1. Describe yourself in three words.

Quirky. Dedicated. Loyal. (Okay, I just made myself sound like a dog. Awesome.)

2. Tell us a little bit about The Darkest Craving and why readers should definitely buy it?

The Darkest Craving is about Kane, an immortal warrior who has endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell. He wants nothing to do with his beautiful rescuer, Josephina Aisling, the half-Fae female who threatens to awaken the demon of Disaster living inside him—a beast determined to kill anyone who makes Kane happy. And Josephina certainly does make Kane happy (and hard)!

But the main reason to read any story? The characters!

Kane: He will do anything—and I mean anything—to protect Josephina. Throw another woman out of a moving vehicle? Done. Return to hell, even though he would rather be hacked into tiny pieces while still alive? Fine. I love a man who’s willing to do anything for the woman he loves.

Josephina: She grew up in the world of the Fae, where the Lords of the Underworld are like rock stars. In the beginning, she has a hard time not asking Kane for an autograph (though she’s a bigger fan of Paris and Torin, much to Kane’s chagrin). She’s an intriguing mix of sassy modern and old world charm, but like Kane, she knows the horrors of disaster and she’s determined to help him alter his path. 

Their relationship was an emotional rollercoaster for me!

3. Tell us a little bit about Kane and why readers have been anxiously waiting for his book? (I know I have )

He’s never had it easy, and because of the demon of Disaster, things have only gotten worse for him throughout the Lords of the Underworld series. Knowing the demon of Disaster would hurt—and kill—a love interest, he hasn’t allowed himself to date in centuries. He’s had to rely on one night stands to get him by. But that isn’t going to be enough with Josephina. He can’t get her out of his mind. He wants more. Craves more. She obsesses him. But there’s a problem that might prove bigger than the demon…

4. What was the easiest and hardest scene to write in The Darkest Craving?

Easiest: Probably…Kane beats the crap out of a guy for daring to touch what belongs to him--Josephina. He’s covered in blood as he sweeps her into his arms to carry her away, and in the process he gets blood on her dress. So, he takes her straight to the shower to wash himself and the dress…while she watches. It’s a scene that made me smile, and made me melt. (And made me do a little more shivering).

Hardest: The ending. The emotions of it… I broke down.

5. Who would you want to portray both Kane and Josephina, if The Darkest Craving was made in a tv series?

I think Alex Pettyfer is gorgeous man-candy, and I could look at him all day. He’s strong, chiseled. Slap a butterfly tattoo on him, color his hair, and boom. Delish. Maybe…Zooey Dechanel for Josephina. Her blend of innocence and sassy is perfect. Or even Olivia Munn.

6. What kind of heat level or I should say sexual tension should we expect from Kane and Josephina?
(Every LOTU book has definitely had some HOT, sexy scenes in them )

The Darkest Craving is hotter than my last book, Beauty Awakened, and since Kane has to be careful not to anger his demon, the sexual tension does indeed build! He reaches a point where he can’t take it anymore…and has to take what belongs to him…

7. How many more books are planned for LOTU? (please say plenty more...because I definitely LOVE this series)

There will be at least two more! And the next in the series will be…Torin!

8. Fun Question: What movies have you seen so far this summer, or are looking forward to still seeing this summer?

I haven’t been to a movie theater in forever, it seems. The last move I saw was Warm Bodies here at the house (and I thought it was super cute!)

9. Fun Question: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

I’d like to fly! No more planes for this girl.

10. What is up next for Gena Showalter?

Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles, a Sept 24, 2013 release). A little about it— 

Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Sadly, they've got mine...
Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.
After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things.
She's never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her...from everyone. Now, with her best friend Kat at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole's secret and learn to fight the darkness.
But the clock is ticking...and if she fails at a single task, they're all doomed.

After that comes Black and Blue (Otherworld Assassins, an October 22nd, 2013 release).

HE IS EVERY WOMAN’S FANTASY. . .
Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent...and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help—a woman with even more secrets than Blue. . . .

SHE BECOMES HIS ONLY OBSESSION…
Evangaline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he'd rather die than live without her…





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(Bio - Taken from Goodreads)

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

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Connect with Gena Showalter at her Website | Facebook Page | Twitter

1. Tell us three things about yourself that readers may not know about you.

Three things readers may not know about me is that one of my most valued possessions is a German cuckoo clock manufactured in the black forest, which I bought near the castle Neuschwanstein in Germany, my favorite place I’ve traveled to is Japan, and my favorite color is emerald green.

2. Tell us a little bit about Shadow Hunter in "After Dark" and why readers should check it out.

Shadow Hunter in the After Dark anthology is a short prequel novel to my Execution Underground paranormal romance series. Though it’s a prequel, I wrote it after I wrote the first full-length book in the series, Twilight Hunter (which releases on August 27th), so Shadow Hunter stands alone. The Execution Underground is an international organization of covert supernatural hunters, all of whom have individual hunting specialties. Shadow Hunter tells the origin story of the founder of the Rochester division of the Execution Underground, vampire hunter Damon Brock.

3. What inspired you to write the Execution Underground Novels?

I’d written two novels (the first two in the beginning of a series) that were unsuccessful in securing an agent. After I didn’t have success querying those two books, I decided I needed a change. My three favorite genres to read were and still are paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and YA. I’d already tried my hand at a YA urban fantasy series, so I thought I would give paranormal romance a try. From there, the idea just kind of came to me. I rarely have something that sparks my inspiration. Usually, when I’m plotting a book I sit down and the ideas just start flowing. I don’t have specific triggers to reference haha. I will say that I knew I wanted a series with a group of men working together and written primarily from a male point-of-view, like JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but darker and grittier with characters that are primarily human with knowledge of the supernatural, like Dean and Sam Winchester from the T.V show Supernatural, and with female characters who were as strong as Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake character with sex scenes just as hot. So I suppose you could say I took inspiration from those things.

4. What are some qualities of Damon Brock that are going to make readers fall head over heels for him? (I think I fell in love with him just by his name first...love the name Damon) =)

For me personally, I love Damon because of the complexity of his emotional story arc. He goes through a lot of change as a character, a lot grueling and difficult change, and I like that. The Damon readers see in Shadow Hunter is a much less jaded version than the Damon they’ll see in Twilight Hunter and later books. I can’t wait to write Damon’s full length novel, tentatively titled Dark Hunter, later on in the series. Plus, I think for paranormal romance readers a sexy alpha male who also is really tortured is a major appeal. That’s Damon to a tee.

5. What is up next for Kait Ballenger?

Next for me is the release of Twilight Hunter on August 27th and following that the release of Immortal Hunter, book two of the Execution Underground series, in late January 2014. Aside from the Execution Underground books, I’m currently working on a co-authored paranormal project with the amazing and lovely urban fantasy/paranormal romance author, Kate SeRine. So hopefully that will continue to progress well for us both. It’s in the very early brainstorming stages at this point. I also have a YA urban fantasy about to go out on submission which I’ll hopefully be announcing the sale for in the next few months.

Fun Questions:

6. Coffee or Tea

Tea, though I’m really not a huge fan of either. Caffeine makes me jittery.

7. Morning person or Night person

Night person, definitely.

8. Beach or Mountains

Beaches. I’m a Florida girl after all ;-)

9. Rock n' Roll or Country Music

Rock n’ Roll, though I can appreciate some country

10. Romantic Comedy or Horror Movie

Depends on the particular movie.

1. What does a typical writing day look for you?

My workday depends on what stage I’ve reached in the writing process.

Rough draft, on time -- a chapter a day, six days a week. Usually takes anywhere from two to eight hours a day.

Rough draft, running behind – two chapters a day, six days a week. Usually takes anywhere from six to twelve hours a day. 

Revisions – I work twelve to fourteen hours, six days a week. (Or, if it’s a very tight deadline with a lot of work, like what I’m doing now, seven days a week, from the time I get up till the time I go to bed—even working during tornados. Yes. That happened. I had my notebook in the shelter with me.)

Editing – I go over 50-100 pages a day, six days a week, however long that takes.

No matter what, I start when I wake up, and I go, go, go until I’ve finished the day’s goal. I usually only break to have lunch and walk my dogs.

2. Tell us a little bit about The Darkest Angel and why readers should check it out in "After Dark"?

I loved doing a role reversal in this story. Instead of the good girl trying to tame the bad boy, in The Darkest Angel the good boy tries to tame the very, very bad girl. But…to be honest, calling Lysander a good boy is a bit misleading. He is an angel warrior, and yes, a virgin; he has never known sexual desire. Until now. He is an alpha all the way, one of the best demon assassins in the skies, and a bit heartless, but he lives by a very strict moral code. Rules he believes in are not to be broken—and the very naughty Bianka loves to break them, just for grins and giggles. And okay, his kisses. I had so much fun delving into their explosive chemistry. They both try to fit the other one into an expected mold (and fail), but neither is able to resist the heat blazing between them.

3. What are some qualities of Lysander that are going to make readers swoon? (He seriously is swoon worthy)

Some of the things I love best about him are: his savage need to destroy all things evil, his legendary skill with the sword, and the way he ultimately succumbs to temptation…and what he does to Bianka afterward. (Every time I think of it, I have to give him a mental high five)

4. What inspired you to write Lysander and Bianka's story?

I’d been writing the Lords of the Underworld series (books about immortal warriors possessed by the worst demons from hell) and I thought it’d be fun to explore the other side of that coin. The demon slayers. Plus, alpha warriors with wings = hotness.

5. What is up next for Gena Showalter? (I saw the Black and Blue cover and the synopsis...I definitely am looking forward to Corbin Blue's story)

Up next release-wise is The Darkest Craving, a Lords of the Underworld novel (July 30th). A little about it--

     Having endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell, Kane wants nothing to do with his beautiful rescuer, Josephina Aisling. The half-Fae female threatens to awaken the demon of Disaster inside him—a beast he’s determined to kill, no matter the price. 


     Josephina is hunted by a brutal enemy—her royal family—and Kane is her only source of protection. He’s also the only male to ever set her aflame, and even he succumbs to the heat. But as they navigate the treacherous world of the Fae, they are forced to make a choice: live apart…or die together.

Then, it’ll be Through the Zombie Glass (September 24th):

      Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Sadly, they've got mine...
      Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.
      After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things. She's never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her... from everyone. Now, with her best friend Kat at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole's secret and learn to fight the darkness. But the clock is ticking...and if she fails at a single task, they're all doomed.

Then, of course, is the second Otherworld Assassins novel, Black and Blue (Oct, 22nd)!

                                        HE IS EVERY WOMAN’S FANTASY. . .

      Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent...and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help―a woman with even more secrets than Blue.


                                    …SHE BECOMES HIS ONLY OBSESSION

      Evangaline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he'd rather die than live without her…

(I almost swooned with joy when I saw the cover!)

Fun Questions:

6. Coffee or Tea.

Tea! Though I admit I’m a former coffee addict and I once would have done terrible things for my morning cup LOL

7. Morning person or Night person.

I can hear my family screaming in the background, “Night. Night. No question. She is a BEAR in the morning!”

8. Beach or Mountains.

Mountains. For sure.

9. Rock n' Roll or Country Music.

Hmm…between the two, country. I prefer softer songs. Romantic.

10. Romantic Comedy or Horror Movie.

Romantic comedy. Always. I know this might be surprising, considering some of the things I’ve written, but I never watch horror. Even the thought makes me shudder.