Serial Killers... Could you kill one?

Serial killers exsist among us. They walk like us, talk like us, act like us. They could be anybody, yes anybody. They could be your parent, you neighbor, even the man you love. But say you were in love with a serial killer. If it came down to it, and you had a choice, could you kill them? Could you wipe them out? In A Whisper To A Scream, one of my latest novels, that question is something I asked myself repeatedly. If the person I loved was a serial killer, could I kill them? Could you? You're faced with so many emotions. Your head tells you the killing them is the right thing to do. If you kill them, you'll save hundreds of lives. Thousands, even. But then there's your heart. You love them. The way they make you feel. And how every single time they touch you, the nerve endings in your body, feel like a live wire. In the end, the most important question we ask ourselves is this; What matters more, the matter of the mind or the matter of the heart?

New Novel! Memoirs Of A Charity Girl.

I began this literary piece back in 2007. I originally wrote it as a screenplay but, like most of my screenplays, I go back to them and rewrite them as novels. I often find, that there is so much more to these stories that need to be told.

Charity Girl, is a coined phrase from the 1920's that refers to a prostitute. That's what I am, a prostitute. Call me a whore, slut, harlot, call me whatever you like. It was my own decisions that led me down this path, no one else's. I have no one to blame but myself for my actions. It's not like this was a childhood dream of mine. I didn't wake up one day and decide to sell my body. I did it because of the drugs. Heroin. It's like a magical gift to a junkie like me. And if you think for one second, that this would never happen to you, think again, it can happen to anyone.
I was you, you were me. I was your daughter, your niece, your sister, your friend, your next door neighbor, even. When you are a teen, you never think that you'll succumb to the temptations of peer pressure. I sure as hell didn't think I could. But look at me now. All it took was one line of oxycontin and I was done for. My previous normal life was a mere illusion. This is my life now.

Excerpt from Memoirs Of A Charity Girl.

If I Die Young....

I could feel his grip tightening around my neck. “ If you’re going to kill me just do it already.” I breathed. It wasn’t like me to give up with out a fight but, I was limited on options. “ I can’t.” He said, breathing into my ear. “ Why?” I asked, my voice trembling. I didn’t want to die. I had so much more I could be doing with my life. When you think you’re life is going to end, that’s when everything hits you. What if I would have done this differently? This, meaning life. What if I wasn’t so rebellious, what if I actually cared. I could have got out of this town. I could have done something with my life. I could have had some sort of future. Now, my future was slipping away. I felt it fading, and if his grip became tighter I would lose it. It was getting harder for me to breath. “Why?” I choked out again, breathless. He loosened his grip around my neck and I gasped out for air. “Because you Ellory Graham, aren’t like any girl I’ve ever met. And I’m in love with you.”

Excerpt from A Whisper To A Scream

Let Me In! I'm Starving!

After hearing so many positive things about The Hunger Games, I finally hopped on the bandwagon, bought the book, and sat down to read it. Now after reading it, I don't think fantastic is a good enough word to describe the book. From page one, I was enthralled, fascinated, and in love with it from the very beginning. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a young teen living in an area known as district 12. The U.S has thus been seperated and spilt into 12 districts. With the Capitol(Panem), controlling everything. Every year, during a time known as the reaping, a young boy and young girl are selected from each district, between the ages of 12-18, to participate in a bloody battle to the death, known as the hunger games. To save her sister, Katniss volunteers.
I could not put this book down! It literally obliterated my mind! For those of you who adore plots twists, amazing young love stories, and the choice between life and love. Pick up this book! I can't say enough good things about it! If I could give it a zillion stars, I would.

Define Believe..

The definition of believe is: to accept as true, genuine, or real. Do I believe in myself, yes? Do I believe in my writing? One hundred percent, yes. In an industry where struggling writers are a dime a dozen, you have to have self- belief. I can't stress how important that is. NEVER give up. Even if you get a million rejection letters. NEVER, ever give up. You crafted your literary masterpiece and trust me when I say, someone, somehwere will like it. Fellow writers, for me giving up has never been an option and it shouldn't be for you either. KEEP WRITING! Here's a quote for you to think about over the weekend.


Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. ~Gail Devers~

Love Can Never Be Selfish...

After leaving the mortal world for the underworld Hades had a moment of clarity. In the beginning of his quest for a queen, it was for purely selfish reasons. He wanted a queen because he was lonely, because he wanted companionship. But with what he witnessed today, he was beginning to retract that way of thinking. Love should never be selfish. It was whole, pure, and true. During that moment, he found himself wanting to be loved more than anything. He wanted desperately what that young couple had. The kind of love he had the chance to bear witness too.

Excerpt from Asphodel

You Are What You Write.

When it comes to writing, one thing I pride myself in is always writing from the heart. It's so important when you are developing characters that really put yourself in their shoes. You have to really put yourself into the book. Otherwise, you have a bunch of flat characters running around. And flat characters, equal a boring book. I like my characters to be strong, vibrant, vigilant. I try not to repeat myself and write the same character over and over again. After all, this is the literary world. There so many different books and I like the fact that I can offer my readers some variety. Whether it be a vampire trying to make humans understand her, or a man who'll journey to hell and back for the woman he loves, or even angsty teen who builds up this wall to keep herself from feeling. Relating to the characters is so important for readers and writers alike. That's why I say; I am what I write.

Who Killed The Homecoming Queen?

Then Principal Anderson leaned back down toward the microphone for the umpteenth time this evening. I was ready for this part to be over. I was ready to go back to dancing the night away with the man I loved. I was ready to tell him that I loved him.“And the 2010 homecoming queen for Warren G. Harding High is,” again a slight pause.I squeezed my eyes shut. Please don’t say my name. Please don’t say my name. “Megan White!” Oh, thank God. Adam shot me a look and I shrugged. Megan squealed out in delight as she walked over to get crowned. I knew she was going to win. Girls like her always won. And if Katie was here, she would have definitely won. Principal Anderson put the crown on her, and Molly came over with the sash. The next series of events seemed to happen in slow motion for me. I didn’t really know what to make of it. Because just as Megan White turned to face the crowd in the gym, that’s when Katie Halston’s body fell down from the rafters, hanging by a rope, knocking Megan White off of the stage. And that’s when all the chaos broke out.

Excerpt from A Whisper To A Scream..

Shout it out.. Speak Loudly!!!

Two things I wanted to discuss today. First I want to congratulate Val @truthbetoldblog who won the YA book giveaway contest! Congrats Val! Second. I'm going to be writing this post to show my support for Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the novel Speak.

Speak is a novel following Melinda Sordino a young teen who chooses to stay silent after being raped.

I read this book back when I was in high school about eight years ago. It moved me, but more importantly, it taught me things. It taught me that things like that happen in the real world. The real world isn't this sugar coated, sweet place. It's dirty, gritty, and harsh. I'm so glad to hear that Wesley Scroggins is living in a delusional, fantasy world. The man needs to take a reality pill.

The kids of the future need to know that rape is real, it exisists. It happens everyday. In many towns, in many schools. It can happen to you, it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

What infuriates me more than anything, is that without books like Speak, we're sending our kids out into the world blind. We need to educate them on subjects like rape, so they can better prepare themselves for the harsh reality called life.

The only thing filthy and immoral about all of this is Wesley Scroggins. A blind, ignorant, blasphemous man who calls himself a Christian.

I'm religious too but, I'm also a realist. I don't live in a sucluded little bubble. You know why? Because books like Speak prepared me for the real world. Please support Speak and speak loudly.

Please Don't Leave Me, I Love You...

Persephone took off down the steps. This time she wasn’t going to let Zeus or her mother stop her. She ran straight to Hades, right into his arms. For a moment, he just held her and she felt at home. He pulled out of the embrace slowly. “I have to go.” “Please don’t.” She begged. “ I have to. We will see each other again my love.” Hades kissed her forehead softly and before she could get another word out, he was gone. She didn’t move after he left. It was almost like he was still standing there with her even though he wasn’t. Demeter walked over to her and put her hand on her shoulder. “Come dear.” Her mother said softly. Persephone walked with her mother out of the room. They walked together side by side all the way to her bedroom.

Excerpt from Asphodel.

Be True To Yourself, Don't Lose Yourself...

I didn’t plan on collapsing into his arms but I couldn’t help it. I felt so secure there, so safe, so protected. Not that I really needed his protection. I took pride in the fact that I had always been able to fight my own battles. It usually pissed me off to see girls my age being so weak. Before Adam, I swore to myself that I would never be one of those girls. I would never be one of those girls who let their life revolve around their guy. You know, the girls who sacrifice their own self worth for the sake of their significant others. They lose sight of themselves, kick individuality to the curb, and morph themselves into whatever he wants. Before they know it, they soon become a weaker, diluted version of their former selves. It brought me back from the fantasy I was living in at the moment just thinking about it.

Excerpt from A Whisper To A Scream.

Preface.. What Am I???

If you have yet to be sucked in, I am posting the preface for Love Sucks for your reading pleasure. I also have the winners for the YA book giveaway and will be announcing them soon. My busy schedule has put up a minor road block. If you haven't checked out the trailer for Love Sucks, you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLY_qY57n5U You can also check out Love Sucks on good reads.com... Now for your reading pleasure...


Love Sucks

Preface
　
Andrew took me by the hand and guided me to the end of the room. He positioned me in front of an elongated mirror. I gazed into the mirror intensely.
“What are we looking at?” I asked nervously. He stood behind me with his arms on my shoulders.
“Everything,” he replied.
“What do you mean, everything?”
“Watch and you will see.”
I looked at myself and studied my reflection hard. My skin seemed a lot paler than I remembered. My hair seemed fuller, and the mahogany locks hung down over my shoulder. I opened my mouth to notice my teeth. My sharp fang-like teeth were monstrous and scary.
I turned away from myself, ashamed of what I had become.
Andrew gently moved my face back so I could glance at myself once again. I looked up and was forced to stare at my distasteful image. Andrew seemed pleased to see me so unhappy. He leaned down to my ear and spoke so softly and so eloquently it was like music.
“You can run more swiftly and rapidly than you did before. You have a heightened sense of smell. You have fangs. You have instincts like an animal. You are incredibly attractive.”
That last statement made me smile.
“Your skin is icy and solid.”
He stopped, and I gazed at him through the mirror. He was so statuesque, so beautiful. I indulgently imagined him courting me and how much I would enjoy his company. Something about him made me fear and love him at the same time.
He spoke again and startled me. “Cara, I want you to look at yourself in the mirror.”
I did as I was told. He twisted a piece of my hair in his fingers. I wanted him to ravish me, I wanted him to embrace me tightly and never let go. I couldn’t understand what drew me to him, but I didn’t care.
“Why am I doing this?” I asked impatiently.
“Because, Cara, your image is telling what you want to know you are, you just refuse to believe it.”
“I don’t know what I am.”
When Andrew truly understood I was confused, he whispered softly into my ear. “My dear, you are a creature of the night. You are a vampire.”

Kiss Me, I Dare You...

What did he mean I owed him? What did he expect to get? My V- card. Sorry to burst your bubble buddy, that wasn’t going to happen. I focused on his eyes again. They weren’t the soft, delicate, lovely, eyes I remembered when he first sat next to me in English. They were hard, menacing, and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on. What was it that I saw? Was it passion? Before I could clarify all of his emotions, he grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled my body toward him. He held it tightly. So, tightly, that there was no way I could escape. I was wondering if he could sense the fear that was flowing through my veins. It was sneaking up on me, chilling me to the bone. Then he pulled me closer, tilted my head to the side, and that was when he kissed me. The kiss wasn’t soft, loving, or sweet. It was hungry and ferocious. And it startled me. It startled me so much, I pulled out of it, threw my hand back and slapped him across the face.

Excerpt from A Whisper To A Scream.

FYI...

If you entered the YA book giveaway, I will be announcing the winner tomorrow! Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

YOU LITTLE PLUCKER!!!!

The definition of pluck is : to pull off or out; pick; to drag or snatch. What does that have to do with any of this? Well, I was plucked when I was fifteen years old. It never occurred to me that agents actually did this. Hey, what can I say? At fifteen I was young, naïve, and sheltered from the world, thanks to my overbearing and overprotective mother. So when Olivia Lennox approached us and plucked me out of the crowd, at our local mall, I really didn’t know what to think. The last thing I remembered vividly from my so-called plucking was arguing with my mother over a pair of jeans I wanted from The Limited. “ You don’t need a seventy five dollar pair of jeans.” My mother said with a calm tone. “ But everyone at school has jeans like that! You never let me wear anything cool.” I argued. My mother reached into the J.C Penney’s bag we had and pulled out a pair of twenty dollar jeans she had just purchased for me. “These are cool.” She said while searching my face for approval. “ No they’re cheap!” I saw the look of disappointment on my mother’s face and instantly felt sorry. My mother shoved the jeans back into the bag while putting both of the handles back together.

Excerpt from Pride...

Vampire Academy... A School That Bites!

Let me just say that I picked up the first book to this series on a whim. I had heard people saying good things about it so I thought, why not? What I didn't expect was to fall in love with this series! Yes, you heard me, I fell in love with it. I read the whole entire series in a week and found myself going back through the books and re-reading my favorite parts. The story is set in a school known as St. Vladmir's. Only this isn't your normal school. It's a school where Moroi(vampires) and dhampir's(half-human half-vampire, guardians) prepare for the world outside of high school. A world where Guardians defend the Moroi from the evil Strigoi. That's where Rose comes in. Rose Hathaway is a guardian who pledged to serve and protect her best friend Lissa Dragomir. Lissa is a royal Moroi which makes her life ten times more valuable and it also puts her in ten times the danger. THEY COME FIRST. That is the phrase that has been imbedded in Rose's mind since she was a young child. But, with the Strigoi advancing attacks, and Rose's heart slipping from place to place, will she stand by those words? After all, nothing is fair in love, and war. Pick up this series and fall in love with it like I did.

Don't forget to enter the YA books giveaway! The Contest ends today!


I'm giving away some of these books I've read repeatedly. All you have to do is respond to this post telling me which YA book is your favorite and why, or become a new follower on my blog(double points for both, triple if you follow me on twitter).

Books included in the giveaway
Before I Fall - By Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures - By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Vampire Academy - By Richelle Mead
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
The Vampire Diaries - Shadow Souls - By L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Return - Nightfall - L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Awakening/The Struggle - L.J Smith

I look forward to reading your answers...

Quote Of The Week And YA book Giveaway!!

I'm the type of person that becomes entralled with what I'm reading. When I pick up a good book I live in a little bubble that the author has created from the time I'm reading until sometime after I've finished the book. Good books leave a haunting absence to my soul making me constantly crave more.

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce


That is why I'm cleaning out my, how would you put this, overstuffed, bookshelf. I read alot of YA books lately and I'm giving away some of the ones I've read repeatedly. All you have to do is respond to this post telling me which YA book is your favorite and why, or become a new follower on my blog(double points for both, triple if you follow me on twitter).

Books included in the giveaway
Before I Fall - By Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures - By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Vampire Academy - By Richelle Mead
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
The Vampire Diaries - Shadow Souls - By L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Return - Nightfall - L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Awakening/The Struggle - L.J Smith

The winner will have their pick :) Contest ends Tuesday Sept 7. I look forward to reading your answers...

Welcome To Lauren's Library YA Mania!

I have been reading a lot of YA books lately. It seems like the ones that have been recommended to me have been so amazing and I've devored most of them it record time. However, my bookshelf is getting a little over crowded so Ive decided to do a little giveaway. All you have to do is respond to this post telling me which YA book is your favorite and why, or become a new follower on my blog(double points for both, triple if you follow me on twitter). I've listed my top five YA books below along with the books I'll be giving away.


5. Fallen- A teen love triangle mixed with feuding angels, a boarding school for troubled teens, and a love that seems to be forbidden. Yeah, I'm all over it.

4. The Vampire Diaries Series- The whole series was fantastic. If you haven't read them, I suggest you do. I mean who doesn't love two hot vampires fighting over a girl right? I'm still waiting for Elena's ultimate decision. Stefan or Damon?(I'm gunning for Damon (***wink***)

3. Beautiful Creatures - Who doesn't love a young man who will do anything for the Love of his life. Throw in a little Caster magic and you've got a stellar novel all wrapped into one.

2. Hush Hush - A angsty love story involving a fallen angel, rebel. This book has become a new obsession of mine. I always love the books where the love that grows between two people starts out as a little smolder and grows into a hot, blazing fire.

1. Before I Fall- This book captivated me, mind, body, and soul. The tale of a teen who has seven days to relive the last day of her life over again was undoubtedly appealing. What would you do? What would you change about the way you live your life?


Books included in the giveaway

Before I Fall - By Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures - By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Vampire Academy - By Richelle Mead
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
The Vampire Diaries - Shadow Souls - By L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Return - Nightfall - L.J Smith
The Vampire Diaries - The Awakening/The Struggle - L.J Smith

The winner will have their pick :) Contest ends Tuesday Sept 7. I look forward to reading your answers...

The Haunting Absence Of Her Beloved...

She awoke not to the darkness of the underworld but, the light that radiated from the sun. She sat up slowly, opened her eyes and gazed at her surroundings. She was in the field at Enna, the field she was in when Hades took her. An icy chill ran down her spine. She was now alone, and the absence of her beloved haunted her. “ Hades.” She said softly. When she stood she spun around in a circle. It was almost as if she expected him to be there with her, even though he wasn’t. At this point her mind was playing tricks with her. She thought she caught a glimpse of him at the edge of the field but, when she reached the place she thought she saw him, she came to the realization that it was a mere illusion. She looked down at the spot where the asphodel was. There was now a new flower growing in it’s place. It wasn’t the asphodel but maybe if she picked it, she’d tumble back to the land of the dead and back into her beloved’s arms.

Excerpt from Asphodel....