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.