Author Interview – Lauren Hammond

Hello everyone! As part of a new weekly feature, I am interviewing authors, readers, reviewers…pretty much anyone who is willing to sit and chat with me for a bit!

For my first interview, I am pleased to have Lauren Hammond joining me on my blog today. Lauren, thank you so much for coming out to chat with me today.

What or who inspired you to first start writing?

Well I’ve writing pretty much all of my life but, I didn’t make the initial move to write my first book until 2006. In July of 2006, one of my best friends died in a house fire along with her three young daughters. I was determined to write the novel, dedicate it her and her children, and start a scholarship in her name.

If you could go back in time and lay claim to any book written, which one would you want and why?

Soren Kierkegaard’s  The Seducer’s Diary. It’s hauntingly beautiful, seductive, and poetic. I personally think it describes how exquisite infatuation can for the opposite sex can be. It takes over your mind, body, and soul. I would have liked to have been a part of such a heart-felt yet, heart-wrenching piece.

When you are writing and hit a stumbling block, what do you do to try and get over the hurdle?

I never hit stumbling blocks. Never have so far, and hopefully never will.

What was the strangest thing that ever inspired a scene/book? What was the end result?

Well for my most currently released novel, Love Sucks, I kept getting this vivid image of a young, beautiful, girl, punching her fist through the lid of her coffin. I knew right away when the image came, I had to write it down.

If you could have supper with any of your characters, which one would you choose and where would you take them?

Cara Jones, the main character in my novel, Love Sucks. I’d take her to the local hospital so she could have a nice, tasty, blood bag.

Is there a type of story you would like to write, but are terrified you wouldn’t do a proper job? What is it and why?

I can honestly say, I’m not terrified to write anything. The world of writing is vast, and I’d like to tackle all genres.

If you could sit down with one author from any time in history, who would it be? What questions would you want to ask them?

Bram Stroker. I’d want to know how he came up with Dracula. I know it is based on the life of Vlad The Implaler but, how did he turn those facts into fiction? That’s something  I’ve always been curious about.

If someone gave you a minion tomorrow, what would be the first task you’d ask them to complete?

I really can’t answer this accurately. I like to do mostly everything myself so is someone gave me a minion, I don’t think there would be anything for them to do.

E-books vs print books? E-readers vs. paper? Can’t we all just get along? What’s your preference?

I don’t really have a preference. Ebooks I think, are a genius idea but, for me, nothing beats sitting on your couch with a good old paperback in hand.

If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what super powers would you possess?

I’d be the Laurenator and I’d be able to read people’s thoughts and shoot laser beams out of my eyes.

What project are you working on next?

I have several projects that I’m working on. Right now, I’m working on the sequel for Love Sucks called, A Sucker For Love. I have three more novels in the works as well as a bio-pic screenplay I’m working on with a co writer.

How can readers find out more about you?

Blog: http://laurenhammondnovelist.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @NovelistLauren

Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LaurenHammond/100755776636370?ref=ts

Or www.punkinbooks.com

And now for some reader-type questions. What are some of the things that draw you to an author?

You know that you are reading a good book when the author pulls you in from page one. You become involved in the story and it make you want to continue reading.

What favorite book of yours would you love to see be made into a movie? Why?

Right now, The Crimson Petal And The White. I guess my dreams are coming true because I recently heard they are making it a mini-series.

If you could ask your favorite author to do something for you, what would it be?

To let me pick their brain. Sometimes I like to know what’s going on in other people’s heads.

Thanks once again to Lauren for joining us today. To show my appreciation, you get the semi famous Christine…

*snoopy dance*