Picked by Poison: Interview and Giveaway with Lisa Kessler

Welcome everyone! I'm thrilled to have a very talented (snarky) author here today.I have Lisa Kessler here to talk about Night Walker, and what is next in her Night Series. Without further Ado I give you Lisa Kessler!

Hello Lisa! I’m thrilled to finally have you here! I’ve wanted to take over your world, and now I finally get a chance! *poit, zort, narf!* LMAO

Please share a little about yourself, your works and what got you into writing.

Great to be on your blog today!!! And I’m crazy about Pinky and the Brain, so thanks for helping me Take Over the World…. Muahahaha!!!! *ahem* Actually I’m a wife and mother of two amazing kids. When I’m not writing I also sing professionally so I’m always on the go.

I started out writing for fun, but after a meeting with a palm reader in New Orleans, she changed my life in an instant when she smiled at me and told me I was going to be a famous writer someday! Seriously true story…  Six months later I had the first draft of Night Walker finished.

I think lots of people have been drawn in by the cover with Calisto on it *drools*. Can you share a little about him for those who haven’t read about this hunky Latino.

Calisto is very Spanish and also immortal, so we can add sexy and dangerous to his resume. When I wrote the book, I pictured a young Antonio Banderas from the Mask of Zorro days, and with his devotion to his love, and his sexy accent, I was a goner! LOL I hope readers have felt the same way.

He’s a very tortured soul. Fortunately he gets his redemption with Kate. Kate is a very strong woman who has been through her own torture. What made you choose that form of torture for her?

Calisto was definitely a tortured soul, and when I wrote Kate, I felt like she was haunted. Her recurring nightmares of another time, and her emotional distance from others forced her to be strong, but I think it also attracted her to Calisto. On some level she sensed he had answers, and for the first time in her life, she found someone she could confide in.

I was really surprised by her just getting up and leaving to go back home to settle things with her parent’s estate, and especially the treasured piano. Why did she ultimately not keep it?

In my first draft of Night Walker, I had more about her backstory with her mother. Of course much of it got cut, but she never felt like she measured up to her mother’s expectations, so when her mother left her piano to the Foundation Arts charity instead of to her only daughter, Kate no longer wanted it. She felt like the piano was her mother’s final dismissal of Kate’s career choice.

It was so devious to see the way Jose got into Kate and Calisto’s lives and was toying with them until near the end! I was totally shocked by many of the things he did. . He’s just plain evil and knifing! How was it getting into his head?

I started out writing horror, and writing villains is often my favorite part of a book! LOL As a reader, I hate when a villain gets weak at the end, or makes stupid choices. I like a villain who pushes the hero until it looks like the hero actually might not win.

So writing Jose was really fun for me, other than one scene toward the end of the book when he takes a life for the first time. (I’m sure you know the one I’m talking about… No spoilers! ) Writing that scene creeped me out and I had to watch TV for a couple hours before I could sleep! LOL

As Kate got to Know Calisto they got to know about their present lives and re-learn about each other. Was there something they each learned that they didn’t expect? Calisto definitely didn’t expect to love Kate even more in this lifetime. When they’d fallen in love in the 1700’s she was a young Kumeyaay maiden and much more naïve. I think they both were. So when he met Kate this time, she had a career and a passion for music that rivaled his own. He definitely loved her even more this time around…

I think when Kate’s fractured memories finally came together it was a huge relief to her. Unbelievable that Calisto was still alive, but I think on some level she always feared she might be insane! LOL

Kate ends up being able to recall her past life as Tala and her gruesome end. Was it hard for her to come to grips with knowing her past-life and how it was coming back to haunt her?

You know I think she was so busy being in disbelief that Calisto was still alive, that she didn’t get a lot of time to digest that her past-life was repeating itself. Poor Calisto could see her destiny repeating though and he was willing to do anything to save her.

We got a brief introduction to the character who was responsible for Calisto’s change, and we see him again in the end of Night Walker. Do we see more of him in the next book?

Yes, in Night Demon, Book 2, the Old One is back and the grand scheme of his plans is completely laid out… He has big changes in store for the mortal world with a little help from an ancient Mayan demon. Can’t wait to share the book with you!

You’ve mentioned about our upcoming Hero and Heroine, Kane and Rita. Can you tell us anything about each?

Night Thief is a prequel to Night Walker and it will be available in September. It takes place in 1840 in Paris.

Kane is one of the 4 original Night Walker brothers. (Insider tip: The Old One from Night Walker is also one of the 4 original brothers.) When the Toltecs attacked the already weakened Maya civilization, the four Night Walker brothers scattered to the corners of the earth in order to keep the Mayan world from dying out completely. Kane ends up in France.

The story opens during Napoleon’s national funeral, when Rita (Marguerite) steals Kane’s gold pocket watch. Kane and Rita have amazing chemistry and readers will also get treated to a Night Walker vs. European vampire battle…. So fun!!!

Lastly the fun questions:

Plotter or pantser?
Panster

Early Bird or Night Creature?
Definite Night Owl!

Are you more Kate or Betty?
Kate

White, Milk or Dark chocolate?
Milk

Coffee Tea or other?
Iced Tea

Music or quiet while working?
Music is a must

Favorite place to sit and write?
My corner of the office

Computer or good old pen and paper?
Computer

Pick your poison (alcoholic drink of choice when going out if you drink)
I’m the cheapest drunk ever so I don’t drink much… But when I do I love Kahlua & Creams! Mmmmmm!

Thanks for letting me take over your world today Lisa! I’m looking forward to the rest of the Night Series!

THE NIGHT SERIES - Book One by Lisa Kessler

Title: Night Walker
Author: Lisa Kessler
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary:
He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her…

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She’s haunted by dreams of her own death…

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she’s drawn to him in ways she doesn’t understand.

They’ve waited in the shadows for centuries…

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s ever loved again.

About the Author

Lisa Kessler is an avid reader and writer of dark fiction. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. Lisa recently signed a 4 book deal with Entangled Publishing to release her Night Series. The first book, Night Walker, is scheduled to be released August 5th.

When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at Lisa's Website

Lisa lives in southern California with her incredibly fun husband and two amazing kids.