Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Kait Ballenger back to the blog today to chat about her newest release Immortal Hunters.

Kati, for those who missed your first visit can you please share with us a little about yourself 

I am a paranormal romance author, a wife to my loving and amazing husband (who sometimes serves as my personal assistant for writing events lol), a mother to two little angels in heaven, a soon-to-be-professor, an animal lover and owner (1 dog and 2 cats), and a reformed northerner. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, but now reside in sunny Central Florida. I name my pets after book characters. I have several roses tattooed on my back and I used to work as a professional bellydancer.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always, even though I enjoyed writing from the time I was in about fifth grade. When I was very young I wanted to be a singer or a musician or an actress. Then in high school I wanted to be a doctor for a while (specifically an OBGyn, because I thought delivering babies would be a great job), then I decided that med school was too much school, specifically too many math classes (I hate math), so I decided I wanted to a Spanish professor during my first semester of college. Then, finally, in my second semester of my undergrad, I figured it out and decided to be a writer 😉 That’s the only thing that stuck, though my interest in all those other subjects still remains.

Are you a plotter or a panster or combo of both? And can you explain the difference?

I’m a combo of both. A plotter is someone who plots out the vast majority of what they write, before they actually begin writing. A panster is someone who doesn’t plot much and generally goes with the flow of their inspiration. When I first started writing, I was very much a panster, but then I realized that, for me, that wasn’t really conducive to writing well-plotted books. The books I wrote in my panster days needed a lot more rewriting and heavy editing than my current books do. As I’ve grown as a writer, I’ve become more of a plotter. I don’t plot every single detail, but I figure out major points before I begin writing and then let the magic inspiration connect the dots between those points.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I guess the fact that my desk has to be 100% clean before I start writing a book, but then by the time I’m done, it’s like an explosion occurred in my office.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

My latest release is Immortal Hunter, which is the second book in my Execution Underground paranormal romance series—which just released a week ago—yay! Immortal Hunter is a reunited love story about a couple who separated years ago and are now forced back together by fate and have to reconcile. The hero is a demon hunter, an exorcist, named David Aronowitz and the heroine is a half-Fae and former demon hunter, named Allsún O’Hare and they have to team up together on a hunt for a sadistic demonic monster who has been murdering innocents in Rochester, NY.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Well the heroes of my series are members of a covert organization called the Execution Underground and each book focuses on one of the members of the Rochester division of the organization. I knew that eventually for one of the books I wanted to write a rekindled love story, and David just seemed like the perfect hero to do that with, so things kind of stemmed from there.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

 I’m currently working on book three in the Execution Underground series, Midnight Hunter, which will hopefully be releasing very late this year. I’m also working on the beginnings of a new romantic suspense series, but that isn’t contracted with a publisher yet, so it won’t be out for a while 😉

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

J.K Rowling: because the Harry Potter books were the start of my love of reading.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

If being a writer is what you want to do, then don’t give up. Time spent persevering toward a common goal and a little bit of luck is all that separates published authors from unpublished authors. Also, do it for the right reasons. Only become a writer because you actively love to write, not because you want fame, money, or prestige, because none of those actually come with the job, contrary to popular belief lol.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Aside from hitting the NYT Bestseller list and seeing one of my books be made into a movie lol…I’d like to take my husband to Japan one day during cherry blossom season. I’ve been there before, but he hasn’t, so I’d like to see him experience that.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Currently, I’m reading Allegiant, the second book in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth—I loved the first book and totally fell head over heels for Four, so I’m excited to dig into the second book—so I can’t wait to finally sit down and finish it. I’m only 6 chapters in right now.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

The Bible: which I say for reasons beyond just basic religious affiliation, because it has influenced so many aspects of various cultures and literature across the world as well as for historical value.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Here in Florida I generally like from the end of February through the beginning of May, so springtime. Up north I like the fall. Spring, because the weather is beautiful here in FL, and fall because I love the colors of the leaves changing and the sort of melancholy end-of-the-year feeling fall brings.

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?

My two favorite heartthrobs are Jensen Ackles (specifically as Dean from Supernatural) and Chris Meloni (as Stabler from SVU). I can’t even think about what I would do if I met them, because it wouldn’t be fair to my sweet husband LMAO

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me! I hope readers will consider checking out my series!

Want to learn more about Kait or her books?  Check her out here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Immortal Hunter

SERIES #: Execution Underground #2
CHARACTERS: David Aronowitz & Allsún O’Hare
AUTHOR: Kait Ballenger
PUBLICATION DATE: April 1, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N | Goodreads

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Hunters of the supernatural, the Execution Underground are an elite group tasked with protecting humanity…but at what price?

As an exorcist, David Aronowitz grew up the target of demonic assassins. Now he’s a member of the Execution Underground and hellspawn everywhere fear his name. But when a demon
slips into the seductive body of the only woman he’s ever loved, David must confront the heartbreak of their past to save her.

The piece of her heart Allsún O’Hare gave to David so long ago left her trapped between two worlds: the Fae and the human. And when David comes to her rescue, fate reunites her with her greatest temptation—and her biggest mistake.

Now, as they’re swept together into a wicked game with the demon who controls her, David must decide if saving Allsún’s life is worth sacrificing his own—and the future of humanity itself.

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have debut author Kait Ballenger on the blog today to chat about her new novella Shadow Hunter.  Which can be found in the book After Dark along with a novella from Gena Showalter.

Kait, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a 22 (almost 23! lol) year-old graduate student living in central FL. My hometown is Detroit, Michigan (Taylor, specifically). I’m a wife, paranormal romance author, and professional bellydancer. I’m really close to my family and they mean the world to me. I’m also a lover of all animals—owner of 3 fur babies, 1 dog and 2 cats—and I’m now the enthusiastic owner of a 2008 VW Beetle Convertible in green!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always. When I was a kid I wanted to be loads of different things. Some include: actress, model, musician, linguist, doctor, a Spanish teacher, and probably loads of other things in between. It wasn’t until I graduated high school that I realized I wanted to be an author, but I’ve had an interest in writing a long time.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Maybe the fact that I have trouble starting a manuscript if my office isn’t clean. When I sit down to write, everything around me has to be spotless. Usually, that’s at the start of a deadline. By the time I’m finished with the book it’s a huge mess lol.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

My newest release is After Dark, which is an anthology featuring my novella, a prequel to my Execution Underground series, called Shadow Hunter, alongside a novella by NYT Bestselling author Gena Showalter. My upcoming release is Twilight Hunter, which is the first full length book in the Execution Underground series. The Execution Underground is an international network of supernatural hunters who fight to protect humanity. Twilight Hunter tells the story of Jace McCannon a werewolf hunter who must partner with a female alpha wolf in order to catch a sexual sadist. Shadow Hunter in the After Dark anthology tells the origin of the Rochester division of the Execution Underground, the hunters which the series focuses on, and focuses on vampire hunter Damon Brocks journey into establishing the division.

How did you come with the idea for this story

The idea of the Execution Underground series came from all my favorite components of a paranormal romance series. Male focused, super sexy, strong kickass heroines, and unique paranormal world. Since so many paranormal books are focused on the paranormal creatures, I thought “why not focus a series on humans who hunt the paranormal?” The idea just evolved from there.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

My current work in progress—which on the date you’re reading this at is hopefully now a finished work if I met my deadline lol—is the second full length book in the E.U series, Immortal Hunter, which releases in late January 2014. I’m also working on polishing up a YA urban fantasy/paranormal manuscript written under my maiden name, Kaitlyn Schulz, for submission.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I would love to meet Gena Showalter in person. We’ve spoken online, but haven’t met face to face and I absolutely adore her, so it would be great to meet her. Also, Kate SeRine, who despite being one of my closest friends, I’ve never met in the flesh. One of these days I’m going to track these ladies down at a conference or something lol.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Don’t give up. The difference between a published author and an unpublished one is time spent persevering and studying craft. I firmly believe that if you want to be an author and keep working at it long enough, it WILL happen. Also, don’t take into account how long it took other people. For some people, it happens really fast. For most, it takes years of writing before you ever secure an agent, let alone a major publishing deal.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Seems pretty simple, but I’d like for my husband and I to have a house full of kids in the future. As much as I want to be a NYT bestseller, and travel to the far ends of the Earth, the one thing I want to do more before I die is be a mom. Preferably, one as great as my own mom.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I have Cecy Robson’s A Cursed Embrace sitting on my bedside table and I can’t wait to dig into it. I also can’t wait for Kate SeRine’s Along Came a Spider.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my books so far or plans to read them. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be where I am now, but these sorts of things can’t happen without readers who really love the series. So I give my thanks to all of them.
A little more about Kait: 
Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.

Website |Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Here is a look at Shadow Hunter

After Dark on Amazon | After Dark on Barnes&Noble

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s newest assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer an option when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. Forced to unite against the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.