Cool, creative Callie Carmen caught in a Dream Catcher

I’m so anxious for the Black Velvet Seductions supernatural anthology, Mystic Desire, to come out (October 1)! One reason is, I want to read Callie’s story, Dream Catcher!

NA: Welcome Callie! What genre would you consider your books to be?
CC: First, I’d like to thank Dee for having me on her blog today. I appreciate it. [My pleasure!]
My name is Callie Carmen, and I write contemporary romance, suspense romance, and most recently supernatural romance novels.

NA: How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?
CC: Until 2015 I hadn’t read a romance novel. One day while traveling in my car listening to the Diane Rym show she had on a guest author of Fifty Shades of Grey. I found the conversation interesting, so I picked up a copy of the book and read it. While I didn’t go in that direction after reading it I enjoyed it enough to try Lora Leigh’s Nauti Boys series, Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series. her Visitation series, and the Maya Banks KGI series, and that was it, I was hooked on reading romance. From there, I sat at my kitchen table one day and started writing my first novel, Patrick from my Risking Love series. I enjoyed writing it so much that I kept on going.

NA: How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?
CC: I have to laugh at that question. I had used a few relative’s names in my first novel The Enemy I Know as part of the Crave Loyalty Anthology, all of which were already deceased. But in my Risking Love series, I started out using a few family female names, two of which were my sister’s daughter’s names. She was having none of that. She said there is no way I want my daughters in a sex book. I explained it was a love story, and she could have cared less. I ended up changing their names. Since then, I only use names that are family members that have passed away so they can’t complain. Lol. Or names that I enjoy, like Jake the hero in my latest novel, Dream Catcher, from the Mystic Desire Supernatural Anthology.

NA: Tell me about your latest book.
CC: Dream Catcher is the story of two lonely people that put work ahead of their personal needs like finding their true love. But when each of them purchases a magical dream catcher made by a shaman, they find themselves falling in love with their soul mate. Unfortunately, their soul mate is only in their dreams.

This is just one of fourteen wonderful stories by talented authors that have joined together in the Mystic Desire Supernatural Romance Anthology. I just know all who read this novel will thoroughly enjoy it. Below you’ll find the blurbs for each of the fourteen stories. Check them out, and you’ll see why I think you’ll love this book.

Join the authors of Mystic Desire on Halloween for a chat, fun, games, & maybe win prizes.
SIGN UP HERE.

NA: What is the hardest part of writing for you?
CC: Believe it or not, the blurb on the back cover of the novel is torture for me. Taking a 250-page book, and turning it into three short paragraphs is next to impossible for me.

NA: What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
CC: Finding my soul mate and having a loving, happy marriage for over thirty years. Having three caring children with him, that turned out to be good citizens and that work hard.

NA: What’s the best thing about being an author?
CC: All the friends you make in and out of the publishing world.

NA: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
CC: In a smaller home, on a lake, writing. I’ll be sitting in a screened-in front porch while listening to the waves lap up against my dock.

NA: If you didn’t like writing books or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?
CC: Well, that calls for two different answers. If I wasn’t any good at it, I’d take a few classes to learn how to do it right. Or I’d get a fantastic editor like Laurie Sanders to teach me what I needed to do to improve. But if I couldn’t write, I would want to be a book buyer for B&N. I used to work as a senior book buyer for the other large book chain that sadly is no longer in business. I loved that career.

NA: Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?
CC: I always read them, so that I can thank the writer for taking the time to read my book and to review it. Not that many of us are willing to write reviews so I appreciate them and feel the kind individual should be thanked.

I have skipped writing to two individuals that both gave me my only one ratings. One said she looked at the first page of Patrick and refused to read the book because there was a serial killer in the story. I had to laugh at the fact that she wrote the review stating that she hadn’t read it.

The other person read the first few pages which happened to be the serial killer’s point of view, and she decided she couldn’t continue reading the story because of the creepy serial killer. Even though she gave me a one rating, I took that as a compliment because he was supposed to be scary.

NA: Where did your love of books come from?
CC: Both my mother and father read every day. My father loved westerns and mystery novels. My mother loved fiction and took my siblings and me to the library often. She’d bring home a few novels for herself and piles of children’s books to read to us. I remember Barbar books being some of her favorite kid’s books. I enjoyed them too and read them to my own children. I loved that they were done in cursive writing. So many schools now don’t teach cursive, which is unfortunate because all of our original United States documents were written in cursive.

NA: Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite, and why?
CC: When I’m writing a novel, the main characters become my new favorites. So this is ever-changing.

At the moment, I’m crazy about Tony and Tessa from book four, Anthony. That man is the silent type except when it comes to the right woman. Then he has no problem letting her know exactly what he wants. He is also talented in the kitchen in more ways than one.

Tessa is a wealthy, but down to earth woman that would like nothing better than to play some football with all of her friends. She wants to be and independent, and a successful business owner to show her rich father she can do it on her own. And she loves making hot passionate love. The woman is hot to trot.

NA: Does writing energize or exhaust you?
CC: It’s not a curse; I love writing. Especially when I’m writing about things that have happened to me in my past. I have put on a bit of weight from the long hours of sitting at the computer writing, editing, and marketing my books on social media. So that’s a bit of a negative. Don’t you hate it when that happens?

NA: What is your writing Kryptonite?
CC: My eyes get tired after looking at the computer screen for too long. I end up falling asleep with my hands on the keys and waking to something that looks like this:
On my way homeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

That also happens to Jake in my, Dream Catcher, supernatural romance. He’s a successful romance author and spends a good deal of time at the computer. Once in a while, he falls asleep while writing. But he doesn’t mind because it gives him more time with his dream soul mate Angelica.

NA: What one piece of writing advice do you have for an aspiring author?
CC: This might not be advice that newer writers want to hear, but it is essential for you to be as successful as possible. Set up your social media sites right away. That means do it before you even finish your first book. That is not to say that it is ever too late to do. It just has to be done. If you don’t advertise to let people know about your book, how will they know that it exists? Once they are set up, advertise your books on a regular basis. Set up social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, Instagram, MeWe, Website, and Goodreads, to name a few. Pick three to start and master those before moving on to others, or you will be too overwhelmed.

Blurbs from all the author’s stories in the novel Mystic Desire.
The Sweetest Magic of All – Alice Renaud: When a sexy apprentice witch and a hot warlock go back in time to locate a magical amulet, they find more than they bargained for. It’s May Eve, the most magical night of the year, and normal rules don’t apply…
An Awareness of Evil – Dee S. Knight
Only two things stand between evil and a small girl: the visions of Amanda McMasters and Detective Brendan Gilchrist. Neither can afford to be wrong.
Bewitching the Wolf – Zia Westfield
The Witch, Alice Humphreys has poured her heart and soul into creating a magical B&B where guests experience the fantasy vacation of their dreams! Brodie MacEwan has been sent to investigate the mysterious death of his uncle. He never expected to discover his soul mate in his dreams. But is the illusion real? Alice knows that there is something all too predatory about the Scotsman and he makes her body tingle in places it shouldn’t!
Calling All Angels – Lora Logan
Elijah Baker, an immortal tasked with fighting against demons that exist on earth, finds peace when he meets his new neighbor, Celeste. But when he realizes that their love comes with a cost, he is faced with choosing between his calling and a chance at true love.
Dream Catcher – Callie Carmen
Long ago, a medicine man had made a matched set of dream catchers as a wedding gift to protect the Chief’s daughter and her warrior husband. He had called upon the benevolent spirits to keep the two soul mates safe and in a loving, healthy marriage. It was foretold that if the two dream catchers were ever divided the new owners would be drawn together as soul mates. Was that possible?
Life Saving – Anne Krist
Saving lives isn’t just for adults. Sometimes the innocent magic of a child can do the job better.
Love from the Mist – Patricia Elliott
When Jace Warden learns that his brother plans to announce his engagement at a family get together, he flees to the other side of the world to escape the joyous celebration.
Or at least attempts to… His plane never makes it, and he winds up trapped on an island. Little does he realize, he’s not alone; there’s a mischievous little entity milling about, and she wants to play.
Love Knows No Apocalypse – Patricia Elliott
Getting stranded in the middle of a storm was not Samantha Wheeler’s idea of an ideal situation, especially in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. But fighting zombies was the easy part; her heart, though, was a whole other matter. Thanks to a man named Steve Jones.
When they find themselves in danger, she has to decide what’s more important – dying for someone she loves or surviving.
Love that Binds – Carol Schoenig
On the outskirts of a small town where nothing grows, a young girl, Ianthee, is being bullied and accused of being a witch. Young Caleb, inexplicably drawn to Ianthee, comes to her rescue. Before they can explore their feelings, Caleb and his family disappear. What happened to him, and what part does a long-ago legend play in their lives?
Love’s Ghost – R.M. Olivia
“Sorry, babe. I know it hurts to hear.” John frowned. I’ll make this brief. I spoke to the man in charge and he is giving me one last chance.”
“Come again?”
“I’m allowed to make love to my wife one last time before I have to cross over. So, are you ready for your husband? Are you ready for me, Ingrid?” He lifted my chin up and ran his thumb along my lips. I felt a chill go down my spine. How could this be real? How could this be happening?
The Anniversary – Richard Savage
A cruel twist of fate wrenched Evelyn and Peter apart on their wedding anniversary. Evelyn’s life descends into darkness. James enters her life giving her a chance of happiness. Evelyn discovers a piece of jewelry, that has the power to grant her time with Peter on their anniversary. She adores James, but needs Peter. Can she ever really let Peter go, while there’s still a chance they can be together?
The Mortal Vampire – Suzanne Smith
Remy enjoys life as a vampire, never giving a thought to sucking every last drop of tasty blood out of his unfortunate victims and leaving them door nail dead. But his cold and carefree existence changes the day he crosses paths with the beautiful and mysterious mortal Angela.
Through the Veil – Jan Selbourne
A beautiful March day in 1875 ends in tragedy when the wagon carrying Helen and Marcus plunges down the mountainside. Generations pass before Rachel Finlay finds an old sepia photo of a man and woman. She knows them but she’s never met them and now, for the peace of mind she desperately craves, she goes back to where it began. In time, through the veil, knowing she may never return.
Unconditional Lust – Breanna Hayes
The massive, hideous merrow leader, Muruch, craves the taste of human flesh. Confined to the ocean, he feeds his horde with sailors from ships pulled into the maw of the Bermuda Triangle. When US Army Captain, Nurys Shaye, puts her life on the line to save him after being captured, his hunger for human flesh is shadowed by the desire for her body and her love. Will she be able to see past his appearance and trust him to break down her walls and teach her to feel?

Find out more about Callie Carmen’s books at:
PATRICK
NICOLAS
JOSEPH Coming Soon!
MYSTIC DESIRE
CRAVING LOYALTY

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