Interview: Lisa Kessler (Hunter's Moon Book Tour) + giveaway

Believe it or not PNR author Lisa Kessler has come back for a second interview with us... guess that memory spell worked. The second book in her Moon Series, Hunter's Moon, has released so we wanted to talk shifters, sandwiches with extra meat, street teams, and I think a ukulele is mentioned.

Sharon: Hello Lisa! It has been two years since we last interviewed you. How has life been treating you?

Lisa: Hi Sharon! *waving* It has been a crazy two years, but I’m thrilled to be doing what I love and sharing more paranormal tales. Great to be back on I Smell Sheep too!

*Katie and Sharon are glad the memory spell worked an Lisa doesn't remember the hippopotamus*

Sharon: During our first interview (you were promoting Night Walker) I asked about the shifter series you wrote, but it wasn't released yet. You were shopping it around… So how did that work out for you? <G>

Lisa: Ha! Sorry it took me so long to find a home for the Wolf Pack! I actually was so busy with the Night Series that I set the Moon Series aside, until I met my agent in July 2012. She fell in love with the wolf pack in Reno and started shopping the series. We had multiple offers, but I was thrilled when my publisher, Entangled, made us an offer and even made room in the schedule to publish the first two books, MOONLIGHT and HUNTER’S MOON, this year! BLOOD MOON will be released in July 2014… Shew!

Katie: What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

Lisa: Hi Katie! *waving* I love my Evil Queen costume my daughter, Panda, made for me, so I’ll probably wear it again, although if I could find a great Crella wig again, I’d probably dust off that costume this year… Decisions! <G>

Katie: Right? I'm having a hard time also!

Lisa: Halloween Rocks!

Lisa getting her evil on (2011)

Sharon: Since the last we spoke you have created a street team. Has having one helped promote your work or is it more a labor of love? What advice do you have for an author wanting thinking about putting one together?

Lisa: Oh I love my Night Angel Legion!!! I really think my street team definitely helps to promote my work, for sure! And I have so much fun with all of them. I hope they all have fun too!

That would be my advice for anyone considering setting up a street team. Keep it real and keep it fun. After polling my street team, I discovered most of them aren’t there for free books or t-shirts, they want to see covers and excerpts and blurbs before the general public and they want to be involved behind the scenes. I really enjoy having a special group I can SQUEE with so it’s super fun for me!

Katie: If you were a sandwich what would you be filled with? What kind would Aren be?

Lisa: I would be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Probably Boysenberry jelly…

Aren would be a Monte Cristo sandwich…  So yummy! LOL

Sharon: *drool* I think I will have a Monte Aren Cristo Sandwich with extra meat… <G>

Katie: Yeah, she went there!

Lisa: *laughing* Another reason I love the Sheep!!! J

Sharon: The hero in your new release, Hunter’s Moon is Aren. What is it about him that will melt the readers… er, hearts! Yes, let’s go with hearts.

Lisa: Aren is sexy, smart, and tough, plus he’s loyal and protective. I had so much fun writing him! He also loves Elvis so my playlist when I wrote the books was super fun too. Aren has a romantic side that only Sasha gets to see and he definitely melted my heart. I hope he’ll do the same for readers too… 

Sharon: Got a favorite Elvis song?

Katie: A little less talk! Oh duh, not my turn.

Lisa: My Hunter’s Moon playlist includes Elvis singing “A Little Less Conversation”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”, and a really sexy version of Elvis singing “Fever”…

My hubby and I got married in Vegas by Elvis. Most fun wedding ever! And he sang Love Me Tender, so I think that’d probably be one of my favorite Elvis songs… *g*

*we will now take a moment to appreciate the icon that is Elvis! Let's sing along with Lisa. (song starts at 0:48sec)*

Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender by aquejohnny 

Sharon: If my friend wanted to catch themselves a shifter from The Moon series world, how would they go about doing that?

Lisa: Visit Adam’s horse ranch, Whispering Pines, in Reno. All of the Pack stops by there often, so you’d have a very good chance of running in to some super-hot eligible shifters.

Sharon: *high fives Katie* ROAD TRIP!

Katie: Let me just grab the car and some moonpies for the trip!

Sharon: Would your werewolves eat sheep? Cause you know, safety first!

Lisa: Ha! No, I think the sheep would be safe… Although you might want to keep them inside on a full moon night… Safety first! LOL

Katie: Also, our Sheep have teeth. Just saying.

Lisa: For sure!  These are no Bo-Peep sheep! <G>

Katie: Not to change the subject and all, but what about the Night Walkers (rawr!) are we going to see any more of those sexy beasts?

Lisa: YES!!! I’m actually writing the final book in the Night Series, NIGHT CHILD, right now. This book brings all the Night Walkers you know and love back together, but our hero this time is Issa and the heroine is Muriah who you met in NIGHT DEMON. So far it’s been a blast to write and the villain is crazy cool so I hope readers will enjoy it! It should be out in March of 2014.

*time to take another moment to appreciate the man-titty covers that are the Night Series*

Sharon: What is your go to comfort food when life sucks?

Lisa: Chocolate or ice cream…

Sharon: Any toppings?

Lisa: Hot fudge, melted peanut butter, nuts and whipped cream! Yum!

Katie: Do you paint your toes or finger nails? What color are they right now?

Lisa: I’ve been so busy this year that I haven’t painted a single finger or toe… *sigh* Next year should be a little less crazy so I hope to change that… I love having purple toes!

Rapid Fire:

Sharon: Banjo or ukulele?

Lisa: Ukulele

Katie: Witches or Wizards?

Lisa: Witches

Sharon: Four leaf clover or horseshoe?

Lisa: Horseshoe

Katie: Howdy or Hey?

Lisa: Hey

Sharon: Businessman or cowboy?

Lisa: Cowboy

Sharon: Spurs on or spurs off <G>?

Lisa: Off… Oh myyy… *G*

Katie: Flame thrower or rocket launcher?

Lisa: Flame Thrower!

Katie: Disco inferno!

Sharon: Growl or purrrr?

Lisa: Growl

Katie: Ursula (From Little Mermaid) or the Evil Queen (Snow White) 
Lisa: Evil Queen for sure!

Sharon: "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" or Rock/Paper/Scissors?

Lisa: Rock Paper Scissors

Sharon: 1-2-3 THROW! *Sharon throws scissors*

Katie: *throws a pink bunny in the air* Sorry, wrong game.

Sharon: Built like a tank or built like a swimmer?

Katie: Built like a tank! Oh sorry, you weren't asking me.

Lisa: LOL Hmmm… I’m sadly more pear-shaped!

Sharon: No, silly! Not you, man-candy… <G>

Katie: *pets Lisa and sings soft kitty, warm kitty*

Lisa: *blush* Ha!  Okay…  I like both so how’s that for wishy washy? LOL

Sasha’s future was stolen from her the moment she was bitten. Now she's on the run from the Nero Organization that transformed her from a human detective into a shape shifting jaguar assassin.

When a rogue bounty hunter threatens her younger sister, she'll be forced to fight, and with nowhere else to turn, Sasha will need to trust the one man who has every reason to want her dead.

Aren is a werewolf with a secret. While protecting his twin brother and Alpha of the Pack, he found his one mate for life. Sadly she's also the jaguar assassin who tried to kill them both. Now Aren is struggling between his animal nature to love and protect her, and his loyalty to the Pack.
Goodreads Amazon Buy Link Barnes & Noble Buy Link

About the Author:
Website Blog Twitter Facebook
Series Facebook Goodreads Newsletter
Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

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.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Hunter's Moon (The Moon Series #2) by Lisa Kessler

Sasha’s future was stolen from her the moment she was bitten. Now she's on the run from the Nero Organization that transformed her from a human detective into a shape shifting jaguar assassin.

When a rogue bounty hunter threatens her younger sister, she'll be forced to fight, and with nowhere else to turn, Sasha will need to trust the one man who has every reason to want her dead.

Aren is a werewolf with a secret. While protecting his twin brother and Alpha of the Pack, he found his one mate for life. Sadly she's also the jaguar assassin who tried to kill them both. Now Aren is struggling between his animal nature to love and protect her, and his loyalty to the Pack.

amazon / B&N

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter-blog
Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

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.

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 Kessler's Birthday Celebration - Werewolf Style!

Today is Lisa Kessler's birthday! So we decided to celebrate werewolf style! Lisa will explain below. There will also be a special Birthday gift for 3 random readers who answer Lisa's question in the comments. And don't forget to enter her tour wide raffledude giveaway too. 

Make sure you grab a cupcake!

Great Birthday Gift Ideas for Werewolves

Hi everyone!

I’m super excited to be back on the fabulous I Smell Sheep site to celebrate not only my birthday, but the first book in my new Moon Series, MOONLIGHT!!!

Since it’s my birthday today, Sharon and I thought it might be fun to come up with a list of Gift Ideas for that hot sexy Werewolf who may or may not live right next door…

What’s in it for you? Birthday Bags!!! I have 3 birthday bags with signed book swag, miscellaneous signed paperbacks and of course some candy treats! :) We’ll choose 3 commenters at random.

All you need to do is add to our Werewolf Gift List…

And if you need to meet a hot sexy werewolf, can I recommend, Adam, from MOONLIGHT? He’s got an entire wolf Pack in Reno Nevada, just waiting to meet you! LOL

(I've met him. Check out my review of Moonlight)

I’ll get us started. Of course every werewolf is going to need some high quality hair conditioner, right? And how about some MOON pies! <G> Maybe a variety pack of combs and hairbrushes too! LOL

So what would you add to the list?


Sharon: I am adding Flea and tick repellent for those nights he goes running through the woods. Don't want him bringing any of that back to my bed!

Katie: I'm adding a very handy chew toy (when he's not chewing on me of course) and tennis ball to keep him in shape and ready for action! 

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.
buy links: amazon - B&N

About the Author:
website-fb-twitter-blog
Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

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.

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. She loves hearing from readers - LdyDisney@aol.com

Book Review: (ARC) Moonlight (The Moon Series #1) by Lisa Kessler

Moonlight (The Moon Series #1)
by Lisa Kessler 
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.

PNR fans hang onto something because werewolf shifter Adam Sloan will sweep you off your feet.

I am very hard on PNR. There seems to be too much plot recycling. Same story, different names. On the surface this is a formula shifter PNR troupe, but Lisa developed some world building elements that created a new and interesting dynamic between wolf shifters and their enemies the jaguar shifters. Every time I thought we were heading into shifter PNR cliché territory, the story would take a little unexpected turn or our hero would just be so damn charming I would forget. Kessler has a way of writing characters you will care about, even the bad guys. One of my favorite in this story is Sebastian, a jaguar shifter who will need a lot of redeeming, but I find that trait sexy. Add to this the fact that I adore forbidden love stories and she had me hooked.

There was a moment when I thought I would have to go all *Bunny Foo Foo on the heroine because she was pulling the “I’ll sneak away without telling my mate even though it will devastate me, but it is for his protection..”, but she was saved from a bopping because she didn’t get to do it, and I was impressed with Adam’s reaction when he found out she was going to do this. He was mad, as he should be, and didn’t welcome her with open arms. Kudos to Lisa Kessler for not letting the heroine off easy. That saved Lana a bopping on the head from me <G>.

We meet many characters in this series debut and are given hints of future stories that need to be told. If you are looking for a fast read, because you won’t want to put it down till you know what happens next, and one that satisfies that PNR itch then give this one a try.

*Bunny Foo Foo is when a character acts in a way that makes me want to scoop them up and bop them on the head.

4 Sheep (0 Bunny Foo Foos)

Sharon Stogner

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter-blog
Lisa Kessler is an award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.

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.

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.