Happy Friday Everyone! I’m thrilled to welcome author Laura Kaye to the Paranormal Unbound blog. Laura writes wicked sexy romance and has a new, hot series coming soon. Read on for details!

Hi, Laura! I’m so happy you could join us today for a chat! Tell our readers a little about yourself. Something not in your bio, perhaps? 😉
Yay! Thanks so much for inviting me! I write paranormal and contemporary romance and my twelfth book (Hard As It Gets, Hard Ink #1) releases on November 26. I’m a mom and have two daughters ages nine and seven. In keeping with the paranormal theme, I’ll also share that I believe in ghosts and am certain I’ve seen at least two physical manifestations of them, along with numerous other odd occurrences I’m convinced are my mother visiting me…

What do you love about writing paranormal fiction?
Writing paranormal fiction is like going on an adventure – anything can and will happen! It’s magical and mysterious and sexy and powerful and you can literally make anything possible as long as you build a world that supports it and then remain true to the rules of that world. And it’s just fun!

I’m a big fan of your Hearts of Anemoi series. Those sexy gods…*fans self* – What inspired you to write this series?
Yay! Owen Winters inspired me to write this story! He’s the hero of the first book, North of Need. I thought I was writing a cute little novella about a snowman come to life to help a widowed woman through her grief, but the moment he appeared, Owen refused to be “just” a snowman. He insisted he was a snow god, and that sent me researching various cultures’ weather gods, which led me to the Greek mythology of the Anemoi. The Anemoi were wind gods the Greeks associated with controlling the weather and seasons. And there would four brothers, a powerful and not always good father, tons of infighting and intriguing machinations – all perfect for building a paranormal series. Plus, I’m a weather nerd so I was psyched to write about that, too! LOL

We enjoy chatting about heroes and heroines on this blog. What type do you prefer to write? Alpha, beta, gamma, snarky, badass, tortured, flawed, stubborn, patient, intelligent… Where would you place your sexy Anemoi gods on this spectrum?
My absolute favorite hero type to read and write is alpha tortured flawed. My favorite heroine type to write is smart strong compassionate. The Anemoi gods probably vary a little:
Owen, North of Need – tortured, compassionate, playful (Owen’s probably split between alpha and beta)
Zephyros, West of Want – alpha, tortured, flawed, stubborn
Chrysander, South of Surrender – alpha, tortured, badass

Being vampire-obsessed, I have to ask about your Harlequin Nocturne series – Vampire Warrior Kings. Why vampires, as opposed to, let’s say, werewolves?
Oh, count me in on the vampire obsession, too! Vampires are and always have been my absolute favorite paranormal creature. Thank Anne Rice’s Lestat for that! Vampires are immortal and powerful and mysterious and sexy and tortured and animalistic and I love every bit of it. They also have fangs and they absolutely thirst for you. Gah! I’ve never been into werewolves and shifters very much, neither as a reader or a writer, though I have read some shifter books I’ve really enjoyed, like those by Pamela Palmer, for example.

Okay, since we’re rule-breakers here at Paranormal Unbound, I’m going to wander off the paranormal road for a second. I’m dying to know more about your hot n’ hunky, tattooed, military men in your upcoming contemporary romance series, Hard Ink! What can you share with us?
Yay! I’m so excited to share the Hard Ink series with everyone! It’s dark and gritty and super sexy and intense and filled with awesome bromance, too. There will be at least four full-length novels and probably some novellas in between. The first book, Hard As It Gets, releases 11/26 and, just to bring a paranormal tie-in here *winks*, I was absolutely BESIDE MYSELF that the book received a cover quote endorsement from J.R. Ward!!! She is my favorite author ever and her Black Dagger Brotherhood series my fave series, too. Seriously, I bawled when I got the message that she’d given the quote!

Overall, the series follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they investigate the events that led to their discharge and fight to regain their stolen honor. Along the way they find, protect, and fall in love with the women who will be key to helping their cause and healing their wounds. Oh, and it’s set in a tattoo shop!!!

Congrats on the cover quote, Laura! I can’t wait to read the Hard Ink series. Dear readers, for even more information, watch Laura’s YouTube video on the subject!

Thanks for hanging with us today, Laura! A few more things before you go, just for fun:
Chocolate, milk or dark? Milk chocolate!
City or Country? City!
Coffee or Tea? Iced tea, baby!
Vampires or Werewolves? Pshaw. Vampires. No contest.
Tattoos or Piercings? Tattoos!
Favorite paranormal TV show: The Walking Dead
Two books on your paranormal TBR list: I’m halfway through Lindsey Piper’s Caged Warrior, so I’ll count that one, and I’d also include J.R. Ward’s The King, coming next March.

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As It Gets:
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome–pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…

Read Chapter 1 of Hard As It Gets
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About Laura Kaye:
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Giveaway: Comment to Win!
Today is the publication anniversary for North of Need! Happy anniversary to two great characters, Owen Winters and Megan Snow! To celebrate, Laura is giving away one ebook copy of North of Need to one lucky commenter!

This contest will run until Friday 11/8 (12 AM Pacific) – Winner will be drawn and announced by End of Day 11/8 (PST)

Disclaimer: Prize must be claimed within one week of the winning announcement.

The gods at random.org have spoken! The winner of an e-book copy of North of Need is: BLONDIEBLACK!