
Hey Bibliomaniacs,
It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for my weekly spotlight features, “What’s on your desk, Wednesday?”, where we take a visit to see what’s on somebody’s desk and have a good old nose around. (No kidding!) So without further ado, let’s meet today’s desk, I mean guest…
Welcome to where stories are created, from the desk of Callie Carmen

Tell us about your writing routine:
My fifteen-year-old Chihuahua wakes me in the middle of the night wanting to go out. I bring her outside and get back in bed, but I usually can’t sleep because I’m now freezing, wet from rain or wide awake from the lights I had to turn on along the way. That’s true love. I pick up my computer and get some work done. An hour or two later I fall asleep.
A few hours later I wake up and start my marketing. When the first round of ads is done, I get up and get ready for the day including something to eat and walking the dog. Last week my closest sidekick while working, Misty, passed away in my arms. I’m still working on getting over that. I’m sure it will take some time.
Then I get to work on edits my most recent work which at the moment is “Joseph” from my Risking love series or “Dream Catcher” a supernatural anthology from BVS that I’m doing with several other author friends. It should be fantastic as they are all wonderful writers. At some point, I take a break to do some cooking or housework, as little of that as possible. Oops, did I write that? Then another round of marketing.
In the evening, I get some more edits or writing done during the down time at soccer games or while watching TV with my family. Of course, there are those nights when my honey and I go dancing or to the movies and then I don’t get any work done, but the time away is more than worth it.
What’s the weirdest thing on your desk?
I have a list of Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives for writing romance on my desk. It has lovely words like ravish, swell, and full-bodied. I bet those words would be in a very spicy romance book.
The most useful item?
That has to be my headphones. Since I gave up my office a few months back to my now semi-retired husband, I’m located smack dab in the middle of the family room. In the past, I worked in silence with the occasional song to break up the day. Now I have family members coming in and out of the room, and they use the television. Ugh!
Three words to describe your desk?
Where can we find out more about you?

I started in the book business as a bookstore manager which was the perfect place for me since I was an avid reader. After two years, I moved to the corporate office as a buyer and eventually became a senior book buyer. This was a rewarding career that I loved.
Along the way, I decided to become a stay home Mom. I couldn’t give up working around books altogether. I volunteered to run the book fairs in our small farm town, six per year. At the same time, I started and ran, A Child Oasis Company, with the sole purpose of placing a small book library in the homes of all the needy children in the nearby city. As my children became teens, I found I needed more in my personal life than the volunteer Mom for the schools. I sat down at the computer one day and Patrick, book one of the Risking Love series, was born. Book two, Nicolas is now available and receiving five-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
I am lucky that I found my soul mate and married him. Like my characters, I am a firm believer in true love and love at first sight.
NICOLAS by Callie Carmen
Carlie planned to finish at the top of her class, get a corporate job, and work her way up the ladder. She refused to risk having a life of poverty ever again. Within her plans, there was no room for a relationship. So she had sworn off men; especially the good Dr. Nicolas Antonis.
Nicolas had other plans. They included her becoming his.
As if Nicolas wasn’t a big enough distraction; Carlie had to worry about her roommate’s, abusive ex-boyfriend, coming for her too.
Nicolas is the second novel in the Risking Love series. The stories chart a group of friends through life and love. These steamy stories will have you laughing, crying, and have your heart racing.
Purchasing links
https://books2read.com/u/3krqEW
Nicolas (Risking Love Book2)
https://amzn.to/2GkldCD
books2read.com/u/mqVGQv
Box set (including both Patrick & Nicolas)
Craving Loyalty
http://getBook.at/CravingLoyalty
Social media links:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011326206882https://www.facebook.com/CallieCarmenAuthor/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Callie_Carmen
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/calliecarmennovel/
MeWe https://mewe.com/profile/5aea84c00dc9f110e68a9373
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17829431.Callie_Carmen
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-carmen-72ba98156/
Tumblr https://calliecarmenauthor.tumblr.com/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/calliecarmennovel/
Website link https://www.calliecarmen.com/
Join in!
Want to take part in this weekly author spotlight here on Alternative-Read.com?
CHECK OUT THIS LINK http://bit.ly/WOYDWform
Open to anyone with a desk, a writing routine, and a book, product or website to promote. That means book bloggers, authors, freelance writers… you get the gist!
I regularly tweet past guest posts…
Fascinating, Callie! Now I understand why I sometimes see posts or messages from you in the morning UK time – which is the middle of the night in the US – I kept wondering if you were travelling a lot and changing time zones every few days! Your desk looks lovely and cosy.
Alice,
Thank you it is comfy. Yes, you have Chili to thank for my crazy hours.
Callie
Thank you, Brit. It was a pleasure doing this interview with you.
Callie
I couldn’t imagine getting any writing done in the middle of my living room. *lol* I’m amazed at how much you accomplish.
I loved reading about your writing life and am looking forward to checking out your other stories.
Hi Patricia:
Thank you. I purchased a second desk this week and my husband is now working upstairs when he stays home from work. No more listening to all of his meetings. Thank goodness.
Callie
I love that “Coffee-table when closed”! I also used to work right in the middle of the living room. It’s a challenge. Also a distraction! What fun this was, Callie!
Hi Dee,
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, a challenge, but today I got fantastic news. I purchased a desk for my husband, cleared a space in our bedroom for him and when it arrived today he set it up. Now when he works from home I won’t have to hear his meeting after meeting. That rocks!
Callie
I loved learning about your writing routine because I love your writing. Can’t wait for the release of Joseph. Hurry up!
Hi Rita:
I’m hurrying already. Haha.
Thank you,
Callie
I find it fascinating to hear about the writing process. I think the whole writer’s workspace is so individual to each writer. It was great to find out a bit more about the Author Callie Carmen, I love her stories, and it enhances that to think of the way she creates them.
Richard,
Thank you. It got a little crazy here for a couple of weeks, but things seem to have settled down for the last two days.
Thank goodness,
Callie