Today First Timers Presents is delighted to welcome Poppy Tippens and “HOME”, a Vintage Rose release out of The Wild Rose Press, Inc. by author Calisa Rhose. “Home” is part of the Curse of the Scrimshaw Doll, a multi-line series written by a talented group of authors based in Oklahoma This is a particular thrill for us in that we've already had the privilege to read an ARC of “Annie's Attic” another story in the series so we've been looking forward to learning about other parts of this interesting series. And here we go!
First, the tag line really intrigues us: 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?
Now that we have a bit of a teaser, let's get to know Poppy: It’s such a pleasure to be here. I could just pop! Thank you for inviting me. What do you want to know?
Where are you from? I’m a born and (mostly) raised Okie. That is, I’m from Silvertown, Oklahoma USA. Our story is part of a multi-author series of which all are set in Oklahoma or about how that blasted scrimshaw doll gets to Oklahoma. My mama swears that thing is cursed.
What is “HOME” about? It's about learning to live with the past and forging a future when all seems lost. It’s about forgiveness, acceptance and love. But mostly I think “HOME” is about finding that one place, that one person who makes you feel complete and embracing it with all your heart.
What did you think the first time you saw Sam, The Force, Callahan? Great name by the way! Oh boy-o-boy. Sammie is the greatest thing. It’s like the Chiffon’s, my favorite group, wrote every song about him. *sighs dreamily* I always thought he was the coolest even when he was a skinny sixteen year old. I knew he was special.
What was your second thought? Hmm. I guess I accepted the fact that he was too good for me. I mean crikey- he’s a doctor’s son and I don’t even know my father.
Did you think it was love at first sight? For me—oh yeah.
What do you like most about him? Sam has this ability to make my knees wobble with his voice. Geez, he’s so tall and handsome and smart. But I think the thing I fell in love with him for was that he never treated me bad like all the others do. He accepts folks for who they are no matter what or who that is.
How would you describe him? Tall, well, the things I already said before. He’s got the prettiest grey eyes and strong muscles. I love when he holds me in them.
How would she/he describe you? Heck, I don’t know. He likes my dark brown hair and brown eyes. He claims they’re like warmed chocolate. I think he likes my mouth because he always wants to kiss me. He calls me spunky.
What made you choose antiquing as a career ? My mama owns an antique doll store and I grew up working in it.
What is your biggest fear? That I won’t be accepted as a normal person. [Vintage Rose stories are set in] the 60’s and I’m a Gypsy. That word in itself challenges people. But if Sammie can’t see past that then what chance do I have of ever having his love?
How do you relax? I sing my favorite songs from the Chiffons. Hanging out with Sammie is heavenly, too.
Who is your favorite fictional character and why? I guess I don’t really have a favorite.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Well, Mama always told me I could do or be anything. I guess that means Sammie’s wife, too, even if Mama doesn’t really agree.
Let's take a look at an Excerpt:
Over the next week he actively avoided his mother as he raked and watered the lawn. He’d found out the gardener had left when his mother stopped paying him, not that Sam blamed the guy. So, he would try to do what he could to fix the old place up again. Somehow, like himself, he doubted the place he’d called home would ever fully recover the ravages of wartime. It gave him something useful to get through the days before he creeped out at night.
“Sammie, we need to talk.”
He dropped his head and counted briefly before facing his mother. “Good morning, Ma.”
“Have you talked to that woman?”
No nonsense, that was Ma. He dragged in a heavy breath to stifle a groan. “What woman would that be?”
“Don’t play games with me, Sam. You know full well I’m talking about that gypsy woman who owns the doll store. Did you tell her you want the doll back?” His mother threw hands to hips. He waited five ticks. Yep, there it was. Her left foot began flapping like a fish out of water to make known her full ire at him. He almost grinned.
As he stared at her tapping foot, Sam realized he’d actually missed that trait in his mother while he’d been gone. But she wasn’t interested in reflections of days past. “No. I’m not going to get the doll. It’s better off gone if it causes you so much distress. Just forget it and let it be, Ma.”
“Forget it? Haven’t you heard what I’ve been telling you? It will only cause more problems the longer that woman has it!” She was almost yelling and Sam cringed inwardly with a glance around. She ought to keep her voice down or—
Or, what? Did he expect the VC to pop out of the surrounding sticks that had once been shrubbery admired by the whole town? Yes. He did. Damn it all. Why was it so hard for him to let go of the war he was no longer a part of? He shuffled his loafer-clad feet and sighed heavily. “What’s so special about that doll that you won’t let it go?”
His mother looked away from him as though she had a secret and twisted her hands around her ever-present hankie. “It’s bad, evil.”
“Then, why on earth would you want it back? Good riddance, I’d say.”
“No!” She backed up a step and looked up at him, lips painted the same bright red, and he vaguely wondered if she’d worn it so long it had become permanent, a tattoo. A bright red tattoo. Blood red… “It was a gift from my cousin, Helen, when I visited her in California, before she died. I already told you that. But, it’s cursed! I can’t risk anyone else suffering because of that—that thing!”
Blood red… Sam shook the image off and looked over his mother’s head toward the street. Of all the times to wander in, he didn’t need Poppy showing up right then, while his mother was on her insane rampage about a doll.
A doll that Poppy’s mother had bought fair and square, according to Ma. Now it was a cursed doll? She’d said something about that last time she mentioned the damn thing. He was suddenly afraid his mother was losing her mind. “Son of a bitch.”
“Watch your mouth, young man. I won’t have that kind of language used in this house. Your father—God rest his soul—didn’t use that filth, and I won’t have my only son speak it.” She sounded so normal, suddenly.
“Sorry, Ma. I need to go…somewhere, for a while.”
“Get the doll.” Her voice poured from that red mouth like a warning.
He leaned the rake he’d been using before the interruption against the wood shed and tossed a wave over his head to his mother as he strode for the driveway, and Poppy. Suddenly, it took all his will not to break out in a run and just keep going. Never to stop until he was far, far away from this new nightmare his mother had introduced to him. Blood red, blood. Red, blood, red, blood, red blood.
Sam didn’t stop when he reached Poppy, but grabbed her hand and swung her around with him—took her away before his mother realized who she was. He especially didn’t need her to see the doll shop owner’s daughter.
He picked up his already fast pace until he felt a jerk against his hand and slowed down. He didn’t want to talk. Not yet. Walk. Keep walking…fast.
“Whoa, soldier boy!” She yanked him to a stop. For a little thing, she was stronger than he’d have thought. “What’s with you? If I wanted to race I’d be a horse.”
Blood red. No talking. Walk. Her hand still in his, he gave a rough tug
Now it's Kat's turn: Calisa, What movies or books have had an impact on your writing? I read Phyllis A. Whitney years ago and her book “Rain Song” made me want to write seriously in the beginning. I try not to let movies or books influence me much in my writing though. But I love to read Nora and Brenda Novak.
Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them? I’d heard about The Wild Rose Press years ago when they were a new publisher. At the time I was wary of all epublshers so I didn’t give them much consideration.
What influenced your decision to submit to them? “HOME” it was actually written specifically for TWRP. Alicia Dean, an author with TWRP came to our rwa group, the Outlaws, and asked if we’d be interested in writing a series for them. We jumped on it and came up with the scrimshaw doll theme that will run throughout all of the books. The doll is created in book one, "Pirate’s Proposal" by Diane Layne, which is available this week. The books are not in chronological order but a third book in the series by Callie Hutton will release in May and two more are contracted with no release dates as yet.
Tell us a bit about the submission process. How long did it take from query to release? As far as "HOME" goes, I submitted on April 4, 2011, almost a year to date from its conception. Nan, my wonderful editor, asked for the full on April 12 and offered a contract on May 11th. The process fairly flew for me after that; cover, edits, the release date. Then my release day arrived- Dec 28th- which also happens to be my birthday!
Kat: Yowza! From submission to notification of release less than nine months? Amazing. These are truly encouraging words for any author, especially new writers. Poppy and Calisa, thanks so much for spending time with us today. The series sounds fascinating, especially that it crosses many of the lines offered by Wild Rose Press.
Thank you for having Poppy and me here today, Kat. This is Poppy’s first ever interview.
To find out more about the Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll at the dedicated doll series blog http://talesofthescrimshawdoll.wordpress.com/
To learn more about Calisa Rhose and the stories she creates go to: http://calisarhose.wordpress.com
On twitter @Calisa_Rhose and Facebook @Calisa Rhose
She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at calisa.rhose@gmail.com
To purchase HOME go to The Wild Rose Press and Amazon and also B&N
