Saturday, August 27, 2011

Guest post with Lisa Kessler


Proud to be a Vamp Chick….

Hi everyone - 

Thanks to the Vamp Chix for inviting me to the Bite Club today!

I think my love for vampires started in High School with two 80's movies.  Can you guess which ones?  Yep, The Lost Boys and Fright Night.  Until those movies, I'd never seen vampires portrayed as sexy bad boys, and my teen heart fluttered.

As I got older, I dove into the more gothic Vampire Chronicles from Anne Rice.  I loved the dark, tortured vampires, struggling to find meaning in a never-ending existence.  The only thing that bothered me was the whole impotence thing.  I'm assuming this isn't a spoiler because all vamp chix have read the Vampire Chronicles right?

If not, stop reading now and skip down to comment! LOL

So anyway, while Anne Rice explained the situation going on in the vampires' pants, no heart to pump blood = no erection, I REALLY wanted them to be able to be physical when they loved one another.

Enter Christine Feehan and Maggie Shayne…  Now here were blood-drinking immortals who had sex!  And thus my love affair with paranormal romance began.  

The only thing I was missing was the little dose of fear that I enjoyed from horror novels.
When I wrote Night Walker, I wanted to write a vampire romance novel with a race of immortals that were not from Europe, and I wanted the villain to scare me.  The result is my new paranormal romance that was just released this month! 

Here's a little taste…  

Calisto has been alive for over two hundred years, waiting to find his murdered love again.  The night their paths finally cross on Dia de los Muertos, he recognizes her instantly, but she has no conscious memory of him.

So while Calisto aches to pull her into his arms, he's forced to keep his distance…



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
Books 2, 2 1/2, and 3 coming December 2011, January 2012, and June 2012!
 
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.

 
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. 
 

Thanks for inviting me to the Bite Club!!!  

So who was your first vampire love? I'd love to hear…

Lisa

http://Lisa-Kessler.com
http://lisakessler.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/LdyDisney http://facebook.com/LisaKesslerWriter
http://facebook.com/NightSeries
http://goodreads.com/LisaKessler
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/night-walker/

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





22 comments:

Jess said...

Anne Rice--what a mood killer. ;) I do love Lestat, but I was hooked on guys with fangs after Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters. Christine Feehan's alphas were a close second.

Lisa Kessler said...

HI Jess -

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters are great too! :)

I think by making her vampires impotent Anne Rice did succeed in making them more "in-human" which is I think what she was going for, but man did I ever want Lestat to have sex in those books! LOL

Ah well...

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa :)

Karen A Smith said...

I'm going to date myself. My first vampire crush was Barnabas Collins. I'm looking to renew that crush next year when Johnny Depp assumes the role on the big screen. Now I write vampires.

Rebecca Zanetti said...

Hi Lisa! Great blog post--and I'm going with the Lost Boys as well. Loved that movie!

Lisa Kessler said...

HI Victoria -

I'm so excited to see Johnny Depp as Barnabas I can hardly wait!!! LOL

I loved Barnabas too! I used to hurryin home to catch the episodes when they rebooted the tv series... So fun!

Lisa :)

Lisa Kessler said...

HI Rebecca!

Lost Boys was the ultimate vampire bad boy movie wasn't it? Until Keifer had fangs on a motocycle I never considered vampires could be sexy... Yum! LOL

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa

Poe Von Page said...

I hate to be unoriginal, but I've also got to go with The Lost Boys. Long hair, leather clad, motorcycle riding, rock n' roll bad boy vamps - oh my, they got my teenage blood pumping double-time.

I loved your excerpt, Lisa. Nicely done! :)

Paulette said...

Barnabas Collins was my first, then I went on to L. K. Hamilton's bad boys, and K. Sparks.
Then I went on to write my own breed of biters.
J. Paulette Forshey

Terry @ Krazy's Place said...

Barnabas Collins here too. I watched Dark Shadows when it was on in the late 70's. Had books too. Think the paper backs cost me 60 cents. Only liked the ones with Barnabas in them. Was obsessed with Vampires. Seems I still am.

Anne Francis said...

Yes, the Lost Boys. Love those vamps. And before the Lost Boys, there was Frank Langella as Dracula, 1979. I'm beyond excited about Johnny Depp as Barnabus C. in Dark Shadows. Yum!

Karen A Smith said...

Paulette, sounds like you and I followed a similar path. Love Trueblood, the show;books are ok. Now I write my own version. Original Bram Stoker Dracula is a must read. Not Bela Lugosi.

Denise Z said...

My first foray into the world of vampires in books started with Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake - now I am hooked for which I will always be grateful to Ms. Hamilson. Thanks for sharing with us today.

Lisa Kessler said...

Hi Poe -

I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt! :)

And there's nothing wrong with the Lost Boys for a frist vamp crush... They were full of bad boy vampire YUM! :)

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa

Lisa Kessler said...

HI Paulette -

Barnabas is another great one! :) He was so tortured and full of angst! I loved Dark Shadows...

I think Johnny Depp is going to be amazing with fangs! :)

THanks for commenting!

Lisa

Lisa Kessler said...

Hi Terry -

I can completely relate to the vampire obsession! LOL

I forgot they made paperbacks of Dark Shadows too! Wow!!! :)

Thanks for commenting...

Lisa :)

Lisa Kessler said...

Hi Anne -

I'm excited to see Johnny Depp with fangs too!!! *swoon*

We'll all have to meet back here once the movie is out to discuss! LOL

Have you seen Fright Night yet? Colin Farrell did a SUPER job at sexy but evil vampire! Loved it!

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa :)

Lisa Kessler said...

HI Denise -

SO which of Anita's men is your favorite? :)

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa :)

Nina Croft said...

I want to see Fright Night!

My first love was Lestat, but I loved The Lost Boys as well!

Lisa Kessler said...

Hi Nina -

You should definitely see Fright Night!! :) We really loved it!

Thanks for commenting...

Lisa :)

Roxanne Rhoads said...

It's hard to say who my first "official" vampire crush was- I loved the Lost Boys but I think I discovered Anne Rice before watching the Lost Boys.

I also thought that the no sex thing was terrible for the vampires in Rice's Vampire Chronicles and was happy to read that vampires became less angsty and more sexual in later vampire books ala Maggie Shayne, Laurell K Hamilton and so many others that are on the shelves today.

My current vamp crushes include Jeaniene Frost's Bones, and Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries (yum).

I like Twilight but the sparkling vamps don't do it for me and I was a solid Jacob fan (shame on me for betraying my vamps I know) and I'm the same way with True Blood- Alcide the werewolf gets my heart pumping faster than vampire Bill or Eric.

Lisa Kessler said...

Hi Roxanne -

Alcide gets me going on True blood too... Not only is he built and agressive, but he's also noble and protective... Yum! I just love him...

But I still love Vampire Bill too... :)

Thanks for commenting!

Lisa

Cylver said...

Great to see so many Dark Shadows fans here. Me too, of course. I used to run home from school so I wouldn't miss a minute! We even had the Dark Shadows board game. You had to assemble a little plastic skeleton, and the winner got to wear fake vampire teeth. So unsanitary! But back then, who cared?

I still read all things fanged, but my favorite has to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's ancient and much-traveled vampire Saint-Germain. I've learned more about history from his exploits than I ever learned in high school!