Standard and Riverside?

 

6.      We all know the Olympic theme music. What would be your book’s theme song?

My latest Regency is all about returning soldiers so perhaps a marching song. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Is that a Regency song?

7.      Can you caption this photo?

"Research, research! Didn't I see something in here about lives 10, 11 and 12?"

8.      What was the first story you remember writing?

Short stories for Magazines. I wrote what I thought they wanted to hear (and obviously didn't). Vignettes of women at home and their 'adventures.' As if housewifery could be exciting. Okay, there was the time I tried to make cornbread and had to bury the results in the back yard and the damn dog dug it up and showed it to my new husband. But other than that…well, there was the time I made tuna noodle casserole and served it without the noodles. Nothing very exciting. Disconcerting maybe. I wonder if that's when my hubby developed that poker face.

9.      Give a gold medal to someone special. Other than your own efforts, to whom do you attribute your success as a writer?

My mom was my best audience. Trite, but true. When I was far away from home (with various degrees of homesickness)  I would write long, highly exaggerated stories of my adventures. They were meant to amuse. My mom had this engaging chuckle we kids (7 of us)  all loved to hear so we would try to make her laugh. As I wrote nonsense in my letters home, I could hear her laughter. She always encouraged me to write. I wish I had started earlier, but I can still hear her laughter in my head.

10.   You know what time it is: Rejection haiku time. No one gets on the blog without a rejection haiku.

Surging hope

dashed into

starting over. 

Wow, seven kids? Your mom does deserve a gold medal! To read an excerpt of Emma's new Regency, Beloved Soldier Returns, check out her page on the Musa Publishing website. Emma's books are also available on Amazon. Amnesia, a forgotten fiancee, a Napoleanic War veteran, and family shennanigans. Do you really need to know more?