Insanity Blog Tour: Lyrics that Inspired The Story/Giveaway!

Today we sit down with author, Lauren Hammond, to give us an inside look at the lyrics that inspired her latest book, Insanity.

Isn't that cover gorgeous?!

But before we get into the lyrics and, of course, the GIVEAWAY, let me introduce you to both Lauren Hammond, and this amazing new book!

About the author:

You can catch Lauren
on her website, Twitter,
Goodreads, or Facebook.

It all began with a dinosaur, a T-Rex to be exact. He was the main character in my very first short story. Me and T, well, we went places. He is the reason I won my first essay contest at age ten. And he is probably one of the number one reasons, I pursued a career in writing.

Throughout highschool, I was what you would call a rebel. Someone who had convinced herself that she had life figured out at age sixteen. Still, writing was my only safe-haven during that time. I wrote notebooks full of poetry, even writing fellow classmates papers for them. Unbeknowest to me, creative writing, seemed to be my one, true calling, my passion in life.

At age twenty, I began writing my first novel. After that, everything seemed to fall into place. I won Best Poets and Poems of 2007, and The Editor's Choice award for my poem, Summer Days.

Also, during that time I wrote or co-wrote fifteen different screenplays, some which earned me
finalist spot in various screenplay competitions.

In 2010, I've come full force, with my novel Love Sucks, that was released by Punkin House
Press, in August of 2010. On top of Love Sucks, I have six novels that are slated to be released
through the next five years. Also, doing some various marketing work for authors and publishers.

I pride myself in telling fellow writers to always follow their dreams. Who knows where I would
be if I would have given up.

About the book:

Insanity
Published May 8th 2012 by S.B. Adisson Books
Pick up your copy at Amazon or B&N today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Sometimes love...can drive you crazy.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite.
Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.

Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.

And they had a plan.

They were going to run away.

Be together forever.

And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...

She wants out.

And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...

That one true love never dies.

~Excerpt~

Shoving my feet off the side of the bed, new surroundings burn my eyes. Tan plaster walls instead of thick white padded ones. One oblong barred window. Two dressers. Two closets. Two beds.

They've moved me to a different room.

A gentle squeaking noise bounces off the walls and my eyes avert to my right. Oh crap. They put me in a room with a nut job.

They say I'm a nut job.

But not like this.

Not even close.

She rocks back and forth on her cot, knees to her chest, twisting a piece of her wiry, red hair between her fingertips. Her freckled arms are trembling. She sings with vibrato.

I am slowly going crazy. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Crazy going slowly am I. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

I think about screaming again. I think about plugging my ears. Somebody turn her off.

She lifts her head slowly, a maddening look in her big, brown eyes, an eerie smile crawling
across her pale, freckled lips. “Shh,” she whispers. “They're coming for us.”

“Who's they?”

She shakes her head and lets out a cackle laced with the deepest kind of crazy. I think they put her in here with me purposely. They're trying to break me. They think if they put me around truly
insane people that I'll accept my place here.

Well...They are wrong.

Doesn't this book sound awesome?! Well I can tell you that it is everything and much, MUCH more!! Now Lauren gives us an inside look into the song lyrics that inspired this book or tragic wonderment...

Thank you guys so much for having me!

Now, we all know that I’m big on music when I write. It inspires me. Changes my mood. Affects the flow of the novel. ESPECIALLY lyrics.

Insanity was such a powerful book for me to write. It’s all bout love and loss and the slow ability I think everyone has at some point to lose their mind.

Beautiful or powerful lyrics to me, can have a lasting effect on a person. And here are some that had a lasting effect on me while writing Insanity.

“We have no chance of recovery, laying in hospital joy and misery.” Hospital Beds~ Florence and The Machine.

“Have you ever loved someone so much, you’d give an arm for? Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for? When they know they’re your heart and you know you were their armour and you will destroy anyone who would try and harm her.” When I’m Gone ~ Eminem

“I’ve fallen somehow. Feet off the ground. Love is the cloud that keeps raining down. Where are you now? When I need you around. I’m on my knees, but it seems we’re going nowhere fast.” ~Usher~ Climax.

“Well, I know the feeling of finding yourself stuck out on the ledge, And there ain't no healing from cutting yourself with the jagged edge. I'm telling you that, it's never that bad take it from someone who's been where you're at laid out on the floor and you're not sure you can take this anymore.” ~Lullaby~ Nickleback

“I’ve watched you change. It’s like you’ve never had wings. I look at the cross. Then I look away. Give you the gun. Blow me away.” Change In The House Of Flies ~ Deftones~

This was so much fun!

Thanks for having me!

If you get a chance check out Insanity! And keep an eye out for the sequel, White Walls!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY!!!

One lucky winner will get their own eBook copy of Insanity! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This contest is open Internationally:-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway