Guest Author Interview: Lisa Kessler

Today we are interviewing Lisa Kessler, Paranormal Romance Author.

Alexis: Hi Lisa, Thank you for visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts :-) You have a couple paranormal works published now. What is it about the paranormal that draws you?

Lisa:  Hi!  Thanks for having me here today! :-) I think I’m drawn to paranormal because that’s the genre I tend to read.  I have always enjoyed reading as an escape.  I don’t want to read about events that could actually happen.  For me, magic, monsters, and immortal heroes who love for lifetimes provide the perfect refuge from “real” life.

Alexis: Hmm, immortal heroes sound good to me :-) Can you tell our readers a little bit about your latest release, Night Walker?

Lisa: Night Walker is a dark paranormal romance set in San Diego.  I think the tagline on the cover captures the heart of the story perfectly…  He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her.

Alexis: That is an awesome tagline! We already know him and wish he was ours. Where did you get the idea for this story?

Lisa: That’s a long story! LOL  I’ll try to paraphrase it though.  I’d been writing every night for a few years, just for fun.  Then I went on a business trip to New Orleans and brought the entire family.  Once night I decided to visit a palm reader.  She gave me a spot on reading that surprised me and left me a little on edge, but it was the walk to the door of the shop that changed my life forever.

She stopped me at the door and said, “Can I ask you a question?”

I shrugged.  “Sure.”

“Are you a writer?”

I felt goosebumps rising on my arms.  “I write every night, but it’s just for fun.”

She smiled at me with a knowing sparkle in her eyes and said, “You’re going to be a famous writer someday.”

I left the shop stunned.  Being a voracious reader, I never thought I’d be able to write an entire novel.  It seemed too big to me.  But she planted that seed and for the rest of the trip I was wondering what I would write.

I decided I wanted to write a vampire novel, but I wanted it set in San Diego.  When I got home I started researching the oldest building in San Diego, the Mission De Alcala, and my story came together from there.  The more I researched, the more Calisto came alive for me.

Alexis: Wow, talk about fate. No wonder you write in the paranormal subgenre. 

What are your favorite character traits of Kate and Calisto?

Lisa:  For Calisto I think my favorite trait is his habit of answering questions with another question.  It’s infuriating to other characters, but I find it kind of endearing.

I think my favorite trait from Kate was her passion for music and her love of her horrible old  Volkswagen Bug convertible!  Right now I hear her in my head saying, “I’m still restoring it!  She’s the best car ever!”

Alexis: Ah, my mom's Volkswagen Bug lasted 13 years and that was back then. I can completely understand Kate's feelings :-)

You did a lot of research for this book as I could see from the photos on your website. Why did you find this so important for a paranormal?

Lisa:  When writing paranormal, we’re asking the reader to take a huge leap of faith, and suspend their disbelief long enough to consider immortals walk among us.  I think the more “real” history and setting you can give to ground the reader makes your paranormal elements seem more believable until the entire world you’ve built becomes real.

At least that’s my goal! LOL

Alexis: That makes a lot of sense. What can we expect next from you? Do you have any new releases coming or a work in progress?

Lisa:  I’m currently editing Night Demon, Book 2 in the Night Series, and I’m finishing up the formatting on a short story anthology, Forgotten Treasures, that I’ll be releasing at the end of the year.

Alexis: You sound busy which is good news for us :-) Thank you so much for letting our readers know about your fascinating romances. We appreciate you coming for a visit.

Lisa:  Thanks for inviting me by your blog today!  This was fun! :-)

Alexis: For a chance to win Lisa’s Across the Veil and Night Walker trading cards, be sure to leave a comment for her.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday. Check the side column for your name.

For more information on Lisa’s Romances go to http://lisaslair.com/BooksPage.html

 

Alexis: Check out this excerpt from Night Walker.

Excerpt:

 Kate watched them wander off before kneeling closer to the cross. Unable to stop herself, she traced her finger along the T in the center.

Behind her, someone cleared his throat. Kate jerked her hand away and shot to her feet. When she turned around she found a tall, dark-haired man staring at her.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. She hoped he hadn’t witnessed her touching the relic. She waited for some kind of admonishment, but he didn’t say anything.

Not with words.

Something in his dark eyes captured her. His gaze wandered over her face like a tender caress, and strangely, instead of screaming for Lori and Edie, she caught herself imagining his touch on her skin.

“I hope I did not frighten you,” he said.

His deep voice resonated through the empty courtyard, and the intimate tone weakened her knees. The hint of a Spanish accent didn’t hurt, either. Nervous laughter escaped her before she could contain it.

Her face warmed all over again. “Just a little startled. I didn’t see anyone else out here.”

He stepped closer without encroaching on her personal space, his eyes locked with hers from beneath thick lashes. “Forgive me.”

She swallowed hard and prayed she wasn’t blushing. “No problem.” She looked away before she embarrassed herself even further, focusing on the cross. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Si.” He nodded slowly. “Yes, it is.” His barely there smile made her think he wasn’t referring to the flowers or the cross. “I am Calisto. Calisto Terana.”

Expectation hung as heavy as the scent of eucalyptus, as if he waited to hear something more than just her name.

“I’m Kate.” Instead of offering to shake his hand, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The honor is mine, Kate... ” His accent colored the vowel in her name. It had never sounded more beautiful. She reminded herself to breathe.

When he hesitated for a moment waiting for her to speak, she realized she hadn’t shared her last name as he had. She flipped through a rapid pro and con mental checklist, and decided it couldn’t hurt. Maybe they would meet again.

“Bradley,” she said.

A sexy smile curved at the corners of his lips. “I hope this will not be our last meeting.”

She glanced around the shadowed courtyard, feeling vulnerable, and almost gave in to her first instinct—to run. But she remembered her promise to herself. Be strong. Take action. She lifted her chin and said, “I guess you never know.”

With a smile that said he had every intention of seeing her again, he tipped his head. “Buenos noches, Kate Bradley.”

Her heart raced and her palms sweated when she realized he meant to leave. No man made her palms sweat. Ever.

His gaze held hers for a moment, full of unspoken promises she didn’t understand. Without another word, he walked away. 

Alexis: Don't forget for a chance to win Lisa's Across the Veil and Night Walker trading cards, be sure to leave a comment.

Support Your Local Authors

Cathy McDavid at book signing

As a group, writers spend much of their time writing, searching for the perfect idea, the perfect characters, the perfect words and committing those ideas to their computers (or pads of paper). Sometimes, it can be lonely. 

Yes, characters talk to them, but it’s not quite the same as hearing another human voice. In other words, unless they have a day job as well, writers don’t get out much. But we love to get out and meet those who love our stories and we usually do that in the form of book signings.

Each February, the city of Glendale in Arizona, hosts the Chocolate Affaire and romance writers (and writers of other genres) converge on this small city to meet and greet and indulge in chocolate. It’s a fun event. After all, what could be better than romance and chocolate? They sort of go hand in hand. There are workshops, too, where an aspiring author can learn all about writing and maybe, a little about the author whose stories they love.

I’ve been fortunate. Even before I became published (and now sign at this event), I visited the writer’s booth and satisfied my craving for romance, horror, true crime, etc. and of course, meeting the authors who have such incredible imaginations was (and still is) a thrill.

So, if you see that your favorite author is signing his or her book somewhere, stop by and chat. They’d love to see you!

Happy Reading!

Marie

Guest Media Expert: Carol Webb

Today we are interviewing Carol Webb, writer and owner of Bella Media Management.

Alexis: Hi Carol, how nice to have you visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts. I know that you not only write romances but you now own a company Bella Media Management. Could you tell us how this venture came about?

Carol: I started out in a very strange way. I had a fellow writer friend wanting a couple of video trailers done for her books and at the time she was selling this amazing beauty line. She asked if I wanted to do a trade since she knew I had done a trailer for my own book. From there it progressed to what the company is now. 

Alexis: A little promo in exchange for beauty.  That sounds like an even trade to me :-) Can you tell our readers a bit about what you do for authors? 

Carol: At Bella Media Management, we provide a wide range of services. We do cover design, web sites, e-book conversions, editing, newsletters, and design for bookmarks, romance trading cards, etc.

Alexis: That's quite a few services. I have a friend who recently had her second book published. What service of yours would you suggest would most benefit her? 

Carol: Other than having a web site, a newsletter is huge on getting the word out. Have her grow her contact list. You will be amazed at how many people will forward newsletters on to their friends.

Alexis: Really? That is good to know. So, what would you suggest for someone like myself who has yet to be published? 

Carol: I would get all your ducks in line so to speak. Start your online presence now through Facebook, and other social media along with having a web site ready to go. That way once you become published, you don’t panic and get distracted at all the things you have to do and lose focus on your writing.  Promotion is more important than ever, but like anything else, if you don’t have a good product, all the publicity and promotion in the world will not make an author’s career.

Alexis: Good point. I noticed Caris Roane and Cathy McDavid, both multi-published and successful authors, chose your company. That holds a lot of weight with me. What makes Bella Media Management different from other companies?

Carol: I’m a fan. I love everything to do with books. I’ve always had books in my life in one way or another. I’ve worked for publishing companies, owned a bookstore for a decade and have written from the time I was in college.  I can’t think of anything else I would want to do and I think that comes out with what I offer as a business. Passion for the author, for the product and for the industry.

Alexis: So would you say that having written and published romances yourself, you have a good feel for what an author needs? 

Carol: Yes, and I have to say a lot of it is through my own mistakes as a writer, and I’ve made my fair share. LOL. But I’ve learned from them, thank goodness. I do know it takes more than talent.  I’ve found perseverance, along with adapting to the industry two key ingredients to making it as an author, especially now with the drastic changes going on in publishing today.

Alexis: Ah yes, the constant flux of publishing does require a certain amount of flexibility :-)

I know we have just touched the surface of Carol's knowledge, so for a chance to win a free critique of your website, ask Carol a question.  She knows so much about about what works and here's a great chance to get the answers you need. The winner will be announced on Wednesday. Check the side column for your name.

For more information on Bella Media Management go to http://www.bellamediamanagement.com/ 

Review: Escape by Barbara Delinsky

This is the perfect primer for those of you who want, need, or search for a break from a hectic lifestyle.

Delinsky dives the reader into the most hectic place imaginable, Emily’s life as a lawyer in Manhattan, all the way to a miniscule township in New Hampshire where she escapes.

Sounds like an easy solution until you consider what Emily tries to leave behind.  She takes more than a mini-vacation from clients, cell phones, computers, and twenty-four hour connections.  And let’s not forget the husband she loves, James who is also an attorney not interested in small town life.

During Emily’s Escape, she runs into her former first love.  Now she needs to consider how to handle her husband’s view and the tug of a former boyfriend.  Emily has a criss-cross of feelings, which will ultimately reveal the best man for her and the best lifestyle to pursue.

It’s a delightful read full of true love and how it can help those in a middle of a crisis.    

Dawn

Birthday Celebration!

"Happy Birthday to Me. Happy Birthday to Me." That's what my father used to sing on his birthday. Being the typical daughter, I would smile at him, slightly embarrassed that he would sing Happy Birthday to himself. But as I look back at my younger years, I realize that my dad was the only adult in my life who truly celebrated his birthday.  All the others, my mom, grandma, aunts and uncles, would hide their age. Often they would say "I don't celebrate birthdays anymore" as if it was a terrible event.

But thanks to my father, I've always seen my birthday as a celebration. Of course, growing up in New England when November meant cold weather and brown scenery without any pretty snow to lighten the mood, any excuse was good enough for a little celebration. But to truly enjoy a birthday, it had to be my dad's way. So here are a few tips I follow when celebrating my birthday. Feel free to steal a few, if not all :-)

1) Make it all about me. This is the day I came into this world to make my mark, to add something to life on this planet and there will never be another one like me (no snickering please).  It's the one day I can celebrate me! What's wrong with admitting I may have added a little value to life in general?

2) Make it about being grateful. First, I have lived to celebrate another year.  Whoohoo! We all lose friends and family along our life journey, but it is our journey and we are still here. Second, look back at what I have done so far. Sure I've made mistakes, but did I learn from them? Oh yeah. Do I have regrets? A few, but I take my lessons from them and let them go. Third, I review my accomplishments, all those wonderful success I've had. Some may seem tiny to others, but they all mean something to me and thinking about them is a wonderful endeavor. I have been so lucky!

3) Make it about a new start. I gave up on New Year's resolutions a long time ago, but there is something so personal about a birthday and the fact that it is the start of a new year for me, me specifically (and all those other people born on November 6th :-). This is a chance to look at what I want the next year of my life to be about, what I want it to look like, who I want to enjoy it with. It is a new beginning!

4) Lastly, enjoy the gifts.  I enjoy the gift of the day and waking up  knowing it is my birthday. I enjoy the card my husband gives me that always makes me cry because it is so beautifully worded and its meaning always touches my heart. I enjoy the little and sometimes big gifts I may receive. Okay, this year was one of the best.  Take a look at the photo of the gift I received from my husband! Yes, that's a 5 foot Claymore Sword. What can I say, he knows my heart :-)

I decided this year, since my blog posting fell on my birthday, that I wanted to share some of the joy of my birthday, so I am giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon. So if you like to celebrate birthdays, then leave me a comment and let me know, share your memories, make me laugh.  Today is a day to celebrate and I can't wait to give away this small present.

The winner will be chosen on Wednesday.  Yes, I like to string out my birthday as long as possible :-} Be sure to leave contact information if I don't have it already. I will announce the winner in the right column under WINNERS.

Happy Birthday to me!  "Thanks Dad for making it such a wonderful day :-)"

Alexis

A Heroine's Age

Have you noticed there are more and more stories being written where the heroine is a little bit older? I’m liking this trend for several reasons. 

Although there is nothing quite so perfect about a nineteen or twenty year old finding love for the first time, for me, as an older woman (Wow! Did I just write that? I’ve never considered myself an older woman but I suppose being in my fifties qualifies me), I like knowing that hope for a happily ever after is still there after the kids are grown and left the nest, after a woman has experienced some of what life has to offer. 

The heroine in her thirties who has concentrated on building her career? I love the fact that from out of nowhere, just when she’s given up on finding that elusive treasure (or hasn’t even been looking for it), here he comes, her knight in shining armor. In Victoria Alexander’s “The Perfect Wife”, Sabrina Winfield is a widow with a grown daughter and she finds love for the second time in her life, which really stirred something in my soul. If she can, why can’t everyone else?

            

Happily Ever After Thoughts had the good fortune to interview Lisa Lickel about her book Meander Scar, which is about a forty-something woman putting her life back together after the disappearance of her husband. She finds love with a younger man. I love this!

            

In my opinion, an older heroine has so much to give to a relationship, so much love and hope in her heart. What do you think? Do you like older heroines? What age do you like your heroines?

As always, happy reading!

Marie