Look what I found when I woke up this morning….

My name… On the cover of RT Magazine… Yes I cried!!! LOL

Inside the issue, on Page 20, is an article about Moonlight’s journey to publication, but I’m going to go back a little further…

In 2008, five years ago, I started blogging on MySpace. (Remember Tom? *sigh*) Anyway, I’ve always been open about this journey on my blogs, sharing about my publishing journey all the ups and the downs, so I’m super excited to be able to share this happy, surreal moment with all of you!!!

Chasing my dream to be a published novelist has definitely been the toughest goal I’ve ever gone after, but it’s also been the most fulfilling and rewarding! Meeting readers both in person at conferences like RT and Comic-Con as well as online, has kept my spirits up and my fingers flying on the keyboard!

I hope this publicity opportunity in the magazine will help more readers discover Moonlight too… *fingers crossed*

And if you’d like to help in the effort to spread the word, I’d love to have you on my Night Angels Street Team! We’re going to be very busy soon getting the word out about Moonlight, and two more releases later this year, so let me know if you’d like to be a part of the fun! J

I’ll let you know when the print edition of the magazine hits the streets… I hope you enjoy the article! And if you’re curious about Moonlight and where you can preorder your copy, there’s more info here… http://www.authorlisakessler.com/cover-reveal-moonlight-book-1-in-the-moon-series/

Thanks again for all your support along the way!!! I can’t wait for you to read this book….

Lisa ß Still happy dancing

I still feel like I’m on RT jet lag, but I have so much to share! LOL

First off, if you’ve never been to an RT Convention, here’s a little summary. It’s hosted by RT Book Review Magazine, and caters to authors, readers and aspiring authors. In short, it’s a total blast!!! There are plenty of panels and events, but still time to chat and meet internet friends as well as old friends you only get to see at conventions. Fun!

This year the event was held in Kansas City, Missouri. My only other trip to Missouri was for a trade show for my work. It was in St. Louis and during my stay 3 tornadoes touched down around the city… YIKES!!! Being a weather wimp from San Diego, I was hiding under the covers whimpering all night as the lightning flashed and the sideways rain smacked the hotel window! LOL

I’m happy to report, no tornadoes this time, but… We got SNOW!!! In May!!! *boggle* I was so excited that I videoed the magic. Yes, my dork flag was again waving SUPER high!!! LOL

Okay so besides the crazy snow in May, the conference itself was SOOOO much fun!!!

I got in to Kansas City on Tuesday night so that bright and early on Wednesday morning I could meet up and stuff goodies bags with fellow vampire authors: Laura Kaye, Laurie London, Caridad Pinero, Elisabeth Staab and Theresa Meyers! Our vampire game was a huge success with lots of fun vampire readers! J

Wednesday night was the Ellora’s Cave Disco Party! I had such a blast with my super fun roomies, Mary Leo and Chris Marie Green!!! J

Next up on Thursday, I got to meet lots of readers at the RT eBook and Indie signing! My posters of the Night Walker and Night Thief covers were gone in the first hour! Yow! J

And Thursday night was the big RT 30^th Anniversary Ball… The Ball was sponsored by my publisher, Entangled Publishing, and I made new “Entangled” lyrics for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and sang! LOL Goofy and tons of FUN!!!

After the big singing event we had lots of dancing and Entangled merriment…

Me and my pal, Boone Brux

And here I am with the fabulous, CJ Ellison!

The amazing lady behind Entangled Publishing, Liz Pelletier, with me and my roomie, Mary Leo!

After the Thursday night fun, I had a full day of panels and parties on Friday! Shew! J The Vampire Social was a huge highlight for me!!! I got to sign and meet readers with some of my favorite vampire authors!!! SQUEE!!! Here’s a pic of the goodies bag… See my name in there??? Yeah, I geeked out!!! LOL And then I got my own table with goodies and a perfect place to meet readers and chat. I had a blast! J

And Friday night was Heather Graham’s annual Vampire Ball… I didn’t see many vampires, but I did run into Deadpool!!! LOL

At this point, exhaustion was setting in, but my adrenaline from the fun of the HUGE book signing on Saturday pulled me through… Ready for more pictures? LOL Here we go…

I got to see my buddy Barbara Vey!

And my fabulous publicist Sarah Nicolas!

And my editor for Night Walker, Kerri-Leigh Grady!!! (She’s now the head of the Entangled Ever After and Flirt Lines!)

I also got to meet up with some fabulous readers too!!! J

There’s RT in a nutshell… Shew!!! This was such a fun convention!!! Thanks again to everyone who came and said hello…

And if you’re still with me, something super cool happened on my way home from RT…

I was exhausted and already stressing about the money I spent at RT, silently hoping I sold a few books to help offset all the expenses. During the last leg of my flight from Denver to San Diego, I was in the window seat, reading my Kindle, thankfully distracted from my worries, when the captain came on and announced we were beginning our descent into San Diego. He said we had to switch off all electronics and buckle seat belts. I finished the page and turned off my Kindle.

Right at that moment, I glanced out the window and there was the most gorgeous rainbow!!! I’ve never seen a rainbow from above, while inside a plane, and I wish I could’ve taken a picture. Instead my eyes welled with tears. It was like the universe was letting me know everything was going to be okay. I instantly felt joy and peace fill me up when I needed it most.

I’m not doing the moment justice, but Wow. It was an amazing quiet moment at the end of an incredibly busy week.

Next year’s RT is going to be in New Orleans… I can hardly wait!!! Who wants to come on a vampire tour and a trip to the Café Du Monde with me??? WOOT!!!

Lisa J

I’m SUPER excited to share the Moonlight cover for my brand new series!!!

The book is up for preorder and will magically show up on your eReaders on July 15^th!!!

Can’t wait to share this book with you…

BLURB –

Rancher Adam Sloan is more than meets the eye. As the heir to his Pack, the sexy werewolf’s biggest challenge is keeping his kin’s true nature under wraps. But a group of jaguar shifters threatens to reveal the pack, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight. And when he smells one at the local diner, his standing orders are to take her out.

Lana Turpin doesn’t realize she’s a moving target. Raised in the foster system, she only knows that she blacks out during the new moon and wakes up without remembering a thing. But now she’s being tracked by some strange organization that wants her back—even though she’s never stepped foot inside their compound. And the stranger across the diner is watching her like an enemy.

It should be a simple mission for Adam, but when he touches the frustratingly beautiful Lana, his inner wolf howls…mate. Now, the two must find and stop the people who hunt her…and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love.

http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-The-Moon-Series-ebook/dp/B00CGFGS3A/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moonlight-lisa-kessler/1115161574?ean=9781622661084&itm=1&usri=lisa+kessler

And I’ve got a new series page up on facebook of you want to come by and keep up with the series… https://www.facebook.com/MoonSeriesLisaKessler

You can also add Moonlight to your to-read list here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17834401-moonlight

Here’s some more about the Pack and the Moon Series…

Welcome to Reno, Nevada, the Biggest Little City in the World, and home to a Werewolf Pack whose future is on a collision course with the Nero Organization, a covert military corporation bent on creating the perfect shape-shifting assassin.

The Moon Series blends the action and pacing of Urban Fantasy with the sexy heat of Paranormal Romance for a page-turner you won’t forget.

The Moon Series begins with Moonlight, the story of Adam and Lana.  Moonlight was a finalist in the Linda Howard award of excellence and also a finalist in the Kensington/RT Magazine’s Writing with the Stars contest.

Thanks for coming by!!! So are you ready for some shifters???

Lisa J

I can’t believe RT is right around the corner!!! I’ll be in Kansas City next week… WOOT!!!

I’m also going to have some special goodies for readers who find me after I tweet as part of the Entangled Scavenger Hunt!

For all the days of the convention, 23 Entangled authors will be giving away almost 50 prizes to RT2013 convention goers – spot prizes for seeing one of our tweets (follow the#EntangledHunt hashtag) and coming to find us at the convention and grand prizes for completing the Scavenger Hunt.

To enter to win in the Scavenger Hunt, you’ll need to pick up a game form at our table in Promo Alley or during the Entangled Spotlight and then find all 23 of us so we can affix a special sticker to the game form.

You’ll know who’s participating because our book covers are on the form – and we’ll all be wearing one of our stickers on our nametags to help you pick us out. You’ll want to find author Christine Bell last, because she’s the keeper of the grand prizes – and the first 3 people to show her they’ve gotten all 23 authors’ stickers will win BIG! (Keep an eye on the #EntangledHunt hashtag during the convention for more details!)

PRIZES!

1st Prize: $300 Amazon/BN/Kobo/any e-book retailer gift card. Can be used for anything the winner would like, including an e-reader, tablet, books and more.

2nd Prize: A Kindle Fire & e-books from all the participating authors. Kindle will be given to the winner at RT. Winner will provide an email address so that each author can gift a copy of their e-book via Amazon to them (See all the books included on the back of this flyer).

3rd Prize: $50 Gift Card from e-book seller of winner’s choice.

Spot Giveaways: In addition to the above prizes, each of the 23 participating authors will be doing two spot giveaways during RT. Follow our hashtag on Twitter (#EntangledHunt) as each day, more than a dozen authors will tweet their location at the conference and a directive. Find the author first and follow their directive and YOU WIN! Prizes range from signed book copies, to handmade personalized gifts, from gift cards to fun-filled baskets and more.

Can’t wait to see you all there!!!

Are you going to be at RT? Let’s meet up!!!

Lisa J

It’s been a whirlwind month since Night Demon went live on Amazon, but we’ve come to my favorite part of new release time… The reader collage!!!

As an author, I sit in the corner of my office, a Rocky movie poster hanging on the wall above my screen, and I do my best to bring together a story that’s worth telling. Then the book goes through edits and finally out to readers all over the world, but I’m still sitting in the corner, so imagine my SQUEE every time I get to see a happy reader with my book! It’s the BEST!!! J

So here are the reader collages from Night Walker and Night Thief…

And here is the new Night Demon & Me reader collage!!! J

Thanks to every single one of you for joining in the new release fun!!!

And let’s find out who is taking home the Night Series beach bag… Ready?

Random.org has selected…

HOLLY COLLINS!!!

Congratulations!!! Please email me your mailing addy… LdyDisney at aol.com

Thanks SO much to all of you for your support and for all the smiles!!! You really are the BEST!!! And I hope you all enjoyed Night Demon too…

Lisa

Life’s been incredibly busy with Night Demon‘s release into the wild! I think promoting a book might be harder than actually writing it! LOL But readers can’t find your book if they don’t know it exists, right?

Yesterday Panda & I headed up to WonderCon for fun and more book exposure… I’m hoping to have a blog and pics up on Monday!

In the meantime, I’m going to be living my radio-rock-star dreams for the next few days! LOL

Tonight I’ll be on KRLY – FM radio here in San Diego, but they live stream if you all want to listen!  I’ll be on 5-6pm!  http://www.themountainfm.com/

And Tuesday I’ll be back on Bab’s Book Bistro!!! Can’t wait!!! We had awesome calls and lots of fun last time… 5pm Pacific on Tuesday April 2^nd…
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/broadcast-from-the-bistro/2013/04/03/author-lisa-kessler

It’s so much fun to chat with you during the show so don’t be afraid to call in and join in the party! J

Thanks for being awesome and helping me spread the word about Night Demon! It’s been a blast to hear so many of you are enjoying the book!

Lisa J

Thanks for making Night Demon’s release week so amazing!!! I love hearing from readers and I’m super excited you’re enjoying the book!

And I have more super news to share…

Fresh from Publisher’s Marketplace!

March 22, 2013
	Digital: Fiction: Women’s/Romance		Lisa Kessler’s BEG ME TO SLAY, in which the attacker who ruined a woman’s college career is back, and when the police have no leads, she turns to a private eye who is much more than he seems; together they struggle to unravel the mystery of her bloodline, and fight the growing attraction that could seal her fate, toDanielle Poiesz at Entangled Covet, for publication in 2013, by Laurie McLean at Foreword Literary (World).

This will be my first book in Entangled Publishing’s Covet line! This story was so much fun to write and I can’t wait to share it with you… *happy dance*  If you love Angel and Supernatural on television, you’re going to have a blast with this book!

Thanks so much to everyone who has left reviews for Night Demon already!!! It’s so exciting to hear you’re enjoying meeting more Night Walkers! I’m writing Night Child now and hoping to have it finished and turned in by the end of June! WOOT!

If you haven’t read Night Demon yet, it’s up on Amazon and B&N now! J

And if you have a KOBO a fabulous indie bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy, would love to get a copy for you! J

And the Night Demon & Me photo contest prize just came in!!!

Yodette is being my Vanna White… It’s a big Night Series Beach Bag!!!

You can email me your photos of you with Night Demon at LdyDisney at aol.com or just post the pics on the Night Series page

http://facebook.com/NightSeries

And there are lots of goodies to win during the Night Demon Blog Tour…

Thanks for celebrating with me!!! I’ll have 4 new releases in 2013… WOOT!!!

Lisa

I’m sure most of you have heard me screaming and happy dancing all the way from San Diego, but if you haven’t…

NIGHT DEMON is OUT NOW!!!! SQUEE!!! J

You can grab a copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble…

And there’s even more good news!!!

To celebrate Night Demon’s release, Night Walker is now on sale on Amazon for only $2.99!!! If you’ve been waiting for a copy, or want to gift a copy to a friend, this is the perfect time!!! J

And here comes one of my favorite parts of new book releases…

The Night Demon & Me Photo Contest!!! WOOT!!! J

With each book release, I make reader collages from the first month… One lucky winner will receive a signed paperback of Night Walker, signed Night Thief trading cards, and a Night Demon necklace… And a Night Series BEACH BAG!!!  

Here are the collages from the Night Walker and Night Thief contests…

And here is my traditional first picture… Yodette will kick off the fun!!! J She’s a big fan of the Night Series! LOL

Please either tag the Night Series page on facebook… http://facebook.com/NightSeries

Or you can message me the pic on facebook and I’ll get it posted… The contest will end on April 18^th!!!

Can’t wait to see all of you with the Ab-Tacular cover!!! Entries are already coming in… WOOT!!!

Thanks again for all your support for my books!!! I’m super excited you’re enjoying them!

Lisa

I promised big news today and the universe delivered more than I intended!!! LOL

First up, I can finally announce my new Moon Series has found a publishing home!!! Here’s the announcement from Publisher’s Marketplace…

So the super exciting part is Moonlight will be out in July and Hunter’s Moon will be out in October of this year!!! SQUEE!!!!

Moonlight was a finalist in the RT Writing with the Stars contest 2 years ago, so I’m super excited that all the great readers who voted for it month in and month out will finally be able to read Adam & Lana’s story!!! J

But wait that’s not all… Monday is the big release day for Night Demon, but it popped up today on Amazon with a PREORDER button!!! YAY!!! So you can run reserve your copy now and magically it will appear in your Kindle on Monday morning!!! WOOT!!!

That also means I can finally share the blurb for the book too… Ready?

BLURB –

Deep within the Yucatan jungle a demon has awakened…

Gretchen Finch’s job would be much easier if she weren’t alone in the jungle with a brilliant recluse whose every glance sets her on fire. But the more she focuses on her work, the closer she gets to unlocking the mysteries of a terrible creature – the Night Demon – that threatens the world as she knows it. Though her scientific mind tells her it’s impossible, she’s beginning to believe the ancient Mayan tales as the sinister jungle comes alive around her.

Lukas Smith has spent hundreds of years searching for answers to his immortal Night Walker nature. As a series of ancient glyphs become clear, he’s about to find out more than he’d ever hoped, but the more he learns, the more his fate intertwines with the Night Demon, and the harder it becomes to hide his immortal secret from the beautiful, intelligent Gretchen.

Together, they must find a way to stop the inexplicable violence and mass destruction surging across the earth before the Night Demon destroys more than just mankind.

I’m so excited to share this book with you! I hope you enjoy your trip into the Yucatan jungle with Lukas and Gretchen!

Last, but not least, if you’re in Southern California, I’ll be signing books (including some brand new Night Demon swag!) at the SoCal RWA Conference on Sunday March 17^th at 1″30pm… All the details are here…

https://www.facebook.com/events/159532687531301/

Thanks for celebrating with me!!! The blog tour starts Monday, so watch for prizes, facebook parties, and fun oh my!!! J

Lisa

It’s been a whirlwind past few of weeks getting all my rounds of edits finished for Night Demon, but now that the copyedits are in I can take a moment to breathe before I dive back into writing Night Child. Shew!

Every once in a while something happens that reminds me to slow down and enjoy this journey. I get so focused on “chasing the dream” of being a full-time writer (Okay for those who know me I’ll confess to a little hunger for World Domination! Muahaha! *ahem*) I work like crazy and forget to take a minute and appreciate the path I’m on. Every single reader who takes the time to read and review my books humbles me and I want to hug all of you. I couldn’t do any of this without you!

Readers have definitely been the high point of this journey so far.

And recently I got a note from a very special reader that I wanted to share with you.

I attended a tiny elementary school out in the sticks of San Diego. We had 104 kids total from Kindergarten through 6^th grade. My graduating 6^th grade class had 12 kids including me. But at that tiny school, I met a teacher who changed my life.

I was 9 years old, excited about the fourth grade, and Mrs. Evans was my new teacher that year. I should preface this with the fact that I’m an only child and I lived in the sticks. There was no cul-de-sac of friends to play with. So school was my favorite place!

Until 4^th grade I had always been a teacher’s pet, straight “A” student, and I loved homework. Crazy, right? Anyway, I fell in love with Mrs. Evans. She became my favorite teacher.

And she gave me my first “C” on a progress report. I had never gotten anything less than an “A” and I was crushed. I thought she didn’t like me. And when I told her that, she taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. She told me that I was a sweet person and she loved having me in class, but I had to WORK to get an “A”. *boggle* Being nice wasn’t enough. I had to EARN an “A” grade from her.

I’m proud to say I did work and ended up earning many A’s from Mrs. Evans. I cried the day she left our tiny school for another school district, but she gave me her address and we stayed in touch. We still swap Christmas cards every year.

And in last month, Mrs. Evans read Night Walker, my first novel. She emailed me with a note that made me cry.

Lisa, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you.  I am amazed by the work you do.  You have become the “accomplished woman” that Jane Austen wrote about.

To say her note made my day would be an understatement. And then this week I got one more.

I was the leader of my daughter’s Girl Scout troop for 9 years. We had such a great group of girls who are all young women now. I’m super proud of every one of them! Anyway, this week, one of “my” girls posted a picture of the Night Walker cover on facebook with this post…

She may be a big shot author now but she will always be my Girl Scout leader!

Definitely made my day and reminded me again to take a second and to breathe and to absorb how awesome life can be. I tend to run at a hundred miles an hour, scheduling every second of my day and trying to meet goals and cross items off my to-do list… But every once in a while, life sends you some signs to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Thanks to every single one of you for being part of this adventure!!! And if you’re a crazy busy person like me, I hope this post will inspire to take a minute to settle back and notice the blessings around you.

This journey is the gift.

Lisa