Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Guest post with Lisa Kessler, author of Night Walker


Please join me today in welcoming author, Lisa Kessler.  Her book, Night Walker, was recently published and I'm happy to say that I've been along for the journey, offering encouragement whenever I could.  Watch for my review of Night Walker later today.


Stop worrying…
Thanks so much to Michelle for inviting me to the blog today!!!  We met on MySpace years ago and she's always been in my corner helping me keep my chin up and keep writing…
I've been a book addict all my life.  When I was in elementary school, I remember being so excited when I got a special red library card which meant I had a 10 item limit for check out instead of 3 items! I thought I was such a big deal! LOL 
That love for stories blossomed into writing my own.  I started with short stories and eventually started writing full-length novels.  Getting my novels published has been a really long, winding, sometimes uphill and treacherous journey.  Finding the right publisher for Night Walker was probably one of the toughest goals I have ever accomplished in my entire life.
I got the idea for the book in 2001.  I wrote the first draft version in four months.  I felt like I was obsessed I was so eager to get it all written down.  I started to work toward publication, I even had an agent for the book, but my personal life took a huge unexpected detour, and my publishing dream had to be set aside for a few years.
I'm only sharing this background because I think it might help you to understand why it's all I can do to keep this beast of worry corralled inside of me! LOL
I was in Denver for RomCon two weeks ago.  It was my first time attending a convention as an author instead of as a reader.  Even though I've been to lots of writer's conferences and conventions in the past, this felt different and I worried I might mess something up.
After the paranormal dinner on Saturday night, RomCon hosted “readings”.  They had palm readers, tarot card readers, past life and reiki practitioners, and the room was busy.  I waited for a tarot card reader just for fun.
After shuffling the cards myself and cutting the deck three times, I chose the center stack and she started turning cards.  After about the fourth card she stopped and chuckled, shaking her head.  “You just started down a new path for your life and your cards show the potential for success.”
I've got to confess my pulse quickened.  I've worked hard for years, hoping, praying, and wishing for a tiny morsel of success…
She flipped a few more cards and started shaking her head again before grinning over at me.  “Stop worrying.  These cards are shouting at me that you're worried.  This is your time to enjoy your progress, not be tied up with worry.”
I had to laugh, because since I got the call that Entangled wanted my entire Night Series, I have been a jumble of worry.  I've worried about things from, will I ever finish these edits, to am I promoting enough, too much, did I get the right promo goodies, did I send a card with the romance trading cards?  Will people show up to my book signing?  And the list goes on…
I wish I could turn the worry off.  I'm better at it some days than others.  I'm realizing along this journey that it's easier for me to be bold when I'm “chasing” a dream, but when I'm close enough to touch it, there's a fear that I might bump it and next thing I know my dream will end up on the scratched and dented shelf at the grocery store! LOL
While reviews are still coming in for Night Walker, and people did show up for my book signing (YAY!), I've already moved on to worrying that my editor won't like Night Demon now that I've turned it in…  LOL   Urgh!
So do any of you book addicts out there have any tricks to stop worrying?  Or is this just another long, winding, uphill path to travel for a while?  
Thanks in advance for any advice…  And a huge thanks to Michelle for the years of encouragement!!!  

Lisa

I love to chat with readers online, so feel free to look me up…

http://lisakessler.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/LdyDisney
http://facebook.com/LisaKesslerWriter
http://facebook.com/NightSeries
http://goodreads.com/LisaKessler


I wish I had some advice for Lisa about the worrying.  Unfortunately, the worry is stalling me at the beginning stages of writing my novel so I could use some advice myself.  =O)  All I can say, Lisa, is that worrying is a part of the human condition and maybe after you've grown accustomed to being a "published author" (doesn't that sound great?!), the worries will become less pronounced.  We can hope, right?  Thanks again for guesting today, my friend.  Your story gives me hope for my future as a writer and to countless others, I'm sure.


Now for a little bit about Night Walker... 





Title: Night Walker
Author: Lisa Kessler
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-12-1
Mobi ISBN: Coming soon!
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-13-8


Read an excerpt:


http://www.entangledpublishing.com/night-walker/


Ebook review copies available at NetGalley.com


View the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OTD8VdDCOc


Book description:



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
http://Lisa-Kessler.com

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



9 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

I apologize for word verification, but as soon as I changed the settings from only users with Google accounts, I started receiving a ton of spam comments...within one hour of changing the settings. The bots are on high alert apparently.

  1. Thanks for having me on your blog today Michelle!!! :)

    I think you're probably right about the worrying... I hope it does get beter eventually though! Yikes! LOL

    I'm so glad you're writing, and I hope you can set aside the worry and doubt and just let your characters tell their story. That's the most fun part for me, and the point when I feel most confident...

    Then my worry kicks in big time! LOL

    Thanks again Michelle!!! (Now I'll go worry about your review to be posted later... LOL)

    Lisa :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I worry about all the same things, Lisa! Unfortunately when I'm too stressed, I tend to shut down, which does nobody any good. I wish there was a worry-free drug we could take. Well... one that didn't have unfortunate side effects, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I worry about all the same things, Lisa! Unfortunately when I'm too stressed, I tend to shut down, which does nobody any good. I wish there was a worry-free drug we could take. Well... one that didn't have unfortunate side effects, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ha! I would take an anti-worry pill in a heartbeat Rosalie! LOL

    Glad to know I'm not the only worry-wart out there!

    Thanks for commiserating with me! LOL

    *HUGS*

    Lisa :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think a little worry is a good thing. What I try to do is acknowledge the worry, organize myself with lists, and try to eat well and exercise. Exercise takes care of a lot of the stress and worry for me. You've worked hard, Lisa. You'll be fine :)

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  6. Lisa, I'm a worrier too! :) I think it just goes along with being an author. :) From what I've seen, though, you're one super organized, talented lady, and I hope you are able to take a deep breath now and again, let the worry slide off your shoulders, and enjoy all the praise for your new book. You deserve to celebrate.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Shelley -

    I think getting back in an exercise routine would probably help...

    With all the promo and edits on book 2 I have really fallen off the exercise train!

    Thanks for commenting Shelley!!!

    Lisa :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awww thanks Cate!!! *HUGS*

    I do try to make time to enjoy every once in a while, and the book signing this past weekend was a BLAST! :)

    But I feel buried under promo and worrying about finishing the next project on time, etc.

    I used to be organized, but lately I feel like I'm scrambling to keep all the balls up in the air! LOL

    I'm glad I'm not the only worrier! Thanks for commenting Cate!!!

    Lisa :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really liked the article, and the very cool blog

    ReplyDelete
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