Halloween Quote And Giveaway!!

So this morning I was scouring goodreads, looking for some great books to add to my TBR pile that is getting bigger by the day. With Halloween right around the corner, and the fact that I write vampire books I found this quote fabulous!

When other little girls wanted to be ballet dancers, I kind of wanted to be a vampire. ~Angelina Jolie~


Also be sure to visit Jessica at totalbookaholic for a chance to win a ebook copy of my novel, Love Sucks !!!!

http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/haunted-halloween-with-lauren-hammond.html

Book of the week and Beautiful Darkness giveaway!!!

This week I've been a little behind on my blog posts.. Due to the success of my last giveaway I've decided to host another one. This time, I'll be giving away a copy of the much anticipated sequel of Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness. So stay tuned for a chance to enter.

This week's book of the week is The Hollow by Jessica Verday. I heard about this book from Jenn @bookcrazy. She had been tweeting about it and I was instantly intrigued. I was beyond delighted to discover that The Hollow has a sequel, The Haunted. There is nothing that excites me more than a book that I hear is fabulous! If you haven't added The Hollow yet, be sure to do so. I can't wait to read it! I hear it is fantastic!

Book Of The Week and YA BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!

This week's book quote of the week comes from April. If you'd like your book quotes of the week to posted, don't forget to comment on this post! I'll be posting quotes from books every Friday. And on Monday's I post a book of the week. If you have any suggestions to what you think is a good book, include it in you comment.

"Friends don't menace friends with giant terrifying swords, okay?"

Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon's Covenant)


Also, if you missed it, yesterday, here are the three winners of The YA book giveaway!!

1.Kristina Barnes
2. Jessie Harrell
3. Jamie

Keep which book you want in mind, ladies. I'll be sending you an email this weekend!
Hope everyone has a fantastic Friday!

Winners Of The YA Book Giveaway!!!

I'd just like to thank everyone that entered this contest!!! I had alot of fun, your answers were great and stay tuned because next month, I'll be hosting another one!!


The three winners of this Contest are:

1. Kristina Barnes

2. Jessie Harrell

3. Jamie

Keep on the lookout I'll be emailing you to find out which book you've selected and for your home address! Thanks to everyone who entered again!

Winner Of YA Book Giveaway!

First, I'd like to thank all of you that entered this contest. Second I'd like to tell you that winners will be announced tomorrow at noon. If you forgot to leave your email address, please leave it on the comment portion of this post! Thanks for entering and good luck to all of you!! FYI I'll be holding another contest next month!!!

Book Of The Week and YA BOOK GIVEAWAY..

The book of the week this week is Origins:(The Vampire Diaries, Stefan's Diaries Book # 1) by:L.J Smith, Kevin Williamson, and Julie Plec. Now I have to say, I read the original series by L.J Smith and absolutely loved it! When I found out they were coming out with a book that had to do with the show, and not so much the original series, I was kind of sceptical. But, I'm always the type of person who will give books a shot, then form my own opinion. So Origins is the next book on my TBR. Keep watch, next week I'll let you know what I think.

In the meantime, the YA book giveaway is still going on and there are only two days left to enter... Three winners will be picked!!!!

Books included in the giveaway:
Before I Fall by: Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins
Vampire Academy by: Richelle Mead
Frostbite by: Richelle Mead
Torment by: Lauren Kate
Mistress Of Rome by: Kate Quinn
The Vampire Diaries- The Return: Shadow Souls.

How to enter: Last time, I wanted to know what your favorite YA book was and why? This time, tell me who your favorite YA author is and why? To enter, reply to this post, follow me on twitter @NovelistLauren and follow this blog for extra entries. This contest is International. I look forward to hearing your answers!!

Book Quote.. And YA Book Giveaway!!!!!

This week's book quote comes from Jessie Harrell. Don't forget, Friday, is book quote Friday.. Comment to this post with your favorite quote from one of your favorite Ya books and I'll post it the following Friday!! Now, the quote of the week is from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument Series.

"Now this is a situation." ~ Cassie Clare~ City Of Bones..

Also, don't forget to enter the YA book giveaway!!! The contest ends Tues, OCT 19.

Books included in the giveaway:
Before I Fall by: Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins
Vampire Academy by: Richelle Mead
Frostbite by: Richelle Mead
Torment by: Lauren Kate
Mistress Of Rome by: Kate Quinn
The Vampire Diaries- The Return: Shadow Souls.

How to enter: Last time, I wanted to know what your favorite YA book was and why? This time, tell me who your favorite YA author is and why? To enter, reply to this post, follow me on twitter @NovelistLauren and follow this blog for extra entries. This contest is International. I look forward to hearing your answers!!

YA MANIA!!!! YA BOOK Giveaway

I firmly believe a writer, is always a reader. Last month, I held a book giveaway contest in which Val of truthbetold blog won. I still have a large collection of books to giveaway, so I'm putting on another contest... Yay!!

Books included in the giveaway:
Before I Fall by: Lauren Oliver
Beautiful Creatures by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by: Suzanne Collins
Vampire Academy by: Richelle Mead
Frostbite by: Richelle Mead
Torment by: Lauren Kate
Mistress Of Rome by: Kate Quinn
The Vampire Diaries- The Return: Shadow Souls.

How to enter: Last time, I wanted to know what your favorite YA book was and why? This time, tell me who your favorite YA author is and why? To enter, reply to this post, follow me on twitter @NovelistLauren and follow this blog for extra entries. This contest is International. I look forward to hearing your answers!!! This contest ends Tuesday 10/20/2010...

On this side of the rainbow...

If you would have met me ten years ago, you probably would of thought I was going nowhere, fast. If you knew me, you probably would of thought that I would have eventually ended up pumping gas as my career of choice. It's funny how life works sometimes. Writing has been my sanctuary for most of my life but, it took the loss of a dear friend, and a brush with death to make me push myself. Most people, live in fear their whole lives. They never venture outside of their little bubble to see what's really out there, to see what they can really make of themselves. I was one of those people. Everything frightened me, failure, life, death. It wasn't until I died that I actually had a moment of clarity. I had to honestly ask myself what I was doing. What did I really want out of this beautiful gift called life? I learned that even though, you live your life one way, you can always change it for the better. You shouldn't live in fear and you shouldn't live your life full of regret.

In the end, writing is my fulfillment in life, my sanctuary, my passion. I was given a second chance at life and decided I didn't want to waste another second of it. Life is precious, it's a huge gift, wrapped with a decorative bow. And it's up to you, to make something of it. What are your passions? I couldn't live without my writing. What is the one thing you couldn't live without?

Gee Children Drugs are Bad....

I opened my the drawer of my nightstand, pulling out a tourniquet and a syringe. I set them down on the bed next to me. My hands were shaking so bad, if I didn’t try to steady them, I’d poke right through my vein, wasting all of my precious drug. I clasped my hands together tightly. I tried with all of my might to get a hold of myself. I breathed in and out slowly, waiting for the shakes to calm down. Once I was certain they had, I picked up the tourniquet and wrapped it tightly around my forearm.
Parents, friends, and loved ones always tell you that drugs are bad. But if drugs are so bad, why do they make the pain of every day life go away? And why do they make you feel so damn good?

I picked up the syringe, found a good vein, tapped it, inserted the needle into my arm, then, I let my whole world slip away.

Excerpt From Memoirs Of A Charity Girl.

Monday, Monday!!

Today, I've got another serious case of the Monday's. Monday seems to be the one day of the week that I never look forward to. With so many good books being released this month. I've decided to liven up my Monday's getting myself excited for the next book on my TBR list. So now, instead of Monday being blah, I have something to look forward to. This week's book of the week, is none other than, Beautiful Darkness by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. It is the much anticipated sequel to the best selling novel, Beautiful Creatures.

I read Beautiful Creatures a few months back and found myself counting down the days until the sequel would be released. Which is tomorrow btw.

I can't wait to get my copy! How about you? What are you reading this week?

Another Fun Friday...

Every Friday I always like to post a quote of the week. I like to give the readers of this blog something to think about as we move into the weekend. But, I'd like to try something new. Each Friday, I'm going to post a quote from one of my favorite author's books. Then, what I really want to hear are yours. What are some of your favorite quotes from the books you've read? This week, my quote of the week comes from:

"My heart shattered. My world shattered. You will lose what you value most. It wasn't my life... It wasn't even Dimitri's life. What you value most. It was his soul." Richelle Mead- Author of the best-selling series Vampire Academy.

Readers, comment to this post. If I like your book quote, I'll pick a week and post it on the blog. Have a good weekend.

Wear Pink... Support Breast Cancer...

Every person knows at least one person affected by cancer. Breast cancer in particular,affects 192,370 women in the United States. October is breast cancer awareness month. A relative, close to my heart, suffers from it. So people, I'm asking you to wear pink, volunteer, and help to try and make a difference. I support the fight against breast cancer. Do you?

Literary Agents: Friends Or Foes...

Let's face it writers, we can't get anywhere without Literary Agents, and if we do, the road to publication is much harder. And it also lasts a lot longer. So this is where the debate comes in. I've met a handful of writer's that curse them, saying they don't need them to get to where they need to be. The reality of it all is yes, you do. They have all the insights to perfecting your writing, they know all the publishing houses,they know how to make you a better writer in general. They help polish your work until it shines. The thing that bothers me, is that a lot of writers can be bitter over those rejection letters. Do you realize they recieve hundred of them on a daily basis? If you put yourself in their shoes, think about it, you can only pick a few of those letters than you find interesting to pursue. For me, that would be extremely difficult. Hang in there. There are hundreds of agents out there. You'll find the right one. In conclusion, literary agents are my friends. I'm not bitter, I realize their job isn't easy. Plus without them, you have to figure, how many of you favorite books would still be sitting on a computer screen?

So, what's your opinion? Friend or Foe?

I Hate Myself For Loving You...

The lighting in my dingy motel room peaked out from underneath the stained lampshade. I sat down on my bed gingerly, brushing a strand of my stringy hair away from my face. I used to have such beautiful hair. It was one of my best features. The long, thick, Auburn, locks glistened whenever the sunlight hit it. But not anymore. I had given that up for the high. Now, my hair falls out in clumps, has an abrasive dullness to it, and almost always looks greasy. That’s what you get I guess when drugs are the only thing you can think about. They infect you, poison you, and most of all, they change you. They change you in ways you never thought you could be changed.
Throughout my whole life, I was always told that there was a right path and a wrong path. And whatever path I chose to go down, the decision was mine, and mine alone. Nobody else is responsible for the consequences of my actions. A lot of the addicts I’ve met in the past year, always have someone to blame. I never have. That’s one thing that separates me from most of the junkies. Nobody put the that dollar bill to my nose and made me snort my first line. I did that all on my own.

Excerpt From; Memoirs Of A Charity Girl.

Undying Love, Endless Anguish, Bring On The Torment!

I read Fallen last year. Honestly, I hadn't even heard of the author but, when I saw the cover, I knew this was a book I just had to read. From the moment I picked up Fallen, I was in love with it. So, you can't imagine the excitement when I discovered that Fallen is a series. Torment, the second book in the series was released on September 28,2010. Naturally, I picked up this book the day it came out, eager to dive back into the world Lauren Kate has created.

Torment, is a love story of a human girl named Lucinda Price, and a fallen angel, Daniel Grigori. The kind of love they have for one another is beautiful, challenging, and eternally theirs. Eternal because it seems that they have loved each other for a lifetime. In Torment, Luce is forced to discover more about her past. She is shipped off To Shoreline a boarding school in California, that houses Nephilim and humans. Daniel swears to Luce that this little arrangement is only temporary. He swears that he will come back for her. But will he? Always. The love they share has tested the lengths of time. And even though a dozen obstacles stand in their way, the type of love they share can overcome all of them.

I have to admit, in the beginning of Fallen, I was immeadiately taken with the book. In Torment, for me, it took a little longer for me to get into it. However, after I dove into the world of fallen angels, outcasts, nephilim, and love that never dies, I was enthralled all over again. This book was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone.

The third book in the series, Passion is due out in the Summer of 2011. Two great things about that is: One, you don't have to wait a whole year for the next book. YaY! Two, the title just screams, seductive, brimming romance. Hopefully it will be another great title, to another great book.

What Drives You?

Inspiration is such a powerful word. It can be a great many things. A person can be an inspiration to someone, so can words, music and so on and so forth. But what really inspires you? When I find something that inspires me, the first thing I do is write about it. So as we go into the weekend, think about inspiration in your daily lives. It can move you, and drive you to do great things.

I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it, and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else; hard work and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't.
-- Lucille Ball