Kait Ballenger on paranormal romance …

• Posted in About Books, Guest blogs, On Writing

Kait BallingerToday, I am pleased to welcome Kait Ballenger to my blog. Kait is the author of Execution Underground paranormal romance series. Take it away, Kait.

KAIT BALLENGER ON PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Jennifer: Welcome, Kait! Please tell readers about your newest release, Immortal Hunter.

Kait: Thanks for having me, Jennifer! Immortal Hunter is book two in my Execution Underground paranormal romance series. The book follows a demon exorcist, David Aronowitz, who has to partner with his ex-fiancé, the half-Fae Allsún O’Hare, to catch a nasty demon murdering in Rochester, N.Y. It’s a reunited love story. David and Allsún are characters who were introduced in book one in the series, Twilight Hunter, and we get to see the story fully unfold here as they attempt to reconcile their past.

Immortal HunterJennifer: This is the second book in your Execution Underground series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

Kait: The Execution Underground (for which the series is named) is an international covert organization of elite men, hunters of the supernatural, who fight to protect humanity from the evil creatures lurking among us. The series focuses on the Rochester, N.Y. division of the E.U. and the six hunters that comprise that team. Each hunter is trained for a different specialty, so there is a different paranormal creature being hunted in each book. Demons, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, witches, you name it, they’ve probably got it covered. 😉 For comparison: it’s JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood meets earlier seasons of the TV show Supernatural.

Jennifer: What appeals to you about the paranormal romance genre?

Kait: I love that in paranormal romance I can mix elements of romance, fantasy, and suspense and roll them all into one. I love the sexy alpha heroes and kickass heroines that can be found in paranormal romance. When I open a good paranormal romance novel, I know I’m going to be whisked away into a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and that’s ultimately what I love about the genre: there is so much great tension! I try to capture those elements in each one of my novels.

Jennifer: What are some of your favorite paranormal romance books/authors and why?

After DarkKait: Some of my favorite paranormal romance authors are JR Ward, Gena Showalter (who I was lucky enough to be placed beside in an anthology titled After Dark), and Laurel K Hamilton. I read across multiple genres though, so some other favorite authors are J.K. Rowling, Charlaine Harris, Suzanne Collins, Lisa See, and I recently fell in love with Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knight Inc. series. The thing I love most about all the above authors is the outstanding and unique narrative voices in all their series and the tension. I’m a sucker for really good tension. If a book has me flipping the pages and eagerly reading without wanting to close the book, I know it’s a winner.

Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

Kait: Writing wasn’t always an interest for me, because reading was difficult for me for a long time. I was considered a “non-reader” until the time I was in about fourth grade and picked up the Harry Potter series. That’s ultimately what made me fall in love with reading and I started writing my own stories shortly after that. I remember writing a fifty-page paranormal/fantasy story when I was in fifth grade LOL. It wasn’t until I was in college and had already spent a semester majoring in Spanish, before I realized writing was my true dream. For me, my dream of writing has always been fueled by the fact that I love to read, and when I write a book, my goal is to write a book I would love to read.

Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

Twlight HunterKait: I’m currently working on Midnight Hunter, the third book in the Execution Underground series. I also have a few things about to go out on submission, which haven’t been picked up for publication yet, so hopefully readers will be seeing those projects soon as well.

Thanks so much for being here today, Kait!

ALL ABOUT KAIT

Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, former professional bellydancer, and soon-to-be-professor. She has a BA in English from Stetson University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. She lives in Central Florida with her screenwriter husband and three sweet furry babies, all three of whom are named after fictional characters. Kait hopes that one day with hard work and dedication, she will be a bestselling author, and then, people will name their pets after her characters, too.

You can follow Kait on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Google +.

GIVEAWAY TIME

Kait has generously offered up some books for giveaway. Three winners get their choice between either a signed paperback of After Dark, a signed paperback of Twilight Hunter, or an e-book of Immortal Hunter. 

The giveaway is open to those 18 and older, U.S. only. No purchase necessary, and void where prohibited. To enter, use the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tags: , , ,

41 Responses to “Kait Ballenger on paranormal romance …”

  1. Tracy Kilgore says:

    I love Darynda Jones, Kait Ballenger, Kim Harrison and so many others! Thanks for the give away!

  2. Heather says:

    Commenting because I’m really intrigued, even though I can’t win the giveaway (Canadian). Kat’s work sounds really interesting, and I’m gonna see what her books are like.

  5. Melody Gonser says:

    Eat, Prey and Love by Kerrilyn Sparks
    Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley
    Gina Showalter all of hers.
    Bitten and Smitten, Fanged and Fabulous, Tall Dark and Fangsome, Staked and Stilettos, by Michelle Rowen.
    I could go on and on. Many great artists, many entertaining books.

    • Kait Ballenger says:

      Great choices, Melody! Gena Showalter and I are actually in an anthology together titled After Dark. It has a prequel novella to my Execution Underground series and a Lords of the Underworld novella by Gena. If you’re a Gena fan and interested in my Execution Underground series, it’s definitely the book for you 😉

  6. Melody Gonser says:

    Now that I’ve heard about you and your books I am looking forward to reading yours. Finding authors I haven’t read before is appreciated. Thank you.

  7. Linda Townsend says:

    Kait – You’re one of my favorites! I love, love, love your EU books!

  8. EvelynS says:

    Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Anne Bishop and Gena Showalter. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    • Kait Ballenger says:

      Great choices, Evelyn! Gena Showalter and I are in an anthology together titled After Dark. It has a prequel novella to my Execution Underground series and a Lords of the Underworld novella by her. If you’re a Gena Showalter fan and interested in trying my Execution Underground series, it’s definitely the book for you 😉

  9. Rachel Vance says:

    Great interview. I haven’t read this series yet but they’re going on my TBR list

  10. Rachel Vance says:

    I of course, love Jennifer Esteps Elemental Assassin series and the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter.

  11. Cherri-Anne Boitson says:

    My favorite paranormal authors are Jennifer Estep (love all of her books); Gena Showalter – The Lords of the Underworld and Angels spin-off; Cynthia Eden – Fallen series and Night Watch seriesl; Kerrelyn Sparks with her Love at Stake series; but my all time favorite is Lynsay Sands Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series.

    • Kait Ballenger says:

      Love those choices! Gena Showalter and I are actually in an anthology together titled After Dark. It has a prequel novella to my Execution Underground series and a Lords of the Underworld novella by Gena. If you’re a Gena fan and interested in my Execution Underground series, that’s a great book to start on! 😉

  12. Cherri-Anne Boitson says:

    hmm, I guess you can count me out of the contest since I am proudly Canadian!!!

    • Kait Ballenger says:

      Sorry, Cherri! =( I do international contests on my own website and social media fairly regularly though, so keep an eye out for more 😉

      • Cherri-Anne Boitson says:

        I will definitely do that! I am going to check out your site and books as we speak (well type/read I guess LOL) yes I need sleep!!!! 🙂

  13. Joanna Moreno says:

    You mean besides you two?I love Jennifer Ashley, J.R. Ward, Lara Adrian , to name a few

  14. Dawn Cavenee says:

    Kim Harrison, Darynda Jones, Patricia Briggs, Suzanne Johnson and Jocelynn Drake are my favorites. 🙂

  16. Sommer says:

    tough choice because there are so many!
    Kim Harrison
    Laurel Hamilton
    Jeaniene Frost
    and of course Jennifer Estep!

  17. Amanda B. says:

    Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, Patricia Briggs, Jennifer Estep, Cynthia Eden, Stephanie Nelson, and others.

  18. Damaris says:

    Karen Moning, Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series, Anne Bishop’s The Others, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Huntersand Kresley Cole.

  19. Barbara Elness says:

    I love Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson and Dark Angel, Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin, Jenn Bennett’s Arcadia Bell, Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock, Lara Adrian’s Breed and Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series.

Back to Top